Ilona was astonished to see another figure with the sa face as Aldrian appear right beside him. From his height and features, the figure was basically identical to Aldrian, and if people did not know anything about him, they might think this was Aldrian's identical twin.
However, she knew that Aldrian was an only child, which ant this figure was either one of his tricks or soone using a perfect disguise technique. She could sense that the figure had the exact sa cultivation stage and aura as Aldrian, which left her truly baffled.
At this point, even she began to doubt whether the Aldrian seated on the throne was the real one or if it was the one standing beside him.
Noticing her confused expression, Aldrian on the throne smiled and spoke to her.
"Miss Ilona, because there is sothing I need to do in the near future which makes it difficult for to co to your family as soon as possible, I will send my avatar with you to help take care of your parents' problem. Although this avatar has so limitations, such as being much weaker than my real body, I can still help you with this. He is like another living being with his own consciousness, so you can also consider him a separate entity from ."
The avatar beside him nodded.
"Yes, Miss Ilona. Although there are so things I lack compared to the real body, I can still help you, and I will make sure our plan succeeds," the avatar said.
Ilona did not say anything as her gaze lingered on the avatar before she looked at Aldrian.
"May I touch him, Your Majesty?"
Aldrian smiled. "You should ask him. Like I said, consider him a different entity from , the real body. He can think for himself."
Ilona then looked at the avatar. "Then, could I touch you?"
The avatar showed the exact sa smile as Aldrian before walking toward Ilona and stopping right in front of her. Ilona carefully observed the avatar's body in detail for a mont before reaching out to poke him. After that, she began to grab, pinch, and apply different kinds of pressure to his body.
Ilona was truly shocked, as what she felt from the avatar was exactly like touching a normal human being. It was as if she were really touching skin with flesh beneath it, without the avatar showing anything abnormal.
This was a kind of perfect cloning technique that even copied the sensations of a real body. She could not find any difference between the avatar and the real body, and her senses did not detect any distinction at all.
She knew of many kinds of cloning techniques, but none like the one before her. Usually, there would always be a sign that revealed a clone or doppelganger technique. The most obvious flaw was in the body itself. Because a clone was made of gathered energy, it was fragile when exposed to external force.
If she touched it with stronger force, the energy inside the clone could be disrupted, and the clone might even be destroyed.
However, when it ca to differentiating a clone from the real body, physical touch was not the only matter. Even without touching, people who understood clones could instantly recognize one because of differences in character.
The most common clones had no personality at all. They acted like soulless puppets, controlled entirely by the cultivator's mind. Those who were sharp enough would notice the strangeness in the behavior of a clone the mont they encountered one.
Because of such limitations, cloning techniques were mostly used as distractions in battle, though in so cases they could assist with limited attacks. They were never used for tasks such as helping with core matters or anything requiring independence.
As far as she could see from this so-called avatar technique, Ilona did not notice any of the weaknesses that should exist in ordinary clones. She was more inclined to believe that this avatar was a real body with flesh and blood, while also retaining the personality and consciousness of the true body.
"Truly incredible, Your Majesty. This is truly like a different entity wearing the sa skin as yours. Even if I said that you are currently creating a functional living being, just like a god, nobody would refute it," Ilona said as she continued observing the avatar.
Aldrian still wore his smile. "Well, it could be perfected in the future. At this mont, this avatar still has many weaknesses. He can fight and unleash my techniques, albeit in a weaker version. If he depletes all of his energy, he will disappear. But the good thing is that I can move my consciousness to the avatar and use my tricks to solve that problem," Aldrian said.
Ilona was once again amazed by the avatar. Even though Aldrian had already listed its weaknesses, it still felt like a perfect clone technique to her. A clone that could also fight and unleash all of the real body's techniques was one of the dreams of cultivators.
Ilona sighed and looked at Aldrian.
"Well, if Your Majesty says that sending the avatar is enough, then I will follow Your Majesty's arrangent. Munez has also begun asking to et Your Majesty as soon as possible to find out your reaction toward —or rather, toward the Barevisk family. He has seed quite restless since yesterday." She sighed again, and at this mont she showed a hurt expression.
"It seems that whatever his spy—which I finally discovered to be one of my party mbers—reported to him in the past has worried him, which made him really want to find out Your Majesty's opinion toward the Barevisk family after the devils' invasion attempt two days ago." Ilona's eyes beca firm again.
"I think what Your Majesty said is true. I think he has sothing to do with those devils."
Aldrian nodded. "I see. Then I think it's a good ti for you to return to your family as soon as possible. I've just co up with a plan that could take care of Munez. You can say this to him…" Aldrian then explained his plan to Ilona, outlining how they would proceed. Ilona, who kept listening carefully, raised her eyebrows and nodded in understanding throughout his explanation.
After a few minutes of discussion, they finally concluded the plan.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your help. Then I will depart imdiately after I leave the palace," Ilona said as she bowed to him.
Aldrian nodded. "Take care of yourself, Miss Ilona. I hope no problems befall you and that our plan succeeds."
Ilona nodded, and Aldrian turned to his avatar. "You too, take care of her. Once you arrive at Akares, inform ."
The avatar just shrugged. "Well, even without you telling , I would do it anyway."
Ilona and the avatar then left the palace to carry out what they needed to do, leaving Aldrian alone. Once they were gone, Aldrian stood up and stretched his body to relax his muscles.
"Ah, there is still much I need to do. To have high status, fa, and strength truly cos with its own problems and responsibilities," he said. He truly missed the days after he defeated Tarius and before the Barisan Continent opened to the world. Those tis had been the best for him because he had a long ti to relax and gather with his family.
A few hours later, he summoned many organization leaders from outside the continent who were still on the continent. Sylphia and Princess Vaeril also entered the hall at this ti to join the discussion.
Aldrian finally announced his intent to liberate the Fallen Star Cluster from the devils' influence. The leaders were truly shocked at first. The plan ca too suddenly, but most of them soon felt compelled to join his mission.
"Your Majesty, I will follow you on this mission! I will bring many of my people to fight with you," the Dragon King said without hesitation and full of spirit.
"I will follow Your Majesty as well. The Phoenix Clan will help in this war, and we will do our best," the Phoenix Queen said.
"I'm with you, Your Majesty. I will follow and even bring a million troops if necessary. With Your Majesty leading this mission, we can finally retake the Fallen Star Cluster after so long," Emperor Rozwald said.
Many other leaders also voiced their support. Aldrian could not help but smile as he thought that being strong and trusted by many people had its own perks. He did not need to exhaust himself with long speeches to make them follow him. They were ready to help simply because they believed in his strength and his ability to lead the alliance forces.
This was also the most logical and just choice for any power present.
Even if so of them joined only because they wanted to look good in front of him, that was fine. As long as they contributed, he appreciated it.
After discussing the detailed plan of the mission to retake the entire Fallen Star Cluster from the devils for a few hours, the leaders finally departed.
Left alone with Sylphia, she approached him and placed her hands gently on his shoulders.
"Tired?" she asked with a smile.
"Not really physically, but my mind that is always working truly needs to be refreshed. And my way of refreshing is already in front of ," Aldrian replied as he wrapped his arms around her waist and inhaled her scent deeply.
Sylphia giggled and said, "I will depart to the Verdyn Empire tomorrow. Would you like to bring back sothing from that place?"
User Comments
0 comments from readers