Chapter 63 – Duel Against Myself
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A Clash Beyond Logic
The golden void blade slashed down—
Luo Fan barely twisted his body, the edge missing him by a hair's breadth.
BOOM!
The air exploded, the force of the swing carving a deep scar into the shattered ruins.
Luo Fan's breath hitched. Too fast. Too powerful.
> "Oh fantastic," EchoStar deadpanned. "You're fighting yourself. I guess this is self-improvement… the hard way?"
Luo Fan ignored it.
His double's eyes gleamed. "Still slow."
He vanished.
Luo Fan's instincts screamed—
He raised his arm just in time—
CLANG!
Blade met blade. Sparks erupted.
Luo Fan skidded back, his entire arm numb.
> He's stronger than me…?
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EchoStar's Sarcasm Hits Hard
> "So. Let's go over the situation, shall we?"
> "You are fighting a version of yourself that never forgot."
> "He is stronger, faster, and—oh!—has all your techniques at full power."
> "…Meanwhile, YOU are running on tutorial-level stats."
> "Conclusion? You are—how do I put this delicately—absolutely, gloriously screwed."
Luo Fan exhaled. "Not helping."
> "Oh no, I'm helping! I'm providing moral support. See? 'Go, Luo Fan, go!'"
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The Unavoidable Truth
His double stood calmly, blade resting on his shoulder.
> "You're realizing it, aren't you?"
> "The multiverse may have changed."
> "Your cultivation may have reset."
> "But me?"
He raised his free hand—
And reality shuddered at his presence.
> "…I never weakened."
Luo Fan's grip tightened.
> He's… beyond me?
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Xiao Ling's Desperate Warning
Xiao Ling's spectral form flickered beside him.
> "Luo Fan, listen to me!"
> "This battle—"
She faltered.
Her expression shifted.
> "No… this trial… it's not just about winning."
Luo Fan's heart pounded.
> "If you fight him as you are now… you will lose."
His double smirked.
> "Exactly."
He vanished again—
Luo Fan's body moved before his mind could process—
CLANG!
Another collision. Another burst of shockwaves ripping apart the already broken land.
Luo Fan's feet dug into the ground. Barely holding.
> I'm being pushed back…
> By myself.
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EchoStar's "Genius" Plan
> "Okay, so, clearly, this is bad."
> "But!"
> "Hear me out."
> "…Have you tried… I don't know… not fighting yourself?"
Luo Fan almost lost his grip.
> "What kind of advice is that?!"
> "I'm just saying, this isn't a normal fight! Maybe punching yourself in the face isn't the best solution?"
His double suddenly stopped.
Luo Fan hesitated.
…Why did he stop?
His double's golden void blade dimmed.
> "So, you finally understand."
> "This fight isn't about defeating me."
His double's expression shifted.
> "…It's about remembering me."
Luo Fan's eyes widened.
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[To Be Continued...]