I looked at the monster in disgust, today was definitely not the best day I've had, it's rather unlucky. The creature looked back at me and spoke.
"C-cchiin…hae.."
It was only capable of repeating after me from what I see. I stood there, looking at it. I clenched my fist as it continued to repeat Chin-hae's name.
Why did it have to repeat his name out of all people? I sighed, I didn't even know where Chin-hae was at the moment, not even Mary. I got killed then returned to be in this stupid mess, everything felt strange.
My face was pale, trying to concentrate on the monster. As it continued to repeat Chin-hae's name, I can see a glow coming from its body.
Everytime it uttered the name Chin-hae, it gets more and more like him. I frowned, taking a deep breath. As i breathed out, I leaped into the air, charging hesitantly at the creature.
Their was one thing the copycat was able to mimic, his annoying personality. It had the exact same voice as Chin-hae as well as the skill of annoying me.
The thing didn't look like it was about to attack. I looked at the strange copycat for a while, it looked too much like Chin-hae. I thought for a moment before a thought popped up into my head.
What if it killed Chin-hae and took his appearance? There's no chance Chin-hae was that easy to kill, right? He knows self-defense and he's good at using weapons…
The more I thought about the angrier I got. How was a thing like that capable of copying Chin-hae? It's getting me anxious and mad. I dashed forwards, running at the creature as it looked, swinging my blade at the creature, I shouted.
"You're not him, you'll never be him!"
Clank! Swoosh! Clliiing!
I was distracted by my own thoughts and feelings, attacking the creature out of no where, it was dumb, it didn't even look hostile.
As the sword hits the creature, creating a thick layer of dust. After a few seconds, the dust settled down and I opened my eyes while looking at it.
I expected to be a weak poser but to my surprised, not only it possessed Chin-hae's looks, it also took his strength. It was holding the same gun as Chin-hae, it probably used that weapon to block my attack.
I dodged back, as the creature let out weird noises. Using what I saw, it could be another puppet created by Riyu to be used as distraction, but, that wouldn't be possible.
Riyu surely wasted a huge amount of mana and energy on the battle against me. Though, if it was not from Riyu then it must be someone that possesed the same skill.
I scoffed, whispering to myself. If it wasn't Riyu then there was only 1 other person that's near Riyu's strength apart from Mary.
"Aiko you damned teenager."
As I was about to charge at it again, it took the chance while I was distracted and attacked me first. The creature used my exact movements, copying what I did perfectly. If it had my looks, I'd be thinking it was me too.
The creature got closer, it was holding a gun in its hand, the poser pulled the trigger, firing the bullet at me. I looked as it flew quick and swiftly towards me, dodging it just in time before it hit me.
I wasn't too lucky today, after dodging the bullet, the Chin-hae poser landed on me, leaving me stunt for a few seconds.
"Quite swift huh…"
I smiled, wiping away the nosebleed. Seems like this thing is worth my time, maybe I could use it as training for the rematch against Riyu, the creature was pretty smart.
I looked at it, preparing to attack. I dashed forwards, leaping into the air and left a big hole in the ground that I jumped off from.
As my sword was about to land on the creature's head, it started speaking.
"Aaai…ko… Aiko.."
I stopped myself, landing nearby and dashed backwards to keep distance from the creature. I looked as it start to shapeshift.
The sight was disgusting, horrifying. I can hear the sounds of its organ smushing and the bone cracking from inside of its body, creating a huge mess.
Shapeshifting is an ability from Riyu, if it knows that then the kid must've dipped his finger into this as well. I sighed, these chaotic siblings…
Craack! Cliicck!
I looked as the creature took Aiko's look, it didn't looked like her at all apart from the clothes, but remembering the moments when it was copying Chin-hae, looks, it was certain, the only way for it to look more similar to the owner of the skin it's wearing is for it to repeat the name.
The part that worries me is the poser's skills. I know it possesed Chin-hae's weapon when it was taking form as him. Chin-hae was certainly stronger than me but wasn't much of a problem, Aiko on the other hand.
The girl was strong and intelligent with amazing skills, not only that, her abilities to control these skills are impressive too…
"Aiko…"
I looked as it continued repeating Aiko's name, it starts to look more like her by the second. As I gripped onto my sword tightly, preparing to attack the creature again, it started to run away
"Damn you little…!"
I shouted, dashing towards it to catch up. I can't let it continue shapeshifting, it could look identical to Aiko and that will put everyone at risk.
「Dream portal(copy) activated」
I looked as a portal appeared behind me, my eyes widened in shock. The portal began working, pulling me into it and slowing me down. At this rate I won't be able to catch the monster.
"Aargh! Damn you…!"
I tripped down onto an empty bag of chips, getting sucked inside the portal. As I fell, I looked down to see a sharp piece of crystal waiting for me. I shrieked out in shock, adjusting my position to fall somewhere safer.
"Oof…"
After I landed down on the ground, I stood up and looked around to see what I'm dealing with. I was expecting a void with nothing inside but this truly shocked me.
I sighed, thinking to myself. I wonder what the poser is up to. Atleast I got to learn 1 new ability about Aiko without having to battle her, I guess.
Infront of me was a familiar building. I looked around, somehow, thanks to the hole, I landed in the neighborhood I lived in when I was a kid.
"Where am I…"
I stood still for a bit as a feeling if nostalgia washed over me. The broken street light that was never fixed, the lousy neighborhood and the sounds of kids playing…
The place where I lived my ordinary life with my family. I gave the surrounding 1 more look just to make sure I wasn't wrong.
I looked at the roads then back to the house infront of me. I could go definitely go around and check the place out, but, something is telling me that it won't be too useful, maybe the house infront of me was a better choice. I shrugged, it's just an old memory they're using against me, probably.
Not like some random creature will come out and eat me alive, right? I let out a groan, I don't think that was so helpful…
As I began walking towards the house, I could feel myself shrinking. I didn't stopped, continued until the feeling was over the looked down at my hands. My eyes widened, I can't help but let out a quiet gasp out of shock.
"Aah…?!"
I used my hands to cover my mouth as the gasp slipped out. Something was wrong, my voice was high, my hands were small and my body felt wrong…
I stood there for a few seconds before shivering. Did I turned back into when I was a kid? How could something so ridiculous like that happened?
I gulped, it's probably only a side effect of this weird portal. I looked up, the portal I went through was gone.
Seems like I'll have to find another way out by entering and follow the plot of this little story they set up.
As I stood there in silent, thinking of what to do next, the door in front of me suddenly creaked open. I leaped backwards, my hand reaching for the sword I've been carrying around, it was gone, all I took out was a stick.
Hopefully whatever behind that door is friendly, I don't think I'm good at using my body to attack… I stood there, waiting for the door to open fully, my guard still up.
Fear was all over me, I had no idea what the hell Aiko was up to making me relive my childhood memories.
My mouth started gaping as a woman opened the door. She had shoulder length wavy black hair paired with a beautiful pair of dark brown eyes and a sweet smile. My mother, Kim Young-soo.
"Ah? Gyungho, did you have fun playing?"
My body was basically shaking. I looked at her in shock, I can't accept it yet, it's my mother, she's standing infront of me.
I stood there quietly, if this was a memory then it was something that I've already experienced before. This doesn't look too good.
Whatever event that happened today, I'll have to experience it again, hopefully it wasn't 'that' day. I took a deep breath and began to speak.
As I stood there for a few seconds, thinking of what to say to the woman in front of me. Something suddenly popped up in my mind, maybe if I know the date then I'll be able to figure out what happened that day.
"I'm okay, mom. What day is it today?"
"Aah? You forgot? It's okay my forgetful baby."
I clenched my fists as she chuckled, that voice that I haven't heard in ages, I can feel the overwhelming feelings I've had gushing out.
It's toying with me, a second ago, I was chasing down a shapeshifter puppet and now I'm standing infront of the illusion of my mother.
She took out a small phone, the same one she gave me when I turned 17, looking at the date then put it back in her pocket. She crouched down, patted my head and answered my question with a sweet smile.
"Don't forget again, okay? It's 24th September today."
My eyes widened, I felt my heart breaking apart. I can feel that my current body is probably around 10, I could confirm it by how the looks of the houses around here.
24th of September that year was the day I watched my mother die infront of me. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. Maybe I could stop it this time and she'll live, in this lie, atleast.
"It's getting pretty chilly outside, come on in, Gyungho."
My mother smiled, leading me into the house and closing the door behind us. As I stepped foot into the house, a sweet aroma and warmth filled me. The same feeling that I haven't experienced since my life turned upside down.
The woman's sweet voice spoke up again.
"I'm making your favorite today! We'll have japchae and I'll make songpyeon later for dinner today."
I knew it was all an illusion but I can't help but fall for it. I could feel the warmth within the house, the warmth that I've been missing out on my whole life. I thought for a moment, maybe it's not too bad to stay for a bit.
It doesn't look like anything will happen yet. I'll let my guard down this once, it's my mother, after all.