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Creating some distance from the three beside him, Victor Wang stepped between the two groups and closed his eyes in thought.
This mysterious space possessed not only the ability to manipulate space and time, but also the ability to read the memories of those trapped within it—and to create things out of thin air based on those memories.
The things it had created included: the fake Yaksha Bosacius, the Fantastic Compass, the Treasure Hoarders Yanfei once encountered, and the very things each person feared most.
The fake Bosacius lacked the original's full power, yet still managed to injure Xiao.
The copied Fantastic Compass was also formidable; the only reason the group had escaped before was because it behaved normally.
So, creating clones with complete memories and partial strength of the originals would naturally be no challenge for this space.
As for why it hadn't created clones earlier, it was likely because everyone had stayed together. Whether they encountered a whole copied team or individual copies, fighting them immediately would have ended things quickly.
But with the arrival of Viktor Wang—a new variable—the three clones were likely created specifically to deceive him…
The clones' strength was just enough that a slight lapse could lead to a reversal. Without fighting to the end, distinguishing real from fake would be nearly impossible. And if he judged incorrectly, the entire team could be wiped out.
"Brother Victor! You said it before—a man's friendship is as unbreakable as diamond, you can't doubt me!"
"Bah! You impostor! The friendship between me and Brother Victor is also unbreakable as diamond!"
"You two, stop arguing. I can tell who's real. Just listen first."
Both Arataki Itto folded their arms and hmph'd at the same time, glaring at each other. Their expressions, movements, little habits—all exactly the same.
"I'll ask you," Victor Wang looked toward the newly arrived three, "how did you get here?"
"I—"
"Let me answer, boss."
The new Kuki Shinobu stopped the new Arataki Itto from speaking and gave the same explanation.
While she spoke, the old Arataki Itto's expression became wonderfully complex—because he had heard this exact speech not long ago.
Not a word was different.
The new Arataki Itto's story about upsetting the Millelith was the same, caused by scaring a child. The new Yanfei's reason for coming—the will—was identical as well. Even the little complaints and helpless expressions Yanfei had used earlier were perfectly imitated.
"It seems the creator of the clones has read our memories."
With this, Victor Wang pointed out the obvious conclusion to the real three. This was within his expectations. However, both teams' arrival differed from what he remembered. Even if Lumine wasn't with them, where had Yelan—who should've stopped outsiders from entering the Chasm—gone?
"I'm the real one!"
"I'm the real one!!"
"I'm the real one!"
"I am the real one!!"
"Stop, stop—enough! My head's going to explode…"
"But Victor, you saw it yourself! There's no telling who's real! Just step aside and let me finish off that impostor!"
"You impostor, where'd you get the confidence? I'm the real one! Of course my strength is greater than yours! Victor, move—let me duel him as the representative!"
"Actually, I have another way to tell, but I'll need your cooperation."
"What? Why didn't you say so earlier? I'll definitely cooperate!"
"That's right! Whatever you need—just tell us!"
Victor Wang took out the [Endless Thirst] and gestured to both sides. "I have a treasured artifact here. Whoever this goblet can take in is real. Whoever it cannot take in is fake. Since neither of you object, when I call your name—no matter what you sense—don't resist."
"Boss…?"
Both Kuki Shinobus called out in worry. They couldn't be sure of Victor Wang's authenticity, so naturally they didn't dare trust him easily.
Both Yanfeis watched the goblet with interest. It reminded them of Sub-Space Creation; they more or less guessed what Victor Wang intended.
Both Arataki Itto nodded confidently. If anyone else were here, they might not have dared trust Victor Wang, whose identity remained uncertain. But Arataki Itto was Arataki Itto.
Victor Wang first raised the goblet toward the old Arataki Itto and shouted, "Arataki Itto!"
"Here!"
The old Arataki Itto vanished.
Victor Wang then turned to the new one. "Arataki Itto!"
"I'm here too!"
The new Arataki Itto vanished as well.
"…Seriously?" Sensing the suicidal eagerness of the new Arataki Itto's response, Victor Wang sighed. "Does it really imitate him that stupidly? If I were the clone, I'd have attacked immediately."
Seeing this, the new Yanfei realized things were bad. She shoved the new Kuki Shinobu aside—and their expressions instantly twisted, their refined faces filling with malice and shadows as flames and lightning rushed toward Victor Wang.
Dodging, Victor Wang tossed the soaked old Arataki Itto out from the goblet. Even though he had cleared one percent of the goblet's inner space beforehand, the remaining ninety-nine percent was still seawater—hardly suitable for holding a person.
"Ptooey, ptooey! It's all water inside! Why didn't you warn me?!"
"There wasn't time."
"So now you know I'm the real one! I told you I was!"
"Fakes say that too."
"Where'd that guy go?"
"He's already gone."
The three newcomers were fakes; the three who had entered the domain with him were real.
"Whoa! They're mad now! Watch me thrash the fake Shinobu!"
"Boss… don't tell me you always wanted to do that?!"
"Ahahaha—as if! I'm angry because she dared imitate you! And that fake benefactor—daring to imitate my benefactor—she needs a beating too!"
"I'll deal with my own copy. Let's see how much of my skill she managed to learn."
Kuki Shinobu and Yanfei joined the battle, and with superior numbers, the two clones were quickly defeated.
Once things settled, Kuki Shinobu asked, "So what's going on?"
"The principle is probably simple. Let me guess?"
Yanfei attempted to answer: "Since the clones were created by this space, they can only survive in this space. And since Victor's goblet is some kind of Sub-Space artifact, the interior belongs to another separate space. Once the clones enter that space, they lose their energy source and disappear."
Arataki Itto stared in disbelief. "That's it? That simple?!"
"Simple, but effective."
Victor Wang answered briefly, acknowledging Yanfei's reasoning.
Though the clones were dealt with, he didn't feel relieved. This place was far more dangerous than it appeared…
"Our main problem isn't solved yet. We passed through a domain, but ended up back at the starting point. How are we supposed to get out?"
"Right! Benefactor, if you didn't mention it, I would've forgotten! We're still trapped!"
"Let's go back through the domain and check again. Seems like there's no other way."
Victor Wang remained silent. Leaving was simple—he could just store everyone in the goblet and take them out. The real problem was… how to find the others who had gone missing in this cursed place.