Sora found himself alone as he checked the updated details on his [Prestige] skill.

  [Skill Option 4: Alter Ego]

  Description: Using 1,000 [Soul Pearls], create an alternate life form with an indepe identity that grow separately. The [Alter Ego] and the user merge at any time, bining their power, experiences, memories, and skill proficies.

  Reading the description, Sora’s eyes widened. Isn’t this like pying with two ats at once? he thought, excitement brewing. But the amount of [Soul Pearls] needed made him pause. He had painstakingly farmed these pearls to boost his [Soul Pace], and he hadn’t anticipated a skill that would require such a heavy iment.

  ’t gain without spending, he mused, shrugging to himself. Might as well go for it. It’s not like I spent a lifetime colleg these things…

  Worried the amount might ge if he hesitated, he quickly selected the fourth effect. Almost immediately, a character creation panel appeared before him.

  [Please select your [Alter Ego]'s facial features ]It was exactly like the one he’d seen wheing his “Ralph Eden” persona. Realizing that this new identity would likely be around for some time, Sora took his time crafting a face that reflected a hint of his inal look. When he was dohe Alter Ego resembled a distant cousin of his Japanese inal appearance—seemingly ected, yet different.

  Once he firmed, another prompt appeared:

  [Please choose a name for your Alter Ego]After a moment’s hesitatioyped in Alius.

  [The process of creating an Alter Ego is apanied by excruciating soul and body pain. Are you willing to proceed?]Sora let out a steadying breath and braced himself. He clicked [Yes], and instantly, a thousand [Soul Pearls] materialized from his iory, f a halo around him as they began te with his essence.

  Nearby in the garden, Kara and Hiyoko looked up, both drawn to the intense surge of an unknown energy. Kara turo Hiyoko, her eyes wide with realization. “Is he trying out a new skill? It looks incredible…”

  Hiyoko fluffed up her feathers nervously, her eyes refleg both fasation and worry. She chirped, gng at Kara. “Chirp chirp!”

  Kara chuckled, patting Hiyoko gently. “Yes, I think he’ll be fine. But I admit, I’ve never seen anything quite like this either.”

  Ba his own experience, Sora felt each [Soul Pearl] as it began te with his essence, one by one. An incredible rush of [Soul Power] surged through him, flowing into his [Soul Pace] like a flood of raw energy.

  He could feel his body and mana trembling in anticipation as the power seeped into every fiber of his being, his cells taking the potent energy in. He marveled at the leap in his [Soul Level], feeling as though he'd transformed from an ant to an elephant in a matter of seds.

  But just as he allowed himself to rex, everything ged. An indescribable agony surged through him, ripping his soul apart. The pain was so overwhelming that he would have gdly passed out—but his body was no longer under his trol. He could only ehe painful torment, as though a burning-hot knife was slig through his soul and mind with merciless precision.

  Wherever this phantom bde struck, it left damage in its wake. His body’s natural regeion owerless against such type of damage, and his mana, usually so responsive, seemed to cower, utterly useless.

  The process sted only ten seds, but to Sora, it stretched on endlessly. He was left wishing he’d never activated such a wretched skill.

  'Who needs a damned alter ego?' he fumed inwardly, feelirayed by the very skill he’d once been so eager to unlock. 'I’ll train on my own; I don’t his to grow anymore! Whoever's behind this, please, just stop it!'

  The silent cries of frustration echoed in his mind as he gritted his teeth, brag himself against the torment. Then, slowly, he felt the [Soul Power] enveloping him, its energy mending the torn parts of his soul. As the pain faded, he breathed, relieved but scared of his own Innate Skill.

  As half of his soul drifted out of his body, Sora watched as the ethereal essence began to take shape before him.

  It floated, translut and formless at first. Slowly, the soul piece began to take shape, its edges being clearer and moving with purpose.

  As the body took shape, it pulled in a huge amount of mana from the area, almost draining the [Time Space]. The energy came together, joining with the piece of Sora’s soul that had split off, bringing it to life.

  Before him stood a figure of equal height, around 1.80 meters tall, with features distinctly East Asian. With lo-bck hair, and a face that bore resembo Sora’s own inal face, the figure had dark brown eyes. It opehem slowly, blinking as they adjusted to the light, taking in the surroundings with a calm, assessing gaze.

  The new being breathed for the first time, sav the sensation of air filling his lungs. He turned, meeting Sora’s eyes, an expression of quiet curiosity flickering across his face. There was a deep intelligen his gaze, a look of awarehat spoke of the shared memories and experiences imprinted in both their souls.

  In that moment, Sora realized he wasn’t looking at a mere e—he was meeting airely new person, a person who knew him in a way no one else ever could.

  “Hey, buddy…” Sreeted, his voice carrying a warmth at the sight of his alter ego.

  The new "Sora" breathed heavily, casting a ptive look at his hands. “So… I was Sora a minute ago, but now I’m someone different. This feeling isly amazing. I feel… like a copy.” He paused, letting the weight of the words sink in. “Alius… That’s my name now. It is less fitting now that I'm the one bearing it. Nevermind that… Why do I feel this strange urge to give up on life and merge bato you? Do you have the same feeling?”

  Sora watched his Alter Ego, the thoughtful expression oher’s face, a a straug on his own soul. Although his soul was now immensely stronger after abs so many [Soul Pearls], something was missing, a palpable absehat made his very core feel hollow. It was as if a part of him was calling out, longing to reuh the part standing before him.

  “I feel torn,” Sora replied, admitting the ag void within him. “It feels like I’m stantly itg to get reunited with the missing piece… It is simir to ye te.”

  Alius snapped out of his thoughts, gng back with a hint of a smile. “It’s… just strange seeing…me… from this perspective. It’ll take time for me to adjust.”

  Alius, aware of the residual power flowing through him, felt he was still quite powerful. But he wao know more about his current state—what kind of entity he was now. 'Am I still a pyer?' he wondered. trating, he attempted to call up his status, eager to uand what he had bee.

  A moment ter, a s appeared before him:

  [Status Update]Profile: AliusStatus: Alive (Prestige 1800)Css: None (Level 100)Talent Level: 1048576Growth Factor: 1Power Level: Omega 19Body Level: Omega 19Energy Level: Omega 19Soul Level: 500Innate Skill:? [Prestige] (Click to see effects)Supreme Skills:? None

  Skills: (...Show more...)

  Depressed at the sight of his status, Alius shared the s with Sora. “It looks like I’m sidered a pyer too. I’ve still got the same talent level and even our Innate Skill... but I lost both Supreme Skills. I feel like trash.”

  Sora studied the s, thoughtful. “Maybe our Supreme Skills are tied to me because they 't be copied. If Innate Skills don’t affect them, that would expin why you don’t have them, even with the same talent level and [Prestige] skill.”

  Alius sighed, feeling the weight of the loss. “Losing both Supreme Skills dropped my power from Omega 22 to Omega 19. It’s a huge difference. I 't eve your [Blood es] now.”

  Sora nodded, the differences. “It seems we share the same soul level, with each of us having half the Soul Pearls’ value. Looks like we’ll have to work together to keep growing."

  Sora who wao rely on Alius to raise skill profid polish his skills ged his mind, sad to see his [Alter Ego] deprived of his main sources of power. He asked "So… what’s your pn now?”

  As Alius scrolled through the list of ied skills, he felt his frustration rising. He hadn’t lost the abilities he’d known as Sora, but they felt… average. Each skill was there, but without [Mana Evolution] or [Eternal Body Craft], their potential was severely limited. They held potential, but without his mana treion, they weren’t enough to give him a ce against Sora.

  This setback wasn’t enough to ruin his fighting spirit. “I’ll find a different approach. Supreme Skills or not, I’ll find a way.” He looked at Sora with a glint of fiden his eyes. “And wheime es, I'll give you a beating.”

  Srinned, crossing his arms with a hint of amusement. “Wow, you’re five minutes old, and you’re already threatening me? Looks like someone’s asking for a beating.”

  Alius smirked back, unphased. “Oh, bring it on, old man. Not now though... I had things pnned for today”

  mimou

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