“Max…” The mass within the [Knight] spoke, its voice like a wet rag being rung out, “It has been too long…”

Max swallowed his fear, resounding himself with foolish confidence, “Nix. Or do you prefer Arthur?”

Nix chuckled a dull and sarcastic low hum. It flopped out of the [Knight]’s skin, falling the short distance from her chest to the ground. The [Doppelganger] looked as it were melting, like ice cream on a hot day. The mass of grey-transparent skin formed together in a tight ball before stretching out and speaking again.

“Arthur… was weak. Very weak. Not even worthy of a spot within my trophy ring.”

Max’s attention was drawn to Nix’s arm, rather tentacle. It slithered with a thin layer of goo and ooze, as it shifted a solid black, impossibly black, ring back and forth. The [Space Mage] could instantly recognize the lines of odd space coming from the item. It was an inventory ring.

Nix activated the ring’s store-hold, causing a severed arm to appear. It was long and slender, dark skinned with a plethora of ornate jewelry. A moment later, the arm had disappeared into the [Doppelganger]’s body, producing a boom of mana.

Max and Emi both tried to move, along with the dozens of guards on the wall, but found themselves unable to. The feeling of unforsakable charm lingered in everyone’s minds. It wasn’t that they couldn’t move, it was that they didn’t want to.

Nix absorbed the arm, activating his class’s namesake ability. Within seconds, the once blob of transmuted flesh began to sprout anew. It started around its eyes, forming like smoldering fire powered by a gentle breeze. Soon, Nix’s whole head was replaced by active skin and bone, reforming into a face.

The skin continued to spread, reaching down its spine and connecting along its tentacle like legs. The skin then blossomed into a suit, wrapping around Nix’s whole body like gauze around a mummy. Pigment came next, turning this new body into something alive. Veins began to circulate, pumping blood to mimic real life.

As clothes formed and the hold on the onlookers faded, Nix stretched in its new skin. He reveled in the euphoria of a long dead man, one that held many powerful and secretive magics.

The air picked up, whistling and quieting with Nix’s every move. Wind sung through the movements like a conductor instructing their orchestra. Every flick of the wrist, every spasm of the leg. Then it shuttered. Hard and without reservation. Its trophy had finished absorbing, rebirthing the [Doppelganger] in a new body fresh with a mana system waiting to be played with.

A blade of black wind whipped through the air, its target the ever so clever Lost Lord.

Max and Emi had been struggling against the mind controlling effect but were able to break the last of its hold by piggy backing each other’s emotions off each other. The outcome was usually ill advised but having felt the emotional loop of negative feelings before, the pair quickly capped their bond before issue arose.

Ferocity and anger echoed in both of their minds, however. The battle before them needed it.

Max gripped Emi and teleported, moving towards the reborn mage with deadly intent.

Beams of water blasted out from three Sentry Orbs, each scalding hot and brimming with added sediment while a sheering blade flung forward with the cold of an endless winter. Together the duo sprung their attack in a collage of mana and spray.

Max cut with all the force he could muster while Emi’s beams drilled with the force of a cannon. The air shifted, dragging up dead leaves and sticks. They rotated around the battle field, twisting into a small tornado.

At this point, the stronger of the guards had broken free from their restraints and a fire at will command had been issued. Arrows, some magical others benign, littered the air space above the city’s gates. Distant horns were sounding, an emergency notice for the citizens of Zulin.

The arrows were pulled off course and added deadly fuel to the growing tornado. Nix channeled their mana reserves sending a shockwave of air out from around him like a jet starting its turbines.

Max and Emi were flung away, both teleporting a distance and resetting their mana. Their attacks had caused some damage, but nothing broke bones or damaged the true Nix. Frankly this surprised both of them, but that only meant they were punching above their weight.

For a brief moment the duo thought about running away, but they quickly squashed that notion. They were here to help, not cause a city’s roundabout destruction.

Hails of rocketing magical projectiles blasted through the harsh winds originating from the walls. The message of imminent death had been sounding and reinforcements of all kinds had accepted the call. Mages pooled their mana together, attacking in volleys that blotted out the night sky in waves of colorful mystique.

Nix simply moved his hand, calling the tornado’s aid. Darts of wind shot from the imposter’s will, cutting deep into the walls and sending chunks of stone crumbling to the ground. Multiple screams sounded, some blood curdling, others none responsive as a last breath.

Max and Emi reappeared next to the mass murderer, both attacking with high thrust. Needles of ice created a pin cushion, each stabbing deep into the stuffing of the bag of flesh that was called Nix. Some broke against bone, others glided along ribs or through gaps in the shoulder bones. But none went far enough to harm the true parasite.

Again Nix created a shock wave of black wind. Ice needles sprung back, some cutting into the Lost Lord and little monster. Max teleported away in a rough rush as his ears began to bleed from the sudden pressure change.

Water surged forward, healing both of their wounds not a moment later.

This isn’t working. He said to Emi.

Hit harder. She said back.

Any ideas? All of the needles I made were as detailed as I could make them. I think I used too much mana, actually.

Max activated the auto equip feature of his inventory, switching to his best mana regeneration apparel.

We need to harden our ice. Emi said knowing that the pair struggled with Vel’s teaching of making ‘water as hard as stone.’

Mages had virtually one way to increase their power after general stat buffs such as potions, levels, class abilities, and or enchanted clothing, and that was additive casting. The idea was to mutate a spell’s mana into that of another kind. In this case, as most mages do, changing spells to be similar in constitution to that of stone.

The only issue was that Max and Emi never really learned how to do such a thing. Sure, they had learned the theory behind it, but never once were successful. There were plenty of reasons the duo blamed for the lack of results, but in the end, none of that mattered. Not now, at least.

Max mused an idea; one he knew would get him called crazy by certain individuals.

What if I use my aura on our spells? Like how that [Lancer] augmented his weapon.

Truthfully, he had no idea if this was even possible… But then again, very little seemed impossible when it came to magic. The uniqueness of this idea also clutched at the fact that Max was the only person that was able to use aura as a mage. Of course there maybe others, but they chose to remain hidden under the Mage Guild and Divine Church’s watchful eye.

Can you figure out how to do that? Emi said back. Quickly?

Max swapped back to his Intelligence increasing robes, his mana having returned to full. No idea. I’ve never tried it. It may be a lost cause trying to figure it out during battle… But at the same time, aura reacts emotionally. This may actually be the best time.

Dust rose with the wind, blanketing the wall behind a curtain of dirt and sediment. The hail of attacks ended under the newfound blindness, casting the battle field in an eerie silence. Nix strolled forward, stepping around the tornado with an odd glee to his step.

The man Nix wore smiled with crazed intent, his teeth bared and glistening white. As the man’s skin was stretched and used, a ghoulish forbearance lifted into the surroundings. It was like Nix wanted the battle, like it wanted the thrill.

It didn’t speak but it gathered mana and pushed the atmosphere – all with an ominous smile, knowing that the guards on the wall had no actionable way to help.

The air stilled as the tornado began to fade. Nix held its hands out like asking for an offering, creating a dark orb of air. It rotated at high speeds, condensing and rebuffing itself over and over again. As the spell formed, the air gently picked up, but only around its caller.

A stream of air picked up the member of Vast Empire, pulling it into the air. Nix began to circulate mana, drifting through the air in coordination.

Max’s mind reeled as he tried to remember fighting a flying enemy. He had killed a few, but the one that stood out was the butterfly queen he had created and used Accelerate on to bombard the monster from afar. This would be a good plan, except that Nix was in a Human sized body, not a massive butterfly.

Still, that left him with an idea.

Nix fired the orb of air and Max easily dodged with a short teleport. He and Emi appeared underneath the [Doppelganger], firing off spells straight into the air. The projectiles flickered slightly as they entered and exited an acceleration gate, blasting away with great speeds.

A few rapidly spinning Water Scythes sliced into Nix’s skin suit, but most of the projectiles missed. That is, until Max wrapped them in space mana and they disappeared. Two Ice Lances and a single chain of water appeared horizontally in relation to Nix, each carrying the momentum of Accelerate.

The chain broke the bulk of the flight’s slipstream, allowing the two Ice Lances unmolested travel. The first lance Max ignored, focusing intently on the second. He reached out and gently touched upon the projectile with Divine aura. A single drop of his Divine constitution fluttered into the ice just before it pierced into Nix.

The first Ice Lance landed, driving through the [Doppelganger]’s outstretched hand and out its elbow. The second, the aura augmented of the two, flew true. That was until Nix’s bleeding arm sent out a pulse of compressed air. The shockwave radiated out, shaking the far off trees and breaking apart all ice and water projectiles.

Nix was sweating, however – the spell had cost a lot.

Still smeared with a smirk, it laughed a thuggish and deranged tune. It turned towards Max and Emi and blasted forward, flying with great speed and an outstretched arm. Air twisted around the ground, pushing the Lost Lord towards the enemy.

Max saw a chance.

He teleported above the spot he disappeared from, and just like when fighting against the magma wyrms, landed on top of Nix. Together with Emi, the duo peppered into the [Doppelganger] as range was no longer an issue.

Emi’s Sentry Orbs sprayed with unmet and unending reservation while she herself created a storm of ice daggers. Max sacrificed potential bodily harm to slam Nix into the ground, knowing that another shockwave could be critical.

He poured water through a portal, giving himself and his bond infinite ammunition while wetting the enemy in a deluge. The water froze, limiting Nix’s movement and chaining it to the ground.

Dozens of small wounds appeared on the imposter’s back, neck, and thighs. But a slight shift in the air warned imminent danger.

The air began to vibrate, forcing Max to pull Emi close and teleport. They appeared a good distance away from the chained suit of water and watched all their progress disappear in a dark shockwave of splitting air.

Ready? Emi asked, holding a perfectly detailed Ice Lance just past her shoulder.

Max concentrated, learning from his past attempt. He knew manipulating aura was similar to mana, at least if Burk was to believe, so he thought of this experiment as just another spell. He imagined aura floating through the air, mimicking the metaphorical drop of Divine power as an actual drop of water.

The drop combined into the Ice Lance without impediment or resistance, like its proper home was within the frozen mana. Unlike the last attempt, Max didn’t stop there. He pushed the drop to the tip, bolstering the point in a cast of reinforced steel. Or rather, something that transcended steel. Something not of Earth, something magical, something powerful.

Go! Max yelled through the shared bond, aiding his partner in flinging the spell with as great of speed as possible.

The Ice Lance rocketed through the air like a bullet during a hurricane. The wedge shape split the wall of resistance that was black air, ripping through all of Nix’s magic like it was nothing. At some point, the lance entered an acceleration gate and disappeared. It emerged behind the [Doppelganger] having been teleported.

Nix outstretched its hand in preparation, but the sudden feint caused a missed timed shockwave. The blast tilted the lance’s point down but didn’t stop it from piercing into the glorified puppet.

The Ice Lance didn’t hit the target in the intended spot, however it still penetrated through skin and bone, rupturing into Nix’s real body.

A guttural scream sounded as grey-transparent flesh slithered out of the meat bag. The moment it did, the air went soft. The wall of dust fell, allowing Zulin’s guards proper view.

A few mages fired off their held spells, but the same charming control landed over the battle field. All were caught in the [Doppelganger]’s ability, even Max and Emi who were filled with adrenaline.

Nix muttered and locked eyes with Max, “Wind this wind that, weak! Weak! The Beast won’t like that, it was a good arm, powerful, pretty. Punishable, blood needed. The whispers are growing…”

A severed foot had appeared in Nix’s arm-tentacle, absorbing into its slick skin just like before. Soon, a face grew over its pale-yellow eyes, along with a torso and legs. Clothes came next, solid black leather armor, the kind used for stealth and assassinations. Finally, a single edged sword grew from the fresh body’s hand. It was overly long but looked as light as a feather – but sharp as a razor.

The puppet was a female [Assassin].

Max didn’t forget this time; he Inspected the monster before him.

Doppelganger

Level 188

That caused the Lost lord to pause – that was, if he wasn’t stunned, Nix is a monster, not a person. It’s not Human, or Elvish, or Dwarven. It’s a sentient monster.

Like me. Emi spoke back with a growl, fighting the invisible restraints.

Nix is nothing like you.

Emi didn’t respond but sent a mental smile and hug. The feeling was nice, even though the situation was a bit alarming.

We need a plan this time. The aura Ice lance seemed to work, but this body looks fast. I’m not sure if we will have an easy shot. Max said.

Fast? Won’t it just fly?

I don’t think so. As soon as Nix jumped out of the mage’s body, the wall of dust faded. I think-

Emi cut him off. That Nix can use the host-body’s abilities and talents.

Exactly. So, how do we fight a fast-looking [Assassin]. Mist?

Mist, and we separate once obscured.

Max hesitated. Can you teleport in time if it finds you?

Yes.

Okay, I’ll try to get the inventory ring before it can take another body part.

Brimming with confidence, the duo broke free of their charmed state, just in time for Nix to take a couple practice swings.

The Doppelganger curled its toes as it hammered an overhead swing down. It only moved a single step, but the movement was reminiscent of Bishop’s title – Arc Flash. Nix didn’t move with electricity or lightning, but rather was easily able to encapsulate the end goal - to move fast. Very fast.

But that left Max and Emi with a bit of a smile. They had trained with Bishop, and Reep to a lesser extent, for a long while at this point. They were used to fast opponents, and they had already worked out a decent plan. Now the only thing left was to execute.

Mist rose from the ground as Emi’s influence extended across the area in front of the city gates. The spell marked Nix as an enemy, producing mist for an infinite duration as long as it was within and as long as fuel remained. It would take a few minutes for the mist to take full effect, which meant dodging and running.