Chapter 794: The Perfect Impostor

The enormous creature stepped off the platform, crushing the reinforced flooring beneath its weight. Thick black blood dripped from its claws, while several mechanical components shifted beneath its fur. Its enormous shoulders rose and fell, accompanied by a deep, distorted breathing sound.

Nikolai watched the creature with narrowed eyes.

’This fucking bastard actually copied my body...’

He could recognise his own bloodline’s presence. However, something about its aura felt wrong. The familiar sensation carried an unpleasant corruption, alongside traces of ancient Nosferatu necromancy.

"You... are... me?"

The creature repeated its earlier question, slowly tilting its enormous head towards Nikolai.

"Like hell you’re anything like me."

Nikolai tightened his fists, extending both blades. His black blood hardened around his forearms, while the surrounding air gradually grew heavier.

"Whatever that bastard made you for..."

He lowered his centre of gravity.

"...I’m going to tear you apart."

Unfortunately, the creature seemed to understand him.

Its enormous jaws opened, revealing several rows of irregular fangs. A disgusting smile spread across its face before the mechanical components along its spine suddenly activated and released a jet of steam from its enormous shoulders.

’What?’

Nikolai barely registered the sudden movement.

BOOOOM!

The operating platform exploded beneath the creature’s feet, sending enormous fragments of metal flying everywhere. Its massive body disappeared from the platform, leaving Nikolai staring at the empty space.

’This fucker is too fast!’

He immediately twisted his upper body sideways.

Both bodies crashed into the walls as an enormous claw passed beside his face, striking the reinforced floor behind him. Several deep fractures spread across the metal, while the resulting shockwave shattered nearby observation windows.

Nikolai immediately counterattacked with his right blade.

SHIIING!

His blood blade sliced through the creature’s shoulder, leaving an enormous wound across its flesh. However, before he could withdraw his weapon, several mechanical cables suddenly burst from the creature’s back.

’What the fuck?!’

Two cables wrapped around Nikolai’s right forearm, while another attempted to pierce his chest.

He quickly severed the approaching cable, but unfortunately, the remaining restraints tightened around his arm as the monster’s enormous fist approached his face.

BANG!

Nikolai raised his free arm defensively, absorbing the tremendous impact against his hardened blood. Nevertheless, the sheer force sent him backwards, smashing through several reinforced laboratory tables.

Broken equipment scattered across the laboratory floor.

"Fucking hell..."

Nikolai rolled onto his knees, coughing once.

’That thing is ridiculously strong...’

Although the attack hadn’t seriously injured him, its physical strength exceeded his initial expectations. Worse, the creature had moved with surprising precision, despite its enormous and seemingly unstable body.

Meanwhile, the monster examined its injured shoulder.

Several thick strands of flesh emerged, gradually pulling the separated muscles together. A dirty, coagulated blood circulated beneath its damaged skin, while something metallic shifted and clicked together inside the wound.

Within seconds, the injury completely disappeared.

’Regeneration too? You’ve got to be kidding.’

Nikolai slowly stood, brushing debris from himself.

The monster watched him with unsettling curiosity.

"Why... do... you... resist?"

Its distorted voice echoed throughout the chamber.

Nikolai frowned at the unexpected question.

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

The creature’s expression suddenly became more animated.

"You... are... defective..."

A strange clicking sound emerged from its throat.

"I... am... perfection."

Nikolai stared at the monstrosity before spitting blood on the floor and shaking his head.

"Franz really did make you an idiot."

The creature released an enormous, furious roar.

ROOOOOAAAAR!

An oppressive wave of corrupted aura erupted, spreading across the laboratory like a violent storm. Several remaining containers shattered beneath the pressure, releasing their disgusting contents onto the floor.

Nikolai immediately recognised something within that aura.

’Devil God’s Howl...?’

His eyes widened slightly at the familiarity.

’No... it’s trying to imitate mine.’

Despite wanting to say it was inferior, the moment it used its ability, Nikolai’s head became blank, as if the force of its howl slammed his brain violently against his skull.

However, the technique lacked its original refinement.

Instead of concentrating its destructive force, the creature released everything without restraint. The surrounding machinery suffered tremendous damage, while Nikolai remained standing beneath its pressure.

’So that’s how you want to fight?’

His expression gradually became more serious.

"Fine. I’ll show you the difference."

Nikolai spread his enormous black claws.

A dense, black aura surrounded his body, gradually spreading across the damaged laboratory floor. Unlike the creature’s violent outburst, his power remained concentrated around his limbs.

’Obsidian Focus.’

His surroundings suddenly became exceptionally clear.

Every movement of the creature’s muscles appeared sharper, while the mechanical components within its shoulders became easier to distinguish.

More importantly, he noticed something peculiar.

’Those machines aren’t strengthening it constantly...’

Several faint mechanical clicks accompanied each movement.

’They’re activating whenever it attacks.’

The creature suddenly lunged towards him again.

BOOOOM!

Its enormous fist descended towards Nikolai’s head.

This time, he didn’t retreat. Instead, Nikolai stepped forward and twisted sideways, allowing the massive fist to pass over his shoulder. His right blade immediately swept upwards, slicing through the creature’s exposed forearm.

Black blood splashed across his face.

Before the monster could recover, Nikolai drove his left claw directly into its abdomen.

CRUNCH!

Several reinforced bones shattered beneath the impact.

"ARGHHHH!"

The creature roared, staggering several metres backwards, but Nikolai refused to give it space again. He immediately pursued, swinging his enormous claws repeatedly. Each attack tore through the creature’s flesh, leaving several deep wounds across its shoulders and chest.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

Unfortunately, the wounds began regenerating almost immediately.

’Tch... This regeneration is fucking annoying.’

The creature suddenly caught Nikolai’s approaching wrist.

Its enormous fingers tightened around his arm.

"CAUGHT... YOU!"

Nikolai’s expression darkened as the monster grinned.

Then its mechanical spine suddenly began glowing.

’Shit!’

An enormous force erupted through its arm, and Nikolai was blown off his feet, sent flying across the laboratory, crashing through a reinforced observation window. His enormous body struck the opposite wall, leaving a deep crater within the concrete.

Several broken cables fell around his shoulders.

"...Guh!"

He slowly pulled himself from the wall.

’That fucking thing...’

His left arm hung unnaturally beside him.

Several bones had shattered beneath the impact, and thick blood leaked from his damaged shoulder. Yet he just grabbed his broken arm, and Crack! With a sudden twist and push, the bones reconnected, rapidly starting to fuse together once again.

He glanced towards his injured arm.

Black blood flowed around the damaged flesh, gradually pulling the shattered bones back together.

Within moments, his fingers began moving again.

’At least my regeneration still works.’

Nikolai flexed his recovering hand, then raised his head to see the motionless creature standing across the destroyed laboratory. Its enormous chest rose and fell, while several damaged mechanical components released streams of white steam.

The monster wasn’t attacking anymore and just silently watched Nikolai.

"Why... won’t... you... die?"

Nikolai slowly approached the broken observation window.

"Because you’re fighting the original, bastard."

The creature’s black eyes suddenly widened.

Then its enormous body began trembling.

Several mechanical components shifted beneath its skin, while thick veins spread across its shoulders.

’Something’s changing...’

Nikolai immediately stopped walking.

An unpleasant sensation spread through his chest.

The monster’s enormous muscles suddenly began contracting, forcing several metallic implants beneath its flesh.

Its spine arched backwards, accompanied by several disgusting snapping sounds. Thick black blood erupted from its mouth, spilling across the damaged floor. But rather than weakening, its aura intensified.

’What the hell is happening now?’

The creature’s enormous body began shrinking. Its previously distorted facial features gradually changed, becoming increasingly similar to Nikolai’s own appearance. Even its enormous claws became more refined.

’Don’t tell me...’

’It’s adapting to my fighting style?’

The creature raised its head towards him.

For the first time, its expression resembled something genuinely human.

"...Nikolai."

Its voice sounded considerably clearer.

Then a disgusting smile appeared.

"I understand now."

The monster slowly raised its right arm. Thick black blood emerged from its fingertips, spreading across its forearm before hardening into an enormous twisted blade almost exactly like Nikolai’s blood blades.

"...You’ve got to be fucking kidding."

The creature tilted its head slightly.

"Let’s try that again."

And without another warning, both figures disappeared.

BOOOOOOM!

The entire laboratory shook violently as two enormous blades of black aura collided, sending a destructive shockwave through the surrounding machinery. For the first time since entering the facility, Nikolai realised something genuinely troublesome.

"Shit..."

Nikolai stood, holding his right arm.

Or at least, where his right arm had existed a few seconds ago, now... a bloody stump oozing more and more of his precious blood.

The monster seemed to have given up just copying Nikolai and went all in on trying to take his place and completely fill the role of ’Nikolai’ himself.

"Doctor Franz, you really fucking outdid yourself with this monster..."

Nikolai narrowed his eyes, their dark sheen flickering in the gloomy laboratory as he stalked his enemy.

The monstrosity stood with barely any damage.

Instead, the white steam constantly healed and replaced any damaged parts, now with an almost completely mechanical left arm... it sneered at the original. It opened its mouth with a mocking yet human tone.

"Give up, Original... there can only be one...!"