Chapter 422: The Outcome is Decided

“…” The masked Jilannis fell silent for a moment. “You only won this time by a fluke, didn’t you?”

“I am, after all, facing myself,” the Moon Elf didn’t deny it. “I know exactly what my strongest power is. And you were bound to use it unless you planned on fighting me to our mutual destruction.”

It was all part of her plan.

“But it seems this step is now unavoidable,” the masked Jilannis murmured. This was the one scenario she had hoped to avoid, but it seemed all roads now led to this inevitable conclusion.

‘Even fellow disciples from the same sect can’t counter each other’s techniques. How could I possibly defeat myself?!’

“Jilannis, we’ll help you!” Aive said after a glance at Ron for his approval. She then stepped over the captured Vampire Count and went to the Moon Elf’s side.

Although the two Jilannises looked identical, their outfits were completely different, making them easy to tell apart.

“I… I’ll help too!” Anastina declared, gritting her teeth. She moved to stand with them, facing the masked Moon Elf. “I don’t know what’s going on with the two of you, but one of you has to be the evil one! And I’m guessing it’s you!”

“Ah, what an ‘accurate’ guess,” the masked Jilannis said, completely dismissing the Mercenary. While her other self might have cared about Anastina’s feelings, she couldn’t care less. “You’re so clever. No wonder after the fall of the Hailan Empire, you were reduced to being a common Mercenary while those Elf lords were all getting promotions and titles, and the leaders of the other races in the coalition carved out their own kingdoms.”

“Hmm, let me guess. Perhaps they mercifully offered you a job? A minor officer, maybe, a rank or two higher than you held in the resistance? Then they did all sorts of disgusting things that forced you to resign. Are you still wracked with guilt over it? Do you still think it was your fault, that you betrayed your ideals for personal gain?”

“You—Stop it!” Anastina trembled with rage, cutting her off. “You really are the evil one! Your hair may be flawless silver, but your heart is black!”

“I will have vengeance for my fallen comrades!”

“That’s enough, Anastina,” the original Jilannis said, raising a hand. The blade of Silence extended, blocking the enraged Elf Great Swordsman. “If you truly want revenge, then let me handle this. You just need to stand back and watch.”

“Need my help?” Ron asked. “It sounds like she needs to die, and I happen to know some people in that line of work.”

Ron was, of course, referring to the being in the Death Realm; he could still call upon the power of the Gray Mist. In his eyes, the masked Jilannis’s skill in Arcane Magic was already approaching that of the Deities, but he imagined that even she couldn’t easily face the power of a true Deity.

“If you consider your connections a part of your strength, then I have no choice but to break our little understanding,” the masked Moon Elf said, looking slowly at her other self holding the Longsword. “For example… Prayer Magic.”

“Of course, I know you can use it too.”

“You’d really rather we destroy each other?” the original Jilannis frowned. “I don’t recall ever being this extreme!”

“Of course you don’t remember. That part of you is with me,” the masked Moon Elf replied. She glanced at Ron, forcing him to back away in fear of the nearly omnipotent Prayer Magic. Seeing all variables now accounted for, she turned back with satisfaction—only for the tip of Silence, along with the word “Accurate” inscribed on its blade, to be thrust at her face!

‘You’re actually using melee combat?!’

The masked Jilannis’s figure vanished. A moment later, the entire cavern filled with the sounds of the two Moon Elves locked in a furious battle. They were invisible, yet they seemed to be in every corner of the cave at once.

“Upper left! To the right! No, overhead!” the Old Elf called out after begging Victoria for another Healing Potion and chugging it down. He licked the cork with relish, muttering the positions of his two disciples. But whether it was due to his old, dim eyes or a mind that couldn’t keep up, his callouts were always a beat or two late. It was fine for Ron and Silvia, who could follow the action on their own, but the short-statured Delaford was completely lost.

“Are you messing with me, old man?! Where are they even fighting?!” the Goblin Hunter snapped, turning to the Old Elf. “If you can’t see them either, then stop pointing randomly!”

“It’s not that he can’t see, it’s that he can’t keep up,” the Spider Elf sighed. “Jilannis is just so much stronger than us.”

“You two can’t see them?” Ron asked, surprised. “But I can—”

Ron fell silent. He realized that Silvia, whose strength was comparable to his own, also couldn’t track the two Moon Elves. ‘Why am I the only one who can?’

Ron decided to stay quiet and see how things unfolded.

Meanwhile, the battle between Jilannis and herself had reached a fever pitch. Suppressing the urge to use Prayer Magic, the masked Jilannis swung a backhand, creating an illusory blade of force that clashed with Silence.

She knew her other self was also trying to maintain this unspoken agreement. If either of them broke it, never mind how many people would be caught in the crossfire, the one who acted first would immediately be at a disadvantage.

“Haven’t you realized how foolish this is?” the masked Jilannis demanded coldly. Although her opponent had achieved an overwhelming superiority in Martial Arts after more than a century of separation, she still couldn’t convert that advantage into a decisive victory. “This so-called ‘Demon Warrior’ concept of yours is nothing but wishful thinking! A jack of all trades is a master of none! By focusing on a single path, I can achieve the same results!”

“Why don’t you try winning first before you talk like that!” the original Jilannis retorted. With a chant, her Sword-Singing Lion Armor unleashed a volley of magnificent spells. Mixed within them was Silence, weaving with equally varied Magic, like a tiger lying in wait, ready to deal a fatal blow at any moment.

For the moment, the masked Jilannis could hold her own with her immense reserves of Magic. But the instant she tried to conserve her Arcane Magic, she would be defeated. And the original Moon Elf believed that moment was fast approaching.

‘Now!’

In a flash, the masked Jilannis was forced to divert some of her Energy to create a shield against a ray her other self fired from a fingertip. That was the opening the Elf Grand Mage needed. Time suddenly seemed to freeze around her. The ripple of the spell affected her opponent, and as the Time Stop Magic took full effect, the blade of Silence glowed with a brilliant blue light and thrust straight for the throat beneath the mask!