Iode and Max crossed swords, each trying to dominate the other—but the vampire seemed to have the upper hand.
Iode pulled back his sword and took a step backward before lunging forward with a fierce strike.
He slashed at Max twice. The vampire blocked both effortlessly. Seeing this, Iode changed tactics, speed-blitzing across the alley, vanishing and reappearing at unpredictable angles before striking down hard.
"Caesar once told me I was as fast as lightning… but it seems I've met someone who definitely outmatches me in speed," Iode thought.
Max continued blocking each blow. Despite being on the defensive, he remained calm—even bored. Then, he took a decisive step, leaping at the same moment Iode struck. With great agility and grace, Max twisted his body in midair and appeared behind Iode, ready to slash.
But even though Max was faster, it didn't mean Iode couldn't catch up—to some extent.
Where Iode's sword style was sharp, fast, and aggressive, Max's was fluid and rhythmic, almost dance-like. Every attack Iode made—no matter how swift or precise—was met with a seamless parry or evasion. Max always seemed one step ahead.
"I like your swordsmanship," Max said mid-combat. "It's aggressive and domineering, yet precise. Unlike mine, which favors defense and strikes only when the moment's right. I'd love to learn it."
Iode frowned, curling his lips. Max's style, while appearing defensive, was deceptively offensive—turning parries into counters with perfect timing. Each move was graceful, calculated, and flowed like water. It frustrated Iode to no end.
'It's clear we're both holding back… but still, why is there such a gap between us? I don't remember struggling this much with Dagon and Kaisellin—even before I activated Clairvoyance of Flaw,' Iode thought.
Glancing around, he noted the tall buildings lining the alley—perfect terrain to combine his speed with his aggressive style. Without hesitation, he sprang into motion, bouncing from wall to wall like a coiled spring. His speed became a blur, a gust of moving wind. Each strike came from a new angle, targeting Max's weak points.
Despite blocking most of the strikes, Max occasionally bled from a few grazes—but they healed quickly.
Enduring Iode's relentless assault without retaliating seriously, Max eventually grew tired of it. He activated his blood power—blood rose from his hand and coiled around his torso, forming a perfect circular ring. Then came a pulse of red aura that burst outward, sending shockwaves through the air and pushing Iode back.
As Iode stumbled, something gripped his ankle, yanking him skyward before slamming him down with brutal force. He hit the ground hard, creating a crater in his own shape. Pain exploded through his body.
The grip loosened, and Iode slowly got to his feet. Max now stood proudly, red eyes glowing. Surrounding him was blood-like liquid that twisted into tentacles, circling around him protectively.
"You know," Max said, "I can tell you're holding back your true power. I get it—you don't want to raise an alarm. But you must realize it's doing you more harm than good. Why don't you shift to the next gear—if you want to stand a chance against me?"
"I don't need to," Iode smirked. "I've already won."
"Huh?" Max said, puzzled. Then he felt it—a sudden, sharp strike piercing from his back through to his chest.
His eyes widened in shock as he looked down to see a sword sticking out from his chest—right at the heart.
'When… did he—'
Max saw Iode grinning in front of him. But instead of cursing or panicking, Max… smirked.
"You got me… but not entirely," he said. Suddenly, his body dissolved into mist, then a swarm of bats that swirled around Iode, obscuring his vision. Iode raised his hands to shield his face as the bats flew past him in a storm.
When the last bat vanished, Iode uncovered his face and turned around—only to see Max standing there again, smirking mockingly.
[Target flaw: Doppelgänger Clone – a clone made in the exact image of the owner. Possesses the same powers but is weaker.
Flaw: Obeys and follows only its master. Can only operate within a specific distance from the master. Shares the same weaknesses.]
"What? That was a clone? I couldn't tell—it even had the same core as the original! What kind of sorcery did he use to achieve this?" Iode said, astonished.
"But… where's the real one?" he muttered, looking around. All he could see were bats hanging upside down along the alley walls.
"Have those bats been there the whole time? What a silly trick—does he think I wouldn't notice? He's probably one of them," Iode muttered, then fired energy blasts from his fingertips. Some bats were hit and fell, while others scattered.
"Did he figure out that version of me was a clone? How? Is it those eyes of his?" Max whispered, squatting on a shadowed wall, hidden from Iode's view.
Suddenly, police sirens wailed in the distance—growing louder until flashing red and blue lights filled the alley's entrance.
Max's clone grabbed Iode's arm.
"Come on. The police are a pain in the arse if you get caught," it said.
The officers exited their vehicles, guns drawn. As they entered the alley, they were stunned by what they found—craters, deep gashes, shattered concrete, and scorched walls.
"...What the hell happened here?"