Divine Emperor of Death

Myria sneakily sensed her injury that was almost completely healed, deciding to further entertain her fake as she shook her head.

"To risk that is the path of cultivation I took once, but before I could complete that, I was chased down. Now, there is another, perhaps a better path before me. Do you want me to abandon it?"

"Certainly not. However, to acquire chaos, you have to lose something, something extremely precious to-"

The imitation abruptly changed her expression, appearing lonely and pity-inducing.

"Ellia, are you going to let her kill Davis, even us? You've always had the doubt that you might be engulfed one day. Perhaps, that day would come sooner as soon as she beats me and disposes of Davis as a battle between them for the Chaos Essence Orb and a manual to go along with it is inevitable. You would undoubtedly be next since I know you won't acknowledge Myria for killing Davis."

"…"

Myria, or rather Ellia, who was addressed to, seemed like she had no comeback as they stayed rooted to their spot.

However, the expression of the imitation changed again.

"That's a bit hurting, Ellia. You're not truly doubting me, are you?"

"Eh, perhaps… like them!"

"Hehehe~"

It was unknown which of the two fakes was laughing, causing both Myria and Ellia to clench their teeth in rage.

"Shut up, idiot! Just using my face, voice, knowledge, and feelings don't make you any similar to me. You're just a fakeshit imitation of me who only exists within this formation while I do for real!"

"…!"

Two Ellias' simultaneously took up to the stage, glaring at each other vengefully while the imitation appeared to be incensed.

"Now you've done it!"

Reincarnation energy surged like a tidal wave from the fake Ellia, shooting towards Ellia as they turned into six lances of life and death.

"Everlasting Incarnation Barrier!"

Ellia's reincarnation energy surged from her body and formed a triangle-like structure around her. The black and white iridescent hue constantly twisted and churned, exuding life and death on a deeper level, when suddenly a few rays of lance struck the barrier, trembling before piercing through it within a second as the barrier collapsed.

Ellia's panicked expression quickly changed into one of calmness as Myria took over, escaping towards the side. However, she was suddenly blocked by a grinning imitation of herself who clenched her palm against her, abruptly causing her to feel locked down.

"You're millions of years earlier to beat me, Myria. Go increase your prowess before coming to challenge me again, but at that time, I muse you would've already forgotten me and this palace, not to mention the humiliation you received from yourself. Ahahaha!"

*Bang!~*

Myria spat out a mouthful of blood as a giant leg surged from reincarnation energy struck her and sent her flying through the chamber. She struck her own barrier and got sent out flying amidst the stupefied gazes of Davis and the others.

"…"

They watched her hit the wall, spitting another mouthful of blood before sliding down all the way and looking weak, one side of her body being eroded by reincarnation energy as her flesh constantly disappeared.

However, a burst of reincarnation energy quickly came to a stop that mad deterioration and stopped its advance ever so lightly before a pure white light encased her, starting to heal her rapidly. She raised her head amidst the gruesome send-off and saw her imitation fade away amidst the screen of reincarnation, her teeth clenching in intense anger.

On the other hand, Evelynn and the others continued to stare at Myria with wide eyes.

Their conflicting thoughts of having to plunder Myria went puff like smoke as they looked at her bloodied silhouette.

Was that really her? Someone whom even Davis admitted that he couldn't defeat if he used his full prowess unless his luck was really high?

Someone like her was sent flying like a kite that had its strings cut, causing her to look heavily injured?

'That could only mean one thing...'

They instantly thought that the challenge threw an imitation at them that was truly eight levels higher!

Turning to look around, they saw that a huge board with a magnificent aura had suddenly appeared within the back of the chamber.

[Congratulations on failing. It is the first step to conquering yourself, but unfortunately, you only have eight more chances left, making it a total of nine.]

[If you fail the ninth time, you will no longer be yourself. If you fail the eighth time, you can no longer return from the Nine-Treasured Palace, only having the option to challenge the ninth time and win or lose yourself trying. Only before the eighth time could you pull yourself back and return, not to mention that after the fifth time, your life will officially be in danger as your imitation is no longer restricted from killing you unless you give up voluntarily. Moreover, time here moves ten times faster than the outside, so use it to your advantage as much as possible.]

[However, choosing to leave means losing memories of this palace unless someone with you manages to clear this challenge, so choose wisely.]

"…!"

Both Myria and Davis, and even a few others, discovered that this challenge was intended to destroy one's will seamlessly, at the level of the mental realm and even the physical realm. Moreover, challenging the ninth floor for the ninth time and failing to pass it had them reeling in shock as a searing chill shot through their spine.

It could only mean that the imitations derived from the otherworldly formation could take over their bodies, becoming a new version of themselves.

However, after the fifth time challenging the ninth floor, they were allowed to be killed. In that case, would the imitation be already able to take over their body on challenging the sixth time if they got killed?

Realizing the implications, their hearts couldn't help but palpitate with trepidation.

It made them recall the very first warning this palace heeded to them: Greed isn't advised.

In other words, they would be fine as long as they stop at the fifth challenge, but if they didn't and continued until the eighth time, somehow surviving the imitation's onslaught that badly wants to escape this palace, then they would really be done for!