‘What should I do?!’

Ciara’s mind raced with conflicting emotions as she absorbed Jared’s words.

The possibility of returning to her original world, where she could finally see Jerry again, sent a surge of longing through her.

Her heart yearned for his familiar presence, the comfort of his warmth. She hesitated, her resolve wavering as she contemplated the choice before her.

But then, a deeper sense of compassion welled up within her.

Thoughts of her doppelganger, who had endured so much pain and loss, resonated strongly within her. It was more than just a desire to help, it was a fundamental need to support a friend in their time of need.

Ciara realized that her connection to her doppelganger ran deeper than mere resemblance; it was a bond forged through shared experiences and empathy.

With a determined glint in her eyes, Ciara voiced her decision, her words resolute and unwavering.

“I… I have to help her!” She declared, her voice carrying a firmness that brooked no argument.

“As much as I miss Jerry and want to see him, I also want to be there for a friend in need. I just can’t abandon her.”

~Uh… what did you just say?~ Jared’s tone rang with confusion, but she didn’t let that bother her.

‘I gave her my word. I wouldn’t normally do this, but… this time I can’t back down! Not after everything!’

Ciara’s face scrunched up in resolve, and she nodded at her shell-shocked doppelganger. The reaction on her face when Ciara said she would not abandon her seemed to radiate sheer gratitude.

~Ciara. We have to hurry back, you know? We still have our problems to deal with. We don’t have time to spend here!~ This time it was Kuzon’s voice that radiated out.

“I understand! But I can’t back down now! I’m going to help my friend here and we’re going to crush the Grand Federation together!” Ciara raised her voice, ensuring her message reached her comrades.

~Hold on… what did you just say?~

“Listen up, Jared, Aloe, Kuzon,” she called out, her voice clear and resolute. “I’m not changing my mind. Either you get on board and support me, or you step aside and let me do what needs to be done. This is my choice, and I won’t back down.”

There was a brief silence as her words hung in the air, the weight of her determination palpable.

And then…

~Slow down a little. Did you just say you wanted to take down the Grand Federation? We’re currently at the Headquarters. We’ve pretty much taken it over. That’s how we were able to pinpoint your location and communicate with you.~

“… Eh?”

Ciara’s eyes twitched as soon as she heard that. The idea that the mission was already complete before it started caused her heart to fall a little.

~We even have the leader with us here. Neron, the Grandmaster of the Grand Federation.~

“H-hold on, Neron is involved in this? He’s the leader of the Grand Federation?!”

~Obviously not our Neron, but… yeah…~

Ciara’s thoughts mellowed out a little as she sorted through the new information in her head.

‘Neron, huh?’

“He was the one who scouted me himself back when I had nothing. He told me I had potential… that I was special, and then he brought me to the Grand Federation Military Academy…” Ciara heard her doppelganger speak, her voice now hollow.

“I trusted him, and even believed in his words. I had no idea he was just using me and everyone else. He was the one who assigned me to that dangerous task… and he was also the one who personally spearheaded the ambush against us.”𝑜𝑣𝒍xt.𝗇𝓔t

Hearing her doppelganger’s tale reminded her very faintly of her own story. After all… it was also Neron who approached her and brought her to Ainzlark Academy.

Now that she thought about it, she wasn’t particularly close to Neron, and neither did he express any special interest in her besides acknowledging her talent and bringing her to the Academy.

‘But the resemblance is uncanny…’

And it made her wonder.

~Ciara, we may not fully comprehend your decision, but we respect it.~ Jared’s voice suddenly interrupted her thought.

~I would be a hypocrite if I said I didn’t~ He added.

“You said you’ve captured the Grand Federation Headquarters, right? And you’ve even caught Neron? I suppose there’s nothing left to do…”

~Not quite. Come over here first. I’ll explain in greater detail.~

“What do you—”

>VWUUUUUUUSSHHHHH!<

Before Ciara could conclude her words, a portal opened right beside her, swirling and pouring out spatial energy.

~We’re on the other side, so it’s best you see for yourself.~

“I see…” Ciara glanced at her doppelganger and nodded. “Alright, then. I’ll trust your words, Jared.”

It was tense in the room as Ciara made her way to the front of the spatial rift, finally deciding to take a leap of faith.

~You can bring your friend over too. It’s about time we all converged.~

“You don’t have to tell me that.” She smiled, glancing at her doppelganger who was also walking towards the portal.

“Here we come.”

And so the both of them ventured into the swirling gate in front of them, already somewhat expecting what lay beyond.

*******

Zone 1, Grand Federation Headquarters

As I stood there, watching the two identical Ciaras emerge from the portal I had prepared, a sense of surrealism washed over me.

It was truly uncanny how alike they looked, down to the smallest details.

‘Well, except for that shade of purple…’

The doppelganger Ciara’s eyes widened in recognition as she locked gazes with me.

“Jared?” she uttered, her voice filled with a mix of surprise and uncertainty.

I met her gaze with a reassuring smile. “Yes, it’s me,” I replied, my voice calm and steady.

Her expression softened with relief. “I’m sorry for what I did,” she said, her voice tinged with remorse. “I didn’t know. it was you… or wasn’t you, ah…”

She was probably referring to what happened back on the spaceship. Now that I thought about it, she hadn’t also been the Ciara I was searching for. In a way, both of us had been afflicted with a grave misunderstanding.

I raised a hand, dismissing her apology. “It’s alright,” I assured her. “Sorry for intruding on your spacecraft.”

She gave a warm smile and nodded, and I did the same.

As our attention shifted, we took in the sight of Neron lying unconscious on the floor. Hatred burned in both Ciara’s eyes. I wondered what happened that made the both of them so close.

It pretty much eluded me.

“Actually… ” I quickly chimed in. “… Your anger is a bit misplaced.”

Both Ciaras turned to me, their expressions a mix of confusion and curiosity. Their anticipation hung in the air, waiting for the revelation I was about to unleash.

With a theatrical flair, I continued, “The Neron lying there, defeated and unconscious, is not the real Neron, after all.”

Their eyes widened in surprise, their emotions shifting from anger to intrigue. The doppelganger Ciara spoke up, her voice laced with a newfound hope.

“What do you mean? If that’s not Neron, then who is it?”

Kuzon and Aloe also stared at me in surprise. It seemed the both of them were also unaware of this fact.

‘If not for The Chariot, and a couple of other Arcanas, he would have had me fooled too…’

Unfortunately for him, things weren’t going to be so easy.

“This one is nothing more than a decoy, a pawn used to carry out the real one’s schemes. I already detected it a while back too.”

More surprised expressions greeted me, but I wasn’t done yet.

My grin broadened, and I spoke aloud, as if addressing thin air. “You’re watching all this, aren’t you… Neron?”

The room fell into silence, the weight of my words hanging in the air.

At that moment, I felt a surge of anticipation and satisfaction. The true Neron, had been watching us all along, and it didn’t take much of an effort to detect all of that using The Chariot, when I finally took control over the entire Headquarters.

“Don’t worry, and just sit tight. We’ll be with you soon.”

*

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A

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