CHAPTER 46: A CLONE ATTACK

Elysia entered the underground cult’s dimly lit chamber silently.

She had expected to find Andras standing over Archer, perhaps with him becoming a marionette under Andras control.

The thought sent a shiver down her spine. With Archer under their control, they would be unstoppable.

But the moment she stepped inside, her entire body stiffened.

Lying on the cold stone floor, sprawled in a pool of his own blood, was Andras.

His face was twisted in pain and his breath were ragged. When his eyes met hers, they widened with desperation.

His lips trembled as he whispered, "Help me."

Elysia rushed to his side without hesitation, her hands trembling as she knelt beside him.

She pressed them against the gaping wound in his chest. Dark energy swirled from her fingertips, seeping into his body as she chanted a healing incantation.

The large gash across his torso began to close as the bleeding stopped. Andras gasped, his body shuddering as the pain slowly ebbed away.

Elysia leaned closer, her voice sharp. "What happened to you, Andras?"

He swallowed hard, his voice feverish. "I appeared in Archer’s room, just as you told me to. He was asleep, so I began the puppetry spell—but something was wrong."

His fingers twitched as if he was reliving the moment. "magic... it wouldn’t take hold. I’ve never seen anything like it. No man has ever resisted my control. Not one. No matter how strong-willed they are."

Elysia’s brow furrowed. "Then what was the problem?"

Andras exhaled raggedly. "I studied him for a while... and that’s when I realized—that wasn’t Archer. It was a clone." His voice dropped to a strained whisper. "My magic doesn’t work on clones. They lack the true soul tether that binds a person to my control. They’re hollow, empty shells."

Elysia frowned. "He knows we’re up against him." Her gaze flicked back to his wound. "But why are you bleeding?"

Andras’s expression darkened. "That’s the worse part. Just as I was about to leave... the clone woke up."

Elysia’s brows shot up. "What?"

Andras shivered. "It moved like a real body. No delay. No deadness in the eyes. And then... it looked at me. I’ve never felt so cold."

He clenched his hands, biting his lips hard. "I tried to escape, but before I could reach the portal—" He clutched his chest, as if reliving the agony. "It fired a blast of pure power magic straight through me. It tore through my barriers like they were paper."

Elysia fell silent. It felt as if she was hearing a horror story.

"I barely made it out alive." Andras voice trembled. "That boy... he’s a monster."

Elysia’s hand snapped out, striking Andras across the face with a sharp crack.

His head jerked to the side, the sting of the slap leaving a red mark on his pale skin.

"Keep it together, Andras," she hissed, her voice cold. "You have failed the Demon King not just once, but twice now."

Andras’s eyes burned with rage as he whipped his head back toward her. "How is this my fault?" he snarled, his voice rising. "That child—how am I supposed to win against something like that? That wasn’t even him, and I nearly died!"

Before Elysia could retort, flames erupted from the stone floor in a violent spiral, and Raul appeared in the center of it, cloaked in smoke and shadow.

"What is happening?" he thundered. "Where is Archer?"

"He’s in the dorm," Elysia said. "His clone is, actually. Andras attempted to ensnare Archer, but... it wasn’t him. It was a clone. There was no soul he could latch onto. And then the clone attacked. It was powerful. Unnaturally so."

Raul’s fists clenched, the flames around him flickering violently. "A clone?" he repeated, his tone filled with venom. Then, his lips curled into a bitter sneer. "I have just returned from my own failure. Princess Camilia was nearly in my grasp—until our army was defeated."

Elysia and Andras both stiffened, their eyes widening in shock. "Defeated?" Elysia breathed. "But... your army—"

Raul clasp his hand behind his back. "An alliance of orcs and undead descended on us. They came out of nowhere. Tore through our vanguard like it was nothing. There was even an ice giant."

Andras shivered. "D-Don’t tell me..."

"It can’t be a coincidence." Raul said, his gaze boring into them. "It was Archer’s doing."

heavily, still weak from the attack. His voice trembled with confusion as he looked at the two standing above him.

"I... I don’t get it," he muttered. "How can Archer have so much power? How does he command a warband of orcs and an undead army at the same time?"

Elysia crossed her arms, her expression grim. "He stole the Elder Lich’s Scepter from the first stage exam," she said coolly. "That explains the undead. With that relic, he doesn’t need necromancy. The dead obey him as if he were the Lich himself."

Andras stared at her, stunned.

"And the ice giant?" he asked.

"She’s probably from Frosthelm Mountains," Elysia replied. "Archer must have found her... maybe even awakened her. He’s likely been training her himself."

Raul’s expression remained cold and calculating. "And the orcs are from Throggs. They don’t follow just anyone." His eyes burned with fury. "This boy has built an army of his own. One capable of turning the tide of war. He’s a greater threat than any of us dared to imagine."

Andras’s breath came in short, panicked gasps.

He stumbled backward, his back hitting the cold stone wall as he slid down to the floor.

"We—we shouldn’t even bother him," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "He doesn’t seem to care about us. He hasn’t come after us—why should we go after him? Just... just let him be!"

Raul turned slowly, his gaze locking onto Andras like a predator sighting wounded prey.

The air around him crackled with dark energy, his fingers flexing as flames licked at his fingertips. "You disappoint me, Andras," he said, his voice rising with contempt. "Your fear makes you useless to the Demon King."

Andras’s eyes widened in terror as Raul raised his hand, the fire swirling into a searing vortex.

"No—wait! Please!" he shrieked, scrambling forward on his knees. "Give me one more chance! I—I want to destroy him! I *swear* I won’t fail again!"

Raul paused, the flames flickering in his palm as he studied the trembling man before him.

For a moment, the only sound was Andras’s ragged breathing.

Then, with a slow, cruel smirk, Raul clenched his fist—and the fire extinguished.

"Fine," he said, his voice calm. "One last chance. But fail me again... and you won’t live long enough to regret it."

Andras bowed his head low, his fingers digging into his knees as he forced the words out through gritted teeth. "I won’t disappoint you again, my lord. I swear it."

Raul didn’t spare him another glance.

Instead, he turned to Elysia, his expression darkening further. "This entire situation is a disaster," he growled. "The Demon King is furious. The loss of Camilia, the failure to seize Archer... all of it. We’re running out of time. If we don’t eliminate Archer soon, none of us will survive his wrath."

Elysia clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms. "I’ve tried," she admitted, frustration lacing her voice. "But he’s too strong. His magic, his army, his clones—he’s always two steps ahead."

Raul’s eyes narrowed, the embers in his gaze flaring. "He must have a weakness," he insisted. "No matter how powerful someone is, there’s always a flaw. A blind spot. Find it."

His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "And once you do, I’ll unleash the strongest demons in our arsenal to tear him apart."

Elysia took a slow breath, steeling herself. "I’ll do what I can," she said. "It won’t be quick, but... I will find his weakness. I’m sure of it."

Raul studied her for a long moment, then gave a single, curt nod. "Good. I expect some good news on my next return."

Without another word, his form erupted into swirling dark flames—and in an instant, he was gone, leaving only the faint scent of smoke behind.

Elysia turned as she made her way toward the exit. But before she reached the stone steps, Andras’s voice called out behind her—hoarse, low, and trembling.

"Elysia... wait."

She paused without looking back.

"I just..." he struggled to sit up straighter, blood still drying on his robes. "Will you ever use me again? I can’t fail. I know I messed up, but I’ll do whatever it takes. Just—don’t cast me aside. I’ll help. Any way I can."

She slowly turned, her expression unimpressed.

Her nose wrinkled in contempt as her cold gaze scanned his pitiful figure.

"You?" she scoffed. "You’re washed, Andras. Useless. I don’t have time to baby weak cowards who tremble at the sight of a clone."

His eyes widened with hurt, then narrowed with rage as she continued.

"You better find a way to be useful to Raul. Because I’m done wasting my time on failures."

Andras’s fists clenched at his sides. "Damn you!" he hissed. "You smug little bitch! You think you’re better than me? You haven’t done shit against Archer either!"

Elysia only laughed. "I don’t think, Andras. I know I am better than you."

She turned fully and began walking again, her voice trailing behind her like a dagger in the dark. "I cannot lose. I’ll defeat Archer... my way now."