Chapter 69: Crystal Forest Part - 5

Moving among the branches, shifting from shadow to shadow, Noir was looking for a way to land a decisive blow on his crystal doppelganger. He knew he couldn’t copy all of his abilities.

There’s still a chance he might use Dragon Language; after all, it’s one of his racial traits, and the young dragon knows himself all too well to realize that it wouldn’t be long before he used that magic—and his copy probably wouldn’t either.

’Do I have to find a way to trick him and finish him off in one blow?’ Noir stepped out of the shadows and barely had time to react.

Crystal Noir was already standing right in front of him; a bluish claw came crashing down directly toward his head.

The young dragon ducked to the side, dodging the attack with pinpoint precision.

The claw struck the ground. Shards of crystal flew off in all directions.

Noir took advantage of the movement and spun on one leg. His tail struck the replica’s side with great force.

CRASH!

The crystal dragon was sent flying several meters, destroying crystal bushes and branches that shattered everywhere.

And another thing he had noticed was that his copy’s mana reserves were much greater than his own, as if the dungeon itself were supplying it with mana so it could keep up.

’I have to take out that copy quickly.’ Noir didn’t give him time to recover; he spread his wings and his body shot forward, his dark claws glinting.

The two claws collided. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the forest, and shards of crystal flew everywhere.

Noir stepped back.

So did the copy.

For a moment, the two stood motionless.

Then... they both smiled.

Crystal Noir charged. Noir did the same; both vanished from their positions.

They met in the center.

Claw against claw.

The blows came so fast that even Arlene had trouble keeping track of them.

Noir spun around and unleashed a mana-charged kick. This battle was gradually honing his combat skills.

The copy reacted quickly and blocked the young black dragon’s powerful attack.

The impact sent them both flying apart.

Noir spread his wings with the elegance and majesty befitting a true dragon, whose presence, despite his playful mood, remained imposing.

The copy did the same. And the creature charged once more.

Noir waited, watching as the powerful attack drew ever closer, while the mana emanating from the claw distorted the air.

And at the last moment, the young dragon melted into the shadows, and the copy passed right over him. He emerged from it and spun around, lashing out with a claw toward its back.

CRACK!

A new mark appeared on the crystal copy. But the copy didn’t stop and spun mid-air; it struck Noir’s chest with its tail.

The young dragon shot forward. He tore through a small cluster of crystalline trees, rolled several meters across the white grass, and slowly rose to his feet. One of his scales was slightly cracked.

’Hit hard.’

The copy was already in front of him, and he opened his mouth again.

Noir immediately felt the heat.

A blue light appeared in the crystalline throat.

Noir spread his wings and attacked with his dragon’s breath as well.

FWOOSH!

The two breaths collided. A blue stream and a red stream met in the middle of the forest.

BOOOOOOM!

The explosion shook the trees.

Noir was knocked backward. His paws left two long gouges in the ground.

The copy also stumbled backward.

Noir narrowed his eyes as his mind raced.

’The same power.’

Noir extended a claw, and several of his scales turned gray; he had activated his [Stone Hide] ability.

And, of course, the Crystal Noir cannot copy abilities obtained through Devourer. He stood watching, bracing himself for the worst.

Noir smiled. He lunged forward.

So did the copy.

The collision was brutal.

The crystalline claw struck Noir’s chest.

CLANG!

But this time... Noir barely moved.

The copy seemed surprised.

"What’s going on?"

Noir sank his claws into the crystalline shoulder.

"Can’t you use it?"

The copy tried to back away, but it was too late; the young black dragon spun around with his whole body.

BOOM!

The crystal dragon was hurled forward and crashed through three trees, while more cracks appeared on its body and spread further. Finally, it crashed into a massive crystalline formation.

CRACK!

The copy’s body was now covered with many more cracks than the ones Noir had caused.

The young black dragon’s expression began to change; he’d seen enough of his own copy; the time had come to finish it off, making the most of his abilities.

"Ahora es mi turno."

And he vanished in the blink of an eye; the copy spun around immediately, but found nothing.

Noir appeared from behind and struck with a powerful punch; his claw was covered in a dark glow.

The copy was sent flying, unable to react to the young dragon’s speed, as he had vanished once again.

Noir moved from shadow to shadow, attacking as he went, leaving the crystal Noir no chance whatsoever; the crystal Noir took every blow without being able to defend itself.

The young dragon appeared in front of the copy; he already understood it well enough to allow himself the luxury of speaking.

"You know what the worst part is?"

The creature raised its head.

Noir’s red eyes glowed.

"That I know exactly what you’re going to do."

Crystal Noir opened its mouth.

So did Noir.

Both prepared [Dragon Breath].

But this time, Noir didn’t wait; he vanished into the shadows.

The copy launched the attack.

The blue fire shot through the space.

Noir appeared above its head.

"Too slow!"

He swooped down with both claws.

CRASH!

The impact slammed the copy into the ground. A huge crack spread beneath its body.

Noir landed on its back.

The creature tried to get up.

Noir sank a claw into its chest.

"It’s over."

The copy began to crack.

First the chest, then the arms. The cracks spread across its neck, its face. Its entire body.

Noir withdrew his claw.

The Crystal Noir slowly raised its head. For a moment, they stared at each other.

Then...

CRACK!

The crystalline body exploded. Thousands of blue shards were hurled through the forest.

Noir stood motionless as the crystals slowly fell around him, and a satisfied smile spread across his face.

"That was pretty good."