CHAPTER 208: REAL AND FAKE

She rushed over,

Seeing that familiar face, voice pitched high with panic:

"Who the hell is this woman?

Why does her face look exactly like mine!"

The newborn retainer instinctively tucked away her greatsword and giant shield, reaching out to touch that pretty face.

Suddenly

She let out a shriek:

"No... no way...

These are my hands?"

Looking down,

Her own hands had sprouted a layer of freaky withered leaves, completely covered, radiating that death vibe.

"How... how did my hands turn into this?"

Even though the hands looked like something out of a nightmare, the newborn retainer immediately recognized those jet-black nails—

These were definitely her own hands!

Her gaze traveled up from the hands—

Arms, chest, shoulders...

Then down—

Belly, waist, thighs.

Everywhere she looked, those weird withered leaves,

Layer upon layer, all neat and tidy, like each one was breathing and hungry for life to snuff out!

The newborn retainer stumbled back several steps, freaking out,

Hands shakily touching her own face—

Sharp texture, withered ridges.

She whipped around to look at the smooth rock wall nearby,

Where some horrific monster was faintly reflected back at her!

Covered in those bizarre withered leaves, with a giant shield and greatsword strapped to her back.

"This... this is me???"

The newborn retainer whispered in complete disbelief:

"I... I’ve turned into a damn monster!"

"No... can’t be!"

"BOOM!"

One punch slammed into the rock wall, ungodly force instantly blowing out a deep crater!

The whole cave shook like an earthquake!

"This... this power!"

The newborn retainer was blown away by the strength of her casual punch:

"My... my strength?"

She threw another punch:

"BOOM!"

With another thunderous crash, another massive crater appeared.

"This ain’t no illusion!"

The newborn retainer couldn’t wrap her head around it.

Raw power kept surging up from deep inside—

Her old self would’ve been like a bug compared to this strength!

"I’ve gotten stronger!"

The rush of incredible power instantly wiped away the blues about her looks.

Trading her pretty face for this terrifying power

Seemed like a hell of a bargain.

"But what’s the deal with that woman?"

Thanks to the power high, the newborn retainer’s head cleared up.

Her gaze swung back to the woman on the ground—

This woman who looked exactly like her old self.

She crouched down,

Reaching out to check her out—

Perfect emerald nails, just like her own used to be!

Looking closer, even the measurements were spot-on!

The more she examined,

The more freaked out the newborn retainer got.

From head to toe, inside and out,

Exactly the same as her old self!

Maybe because of all the poking and prodding,

The sleeping woman’s eyelids fluttered, she made a soft noise, and woke up.

She froze—

Some terrifying, freaky monster was right next to her!

"I’m having a nightmare!"

This woman lost her mind.

’Thump!’

She flopped back down, eyes squeezed shut.

She was playing possum:

"This is so screwed up!

Why is there a monster right beside me!"

She felt like total crap—

No way in hell she could outrun this terrifying beast.

She could only fake being asleep and pray to whatever gods were listening that she’d make it out alive.

"So itchy!

What is this monster doing!

Damn it!

Don’t touch there!

Son of a bitch!"

The woman playing dead went red as a tomato with rage,

Almost couldn’t stop herself from lashing out.

Meanwhile,

Even knowing this woman was awake,

The newborn retainer kept examining her,

Finishing her final inspection.

"No freaking way!

This... this body..."

Even... even the homemade little undies were on her!

Black pupils filled with pure disbelief—

How could two identical bodies exist in the world!

Or was this originally ’her’ flesh!

No... she could sense that her current body had transformed from the original flesh!

What the hell was going on?

"Who exactly are you?"

The newborn retainer demanded answers.

She knew this woman was already awake!

"This voice sounds kinda familiar?"

No time to think it through. The woman playing dead knew her cover was blown:

’Don’t panic. That monster called Purple Vortex got along fine with me.

If it’s got brains, it’s got weaknesses!

I can totally survive this!’

The woman opened her eyes,

Immediately feeling crushing pressure. She took a deep breath, trying to keep her nerves in check.

"Hey there,

Um... Monster Boss?

I’m Diliya, real nice to meet you."

Hearing this,

White-hot rage immediately flared up in the newborn retainer’s heart

As she angrily shot back:

"Diliya?

Bull crap!

I’M Diliya!

You’re a damn fake!"

"???"

The woman was completely lost.

What was this monster babbling about?

"What are the odds!

Your name’s Diliya too."

The woman forced a smile, trying to make sense of what the monster was saying.

"Huff... huff..."

The newborn retainer took several deep breaths:

"Diliya!

Hughes Diliya!

I AM Hughes Diliya!

Who the hell are you?"

The newborn retainer angrily repeated herself.

"???"

The woman was baffled.

This monster was claiming... it was her?

"Hold up!

You’re saying you’re Diliya???"

The newborn retainer nodded like crazy, pointing at herself:

"Yeah! Me! I’m Diliya!"

The woman’s expression was priceless.

Look at yourself—you’re not even human anymore.

How could you possibly be me?

Your brain must be fried.

Wait... do monsters even have brains?

The woman couldn’t help but feel sorry for the thing:

"Sorry, my bad earlier.

I’m Dilili.

Hey there,

Real nice to meet you, Diliya."

Whatever—

She’d play along with this monster’s delusions.

The woman wasn’t about to argue—staying alive was way more important.

"You... you..."

The newborn retainer wasn’t born yesterday. She could clearly see this woman obviously didn’t buy her story

And was just humoring her.

Pissed off:

"Rock Sand City garrison investigator Diliya!

Becky’s best friend Diliya!

Diliya with flesh transformation powers!

Diliya who loves chowing down on roasted sand worms!

Diliya with perfect nails!

Diliya who makes all her own underwear!

...

Get it?

I AM Diliya!"

The woman was stunned.

How did this monster know so much about her?

The woman understood what this monster was getting at,

But she sure as hell wouldn’t believe this monster was actually her.

Because she was herself! Just because some delusional monster came over to mess with her head didn’t mean she wasn’t herself anymore.

"...I get it.

Hey, Diliya."

"You... you don’t get it!"

The newborn retainer took several deep breaths, trying to chill out.

She held out her hand:

"Look!

These are the perfect nails that only the real Diliya could have!"

On hands covered in those weird withered leaves, jet-black nails caught the light with their dark gleam, mesmerizing to look at.