The two of them stood facing the clone.
Thirty seconds.
That was all they had before the manager arrived.
What they didn't know… was that those thirty seconds would stretch into an eternity.
Damn it. I'm too weak.
The realization struck Remedy straight in the heart.
I'm still too weak.
Ever since he obtained the system, he believed that with his concepts, he was strong. Too strong, even.
But reality was catching up to him.
Brutally.
If his concepts couldn't reach the enemy, he reverted to what he had always been: a classless fighter with good reflexes.
Nothing more.
What he didn't know yet was that the creature before whom he felt so miserable was merely a messenger.
And her mistress… was a living natural disaster.
A monster among monsters.
30 seconds.
The clone dashed forward.
I-I can see her?
Both of them reacted, raising their weapons defensively.
Two punches.
One for each.
Seraphina's struck her blade.
Remedy's, slightly off-angle, drove into his abdomen.
They were sent flying backward.
[Remedy — Health: 100% → 90%]
I can really see her? And her hit… it's weaker?
29 seconds.
A shadow.
They looked up.
A massive block of concrete was collapsing toward them.
They dove in opposite directions.
28 seconds.
The clone was already beside Remedy—while he was still midair from his dodge.
A kick to the stomach.
He landed heavily on his feet.
[Remedy — Health: 90% → 85%]
27 seconds.
She struck the ground.
A crack spread outward, racing along the wall behind Remedy, destabilizing it. Debris rained down.
He lunged forward to avoid it.
26 seconds.
Another blow.
He was launched backward, hit the wall, bounced off, and was sent forward again like a puppet.
25 seconds.
Seraphina moved in to assist.
The clone slipped behind Remedy.
Her foot lashed out, sending him crashing into Seraphina.
[Remedy — Health: 85% → 70%]
He stood up, breath ragged.
Damn it. She's playing with me.
24 seconds.
An ice projectile pierced through his hand, pinning it to the ground.
The clone crouched beside him, planting the ice with terrifying nonchalance—as if it were nothing.
23 seconds.
Remedy slashed horizontally.
The clone leapt back.
He shattered the ice with a sharp motion and charged at her, chaining attacks.
She dodged them all with unsettling ease.
Seraphina watched.
Analyzing.
I understand.
The clone remained expressionless.
But the influence she had undergone had unleashed a desire…
To play.
If she wants to toy with us, we might have a chance to survive.
But she's only focused on Remedy.
Maybe I can—
20 seconds.
Remedy continued his assault, analyzing every movement.
Then a feint.
A horizontal edge.
The clone, amused, dodged—
—but placed herself directly into the path of the strike.
She reacted instantly.
Too late.
The blade grazed her neck.
For the first time, the clone was hit.
[Clone — Health: 100% → 90%]
Remedy smiled.
He had finally touched her.
But he had just made a fatal mistake.
He had blown too hard on the fragile spark of her amusement.
18 seconds.
The clone vanished.
Reappeared behind him.
Her hand seized his neck.
She lifted him into the air.
Before he could process it, she charged toward the wall.
She smashed through it—with Remedy in front of her like a shield.
On the other side, she pivoted, charged again, and burst back through in the opposite direction.
Then she threw him to the ground.
He rolled to Seraphina's feet.
[Remedy — Health: 70% → 40%]
10 seconds.
A silhouette sped through the shadows, a massive object above her, racing toward the territory.
8 seconds.
The clone walked toward them.
Her amusement was fading.
Seraphina noticed.
If this continues, her killing instinct will resurface. She needs to get here fast. Otherwise, we won't last.
5 seconds.
A figure appeared midair, level with the broken floor.
She hurled the massive object toward them.
A shadow swallowed the clone.
She leapt aside.
The car crashed into the spot where she had been a split second earlier.
The figure landed on the upper level, at the edge of the breach.
Remedy and Seraphina looked up.
The manager had arrived.
"Young mistress, are you alright?"
"Finally… you're here. Otherwise…" Seraphina began.
Then their eyes met.
"Huh? Little brother?"
"Big sister?"
Remedy and the manager froze in shock.
"Why are you here?" the manager asked.
Remedy coughed.
"Well… it's a long story…"
She stepped closer.
"You two know each other?" Seraphina asked.
"Yes. We do," the manager replied.
"How— no. We'll discuss that later," Seraphina said.
The manager approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
Her smile was dangerous.
"Oh, we absolutely will discuss it later, young mistress. After all, you have quite a lot to explain about your behavior, don't you?"
"Y-Yes… of course… haha…"
Seraphina trembled under the pressure, a nervous laugh escaping her.
The manager took the Ashen Flame from her hands and turned toward the clone.
"It was you, wasn't it? The one who came into my territory."
She recognized her aura.
"That's quite bold. Is it because you have no emotions that you feel no fear?"
The next instant, Remedy's eyes captured the scene.
The manager slashed.
The clone's arm exploded under the impact.
She leapt back.
The blade had turned white-hot, leaving behind a crescent of incandescent fire in the air.
The clone landed.
Immediately jumped back again.
In that moment, Remedy understood.
He was nothing more than a frog at the bottom of a well.
And he had just discovered that the sky was far vaster than he had ever imagined.
End of Chapter 31.