[Inside Estel's castle]

[Samurai Jacks point of view]

Countless opponents are currently facing us all, as we keep pushing forward, toward what we feel as the source of this barrier. Neither of us know what form will the source of this barrier looks like, but regardless, the stem of the barrier, can be clearly felt as we keep pushing inside

(Copy how Mrs Aries and Saintess Rumia will usually do) "Goddess, protect and invigorate us all! Holy invigorating Shield!" [Seo Ah]

Seo Ah spell keep our defense and our stamina at it peak, with technique that all of us clearly grasp being a combination of the current guild master Aries and Saintess Rumia technique. She blend the two techniques quite well, protecting us from incoming steel weapon and spell of various level from reaching us. Of course, there are exception

"Die!" [Fake doppelgangers: Rude Captain]

"The head captain of Estel?" [Khamishah]

Or as Ash would love to call, Rude Captain. Even when Ash keep mocking and belittling him, saying that his title is handed down just because of his family lineage (and in a way, it is the truth), his spell and sword technique is something that the holy shield from Seo Ah can block, as a single mighty swing shatter the holy shield into floating mana

"Slow him down! Fluffy light" [Seo Ah]

Those holy shield that were destroyed, remain of the mana start clinging into the fake doppelgangers legs, slowing them down

"Nicely done" [Jacks]

That's quite a spell. I reckon Ash's creativity in his way of handling spell and his teaching really did rub hard on the orphans

"Light sword technique: Golden retriever slash" [Anjin]

A fast yellow light coming from the Golden retriever beastman, Anjin, quickly get the job done, slicing not only the sword neatly in half, but also the armor and flesh of the fake doppelgangers, not only the fake doppelgangers of the Rude Captain, but also those beside him

"There are simply endless..." [Seo Ah]

Even as we cut one, another one or two will simply replace them, slowing down our progress

"True, they're rather endless" [Khamishah]

"And they aren't to be taken lightly" [Filvisar]

"But so are we" [Jacks]

(Evolve. Splinter cat) "That's right" [Kucin]

~Screech~

"Even the steel bird golem agree" [Anjin]

Seeing as how calm we are, Seo Ah's worries face slowly change into that of a confident one. She was involved heavily during Saintess Angela assault on the new headquarters, and she carries herself splendidly during the chaos, even when she's a non combatants. Again, she carries herself splendidly this time around, and with us on her side, I'm sure nothing will happen to her, not because we are cocky of our strength, but rather, because we won't let any harm touch even a single hair of the goddess favourite daughter

"Crap! Isn't this!" [Khamishah]

"I recognize this mana..." [Jacks]

"I'll be senile and demented, but I would never fail to recognise dear Charlotte's mana" [Filvisar]

"She was employed as a court magician after all, which mean..." [Anjin]

"Logical" [Kucin]

One of the job of the court magician is to fortify and maintain the Fortress Defense Magic of the castle. Charlotte, having learn from the very best user of this technique (Ash of course), would surely be responsible for upgrading and maintaining the Fortress Defense Magic of the castle, as countless wave of water come pouring down at us

"They're retreating!" [Anjin]

"Which mean something big is coming" [Khamishah]

"Get ready everyone" [Filvisar]

"Right!" [Seo Ah]

Seo Ah whose been riding Birdie all this while isn't affected nearly as much as us on the ground, but she suddenly shout

"Goddess! Protect us!" [Seo Ah]

"Birdie, together with me!" [Jacks]

~Screech~

Sensing that a wave of strong acid on our way, Birdie and I gather around a strong burst of wind mana, and together

"Wind mana zone: Redirection" [Jacks]

I can feel the very weight of water being push outside by our collective effort. Of course, the fake doppelgangers that were hiding behind the barrier of the Fortress Defense Magic were surprised by the sudden gushing of acidic wave that comes and greet them. I just hope that

"First Zerolith, and now both you and Birdie. I feel like I should patent my mana zone technique" [Kucin]

"Now now. Knowledge are meant to be shared" [Filvisar]

"True" [Seo Ah]

"I just hope that the normal people weren't getting wash away by the acid just now" [Jacks]

"Speaking of them, did anyone notice something strange" [Khamishah]

"I do. All I can see and smell all this while are nothing but fake doppelgangers. I can't even find anyone that wasn't a fake doppelganger. Not even a person" [Anjin]

"That's rather worrying" [Khamishah]

"Not only that. There aren't copies of any of the royalties at all" [Filvisar]

"Now that you mentioned it..." [Seo Ah]

So what I observed was indeed correct, and is further verified by Mr Filvisar and Anjin. All I saw right now are the countless number of fake doppelgangers, ranging from maids and butlers to the stronger and deadlier knights. Of course, they gave us all trouble after trouble of moving forward, but by this point, I would have expected to see a copy or two from the royalty. In fact, not seeing a copy of them makes me anxious. I can't help but to get worried about King Estel, Fourth Queen and Fourth Prince Zaidi. They're the one that I hope nothing bad will happen to them

"Mirage mana: Hand of Giant" [Khamishah]

Using her spell couple with her proficiency of neutral mana, she strengthen her right arm and with it, project a powerful blow to this steel door and rip open the door. The Final barricade that is on our way, and here

"Just... What is that thing!?" [Anjin]

"People... Somehow... I can feel someone inside!" [Seo Ah]

"Coming from one of the goddess favourite daughter, that's indeed worrying" [Filvisar]

A flower of sort, that is made out of flesh and organ. Fake doppelgangers keep coming out from there. It wouldn't be a stretch to call it a Doppelganger flower