The Player Who Can't Level Up

Gi-Gyu grinned.

Or was it just a smile? Honestly, the expression couldn’t be put into words. He looked at the dark figure before him with nothing but deep calm. The dark figure looked like Gi-Gyu’s mirror image and was smiling at him.

Gi-Gyu tried his best to control his emotions as he observed himself. His eyes didn’t leave the creature for a second. Although he looked relaxed, his muscles were taut, ready to pounce at a moment’s notice.

“You’re…” Gi-Gyu trailed off. His shadow’s grin widened. The creature’s lips slowly ripped like those of a creepy clown. His teeth looked white, but they certainly didn’t look like they belonged to a human.

The black creature had Gi-Gyu’s eyes, nose, lips, and body. The only difference was that the creature looked dark and ominous, and Gi-Gyu knew why.

“I’ve met you before,” Gi-Gyu announced. He had met this creature before while resolving an issue with his shell. The creature had told Gi-Gyu that it was “him.” Gi-Gyu remembered this incident.

The other Gi-Gyu replied, “Nice to see you again.”

“System,” the real Gi-Gyu called out cautiously, but he received no answer. The silence deepened, only to be disrupted by the shadow’s laughter. Without waiting for the system’s explanation, Gi-Gyu asked his shadow, “Who are you?”

“I’m Lou’s remnant,” replied the other Gi-Gyu.

‘Lou’s remnant?’ Gi-Gyu thought in surprise. When Lou had taken over his body, a remnant of Lou had been left inside. Did this piece get mixed with a part of Gi-Gyu somehow?

“Or does this have something to do with whatever my seal is suppressing?” asked Gi-Gyu.

“Kekeke…” The shadow Gi-Gyu replied with a condescending giggle. After a short pause, the shadow Gi-Gyu replied, “I’m you.”

The dark creature continued, “I’m not some leftover or the thing that seal has been suppressing. I am you.”

The shadow seemed to enjoy this situation because he moved as if dancing. And his wide grin only made Gi-Gyu more nervous.

The dark figure continued, “I’m you, plain and simple. I’m the real you, the one you’ve been suppressing. I did get mixed with the other things you mentioned, but…”

Gi-Gyu realized that this was perhaps another side of him, his shadow. Suddenly, his eyes glowed. First, they were red and blue; then, they turned violet.

“It’s me!” The other Gi-Gyu suddenly whisked his arm toward Gi-Gyu like it was a whip.

[Your last test will begin.]

[Please defeat yourself.]

[He’s the real Gi-Gyu you have been hiding.]

[This space isn’t made of data like your previous tests.]

[Death here would mean immediate termination of your life.]

[If you defeat him, your curiosity will be satisfied.]

[You cannot use your Egos’ powers.]

[If you fail…]

While the system was busy making announcements, the shadow Gi-Gyu didn’t stop attacking Gi-Gyu. Suddenly, the system’s voice turned rigid again as it announced.

[The seal would start getting undone.]

***

‘He’s fast!’ Gi-Gyu thought as he dodged the shadow’s arm. Indeed, his other self was quick.

Drip.

Gi-Gyu felt something hot run down his cheek. He didn’t have to look to know it was his blood.

Slash!

The shadow was indeed fast, as the whipping action of his arm was ripping the air. And all Gi-Gyu could do in the meanwhile was dodge barely.

‘I can’t see his attacks!’ Gi-Gyu thought in panic. After syncing with Botis, he had gained Foresight. But this skill wasn’t working at the moment. Was it because he wasn’t connected to his Egos? Or…

‘Is he so powerful that Foresight doesn’t work on him? Maybe the skill just doesn’t work in this space,’ Gi-Gyu wondered; unfortunately, he didn’t get an answer.

However, one thing was for certain.

“You won’t give me answers unless I win,” Gi-Gyu said under his breath. The shadow Gi-Gyu seemed to have no intention of talking to him.

That means…

“I’ll defeat you and make you talk!” Gi-Gyu announced, finally moving his hands. Suddenly, the whooshing sounds stopped, as Gi-Gyu had grabbed the shadow’s arm. His shadow was stuck where it was, unable to move at all.

‘I might be able to do this,’ Gi-Gyu decided. His opponent was powerful. Perhaps, this was the most powerful enemy he had ever faced.

But…

‘I’ve become stronger too.’ Gi-Gyu thought. Since his sync was broken, he couldn’t use Lou, El, his other Egos, or even the creatures inside Brunheart’s gate.

He couldn’t use any of the assets he had gathered until now, but he still believed he could win.

Gi-Gyu felt the raw strength in his body, the endless magic powering him like a gasoline engine, and the bulging tendons in his thick arms.

‘I’m going to break it.’ Gi-Gyu decided to break the creature’s whip-like arm. He slowly put more pressure in his grip, deforming the black arm.

But suddenly, Gi-Gyu noticed the creature's grin.

‘Is he smiling?’ Feeling creeped out, Gi-Gyu took a step back, dropping the grotesquely deformed arm.

The creature asked, “Is that all you got?”

Gi-Gyu didn’t answer him. Suddenly, something sprouted from the severed arm, making him rigid.

The creature asked mockingly, “Do you recognize it?”

Gi-Gyu’s face crumpled in anger at the shadow’s taunt. Watching grimly, Gi-Gyu whispered, “Lou…”

The black sword that had grown from the damaged arm resembled Lou.

“Kekeke,” the creature chuckled as if he was enjoying himself.

“Don’t joke around,” Gi-Gyu warned.

The creature replied, “Does this look like a joke? Hmm. Let’s see if you feel the same way after seeing this.”

The shadow Gi-Gyu swung its arm, which didn’t look like an arm at all at this point. As the shadow Gi-Gyu moved it, the sword resembling Lou moved along.

Whoosh!

Death swarmed Gi-Gyu like a storm.

***

“Haa…” Gi-Gyu panted after having barely dodged Death. To his shock, it appeared the shadow could use Death just like he could. While Gi-Gyu needed Lou’s help to use Death effectively, the shadow easily used this incredible skill.

Boom!

A large amount of Death energy had crashed into the place Gi-Gyu was standing a moment ago. The black smoke melted the space away before turning toward Gi-Gyu.

“Dammit!” Gi-Gyu also tried to use Death, but controlling it alone was difficult. Just like the overflowing magic inside him, an overwhelming amount of Death was flooding his shell. Although he could easily control the magic, handling this much Death was too difficult for him.

Kaboom!

“Do you still think I’m joking around?” the creature mocked Gi-Gyu. Gi-Gyu aimed his Death at his opponent, but he missed and struck a wall nearby.

“I think it would be best if I replace you,” the other Gi-Gyu announced as it began moving even faster. By now, Gi-Gyu was covered in blood and cuts. A non-player would have died from this; thankfully, Gi-Gyu was a powerful player, and he still hadn’t received any fatal damages.

But at this rate…

‘I’m going to lose for sure,’ Gi-Gyu thought as panic began to creep up.

“Ah!” exclaimed the shadow when it saw something in Gi-Gyu’s hand. A moment ago, Gi-Gyu couldn’t control his Death, but now, he was holding a sword made of Death. The sword resembled Lou’s sword form.

Gi-Gyu and his shadow self faced each other. The fight was something like black versus white, the real versus the shadow, or the main body versus the avatar. It almost felt like Gi-Gyu was fighting his reflection.

“You’re finally getting it,” the creature commented quietly.

Without a word, Gi-Gyu rushed forward as he swung his sword. An explosion sound filled the area when the two Deaths crashed.

Kaboom!

The sound was almost enough to rip his eardrums, but Gi-Gyu refused to stop. The overflowing magic and Death began to subside a little as the battle continued. This was perfect, as it stabilized Gi-Gyu’s internal condition. After all, taking water from a serene lake was easier than from a flooding river.

Thankfully, Gi-Gyu’s control over his power had increased. While his enemy was undoubtedly his copy, there was still one difference.

“You’re growing.” The dark creature murmured, but Gi-Gyu didn’t bother answering him. All he did was swing his sword while controlling his still-overflowing magic and Death. Gi-Gyu became oblivious of everything except his sword. He continued to receive injuries from his opponent, but Gi-Gyu didn’t back down. In fact…

‘I’ll give him my flesh so that I can take his bones,’ Gi-Gyu thought in determination. He could endure physical pain, but…

“I won’t allow you to impersonate me! And how dare you use Lou like that!” Gi-Gyu screamed as he swung his sword. His consciousness slowly sank; surprisingly, his body moved even faster.

The shadow was also suffering more and more damage from Gi-Gyu’s attacks, seemingly unable to regenerate fast enough. They battled their swords for hours, but Gi-Gyu didn’t find it boring.

Then suddenly, something changed.

The creature’s grin finally fell as it announced, “It might be possible now…”

Boom!

Hearing an explosion, Gi-Gyu hurriedly took a step back.

‘That was close,’ he thought nervously. He didn’t know what had caused the explosion, but he knew he would’ve died had he not evaded it. Unlike the shadow’s other attacks, this explosion was fatal.

The shadow Gi-Gyu smiled and announced, “Now… Shall we begin the second round?”

The creature’s body began to rip apart and flutter like a curtain blowing in the wind. The end product of the transformation was something that utterly enraged Gi-Gyu.

“Wings and El…?!” Gi-Gyu whispered

Grit.

“You bastard!” Gi-Gyu screamed when he saw the creature holding El’s sword form while a set of unique-looking wings grew on its back. The wings resembled those of El’s, but they were black.

Gi-Gyu was bubbling with anger. He felt like something of his was being stolen. It was as if he was being replaced like his existence was perishing.

‘I feel like I’m losing myself,’ Gi-Gyu thought desperately.

Whoosh!

Before the creature made a move, Gi-Gyu rushed forward. Another sword appeared in his empty hand, and he began fighting with two swords like he always did. There were no wings on his back, but…

There was a gray hue in his eyes now.

“How interesting!” the creature screamed gleefully.