Apocalyptic Wasteland Simulator-Chapter 305 - 300: Replica

"That's right. We'll live and die with the boss, with no regrets," Lu Jiaojiao was the first to declare, and Lilia quickly followed.

"Me too."

Chen Pingchuan could sense their insincerity but didn't say anything more, merely giving a slight nod. "Alright then. You'll be grateful for the choice you made today."

Their expressions changed at his words, realizing their leader had never truly intended to let them go.

Of course, Chen Pingchuan had something else in mind. If they had chosen to abandon him this time, he wouldn't have bothered trying to save them in the real world.

A gentleman is judged by his actions, not his intentions. Regardless of their reasons for making this choice, Chen Pingchuan decided he would save these followers with their different personalities in the real world.

"Let's go. Time to see what this Evil God really is." After speaking, Chen Pingchuan started toward the end of the passage.

The silent corridor gave everyone a bone-chilling sense of unease. Unlike their previous battles, this oppressive silence felt suffocating. In the darkness, it seemed as if countless eyes were watching them.

Suddenly, a dazzling white light appeared ahead. It was a narrow beam, shining through the crack of a door at the far end, brilliantly illuminating the pitch-black surroundings. The stark contrast created a dissonant, unsettling feeling.

Without a shred of hesitation, Chen Pingchuan pulled the door open and stepped into the white light. The others exchanged a look, gritted their teeth, and followed him.

The moment Lilia and the others stepped into the light, they felt the world spin. When their vision returned, they found themselves in a strange space. It was a boundless, white expanse, shrouded in a hazy fog that made it impossible to see clearly. Most terrifying of all, their companions had vanished. They were completely alone.

Wei Hao surveyed the area but found no discernible path. He picked a random direction and began to walk, quickly discovering an abnormality. This white space had barriers; he was trapped inside a sealed room.

Suddenly, a familiar male voice rang out.

"Well, well, if it isn't the coward, little Haozi. When did you grow a spine?"

The voice stirred a memory in Wei Hao's mind—the memory of the school bully who had tormented him, the beast he had killed with his own hands. How could he possibly be alive?

"Impossible... impossible," Wei Hao muttered, spinning around. He saw a familiar figure standing not far away. This person had the same face and clothes as Wei Hao, but his expression was utterly sinister. The replica of Wei Hao wore a revolting, mocking smile as he advanced step by step.

"What, surprised to see me? Or perhaps you've forgotten this voice?" the replica said, his tone shifting as he waved a hand.

The next second, a familiar, terrifying gravity pressed down on Wei Hao's body. His eyes widened instantly, a storm of terror and anger swirling within them. His body trembled as memories of his past flooded his mind.

"Who are you?!" Wei Hao shouted, his voice trembling. "How do you know about him? Why do you look just like me? And why do you have my gravity Talent?!" His hands clenched into tight fists, as if trying to grasp something for courage.

The replica Wei Hao just sneered. "You think killing me let you escape the past? I'm telling you, don't even think about it! I will forever be your nightmare. You can never escape!"

With that, the replica intensified the gravity field and charged at Wei Hao.

Wei Hao instinctively tried to dodge, but his body suddenly felt incredibly heavy, bound by an unseen force. By the time he managed to generate a reverse gravity field to cancel the effect, a heavy fist whistled through the air and slammed violently onto his shoulder. A sharp, searing pain shot through him, and he couldn't help but cry out in agony.

"You were just a little mouse for me to bully back then, and you're still the same now!" the replica snarled in the bully's voice, attacking with frantic ferocity.

Wei Hao gritted his teeth against the pain, his heart pounding with both fury and fear. He fought to calm himself and quickly counterattacked, but another, more terrifying problem emerged. The impostor across from him possessed identical abilities and physical attributes, and he used his body with a maturity that Wei Hao lacked.

"ARGH!" Wei Hao roared in pain, sweat streaming down his forehead and soaking his collar. Still, he couldn't think of any way to defeat his opponent.

Everything Wei Hao knew, his opponent knew as well—and was even more skilled at using it. To make matters worse, the impostor would mimic the voices of people Wei Hao knew, creating constant distractions. As time dragged on, the number of wounds on Wei Hao's body continued to grow.

...

Meanwhile, in another vast white space, Lu Jiaojiao was facing her own crisis. She stared at her exact replica, her mind reeling with confusion and fear.

Her double looked at her with pure scorn. "You're still so useless. The moment something happens, you just hide behind someone else."

Lu Jiaojiao gritted her teeth. "I'm not!"

The replica just sneered. "Aren't you? Then why are you here? You always lie to yourself, don't you, Jiaojiao? Since you love deceiving yourself so much, allow me to give you a wake-up call."

As the words fell, a dagger gleaming with a cold light appeared in the replica's hand. She lunged toward Lu Jiaojiao with lightning speed.

Lu Jiaojiao twisted aside to dodge, drawing her own dagger from her waist and swiftly striking back.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Their figures blurred together in the white mist, the sharp sound of their daggers clashing echoed through the space.

"Too slow! Too slow! You're just too slow!" the replica taunted, her attacks fast and vicious, each stab aimed to kill.

Lu Jiaojiao parried with all her might, but she could feel her strength fading. Her arm ached from the constant blocking. The replica seemed to notice her stamina waning and intensified its assault. After a feint, its dagger sliced across Lu Jiaojiao's arm, and blood welled up instantly.

"Is that all you've got? How pathetic!" the replica sneered, launching another attack.

Lu Jiaojiao gritted her teeth, ignoring the stinging pain in her arm. Just as the replica closed in, she suddenly dropped into a crouch and slashed her dagger toward its legs.