In the midst of the rubble, Sai caught sight of a familiar face that made his heart leap in recognition. It was his friend Kai Grail, coughing from the dust and debris. But strangely, as Sai looked closer, he realized there were two identical versions of Kai standing side by side.
"Kai has the special ability to create clones of himself," Sai explained to the others. "It comes from his Divine Beast lineage of the Hyena. They're perfect copies that inherit all of his original powers and memories."
Sai recalled this skill well from the countless adventures they had shared together previously. He knew just how useful Kai's cloning could be in difficult battles. Based on the extensive damage around them, it was clear some sort of intense confrontation had already taken place here.
Scanning the area, Sai spotted the reason behind the earlier explosion - a group of eight hooded women holding glowing orbs and staves on the other side of the alley. Sai immediately recognized them too. In the virtual world of the otome game, these women had been known as the Enchantresses, powerful mages able to cast all manner of deadly magics.
Two of the Enchantresses were currently battling against Kai and his clones. As Sai watched, Kai created four more doppelgangers of himself, bringing the total to six. Working seamlessly together, the clones began unleashing a barrage of magical attacks on the Enchantresses.
One clone conjured up a tremendous Fire Dragon, the swirling inferno rising over eight meters tall before surging towards the two Enchantresses. But at the last second, a magic circle flared to life in front of them, forming a protective barrier that shielded them from the intense flames.
The Enchantresses, undeterred by the fiery onslaught, retaliated with a counterattack of their own. One of them raised her staff, invoking a powerful gust of wind that dispersed the flames and sent Kai's clones stumbling backward.
Sai, Linda, and Professor Rebecca watched intently, ready to lend their support if needed. The alley had transformed into a battlefield, with the clash of magical energies filling the air.
Kai, undaunted, signaled his clones to regroup. They quickly formed a defensive formation, creating a shield of intertwined magical energies to ward off the Enchantresses' attacks. The second Enchantress began chanting an incantation, her glowing orb pulsating with dark energy.
Everyone of them finished with the line, “Lend me your strength, Snake God Uroboros.”
The Enchantress unleashed a torrent of shadowy tendrils that snaked toward the clones, aiming to bind and immobilize them. However, Kai's clones responded with swift agility, dodging and countering the magical restraints.
Seizing the opportunity, another clone of Kai conjured illusions, creating mirages of additional clones to confuse the Enchantresses. The hooded figures hesitated, momentarily unsure which Kai was the real one. It was a brief diversion, but it allowed the rest of the clones to launch a coordinated assault.
They unleashed a combination of elemental attacks—water, lightning, and earth—forcing the Enchantresses to defend against multiple fronts simultaneously. The alley echoed with the clash of magical forces, each side pushing their limits.
Sai was impressed with Kai's strategy and the seamless coordination of his clones began to take its toll. The protective barrier weakened under the relentless assault, and the Enchantresses found themselves on the defensive.
As the battle raged on, Kai and his clones pressed their advantage. Sensing an opening, one of Kai's doppelgangers unleashed a blinding flash of light, temporarily disorienting the Enchantresses. Seizing the opportunity, another clone conjured a series of ice spikes that shot towards the hooded figures.
The Enchantresses reacted swiftly, erecting a barrier of shimmering energy to deflect the incoming ice projectiles. However, the distraction allowed a third Kai clone to slip through their defenses, launching a close-range assault with a surge of electric energy. The Enchantresses staggered back, momentarily overwhelmed by the combined assault.
The second Enchantress, recognizing the precarious situation, unleashed a powerful wave of darkness, attempting to engulf the entire alley. However, Kai anticipated the move and quickly dispersed his clones, each one taking a strategic position to evade the impending darkness.
As the shadowy wave subsided, Kai regrouped his clones once again. The Enchantresses, now visibly fatigued, exchanged determined glances beneath their hooded cloaks. They seemed to be communicating silently, devising a last-ditch effort to turn the tide in their favor.
Suddenly, the air crackled with ominous energy as the Enchantresses began channeling their magic into a colossal spell. A swirling vortex of elemental forces manifested above them, growing in intensity. The ground trembled beneath the impending magical onslaught.
Kai, sensing the magnitude of the impending attack, took a decisive step forward. His remaining clones stood by his side, forming a protective barrier of intertwined energies. Sai, Linda, and Professor Rebecca watched in awe as the clash between Kai and the Enchantresses reached its climax.
Just as the Enchantresses unleashed their devastating spell, Kai's clones responded in kind. Each clone channeled their respective elemental powers, creating a counterforce to oppose the oncoming magical tempest.
In the end, this battle seems to be in a stalemate mode.
