I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 140

140.

Thanks to the [Treasure Hunt]’s search ability, I knew it instantly. That was an ‘Elixir’ [a magical potion with healing or restorative properties].

Not the ingredients for an elixir, but the complete elixir itself.

I have to catch that Yoo Ji-an.

But how?

The doppelganger passed by quickly as if Seo-ah was invisible, before she could even take action.

And the real Yoo Ji-an was right behind him. Seo-ah was quite confused by the scene.

They were going back towards the hospital. Just as Seo-ah was about to move, a hand grabbed her ankle. It was a weak, feeble force.

Among the people she had knocked down earlier, there was someone who wasn’t completely dead.

“S, save…”

Seo-ah turned her gaze downward.

The person had an expression that said he had no idea why he was collapsing and dying here.

Indeed, could it be that he was also possessed by something to come all the way here?

Was there really no other way than to kill them all?

In a moment of fleeting guilt, Seo-ah cast a short recovery skill on the person. Then, she shook off the hand and broke away from the people.

‘This is a deception.’

Casting a recovery skill would alleviate the pain a bit, but the probability of that person surviving here was extremely low.

It was merely a measure for Seo-ah herself to feel a little better.

With a bitter heart, she shook it off as much as possible and headed back to the hospital building.

Bang! Flash-

From somewhere in the building, there was an explosion and a flash of light that seemed to blind her. It must have been Yoo Ji-an’s electric magic.

‘Did they already engage?’

Yoo Ji-an probably intends to take the elixir from that doppelganger.

Yoo Ji-an’s doppelganger and Yoo Ji-an. Is he a decent opponent?

In the first place, is ‘that’ really Yoo Ji-an’s doppelganger? Can it be called a doppelganger?

With numerous questions in mind, Seo-ah headed towards the sound.

One corner of the building had already been blown away, so it wasn’t difficult to find. However, it wasn’t easy to get close due to the electric magic spread everywhere.

Seo-ah watched anxiously from a distance.

One Yoo Ji-an drew Ruin Blade [likely a powerful sword] and rushed towards the other Yoo Ji-an.

Then, the other Yoo Ji-an also took out Ruin Blade and blocked him.

Clang!

The sound of the same force of swords colliding shattered the debris of the collapsed building.

They collided and separated too quickly, and Seo-ah was getting more and more confused about who was who. They looked too identical.

There was a feeling that one side had a slightly sharper impression, but it was not enough to judge by that alone.

Creak, creak-

In a situation where swords were tightly opposed, one Yoo Ji-an suddenly spoke to the other Yoo Ji-an.

“Who are you? Are you my shadow?”

Bang-!

The Yoo Ji-an who received the question pushed harder instead of answering, and blew him away with the skill [Explosion].

The Yoo Ji-an who asked the question flew away and crashed to the floor. Looking down at him, Yoo Ji-an muttered.

“Yeah, you probably can’t see my appearance properly. Because you’re only in the 2nd iteration [a repeated cycle or version of events]. Even if I speak, you wouldn’t hear my voice.”

What is he saying?

Seo-ah didn’t understand what Yoo Ji-an was saying right away.

The fallen Yoo Ji-an spat out blood and uttered a short curse.

Seo-ah’s hands trembled as she watched.

Seo-ah instinctively sensed it. ‘That’ is not a doppelganger or anything. ‘That’ is also the real Yoo Ji-an.

“…Ah.”

As soon as Yoo Ji-an got up, Yoo Ji-an rushed at him without giving him a chance. It was clear that they had the same power, but Seo-ah could see that one side was gradually being pushed back.

The one being pushed back had the ‘Elixir.’

But that person is also Yoo Ji-an.

Every time she saw him being pushed back and getting more wounds, Seo-ah’s heart ached. She couldn’t figure out what this feeling was.

Seo-ah needs the elixir. But that Yoo Ji-an will never give it up nicely, so they are fighting.

Seo-ah calmed her mind and quickly approached the Yoo Ji-an on ‘her side’ from behind.

Sensing Seo-ah’s presence, Yoo Ji-an immediately stepped back and blocked Seo-ah’s path.

“Hunter Yoo Ji-an.”

“Absolutely do not interfere.”

Instead of answering, Seo-ah immediately cast a buff on Yoo Ji-an.

As soon as she did, the enemy rushed in. He seemed to be trying to attack Seo-ah, but Yoo Ji-an immediately blocked him.

“Ugh.”

The buffed Yoo Ji-an was naturally much stronger. The opponent was pushed back much faster than before.

Watching the battle, Seo-ah recalled what Yoo Ji-an had said earlier.

‘Only the 2nd iteration, what does that mean?’

Seo-ah’s doubts were gradually turning into conviction in her mind, but she decided not to jump to conclusions until she confirmed it directly with Yoo Ji-an.

Perhaps thinking that he could no longer handle the opponent, the guy changed direction and started to run away. Yoo Ji-an chased after him at a much faster speed and blocked his path.

At that moment, the fleeing guy changed direction and rushed towards Seo-ah.

Surprised, Seo-ah dodged backward.

“Ugh.”

The tip of Ruin Blade barely grazed Seo-ah’s shoulder. If she had been a little late, her body would have been cut in half.

As Seo-ah covered her shoulder and retreated, Yoo Ji-an immediately rushed in and blocked the guy.

“Seo-ah, are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m okay!”

Crackle, crackle-

Sparks flew from the guy. Then Yoo Ji-an shouted loudly.

“Move further back!”

As soon as Seo-ah heard that, she moved far away, and at the same time, Yoo Ji-an unleashed [Thunderstorm] [a powerful electric attack].

A thick, pure white streak of light struck the guy directly.

“Aaaaaagh!”

The painful scream of the 2nd iteration Yoo Ji-an was heard. Because it was really the same face as Yoo Ji-an, Seo-ah couldn’t bear to watch and tightly closed her eyes.

Yoo Ji-an would be a difficult opponent even for Yoo Ji-an himself. So, he can’t overwhelm him without using his ultimate skill.

Fortunately, this Yoo Ji-an has become a complete [Annihilator] [a being of immense destructive power], and now he doesn’t go berserk even when he uses [Thunderstorm].

It took quite a while for the sparks that spread in all directions to completely disappear.

Even then, the 2nd iteration Yoo Ji-an’s consciousness had not completely disappeared. But now the battle seemed impossible.

Barely clinging to life, he was panting as he lay collapsed.

Yoo Ji-an stood in front of him and looked down at the fallen man. What is he thinking as he looks at himself groaning in pain?

Seo-ah cautiously approached Yoo Ji-an. Yoo Ji-an was just looking down at himself.

Seo-ah passed him and slowly approached the fallen Yoo Ji-an.

Thump, thump, thump.

A clear heartbeat was heard from him. His emotions, full of fear and pain, flowed into Seo-ah without filtering.

It hurt as if it was squeezing Seo-ah’s heart.

She knelt down next to him. If she hadn’t wanted the elixir, would this Yoo Ji-an not have suffered like this?

The fallen Yoo Ji-an struggled to open his eyelids and looked at Seo-ah. Their eyes met, and Seo-ah could feel his life fading away.

Seo-ah slowly reached out and covered his eyes. And she used the [Recovery] skill to relieve the pain.

For some reason, tears welled up in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Hunter Yoo Ji-an.”

She muttered words that she didn’t know who she was apologizing to. [Silent Night] [likely a passive skill or ability] quietly comforted Seo-ah, and at the same time, caressed the dying Yoo Ji-an’s heart.

Before she knew it, even his breathing had disappeared.

Seo-ah hesitated and took her hand off his eyes, and the fallen Yoo Ji-an’s body gradually crumbled and disappeared like dust.

Just like when a ‘monster’ disappears, he disappeared like that too. In the place where he disappeared, the ‘elixir’ that she had so desired remained intact.

Seo-ah couldn’t bring herself to pick it up right away, and looked up at Yoo Ji-an standing next to her.

“…….”

Yoo Ji-an was looking at the place where another version of himself had disappeared, with a thoughtful expression.

“…Hunter Yoo Ji-an.”

At Seo-ah’s call, Yoo Ji-an turned his head slowly and looked down at her, his movements stiff as if he were a broken doll.

In Seo-ah’s eyes, this Yoo Ji-an also didn’t seem to have come to his senses yet.

Well, how could he not? He had killed himself. Seo-ah reached out while sitting and gently grabbed Yoo Ji-an’s hand.

Yoo Ji-an looked at him blankly and slowly opened his mouth.

“Why.”

“Hunter Yoo Ji-an, are you a regressor [someone who can return to the past]?”

It was a word that Yoo Ji-an had brought up a few times like a joke. Of course, everyone including Seo-ah didn’t believe it.

Yoo Ji-an slightly raised the corners of his mouth.

“I told you I was.”

It was Seo-ah who was trembling, rather than Yoo Ji-an who confessed calmly.

“Then… how many lives is this? How many times have you repeated it?”

“This is the fourth time. And the me who fell there… was the second.”

Yoo Ji-an approached Seo-ah, knelt down on one knee, picked up the rolling elixir. And he put it in her hand.

“You have to take care of it, what are you doing.”

“…Ah, Hunter Yoo Ji-an. Then.”

Yoo Ji-an held Seo-ah’s hand with the elixir and stroked it.

“I thought you killed me, but it turns out I killed myself. In the 2nd iteration, I couldn’t see the 4th iteration me properly.”

As if the question was finally resolved, Yoo Ji-an muttered calmly.