The Novel's Draft

Slashing both daggers down at the demon, the mimic suddenly appeared behind Joka.

"Ice shard!" Vertere launched a sharp chunk of ice towards the demon, giving Kacon enough time to grab Joka and move out of the way.

Muttering a few words, the mimic’s strength had doubled... no tripled.

Shit, how could I forget about his body enhancement skill.

Not only that but a flame cloaked his body.

I was wondering when he was going to use his magic, it looked like he was saving it.

But that wouldn’t make sense, even if he was just a copy, his body was the real thing.

While I was deep in thought, blood dripped down from my nose and right eye.

Wincing, a throbbing pain shocked through my brain.

Damn, I’ve already reached the eye’s limit so soon?

Standing in front of me, Joka got down into a fighting stance.

"Don’t forget about your comrades man."

Stepping forward, Kacon and Joka ran around the demon.

Their attacks were swift and strategically coordinated.

When they paused for a brief moment, I saw something horrifying.

A red X appeared on both of their chests.

Dropping down to my knees, I placed my hand over my bleeding eye.

Quickly rushing over, Acro started chanting and I was covered in a healing barrier.

The pain was slowly subsiding but I need to join the battle as soon as I can.

But I can’t go into battle like this.

While I was contemplating, the flame and wind that wrapped around my blade diminished.

I need to limit my expenditure of mana as much as I can.

Gritting my teeth, there was nothing that I could do aside from watch the two fight.

With his great axe, Kacon was deflecting the demon’s attacks.

Even with his incredible strength, Kacon was visibly struggling.

Sneaking around from behind, Joka stabbed the blade into the demon’s back.

But the attack barely penetrated his skin.

Jumping back, Joka summoned multiple daggers and launched them forward.

The attack had barely left a dent.

Torquing his entire body back, Kacon swung the great axe sideways.

Chanting a few words, a large pillar rose from the ground and blocked the attack.

He has both Earth and Fire magic.

A dangerous combination.

Thrusting his arm forward, the fake demon king sent a blast of flame which shot at Kacon.

Cutting through the attack, Kacon grasped for air in a rage.

Appearing above Kacon, the demon threw a punch.

Blocking the attack with the great axe, Kacon sank into the ground.

Throwing multiple daggers, Joka slashed at the demon but it seemed that he still couldn’t pierce through his skin.

Smack the back of his fist at the Joka’s attacks, the daggers had completely shattered.

"Urgh!" Joka was sent back.

Pushing the mimic off of the axe, Kacon grabbed the demon by the ankle and slammed him down.

Before he touched the ground, the demon broke himself free from Kacon’s grip and launched a pillar at Kacon, sending him skidding back.

Picking himself back up, Joka coughed out a stream of blood.

Seeing that the demon was looming over Joka, I opened my right eye and raised the fire hero sword.

"Excaliburn!" Thrusting the blade forward, a concentrated flame shot at the demon.

After the flame vanished, the demon had covered himself with a shell of earth.

Breaking from the shell, he stomped down at Joka’s neck.

"Argh!" Joka growled in pain, trying to break himself free but despite his efforts it was proven to be in vain.

"Let go of him!" Kacon swung the battle axe but it got caught by the demon.

"Such compassion. Truly a sight to behold, I wonder what expression you’ll show me when I do this!" With a menacing smile, the demon crushed Joka’s neck.

With a loud snap, Joka stopped moving.

"HOW DARE YOU!" Kacon shouted, his voice filled with pain.

"Yes yes! Show me more of your pain, it truly is beautiful how much can be conversed through sorrow!" The fake demon king laughed, as he toyed around with Kacon.

Swinging the battle axe, abandoning all semblance of form, the mimic had summoned multiple spiked pillars from the ground.

"Blurgh..." Rising into the air, Kacon’s body was left mangled as his body had been pierced by countless sharp pillars.

Breaking the sharp ends of the pillars with muscle strength, he fell down before standing up.

His body was a complete mess.

Pointing the battle axe, Kacon was about to swing the axe but he collapsed to the ground.

Clapping his hands, the fake demon king laughed.

"Hahaha! How wonderful, truly a spectacle to behold."

Dropping his hands, his mood darkened.

Looking at me, he gnawed his teeth.

"However, you did nothing but sit from the sideline and have this perfect body image ruined, you insigificant–!"

Before he could finish his sentence, Incus had severed his neck with a single slash of her sword.

Hah.

All that effort we put in just for Incus to break our pride.

Gritting my teeth, I punched the ground.

"...Why didn’t you appear sooner... they wouldn’t have died if you had just gotten here."

Even if we did try running away from the fight, the other false demon kings would hunt us.

The only reason why we had the fortune of having to worry about one of the countless copies is because they looked down at us and deemed us too weak to fight.

"HAHAHAHA!"

Looking up, the same false demon king was laughing maniacally, covered in a cocoon of earth and flame.

His body was regrowing from his neck.

"W-What..? How is this possible..?" Acro fell backwards, trying to understand what just happened.

Standing up, I whispered under my breath:

"...Force armor."

Without having to ask for any more instructions, the armor on my chest had covered my entire body.

"Ring–!"

Standing up, the pain no longer lingered.

With raspy breaths, I jumped forwards.

Grabbing the shattered dagger from the ground, he summoned multiple daggers.

Looks like he knew its ability just from watching Joka use the weapon.

Clashing blades, I gritted my teeth.