*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

The doppelgänger shouted a battle cry and charged. Now I understand how the knight-apprentice felt when, throwing away his pride, he ran away from the arena. So that's what I looked like...

Now it is clear why he ran away.

Due to the increased threat level caused by the [Wild Splash], just looking at it gave it goosebumps, a combination of almost brutal intimidation and a large physique.

Firstly, it was necessary to equalize the weight category.

[You have applied [Gigantization]].

[You've cast [Wild Splash]].

The level of his eyes instantly leveled off.

'Behella I shouted with all my might.

It was an original battle cry that no Double could copy.

Covering my body with my shield, I rushed forward. The double did the same. The shields collided and there was a roar similar to the collision of two dump trucks.

*Kwaaaaaang!*

As expected from the Double, the difference in strength was zero. The next movement was also exactly the same.

[You used [Sweep]].

[The double used [Sweep]].

The maces crossed like mirror copies.

*Kwaaaaaang!*

Another explosion rang out, and the ground trembled. It was like a fight between huge monsters. If we had fought like this, the fight could have gone on all day, but we had one big difference with this guy: teammates.

Even in the game, having good teamwork was considered a skill.

Without requiring orders, magical support soon followed. The main role was played by curses with a relatively short duration. In just a few seconds, the enemy's Strength, Agility, Physical Resistance, and other stats were reduced. In bewilderment, the Double stammered:

"Your... M-mother!

Are you really going to insult my mother right now?

My head went spinning from this guy's unexpected remark.

*Bam!*

When I came to, the Double's mace was already touching my shield. If I had reacted even a second later, it would have stuck in my head.

"Oh, you crazy Double!

I hastily came to my senses and struck back.

It seems that he even inherited my peculiarity of using dirty tricks when he was at a disadvantage. As expected, he was not an opponent that could be underestimated. More precisely, me.

*Weeeep!*

While that bastard was hiding from Mr. Bear's arrow, I took the opportunity to bring my mace down on his shoulder. A fountain of blood spurted from his mouth.

Did he bite his tongue?

What a classic. This is the picture I expected, so it was not difficult to avoid it. Because it was something I would definitely do, especially in an unfavorable situation.

*Chhhhh*

Acidic blood splattered the ground and began to bubble.

Seeing this, Mike spewed out an exclamation.

"Wow, is he exactly like you?"

What you are saying?

"Stop standing and help already."

"Good.

Soon Misha and Einar joined the fight. To save time, I grabbed the guy's mace and, hugging him from behind, limited his movements. Now all that remained was to plunge the sword into his head.

*Whoeeeeek!*

The double made a face at me and let out a scream like scratching on a board. Hearing this, Mike froze. It didn't last long, but just as she straightened her posture and raised her sword, a battle cry rang out from behind us.

'Behellaaa

It wasn't Ainar. No matter how deep her voice was, it was different from the voice of a real man.

"Björn!" There are three Björns!

But why were these only my Doubles?

***

The Second Double had already used [Gigantonization] and, protecting his torso with his shield, attacked us like a beast and broke our formation.

It was the (Real) Battering Ram Shield.

"Don't try to block, dodge!"

Hearing my sincere advice, Misha and Einar stepped back without a word. It's a pity I couldn't finish him off right away, but what can I do. Perhaps this is my karma for absorbing the essence of the Ogre and becoming an off-tank (support tank).

[The double used [Sweep]].

Ainar's body, which had blocked the mace with her greatsword, flew far back. I wondered if I should intervene, but...

"Mr. Yandel, just keep it!" And we will deal with the other one ourselves!

For now, I've decided to follow Raven's orders. We couldn't lose four against one. So I focused only on the first Double.

Ha, it's really annoying. Why is he so hardy?

Although my situation was more advantageous thanks to the curse magic, it was difficult to quickly end it and go to their aid. Even if I could deal damage, I was still a tank. It's like a fight between Trolls that can't end.

I'll just watch what happens.

I half resigned myself and went into spectator mode. To be honest, it was very interesting.

"Ugh, why doesn't the sword pierce!?"

"It's Bjorn!" A great warrior!!

The decoy single-handedly suppressed melee damage dealers. And Mr. Bear's long-range support? Even the arrows fired with the insane tension of the super-mega crossbow couldn't penetrate the shield. Raven's magic was not much different either.

*Chwaaaaa!*

As the melee sisters stepped back for a moment, [Baptism of Fire] erupted. The timing was so precise that even the Double was engulfed in flames, unable to escape it.

But...

'Behellaaa

The second self only ran through the flames and waved his mace. She chose the wrong spell. My Fire Resistance was second only to Physical Resistance, and Magic Resistance was also set up to some extent.

— ... I didn't know you were so strong," exclaimed Mr. Bear. Even though we've been fighting together all along, I think it's a different thing to face with me.

It was the same with Raven.

"Why are you still only a rank 6?!"

Because to reach rank 5, you had to accumulate Guild achievement points. Even though my teammates were being beaten, I couldn't help but straighten my shoulders.

I was really strong.

"Mr. Yandel, don't just look at it, say something." Do you have any weaknesses?

It wasn't exactly a weakness, but something that could be targeted.

Maybe call it a countermeasure against Bjorn Yandel?

Holding back the first Double, I just shouted out the key points.

"Misha, Ainar!" Don't cut, but beat!

[Iron Skin] increased Physical Resistance by 4 times, but only for slashing attacks. In fact, there was immunity to cuts of a certain level.

"Abman, aim only at the legs!"

My lower body was more vulnerable than my upper body. I still haven't gathered my lower gear. The arms were also completely open, but the upper part of the body could be covered with a shield.

"Tie your legs first, won't you?" It really feels like fighting a big monster.

— Yes. There is no regeneration, so don't think about killing right away and go for a long battle. Raven, use lightning magic instead of fire magic!

Cold blocked bleeding, and wind and earth were considered physical damage magic. Lightning, on the other hand, was the most suitable, as it dealt elemental damage and was focused on penetration and instant firepower.

… I can't believe I have to teach my comrades how to kill me.

A strange feeling. Nevertheless, my advice proved effective, and the tide of the battle gradually changed until the Double was brought to his knees. Seven crossbow arrows got stuck in his leg.

—... What a monster.

— I agree. So much so that I never want to fight him again.

Even though victory was assured, my teammates flinched and I felt uneasy to hear them.

The reason for this reaction was that the Double even resembled me in character. He really fought like crazy.

"Look at this. He is still trying to get up. What kind of person does this?

If he bled, he sprinkled it; If both hands were tied, he used his teeth. If there was to be an exchange, he would cling like a ghost and rush to the attackers to give flesh for bone. The bastard was doing everything he could to survive, and it was still going on.

"Mi... sha..." The double looked at Mike with mournful eyes. Since it was impossible to win the fight, he used the last move.

Unconsciously, I grinned.

Do you think it works—...

"Oh, yes?"

"You... To me... Like...

"Wh-really?"

... It works.

It was a sneaky trick to manipulate Misha's emotions. I gripped the Double's neck tighter and sighed heavily.

"What are you waiting for?!" Kill him already!

"Wait!" I want to ask something!

Mike jumped up and waved her hands in embarrassment, after which she looked at the Double seriously. Then she asked a question.

"But why did you reject me?" If you like me.

Asking a question, Mike stared at the ground in embarrassment.

"Oh my God! Raven's eyes lit up from the unexpected love intrigue.

But did this attract his aggro? Instead of answering, the Double stared at Raven.

"Rey... Veins...

"What, me this time?" What are you...

"You... To me... Like...

Raven's expression twisted grotesquely at her second declaration of love.

"Uh, Mr. Yandel...?"

A wave of embarrassment washed over me. How low can I go?

— ... Do not pay attention. He just says it to survive.

"Do you mean you're willing to confess your love to anyone to survive, Mr. Yandel?"

No, but... Hmm, isn't that true?

I've just confessed.

— ... It's possible.

I decided that a confession would prevent a misunderstanding.

However, even during this conversation, the Double's gaze shifted somewhere in the direction of Mr. Bear.

- Ab... man...

Crazy Double!

"T... You will...

*Blow!*

Fortunately, this sentence was not finished. Mr. Bear pierced his forehead with a crossbow arrow.

This blow preserved the last remnants of my dignity.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear... No, I didn't hear anything.

My friendship with Mr. Bear will last forever.

***

The first round with the Doubles is over. After defeating one of them, we all killed the remaining one together.

By the way, the last blow was struck by Misha.

- Mi... Sha...?

The cornered Double tried to repeat the same trick, but Misha's mental barrier, colored with anger, was unshakable.

"Die, you fucking barbarian!"

By thrusting her sword into the Double, who looked a lot like me, she seemed to relieve the tension.

—…

I just kept silent. I mean, technically, I didn't do anything wrong, but...

It's always best to keep your mouth shut when things seem weird.

Then, at least, you won't step on mines.

I learned survival tactics from my ex-girlfriend.

"Urakburak!" There is no mana stone here!

The doppelgängers disappeared in the beams of light along with their equipment, but did not leave a single mana stone behind.

There is only one Double in the Forest of Doubles, the one that appears as the final boss.

The ones we caught were only low-level entities summoned through [Self-Replication].

"Then let's keep moving."

After that, we continued the expedition, tracking down the Doubles. Usually they appeared in groups of one or two people. Only once did three appear at once, but it was easier than the first time. Fortunately, my Doubles did not appear again. After walking like this for about half a day, the straight road ended.

"Finally, there was a fork in the road.

The road was divided into five branches. This meant that we had finally reached the center.

"Now we can meet other teams, so be careful.

It should be noted that now you could meet not only your own Doubles, but also Doubles of the other team. It's safe to say that the complexity has increased significantly. There is no more difficult opponent than the one you have no information about.

… Please be about our level.

Thinking so, I walked down the intersection that Raven had chosen. Some time passed in this way. Unfortunately, we did not find the room we were looking for with the hidden element. But they met a strange explorer - a thin man about 160 cm tall.

"Please tell me your name." Otherwise, we will take you for a Double and kill you.

At Raven's request, the man removed his hood. It was far away and hard to see in the dark, but as soon as I saw it, I had déjà vu. And a sense of anxiety as a bonus.

Why?

While I was thinking about it, the man spoke.

—… with... Cree... Saint...

It was the characteristic idiotic speech of the Double. I guessed it when I saw that he was alone, but it confirmed his identity.

"Mr. Yandel, please deal with him yourself.

"Is this for analysis?"

— Yes. We don't know what kind of people they are, do we? We need to feel them beforehand. If it becomes dangerous, I will intervene immediately.

I thought the same thing, so I unquestioningly obeyed the order. Meanwhile, the Double continued to mumble something like a broken tape recorder.

"I... not Two... nick...

I covered my upper body with my shield and slowly approached.

"C-Chris... en.

He had no visible weapon. He didn't look like a priest, he was probably someone of the auxiliary class.

"Hans... Chrissen...

— ... A what?

"This... my... name.

Goosebumps ran all over his body.