Jace studied the skill book for a moment, then looked back at Mike.

"Kekeke… but even if you summon a dragon, I don't think you can sustain it," the Lich said.

"Undead Dragons consume an enormous amount of mana. Unlike normal undead, they are closer to true dragons. And with a summoning skill, there's even a chance you could summon a True Dragon, not just one formed from miasma and bones. Even with my current state, limited by my summoner rank, I can only maintain one dragon at a time."

Mike nodded calmly. "Don't worry. I'm not the one who'll use it."

Jace blinked. "Then who—?"

A strange pressure filled the air.

Mike's shadow stretched unnaturally across the ice, then peeled itself off the ground.

From it, another Mike stepped forward.

Same face. Same presence. Same aura.

There wasn't even the slightest difference between them.

"This," Mike said, glancing at the figure beside him, "is Dual Existence."

The shadow version looked around once, then nodded in perfect sync with Mike.

"We have separate mana cores," Mike continued. "A perfect clone. Same abilities. Same power."

Jace's hollow eyes widened.

"…I can't tell you apart," he muttered. "It's like looking at the same person twice—yet not the same at the same time."

"The shadow lacks a few things, anything that is not natuarally mine." Mike added. "Items, equipment, elemental contract and my mount. Aside from those, he can use all my skills, share my class, and even my talents."

As he spoke, Mike took out the massive Leviathan corpse.

"Remember the Leviathan?" Mike said. "Turn it into a Shadow-type undead."

Jace nodded, curiosity flickering in his hollow gaze.

He raised his staff and began chanting. Black liquid dripped from his bony finger, spreading rapidly as it engulfed the Leviathan's corpse.

Dark mist wrapped around the enormous body. The flesh dissolved and reshaped itself into a sleek, shadowy form. Deep black scales formed, edged with faint violet light. Its eyes ignited with cold intelligence.

A Shadow Leviathan.

"This will be his mount," Mike said. "A Shadow-type undead."

The shadow clone stepped forward and placed a hand on the creature's head.

He activated Midas Touch.

Just like when Mike used it, golden light erupted outward—but this time it came from the shadow clone. The glow coated the entire Leviathan, surging through its body.

The Shadow Leviathan roared silently as its presence exploded.

Its rank rose.

Mythical Rank — Shadow Leviathan.

The pressure in the area intensified dramatically.

Jace sucked in a sharp breath.

"…This is absurd," he said slowly. "It can even use the power of your Authority too."

Mike smiled faintly. "That's why it's called Dual Existence."

The shadow clone turned toward Jace and held out his hand.

"I'll be the one summoning the Shadow Dragon, while you will create Death Lords and this Lich guy." he said calmly.

Jace stared for a long moment, then burst into laughter.

"Kekekeke… unbelievable. Truly unbelievable. To think I would see something like this after more than a thousand years."

Jace shook his skull in amazement.

"Very well," Jace said. "With a separate mana core, it is indeed possible. If he has a mana pool comparable to yours… sustaining a Shadow Dragon should be possible."

Mike nodded.

"Of course, though he only has about half of my mana," Mike said. Shadow didn't have the drop from the Limitless Fountain of Mana, since that was an external source Mike had obtained from Lily.

"Hm, let me see," Jace said, turning his gaze toward Shadow.

"…Yes, this much mana is enough," Jace muttered. "Besides, summoned beings—unlike created undead—don't require that much mana to sustain. Just like how you are able to maintain a Mythical Lich like me even with your meager mana."

Mike nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Shadow activated the Mount Skill on the Shadow Leviathan.

A contract formed between them.

The connection shifted—clean and absolute. The Leviathan was no longer an undead controlled by a Lich, but a bound summon to Shadow and most importantly its now a seperate being no longer dependant on anyone's Mana all thanks to Knight's Mount Skill.

"Kekeke… even this skill is absurd," Jace said, shaking his skull again.

For the first time in a long while, the ancient Lich wondered—

Just how many more unbelievable abilities this human would reveal next?

"So, is there any useful skill?" Mike asked as Shadow nodded.

"This one," Shadow said, showing Leviathan status screen to Mike.

[ Heart of the Sea ]

A unique heart belonging to an Apex Predator of the Seas that has evolved into a Mythical rank being. Grants talents related to the Sea.

[ Talent: Ruler of the Frozen Seas (SS) ]

Increases Mana and Health by 1000%

Power of all Ice and Water type skills and spells increased by 1000%

In Icy and Water terrain, all related effects are further enhanced by 100%

Grants Supreme-Grade Water and Ice Affinity

Can learn and use any Water and Ice affinity skills and spells.

Perfect Ice and Water Control ]

Mike stared at the screen in silence.

"…That's not just useful," he said slowly. "That's more than just useful."

"I know," Shadow replied, "but I'm confused about whether I should choose his talent or Heart of the Sea."

"After all, Heart of the Sea says it grants a random sea-related talent, and the Leviathan happened to get an SS-rank one," Shadow added.

"You want to gamble?" Mike asked. "Do I need to remind you—once you copy something from your mount, its permanent, you can't revert it."

Shadow nodded. "I know. But isn't it fun to gamble?" he said with a grin.

Jace looked at the two of them and shook his skull slightly.

"I suggest you choose the talent directly," he said. "Heart of the Sea only gives suitable talents. Leviathans are naturally water and sea creatures, so it received a higher-grade talent."

He paused, then continued,

"But in your case, it might be a lower-grade one. After all, humans are not sea creatures."

Shadow sighed. "Alright. I'll choose this one—Ruler of Frozen Seas."

The moment he confirmed the selection, Shadow's mana surged violently.

It exploded, skyrocketing by over 100,000%—after all, they were standing in an icy terrain.

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