The mysterious body double gradually overpowered Hyun-woo. It was inevitable. A trial given by the tower couldn't be easy.
Ringing of swords crossing each other could be felt all over the strange dimension. It started to tremble as if to compliment the violent clash. Not the ground but the world itself.
It started to outmaneuver and penetrate Hyun-woo's defense.
Hyun-woo was doing all he could to keep him at bay. Using Shadow Step to move around. Critical Strike to sneak a hit in. The skills were beginning to take their toll on his physical and mental state.
"Is that all you have to show? I guess I really was weak back then." The copy was playing with Hyun-woo treating him like a kid, mocking him. It would creep behind him and then not strike, waiting for a reaction.
These subtle hints the double kept giving conveyed the idea that that was the future him, stayed in the back of Hyun-woo's mind. He became increasingly troubled but did not display it.
The copy increased the force behind his attacks and Hyun-woo felt the impact.
Even though it was a copy of himself, fighting repulsive monsters and facing off against a human no matter who it may be was completely different. This was his first fight against a human.
And It wouldn't be his last.
"You know what, I'm impressed you lasted so long." The double flung Hyun-woo's sword out of the way with sheer force and swung vertically from the top of his chest downwards.
He narrowly avoided its attack. "You're getting too full of yourself. You haven't even landed a single crucial hit yet." He was gasping for air and yet there was no fear on his face.
Both of them stood still staring at each other, one worse off than the other.
Hyun-woo was running out of options and time. All he had was his tenacity.
All this time, he was trying to figure out a way to counter the double's fighting style.
Which was his own. A few improvements but surely his own.
Only way I'm gonna stand a chance is to alter my approach. Unpredictability. That's what I need.
Hyun-woo completely dropped his guard.
He started to bounce up-and-down. This allowed him to build his agility and power which was crucial for rapid changes in direction, thus reacting quicker.
"A new tactic, I see. And is this one going to work?" The copy with his superior tone dashed towards Hyun-woo.
With no guard and his sword at rest, Hyun-woo focused more than ever on simple movements, slipping out the way of the attack.
His concentration was at its peak.
He was able to react faster than ever.
But Hyun-woo was unable to land a counter. The copy was no weakling.
It looked as if it turned into an even battle. However, the double still had the edge. It was still significantly stronger.
The injuries were building up on Hyun-woo. Cuts bleeding. His clothes ripped in places along with blood dripping out of them.
Armor he received after clearing the tutorial had an effect of damage negation. Not much but every little bit counted. Even then, it was ripped, unable to defend against strikes too powerful. A tremendous help, nevertheless, in his current fight.
"I thought you got bored of me long ago."
The double threw its head back, shoulders shaking with laughter, hands on his mouth. An over the top, loud laugh. "You can still be funny. I really didn't expect you to say that."
The copy lunged towards Hyun-woo, and unable to dodge it, knocked him down into the visibly bloodied-red shallow water.
Hyun-woo quickly scrambled to his feet.
His hands quivering. And his body in pain.
He knew this was a challenge he had to overcome. By himself.
The double never fought at its peak performance. It chose not to. And still it overwhelmed Hyun-woo. "Don't you have any questions you want to ask me? Who I am? Why am I here?" A grin forming on its face from ear to ear.
Each word spoken in a deranged manner.
A never-ending continuous onslaught. It looked like a scene from a movie.
Hyun-woo swerved around the attacks as much as he could with his depleting stamina.
"Not really", he replied.
Hyun-woo finally slipped a few clean hits in. One after deflecting the double's sword, jabbing him on his ribs with his left fist. Another right after narrowly avoiding a powerful horizontal swing, smacking him on his face, sending him stumbling . And some others but none grave enough to inflict serious damage.
The lingering smell of death in the air could be felt being sliced relentlessly. At any moment, the duel could end.
A continuous barrage of attacks, all landing on Hyun-woo. His entire body, hit too many times.
He could fall at any moment. And yet he was standing. In a state of semi consciousness.
Hyun-woo continued moving due to only his will power and persistence.
The faint path of a sword not even swung yet flashed in his mind.