Springfield Union Station, Springfield, Illinois - 5:57 PM, two days later


    Getting from Los Alamos to Springfield was time consuming. I had to go to the town of Lamy and defeat a Coalem Colossus to activate the Transportation Hub. It was easy enough with another Magical Fantastical Prototypical Cleansing Egg, giving me more fuel for the Angel Express when I returned. After waiting for a train heading east, I had to get off at both Kansas City and St. Louis before arriving at my actual destination.


    There had been plenty of time to discuss the death of the Uranium Rex. The shapeshifters mutilating the body for its hide aside, Sara and I  came to the conclusion that the wounds on the boss’ body had to have been made by a sword.


    The skill required to do what they had done was far beyond what humanity was capable of this early, and that worried me. While there were countless sword wielders in the United States at this time, I couldn’t think of anyone skilled enough other than myself that could have done this before they were killed by the Uranium Rex’s radiation aura.


    Whoever Aaron had chosen as his champion, they had been using their time well. Even though there may have been a deficiency in combat skill, there were more than a few ways to make up for that. Items could bridge the gap as well as certain quest rewards in the form of skills and passives.


    Classes also had to be considered. A Ghost Jailer with a powerful enough spirit under its command could have done this. Any number of Mediums who could channel the will of a swordmaster could as well.


    In the end, Sara and I agreed that there still wasn’t enough information. At this point, it was starting to get frustrating.


    <<<>>>


    [[Patron Message]]


    You’re getting that look on your face again, Ant. We’re close to the Doppelganger, so should you really be thinking so hard on this?


    <<<>>>


    I sighed. “Yeah. I’m just not used to being in the dark like this,” I said with a shake of my head. “It was fun at first, but now it’s annoying.”


    Stepping into the snow-filled streets of Springfield, I was distracted by a ground-shaking explosion to the west followed by hollers and cheers. I knew that it wasn’t far off but it wasn’t anything to concern myself with. A text box about the scenario quest popped up when I arrived; now I received a different one.


    <<<>>>


    [[Second Scenario Finished!]]


    With a coalition of over 140 different players, the Cucadana Clan has finally been disbanded. The family of Gremlins have terrorized your homes and community ever since they appeared a month ago, but its elder and patriarch has finally been killed.


    The city of Springfield can rest easy knowing that there will now be peaceful nights again. There will be a week break from the scenarios before the third starts.


    And, as always, a big round of applause for our MVP, Chris Williams, for once again rising to the occasion!


    MVP: Chris Williams


    Reward: 400 points, Fae Eradication Scepter (MVP).


    <<<>>>


    “Well, that settles that,” I joked. “Now we know Aaron didn’t pick Chris Williams.”


    Since I was in the area when it ended, I received points for it. Not as many as I’d get if I were the MVP or did anything useful to help with the scenario, but a small portion nonetheless. The timing just so happened to be good.


    Turning to the east, I started walking. Gremlins, in particular, were fairly nasty so it was good to see people solving their own scenarios involving things like tricky, evil Fae. Not everywhere was helpless against the administrator’s plans, there were just far too many sadistic ones out there who didn’t care about what happened to the players in their jurisdiction.


    I would argue that all of them were sadistic in one way or another—they had to be to subject an entire planet to something like this—but some were obviously much worse than others.


    <<<>>>


    [[Patron Message]]


    Yes, I’m so glad we now know it’s not Chris Williams of all people. That should really be something to celebrate.


    That aside, are you sure you still want to do this? I know you’ve made up your mind, but it’s clearly something unpleasant for you. After all, you’ll willingly throw yourself into the Trial of the Silver Nightmare time and time again but you’ve shied away from this Doppelganger fight despite the substantial boons it offers.


    <<<>>>


    “First, that reads like sarcasm. If it is, congrats on learning how to be sarcastic,” I teased before snapping away the message.


    I considered her question. Listening to the snow crunch beneath my feet since I had swapped from the Cloak of the Snow Witch to a clean Cloak of the Irradiated King, I thought about how to respond.


    “I have to, I think,” I answered as I turned south through an alleyway. “To do anything else would be irresponsible considering what we’re up against. After the Doppelganger, I mean. Aaron, his champion, Hell on Earth, robbing the administration. It’s all brand new, so I need to take precautions. That’s why I need this backup plan.”


    This particular Doppelganger was easily one of the deadliest enemies I’d face no matter when I darkened its doorstep, but the risks were outweighed by the rewards. Especially since I had grabbed one of the few items that would make it a physically easy battle, just not an easy one overall.


    <<<>>>


    [[Patron Message]]


    I’m glad you’re taking this seriously.


    Just one more question. You mentioned before that you might not want me to watch. Have you made up your mind?


    <<<>>>


    I gave the sky a thin smile. “Nah, I’m not going to hide anything from you. Just be prepared to see a side of me that I try to keep back.”


    <<<>>>


    [[Patron Message]]


    Alright. I know who you are, though, so don’t think I’m going to freak out or anything. I guarantee you I’ve seen the worst of humanity, and I know you’re the best of them all.


    <<<>>>


    “Thanks, love,” I said honestly before taking to my wheels.


    I had been walking because I had to steel myself for this next part, but now I was just uncomfortable. Traveling a few more blocks south took me to my location: a brown two-story house with green shutters. It was two centuries old but kept in great condition. No monsters had touched it, and there was an aura around the building that made even someone like me want to turn around and walk away.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    “The home of Abraham Lincoln,” I announced as I came to a stop in front of it. “Most people wouldn’t think that this was a place where you’d find a Doppelganger, but this is one of the strongest, thanks to accounts from the man himself.”


    Shifting from foot to foot, I didn’t walk in just yet. “On the evening of the election that would see him president, Lincoln laid on a sofa in front of one of his mirrors. When he saw himself in his reflection, he saw two faces. One was obviously unwell, but undoubtedly his. This happened twice, with his wife coming to the conclusion that it was a sign that said he wouldn’t live through his second term.”


    I looked up to the sky. “Which came true, thanks to John Wilkes Booth. But that’s neither here nor there,” I said, shifting my attention back to the building. “This wasn’t so much an urban legend as an actual account from Abraham Lincoln himself that he told other people, not just his wife. The administrator here could have put his ghost here, as there have been several stories of that, but they went with what the people call Lincoln’s Doppelganger. An omen of death. And, soon, it’s going to be mine.”


    Putting my hands in my pockets, I started climbing up the front steps.


    <<<>>>


    [[Patron Message]]


    Before you go, you should upgrade the Staff of Raphael. You could also upgrade your stats and abilities since you defeated the third scenario back in Hanford, but I understand why you’d be hesitant to do that when you don’t need to.


    Just in case, you know.


    <<<>>>


    Pausing on the steps, I nodded. I snapped open my menu and retrieved the Staff of Raphael at the same time. With the defeat of the Coalem Colossus back in Lamy, the weapon had just enough boss kills to level up.


    “I’ll upgrade the staff, but I’m not quite ready to do the same for everything else,” I said. “My stats won’t matter for this fight and increasing my abilities at this time will just make things worse.”


    Settling on my equipment menu, I brought up the description for the Staff of Raphael to upgrade it.


    <<<>>>


    [[Equipped]]


    Staff of Raphael


    (Angelic item; Growth Item, kill 10 bosses to upgrade; +10 Constitution, +10 Wisdom, +10 Willpower, Divine Regeneration passive acquired)


    [[Passive]]


    Divine Regeneration


    Increase your natural hit point recovery speed by 400%.


    Would you like to upgrade the Staff of Raphael?


    Yes


    No


    <<<>>>


    For Sara, I hit Yes.


    <<<>>>


    [[Equipped]]


    Staff of Raphael +1


    (Angelic item; Growth Item, kill 15 bosses to upgrade; +17 Constitution, +17 Wisdom, +17 Willpower, Touch of Heaven skill acquired, Divine Regeneration passive acquired)


    [[Skill]]


    Touch of Heaven


    Touch the Staff of Raphael to any non-Demonic entity, including yourself, to heal them for 50% of your total hit points. In addition, if your Constitution stat is high enough to remove any physical debuffs, do so at the same time. This skill can be used three times per day.


    [[Passive]]


    Divine Regeneration


    Increase your natural hit point recovery speed by 500%.


    <<<>>>


    I checked my stats afterwards to see exactly what these numbers meant. My hit point total was 1,440, so I could heal for 720 hit points three times a day. That wasn’t anything to scoff at. For the vast majority of people out there, it meant being topped off even when they were hanging on by a thread.


    As for Divine Regeneration, it worked very well with my Heavenly Hero passive. Thanks to the latter, my hit points were equal to 50% of my Constitution per minute. That came out to 60, which meant I could be completely healed in twenty-four minutes as long as I wasn’t dead.


    With the upgraded Staff of Raphael, it was bumped up from 240 to 300 hit points healed per minute. I would be back to full in under five so long as I still had my weapon. This was one of the best boons I could have received for long, drawn-out fights.


    “Better?” I asked as I slung the staff over my shoulder.


    <<<>>>


    [[Patron Quest: Defeat the Doppelganger!]]


    Yes, thank you for indulging me. Now, please be careful.


    The monster lurking in this home is powerful indeed, and I can see why you would be at a disadvantage if you fought it normally. It’s everything you are in your best condition, which now includes your buffs from Angelic Ascent. In a word, this thing is scary.


    But I trust your judgment. Win this fight so we can go back to Sol Ligatus and get things back on track.


    Objective: Kill the Doppelganger.


    Reward: 12,500 points.


    <<<>>>


    “Yes, ma’am,” I said with a salute.


    Reaching the top of the steps, I summoned an item from my inventory. Despite my bleak attitude and forced jokes, I wanted something that would actually help pick up my mood. Luckily, Sara had sent me a Polaroid just the other day.


    I smiled as I looked at the newest photo of her. Sara wore a stunning white ball gown with a sweetheart neckline and a large skirt that looked like she had a crinoline under it. Her wings were held back so that she could show off the dress, and I took it all in. There were words written on the bottom in golden ink, asking me what I thought of her attire for the Patron’s Ball.


    “Beautiful, gorgeous, literally the best sight I’ve ever seen,” I said without looking away from the photo. “I’m glad you sent this to me, because now I know that I’m going to need to really step up my suit game for the event. If you’re going to be so radiant, then I can’t be bringing you down, you know?”


    <<<>>>


    [[Patron Message]]


    I don’t, but I’ll trust your words.


    I think I’ll probably cover up more. I’d like to be more modest, to be honest, but this is what I wanted to show you. Planning for the Patron’s Ball was my obsession while you were stuck in the Golden Dream, and Kayla gave me a lot of advice on the event. What to do before, during, and when we retire from the festivities...


    Not that you get to be privy to that information, so you know. That’s confidential between us girls.


    <<<>>>


    “I won’t pry, then,” I replied. I let my gaze linger for a few more seconds before forcing the picture back into my inventory. “Alright, there’s work to be done.”


    Unlocking and opening the front door with my Warmind powers, I walked into the historic site. Nothing had been touched in the weeks since the system dropped. Everything was exactly where it was supposed to be. What I was looking for could be felt, though, and I walked upstairs.


    The ominous feeling had reached me on the street, but it was far worse inside. Every step upwards was like walking through a pool. My body felt heavy, and I couldn’t move the way I wanted to. This was more of a mental effect than a physical one, but even my high Wisdom didn’t completely defend against the monster that was slowly turning into me.


    Ignoring most of the rooms at the top of the stairs, I headed to one in particular. It was a quaint room with a mirror attached to a dresser across from a sofa. My reflection was already there, waiting and watching as I walked onto the old rug. I gazed upon my Doppelganger.


    His hair was long and flaming, and his skin was bronze. I briefly wondered if mine changed color when I used Break Free or if it was an Angelic Ascent thing bringing me closer to my new heritage. Either way, I was usually wearing so much gear that I didn’t get to see myself very often.


    The Doppelganger had the Staff of Raphael as well, and he leaned on it as he watched me with orange eyes. A halo hovered over his head and six physical wings emerged from the back of his white and gold armor. This was definitely a version of me that treated the world like Hell when it came to Esaraphelscion’s Love.


    I envied that ability.


    He reached out and touched the mirror. The surface stretched as he slowly emerged from it, inches at a time. In my pocket, I summoned the orb of swirling energy.


    <<<>>>


    [[Quest: Defeat the Boss!]]


    You have wandered into the territory of a Prime Doppelganger. As the name suggests, this creature takes on your form at the height of your power. They have your class, skills, passives, equipment, and your memories. They are ambush predators of the highest order, and you have just stirred up the nest.


    Good luck.


    Objective: Defeat the Prime Doppelganger.


    Reward: will be calculated depending on success.


    <<<>>>


    “I’m sorry,” I told the enemy as his head came out of the mirror. “I am so, so sorry.”


    Pulling out the orb, I held it up. The brown and red swirls started to move faster as if it knew it was about to be used.


    <<<>>>


    [[Item]]


    The Orb of Amarii


    Target any creature in line of sight to activate this orb. Both of you will be sent to a mental world of shared memories. As the activator of the Orb of Amarii, you can choose which memories to dive into. These memories must be ones that you and the target have both experienced. You will see things as a third party observer from their point of view, and them will see things from yours. Pain can be felt, but your hit points will not lower.


    The length of time the Orb of Amarii can be active depends on the will of the user.


    <<<>>>


    “No!” my Doppelganger yelled.


    It was too late. The mirror it was crawling out of disappeared along with the room. Everything faded, replaced by a dark night near the ocean. Lightning crackled across the sky and thunder boomed with deafening fervor.


    Between us, kneeling in the sand, was a version of me long since gone. I held the lifeless body of an ally in my arms. Nearby, a short blade with a pink cherry blossom on the handle laid half-buried, forgotten with the death of its owner. There was no other point of view; we shared the same memories. The same traumas.


    “We’ll start in our 32nd run,” I said dispassionately as I watched the Doppelganger clutch his head and close his eyes tight. “The first time we accidentally killed one of our closest friends, Leonard Oswald. More commonly known as Mercury Moonslayer. Let’s talk about how everything terrible in the world is all our fault, shall we?”


    I was about to teach him why having centuries of experience shoved into your mind all at once was a bad thing.