At home.
I sat on my comfy sofa as usual, reading a book.
As I was deeply focused on the pages, suddenly, I felt a hand gently stroke my right shoulder.
It was Kim Gae-in.
"Oppa, let's go on a date~"
"Don't bother me, I'm trying to read."
Kim Gae-in climbed onto the sofa from my right side, starting to tease me.
"Oh, come on… drop that boring act, it's so outdated."
"Am I not sexy enough for you?"
"Um… not really, your body's already great. No need to change anything."
"Then why won't you go out with me?"
"Didn't I already tell you? I'm busy right now."
"Go play with Donghyun and Mira."
"Hmph! You're so annoying, Oppa!"
With that, Kim Gae-in got off the sofa and walked toward Lee Donghyun and Lee Mira, who were studying together.
I went back to reading my book peacefully.
Then suddenly, I felt tightness in my chest.
I grabbed my chest, right over my heart.
What is this feeling? Why does it hurt so much?
My heartbeat was pounding like crazy.
If this keeps up, I might die.
It felt like my life force was slowly being drained away, torturing me.
Suddenly, I remembered—I hadn't turned on the news today.
There might be something happening.
While enduring the pain in my chest, I turned on the TV to check the broadcast.
And I was right.
Ulsan Port was under attack.
The attack was carried out by… my fake self.
But why does this hurt?
It feels like it's connected to me somehow.
I need to act—this time.
From the broadcast, I saw Lightnova appear and begin fighting the fake Indigo.
I went silent for a moment, watching the live feed closely.
I could tell that right now, Lightnova was at a huge disadvantage.
Even though the fake Indigo only seemed to be dodging, I knew it was a trick—to make Lightnova waste her energy faster.
My gut feeling worsened.
Something's off. Very off.
I have to go there—now.
I put on my suit and gear.
Then I walked toward the door.
"Oppa, where are you going dressed like that? Didn't you say you were taking a break?"
asked Kim Gae-in, who was still playing with Lee Mira.
"Ah… something urgent came up."
With that, I opened the door and left.
*Back to the present, At the port*
Just as I suspected—Lightnova was on the verge of death.
I walked slowly toward her, who was already drained of energy, while pointing my finger—shaped like a pistol—at the fake Indigo.
"Isn't it time to stop playing dress-up?"
I turned my back to Lightnova, who was kneeling on the ground.
Her body was covered in wounds, parts of her costume torn.
The fake Indigo glared at me, red eyes glowing behind his black mask. He raised his finger, pointing it at me.
"You… you fake! How dare you interrupt my sacred mission!"
"Hah? What do you mean by that? You're the one here impersonating me."
I walked behind Lightnova and gently lifted her up into my arms.
"E-eh!? Indigo! What are you—"
"Everything's gonna be fine. Just trust me."
Lightnova blushed as I carried her, and then I teleported us out of the burning building.
I set her down.
"You're my rival, so I can't let my rival die at someone else's hands."
Lightnova looked stunned, her cheeks slightly red.
I stood up again and teleported back inside.
The fake Indigo was standing there, staring right at me.
Like two cowboys in an old Western, he began walking slowly to the side, eyes locked on mine.
I followed his movement, step for step.
"Don't you think you've gone too far? You're ruining my name even more."
"What are you talking about? You're a villain too, aren't you? You should be proud—I'm doing this to make your reputation worse."
…I mean, sure, but this is too much.
I stayed silent at his words.
"Let me tell you one fact."
"What?"
"I am you, and you are me."
Hearing that, I stopped walking for a moment.
"Nice joke."
"I'm not joking."
"Then I'll take it as a joke."
With that, I lunged toward him.
The fake dodged my attack and countered with a barrage of energy blasts.
I dodged, rolling between the flashes of blue light.
For some reason, it really felt like I was fighting myself.
I rushed in and landed a punch to his gut—but he punched me at the exact same moment.
We both stumbled backward, our feet scraping the floor.
What is this? How can he read my movements and counter them so perfectly?
We clashed again—punch for punch, blow for blow.
Both of our hits landed.
I channeled energy into my fist—he did the same.
It really felt like fighting my own reflection.
*Outside the building*
Lightnova was still kneeling, trembling.
She was still in shock—from nearly dying, and from being carried by the real Indigo.
He saved her.
Lightnova blushed.
"He… he saved me..."
She slapped both sides of her cheeks to snap back to reality.
'What am I thinking… focus!'
She looked at the burning building.
It was shaking violently.
Lightnova instantly realized—the real Indigo was fighting the fake.
She tried to stand up, but both her legs were numb.
Damn it… I'm out of energy.
She didn't know what to do.
Inside the burning building.
I traded blows with the fake Indigo—dodging and striking back.
We were evenly matched.
It truly felt like I was fighting myself.
Fed up with it, I leaped back.
Then I teleported right behind him—so fast he couldn't predict my movement.
And it worked.
I landed a solid hit—smashing his face, then punching his chest before unleashing my power.
I fired directly at his torso.
He dodged partially, but the blast still hit him—his left shoulder shattered.
I instantly teleported in front of him again, swept his legs, and sent him crashing to the ground.
As he fell, I aimed for his head—but he kept dodging like a damn cockroach.
He kicked my face with both legs, sending me backward.
The flames around us grew hotter, the room shrinking as debris fell.
Suddenly, he teleported behind me.
But I had predicted that—I dodged and countered with my right elbow to his face and my left to his gut.
He stumbled back.
Without giving him a chance, I punched his face, kicked his thigh hard, then hit him with a double hook to the chin.
He staggered backward.
Suddenly, he teleported above me.
I couldn't predict that one.
He elbowed my shoulder—hard. Pain exploded through my body.
Before I fell, I teleported back.
"Hah… hah… you're tougher than I thought," I said, panting.
"Huh… huh… as expected of me. Just remove that naïve side of you, and you'll be just like me!"
"Shut that crap."
I dashed forward.
He fired more dark-blue blasts from his fingertip.
I slid across the slick floor, sweeping his legs out from under him.
Still refusing to quit, he fired another barrage at me.
Since it was impossible to dodge them normally, I jumped, twisting my body midair to slip between the shots—my body bending and spinning like liquid.
Landing gracefully, I charged at him and climbed onto his body.
As he tried to lift his fingers to use his power, I grabbed his hands and fired my own dark-blue energy point-blank—instantly vaporizing his hands.
He could no longer use his powers.
I grabbed his collar and punched his face over and over.
His black mask began to crack.
I kept hitting him.
And when I threw my final punch—
CRACK!
The mask shattered.
Revealing his face.
I froze.
It was… my face.
I stepped back, horrified.
"W-what?"
"W-who the hell are you!?"
He stood up, spitting blood.
"Didn't I already tell you? I am you, and you are me."
"N-no… how could this be…"
He started walking toward me slowly.
"Yoo Jinhoo… we're not from this world.
I know the pain you went through before coming here…"
"This world is just an illusion… all you need to do is satisfy yourself."
He got closer.
"Free yourself from the pain of your past."
He smirked.
"You remember, don't you? How you were treated back home? The insults, the abuse, the beatings—"
"Shut up!!"
"That's all in the past… there's no need to bring it up again…"
"Even if it's the past, deep down, you still want to release that rage, don't you?"
"Come on, don't act so naïve… even if you deny it, it doesn't change the fact that you're a bastard child~"
My blood boiled. I wanted to punch his face in.
"I know deep down inside—you crave revenge~"
I started losing myself in thought.
Suddenly, the building's roof collapsed.
Snapping back to reality, I teleported.
Appearing on the rooftop's edge.
I looked down—my fake self stared back at me, smiling.
Then he teleported away.
I stood there, lost in thought.
Then I felt a presence behind me.
I turned—and saw dozens of A-rank Heroes.
They looked like raiders about to storm a dungeon.
"Surrender, Indigo! You're surrounded!"
shouted one of them.
There were many—wielding katanas, longswords, dual blades, bows, spears, and elemental powers.
I glanced back.
The port was completely engulfed in flames.
The fire had consumed everything.
Then, by chance, I saw Lightnova.
Our eyes met.
I quickly looked away—afraid she might be angry about what I'd done earlier.
*From Lightnova's side*
Even though he's wearing a mask… I'm sure our eyes met.
thought Lightnova, cheeks slightly flushed.
"Surrender, Indigo! Look around you! You're surrounded!"
Lightnova turned toward the voice.
'No… this isn't Indigo's doing… this is the fake one's fault. I want to tell the truth—but I don't have any proof'
"Hahahaha! Go ahead and try if you can! My business here is done anyway. Well then, farewell!"
said Indigo from atop the burning building.
He lifted his hat slightly and bowed, as if giving a polite farewell.
"Stop him!! Quick!! Before he escapes!!"
The Heroes all rushed forward—but just before they could strike, Indigo vanished in a blink.
They regrouped.
"Tch… failed again…"
said one female Hero.
Lightnova just watched from afar, too drained to move.
I'll have to look deeper into this…