Teng Xiao was utterly lost trying to tell them apart.
Damn it, from their appearance to their techniques, even their fighting styles—it was like someone had copied and pasted them. He couldn't find an opening to step in even if he wanted to.
Just then, Jingliu brought an unexpected piece of news:
"General… according to the Divination Commission, that later-arriving Miss Acheron seems to be the real one. They could trace a clear record of her movements, whereas the other…"
Jingliu trailed off mid-sentence.
It wasn't for any particular reason.
Whether the Acheron who helped us was real or not, the fact remains—she saved the Luofu in its hour of need.
That makes her our benefactor.
Calling our benefactor an "imposter" just doesn't sit right.
But now that the real one had shown up, Jingliu wasn't sure how to handle the situation.
To her surprise, Teng Xiao simply sighed and said, "One thing at a time. If they truly intend to fight to the death, I'll step in and stop them. As for what comes after… we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."
He didn't know why the Luofu's savior would put on a mask and impersonate another powerful figure.
But a debt is a debt.
The Xianzhou Alliance does not forget its debts.
Even though, deep down, Teng Xiao wasn't confident at all.
Both Acherons had drawn their blades against each other, and each was fiercer than the last.
Good grief.
The Lightning Lord might withstand that, but his own modest frame certainly couldn't.
If it really came down to life and death…
Would he even have a chance to intervene?
Teng Xiao grew increasingly uneasy.
Beside him, Jingliu remained silent, her gaze fixed on the battlefield—a clash far beyond her ability to perceive.
Fights at this level, like the one against Acheron before, were simply not something she could influence.
Meanwhile—
The two combatants had also noticed the Lightning Lord manifesting just beyond the Luofu.
Clearly, the commotion of their battle had drawn the attention of General Teng Xiao.
Yet, in that same moment of distraction, the real Acheron seized the opening—a fleeting flaw in 'Acheron's' stance—with lightning speed!
She closed the distance like a thunderclap.
A flash of violet light erupted before 'Acheron's' eyes!
BOOM——!!!
'Acheron' grinned wildly.
"The same move won't work on me twice!"
"Heh."
The real Acheron let out a soft laugh, then unleashed a surge of power!
The resulting shockwave sent both of them flying backward.
They halted mid-air at almost the same instant, then shot back toward each other, blades swinging once more.
BOOM!!!
This time, the force of their clash sent them tumbling into the gravitational pull of a nearby planet—
Crashing down onto its uninhabited surface.
But Acheron paid it no mind.
She immediately pressed the attack, aiming to catch her opponent off guard.
The other Acheron, who had initially planned to disengage, had no choice but to change tactics.
She drew her blade in response.
Their terrifying swords carried a violent impact, like warheads colliding head-on!
The shockwave alone shattered nearly half the planet.
Thick layers of rock turned to cosmic dust, swallowing their small figures.
"Tch…"
'Acheron' gritted her teeth, pulling herself out of the smoldering ground. Not far away, the real Acheron also emerged from beneath the shattered crust.
Both looked somewhat disheveled, but it was clear neither was seriously injured.
If this kept up, they could easily go on for three days and nights.
But this time, instead of pressing the attack, Acheron looked at her imitator and sheathed her blade.
Her hair shifted back from white to its natural color.
Step by step, she approached, a faint smile on her lips.
"Your imitation is truly impressive. Even I can't find a single flaw. I'm quite taken with you."
"…Hah."
'Acheron' stood up, somewhat awkwardly. Crashing through the planet's surface had barely fazed her—only her clothes were worse for wear.
She sheathed her own blade as well, though Acheron's words struck her as almost… confessional.
"Did you really fight me all this time just to say that?"
"Of course not."
Acheron's smile lingered as she suddenly stepped forward—
Whap!
She smacked the other's backside with the flat of her scabbard.
"Hey?!"
'Acheron' jolted, clutching her rear as she stared back in disbelief.
Was this woman… some kind of narcissist?!
But Acheron paid no mind to her reaction and continued calmly, "I don't know how you learned of my existence or how to imitate me so perfectly. But even if there's only the slightest chance… you shouldn't wield the power of Nihility so recklessly."
Her gaze was serious, layered with deep concern.
Aside from occasional travels across the cosmos, she spent most of her time true to her name—watching over the River of Forgetfulness, guiding those lost in the void of fate.
But more than that, she was troubled by how carelessly this double was using the power of Nihility.
That… was not a good thing.
"…"
After a moment of silence, the other Acheron suddenly asked, "Aren't you angry that I've been using your name?"
"A name is just a name. What does it matter? Today I might be a Galaxy Ranger; tomorrow, a Nameless. What's important is that you haven't used it for evil."
Acheron looked straight into the other's eyes.
Unlike her own distant gaze, this one's eyes were clear—so clear it almost felt like looking at her past self.
"Besides… I've been lonely. I'm the only one who remembers our homeland. But now… there's you."
As she spoke, Acheron reached out and gently cupped the imitator's face, a meaningful smile gracing her lips.
"Does this mean I've gained a little sister?"
"Uh… I don't mind, but I can't keep impersonating you forever."
Acheron fell silent for a beat.
She's really easygoing.
But that's fine.
Whether she's as hot-tempered as Big Herta or not, as long as she provides emotional value, it's all good.
'Acheron' took the chance to glance at her system panel:
--+--
[Role-Playing System]
[Name: Bai Ming (Acheron)]
[Lifespan: 132.59:53 (Paused) +24 Days (Role-Play)]
[Available Transformations: Big Herta (Charge: 11.2%), Acheron]
[Gacha Attempts: 0 (79.6%)]
--+--
That fight had pushed the progress bar quite a bit.
Aside from the painfully slow charging of the role cards—which was honestly annoying—the next gacha attempt was almost ready.
She could really afford to take it easy for the next twenty-something days.
Acheron seemed to have expected her answer.
Limitations were only natural.
A perfect ability to imitate others ought to come with restrictions—otherwise, it'd be far too broken.
"That actually suits me just fine. I never wanted you meddling with Nihility in the first place. All I know is… in this world, I'm no longer alone."
Her eyes brimming with emotion, Acheron gazed intently at the other—not hiding a thing.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.