Ch.181176 – Killing the Doppelganger

# World of Arsheria’s opening match featured Team The Blory.

The six-team round-robin tournament, played in single matches, was being broadcast through the official Letterbox channel.

While viewers who regularly followed scrims might have understood each team’s capabilities, most didn’t have that background knowledge.

The opening match alone drew a massive 200,000 concurrent viewers, and when Yggdrasil appeared on the map, the excitement supporting each team intensified.

And of course, it was the commentators with their unwavering professional spirit who made this excitement even hotter.

“The ‘Mankai Castle’ team must be regretting this bitterly right now. What did we do so wrong…! What did we do so wrong?!”

“Yes! But there must be something they did wrong to end up in this situation!”

“That’s right. To get the one-coin needed to counter NoName, they scraped together everything they could in the early design, even taking out loans. They went all-in and failed? Now they’re paying the price.”

“Aaah, why is the one-coin so expensive!”

The first match, expected to be tight, continued to be one-sided.

NoName received 1000 gold and level 2 experience.

Even trying to dismiss her as a healer with no impact, this was clearly an overgrowth.

And in games, overgrown characters always dominate the battlefield.

-She’s beating a level 1 Warrior Bella in 1v1 lmao

-Mage Bella is weakest in 1v1, but Warrior Bella is different?

-Yeah, she’s super strong early game. At level 1, she’s even stronger than a Hero.

-Even 3 people can’t kill Warrior Bella

-Starting with 1000 gold hahaha, WoA isn’t LoL

-Even in LoL, if you start with 1000 gold from inventory, the game breaks, let alone in WoA lol

-I thought putting down the sword and extending fists was like asking for an advance, but she’s actually using that to her advantage

-Actually, that pattern usually leads to losing, but it was the only way to win here

NPCs in World of Arsheria always make rational choices.

They make choices that maximize win rates through battle assessment simulations, and following NPC guidance generally ensures you won’t lose.

This system was designed to allow lower-tier players to focus on combat rather than management.

Therefore, when a knight encountered a priest alone, the decision to flee would be difficult to make, both as a human and as AI.

“At that point in the duel, you can see NoName deliberately luring her opponent into hand-to-hand combat. She keeps leaving openings around her head, but whenever Isabella tries to strike with her heavy flamberge, she blocks it with surprising agility.”

“Ah, would even a human player have fallen for that provocation?”

“I think I would have tried close combat at least once, if only out of frustration!”

“For those who don’t know, let me explain again: priests have no combat bonus skills except with daggers. Simply put, every movement NoName makes—extending her arms, tripping with her legs—all of these are manual commands! All of them!”

“Wow, that’s amazing! And as I’m saying this, Kariri is running! Kariri is running! With NoName covering from behind!”

Despite the game tilting from the start, the Mankai Castle team was firmly standing their ground with cohesive teamwork.

In World of Arsheria, where health recovery options are limited, healers are the number one priority target in team fights, but given who this particular healer was, they cleverly avoided large-scale engagements.

So NoName ran. Together with Kariri. Toward Yggdrasil.

Those who frequently watched scrims would have known what they were doing.

Early backdoor.

A strategy where, before the 20-minute mark, you lure enemy lines deep into your territory, then go to the opposite side and burn down Yggdrasil.

On VTube, it was only known as an entertainment build, but for them, it was a legitimate strategy approved even by their coach.

The priest’s swift mobility, and Kariri’s unique existence as an assassin despite being a tank, made their movement speed incredibly fast.

Ten guardian NPCs were protecting Yggdrasil. And one enemy player.

Their eyes met, and realizing the backdoor strategy had been exposed, Kariri quickly approached the enemy and swung her claws.

The enemy facing them swung a partisan, a long spear-like weapon, to limit their approach, but there was no need to dodge.

As Kariri’s health rapidly decreased, a red aura spread around her skin, signaling she needed healing.

This was Kariri’s trademark: the Suicide Assassin.

However, that only applied in solo ranked games. In team games, with NoName’s healing, she became a bizarre character who wouldn’t even die.

Her attack power fluctuates based on her health, making damage calculations difficult.

The spear-wielder gritted their teeth and continued stabbing the honey badger repeatedly, but she never backed down.

The girl soared into the air and delivered a punch with her full weight behind it.

CRUNCH-!

The sharp blade attached to her fist penetrated the enemy’s sturdy armor.

She continued attacking until the enemy was not just torn apart but completely shredded, and their full health bar quickly hit bottom.

The crowd’s cheers erupted around that time.

In terms of damage, it was like being directly hit by Meteor, a spell that fire mages learn at level 25.

Is that really the power a tank can deliver?

First, she’s not a special dealer like a berserker. Berserkers have low defense.

Nor is she an assassin. Assassins don’t have that much health.

A tank? Tanks can’t run that fast in the first place.

-Is this a Tank-sassin? Is this a Tank-sassin? Is this a Tank-sassin? Is this a Tank-sassin? Is this a Tank-sassin?

-No way, this is so broken lmao

-Please nerf this lol

-With 25,000 HP, I’m questioning if this is even right, feeling self-doubt and suffering…

Hexagonal characters were often criticized for being useless when the hexagon was small, but conversely, a fully filled hexagon had no counter.

The power of Kariri, who had easily consumed resources while NoName was being countered, was starkly evident.

First in damage dealt. First in damage taken. First in occupation time.

Finally, as Kariri alone blocked the enemies who belatedly returned to their base to stop the backdoor with her small body,

NoName drove her sword into the great tree.

Even at this moment, coaches analyzing Team The Blory were clutching their aching heads.

If NoName gets fed, she might create unpredictable variables with her overwhelming skill,

But if Kariri gets fed, the game simply ends.

The outcome of the game seemed decided.

* * *

“Ah, so close! If I’d landed a few more hits, the game would have been over!”

Kariri expressed her disappointment as she respawned alongside Name.

But it wasn’t a major issue.

Having defeated the elemental golems protecting Yggdrasil, victory was practically theirs.

In chess terms, it was like capturing the opponent’s queen.

In League of Legends terms, it was like destroying both nexus turrets.

“This means the third objective is ours, so if the enemy recklessly pushes forward, let’s look for another backdoor opportunity. Otherwise, we can take a teamfight—we have the advantage since they have to come out immediately without maintenance time.”

Name precisely calculated the respawn timing when they couldn’t end the game with the early backdoor.

14 seconds of combat time in enemy territory. 32 seconds of respawn wait time. 21 seconds of travel time to the objective.

And when all that time was used, the timing for the third objective matched perfectly.

Once might be coincidence, but twice or thrice is not. Whenever enemies barely managed to catch NoName, they always had to accept much greater losses afterward.

As the team continued winning following Name’s orders, Isabella’s authority noticeably diminished.

“There’s only one NPC guarding the enemy Yggdrasil now!”

“Are they planning to force a teamfight? They’re the ones in a hurry, so let’s move quickly!”

Six mercenaries formed ranks and prepared for the final battle.

Meanwhile, Isabella’s eyes quickly scanned the battlefield.

“I could defeat her alone now… I’m sure of it.”

Mages are weak against warriors in one-on-one combat. However, with the stats, weapons, and sufficient mana to support powerful firepower gained through numerous battles, she could predict a win rate of over 50%.

Isabella mounted her prepared horse and took the reins.

No one followed her.

They thought they could win the teamfight sufficiently without her.

However, Name watched Isabella disappearing down the narrow forest path with suspicious eyes.

“Name?”

“We can handle the teamfight without me, even 5v6. I’ll go after Isabella.”

“You two are going for another backdoor?”

“This is the right call now.”

* * *

Isabella Entweder’s Easter egg.

She cannot kill her doppelganger.

More precisely, when her next attack would be the killing blow, she withdraws her attack and immediately enters non-combat mode.

Therefore, positioning Isabella in one-on-one confrontations or team fights requires more careful consideration than other NPCs.

The sound of hooves striking the ground gradually closed the gap and finally stopped.

Emerging from the dense forest, she arrived at a gold-plated temple.

Name continued forward, avoiding collapsed pillars and deeply gouged floors from the previous battle.

As expected, two Isabellas with almost no health remaining were in a strange standoff.

‘No one else knows about this.’

Name inwardly recited Wearsoft’s bizarre setting.

They had made painstaking efforts to incorporate story mode narratives directly into multiplayer.

Sometimes following the epic of a vagrant boy who founded a nation, sometimes the story of a gladiator seeking revenge against those who killed his parents.

And now, the battle between two women fighting for an elixir that could cure an incurable disease.

Over 500 stories created by 108 NPCs.

It was normal for anyone other than professional gamers who lived for victory to not memorize them all.

Shing-

The sound of the schiavona sliding out of its scabbard was particularly sharp.

The ground was wet and muddy, likely from Isabella using water magic during the fight, as mud clung to Name’s western boots with each step.

[Isabella Entweder(RED): HP(83/39401)]

[Isabella Entweder(BLUE): HP(102/23910)]

They were both one hit away from defeat.

A precarious situation where even a slight poke with a sword tip would bring them down.

Without hesitation, Name approached the enemy doppelganger and pointed the sword at her neck.

“No, wait!”

The allied Isabella’s cry stopped her hand.

“Please don’t kill my sister now… I’m begging you…”

Name withdrew her sword with a dismissive look and headed straight for Yggdrasil.

The game doesn’t end just by killing an NPC. Name’s objective was ultimately to destroy Yggdrasil.

[Yggdrasil RED: 8201/72482]

“We won the teamfight too, NoName! Go ahead and destroy it!”

“Woohooo! We won the first match! We won!”

News of victory came from the allied side where the objective was.

The defeated doppelganger would soon die.

“When you start a war, the loser’s head should rightfully pay with death. I’m sparing you only because you’re terminally ill.”

Clang-!

Striking Yggdrasil with her sword produced a crisp metallic sound.

The tree’s bark had the hardness of steel.

“The two of you aren’t actually doppelgangers.”

“…”

Name had only learned the story through text, not by experiencing it.

She didn’t know the details, but Isabella Entweder…

“You’re twins, aren’t you?”

The Isabellas flinched.

Not doppelgangers at all, but identical twins sharing one name.

Cursed by mana, one was destined to pass on her Aura Heart at the age of 10 and die.

However, they held hands and stubbornly managed to extend their lives into their thirties.

The curse of mana was simultaneously a blessing of mana—one became renowned as a swordswoman, the other as a sorceress. Although both used pseudonyms.

After running parallel paths for so long, they were finally dragged into a catastrophe where one had to die.

Crack-!

The sound of Yggdrasil cracking was like thunder.

Tension was palpable in the sisters’ breathing as they watched. The Isabella shadowed by death couldn’t hide her anxious gaze.

“Sister, any last words?”

Just before Yggdrasil shattered, the allied Isabella asked.

The NPC who had fought with her since level 1 looked alternately at Name and her twin sister, smiling resignedly.

“I miss Alphonse so much today. If you happen to meet him later… could you ask him if he became a splendid knight?”

“I will. Definitely.”

“Thank you.”

Isabella who loved the sword and Isabella who loved magic.

Unfortunate women forced by the Entweder family to live under a single name.

Their childhood friend, Alphonse Schipott, chose the sword over magic in all worldlines and became a dignified Imperial Knight Commander.

However, only one of them could reunite with their beloved childhood friend.

[Yggdrasil has been destroyed.]

White fireflies erupted from Yggdrasil’s roots, covering the entire world.

The vibrant green vegetation lost all color and gradually turned to dust.

Surrendering to the familiar sensation of being transported, Name pondered.

[Since there’s no reason to stay in the capital anymore, I should go home. To where I belong.]

Name remembered Alphonse’s words about returning home to meet Isabella.

[My childhood friend Bella used to chirp like a nightingale, eagerly sharing magic she taught herself from the library.]

[But Bella also liked men who wielded swords and wore armor. So, knowing nothing better, I trained only in swordsmanship to become a proper knight.]

In that worldline, which one did Alphonse reunite with?

“This is why I hate open endings.”

[Victory]