The Scum Emperor's Redemption System - Chapter 61

Chapter 61: Accusation (2)
Fialova’s accusations came with each furious strike, her dagger slashing relentlessly toward Argider’s face.

The latter rolled frantically, each movement jarring her broken arm and drawing groans of agony from her lips. Still, she evaded death, though shallow cuts began to carve into her flesh, tiny tolls for each moment she stayed alive.

Then, Fialova managed to seize Argider’s wrist, her grip ironclad. Argider’s chest heaved, panic threatening to drown her. Summoning what strength she had left, she drove her legs upward, kicking Fialova square in the knees.

“Ah!” Fialova yelped, staggering back and releasing her grip.

Argider paled. “W-Wait, I didn’t mean to kick you!”

Wait. Why was she apologizing? This woman was trying to kill her!

“Stop trying to act so concerned!” Fialova spat, her voice seething with hatred. “It doesn’t matter what universe, what world, what timeline, what history, or what future! I will kill you, Argider Valtirium. I don’t care if you’re suddenly a woman!”

She surged forward before Argider could react. The dagger struck true, plunging into Argider’s arm. Pain erupted like wildfire, and her scream tore through the room.

Argider stumbled, nearly losing her footing. Her hand shot to her right arm, where blood seeped through her fingers. The stab wound was deep, a relentless ache radiating through her entire limb. Just as it had begun to heal from her earlier injuries, this new assault felt like the final nail.

Pain creeped into her bones, made her limbs sluggish and heavy. But as Fialova’s blade cut through the air again, she had no choice but to fling herself to the side, narrowly escaping another strike.

“G-Goddamn it…” Argider groaned through gritted teeth. The pain was blinding, but a small, defiant part of her burned with gratitude for the grueling physical training she’d endured to enhance her stats.

Her body moved with practiced agility, her reflexes sharp. She wasn’t as drained as she should’ve been, her stamina held. But none of that changed the fact that she was unarmed and unprepared.

“I can’t believe I trusted you!” Fialova’s voice was raw, trembling with fury as she swung again, the blade’s arc almost lazy compared to her earlier precision. “I can’t believe I was such a fool!”

There was something broken in her tone, like she was biting back tears. And then her movements slowed, her strikes losing their sharpness. Her breaths came heavier, her shoulders sagging under the weight of exhaustion.

“Argider?!”

The voice came from behind, sharp and urgent.

The door burst open.

Argider turned, and her heart plummeted into a spiral of confusion.

Standing in the doorway was Fialova.

But that was impossible.

Her wide-eyed gaze snapped back to the Fialova in front of her, the one wielding the dagger, trembling and pale.

The blood froze in her veins.

Then who was this?

But now that Argider thought about it, something didn’t add up. The real Fialova would’ve been faster, sharper. She would’ve used the Lightning Magic Argider herself had bestowed upon her.

This Fialova wasn’t holding back. No, it was something else. An imposter? A clone? That sounded absurd. Yet everything about her seemed authentic. Her face, her movements, her voice, all exact.

A twin, perhaps? But Fialova never mentioned one.

Before Argider could make sense of it, the other Fialova tensed, preparing to leap. Her muscles coiled like a spring, the dagger poised for another strike.

Using her crackling surge of energy, the real Fialova burst into the room. Sparks danced around her boots as she enhanced her steps with Lightning Magic, crossing the distance in an instant.

Argider’s breath caught. She was right, the real Fialova would’ve used her magic.

“Stay away from Her Imperial Majesty!” the true Fialova commanded, stepping in front of Argider with a protective stance. Her arm extended like an unbreakable shield, her other hand resting near the hilt of her sword. She was clad in gleaming armor, and her face, framed by the lightning’s glow, was painted with flawless makeup.

“W-Who is this?!” Argider gasped, clutching her wounded arm.

“I don’t know either!” Fialova replied without taking her eyes off the woman infront of her.

“A twin sister?”

“Never had one in my life!”

The imposter, now cornered, seemed to grow more agitated. Her gaze darted toward the balcony, weighing her chances of escape, but she didn’t lower her dagger.

“W-Where did you get that Lightning Magic?!” the imposter demanded, her voice sharp and almost frantic.

“Her Imperial Majesty gave it to me,” Fialova replied evenly, her stance unwavering as she shielded Argider with her body. Her tone was calm, but her hand poised to draw her sword at a moment’s notice.

“That scum gave it to you?!” The imposter’s voice cracked, rage twisting her features. She tightened her grip on the dagger, her movements jittery, as though even she couldn’t reconcile the truth.

Suddenly, they circled each other. The dagger gleamed, while Fialova’s sword crackled with lightning.

The imposter lunged, aiming for Fialova’s throat, but Fialova sidestepped with a burst of speed. Steel clashed, sparks flying, each strike a blur.

The imposter was relentless, but Fialova’s defense was swift, countering every blow with precise grace.

Snarling, the imposter broke off and lunged toward Argider.

“No!” Fialova reacted in a flash, her lightning magic exploding as she tackled the woman to the ground. They struggled, rolling across the floor, until the imposter’s knee slammed into Fialova’s stomach. But Fialova didn’t hesitate. She swung her sword, forcing the imposter back.

Clank!

Clank!

Argider swung the vase with all her might, smashing it against the imposter’s head.

The force of the blow sent the woman crumpling to the ground, her body going limp in an instant. A sickening thud echoed through the room, the vase shattering into jagged fragments. “Oops…”

Fialova gasped in shock, her eyes wide as she shoved the unconscious imposter aside.

She quickly pushed herself up, breathing heavily, her hands shaking from the sudden surge of adrenaline.

“That was… something,” she whispered, glancing nervously at the now motionless figure.