My SSS-Rank Clone Talent: I Level Up Endlessly!

"Who are you?" Zarek narrowed his eyes. He felt like he had seen this woman before, but he couldn't quite pinpoint where.

Then it clicked, he had seen her in Drayken's memories, back when he'd received photos of all the important figures from the Dragon King. That green hair… Yes, it had to be her.

Before he could speak, the prisoners were already trembling. Their faces turned paler than paper, and some looked ready to kneel.

"The Princess of Carnage."

"What is she doing here?"

"Princess of Carnage?" Zarek echoed. As he heard the prisoners' words, the pieces in his mind fell into place. Instinctively, he muttered her details:

"The woman who stepped onto a thousand battlefields and killed thousands of humans. Whenever she appeared, she struck fear into both enemy and ally alike. A ruthless killer, third princess of the Ragnarok Empire, and considered the strongest among the Telekinetic Masters, Melissa, the Princess of Carnage."

"Oh? You know about me?" Melissa raised a brow, a flicker of surprise crossing her face.

"Of course I know you. Everyone knows the the princess of Carnage." Zarek lied through his teeth.

He'd only recognised her because of Drayken's memories.

"Hmph." Melissa scoffed, a glint of disdain in her eyes:

"Then why have you not kneeled?"

"Why should I?" Zarek narrowed his eyes, his grip tightening around the hammer in his hand.

Honestly, he was a little scared—but at the same time… excited.

The corner of his mouth couldn't help but curl upward.

'As long as she doesn't kill me outright, I'll have the chance to reach her level… and end her.'

She wasn't just any Telekinetic Master, she was said to be the strongest. Zarek couldn't help but feel curious about her abilities.

Melissa remained silent, her eyes locked on his. She studied him for a moment, as if trying to peer into his soul.

A strange tension began to build in the air.

A heavy, suffocating silence settled over the room, pressing down on everyone like a weight.

The prisoners watched in utter stillness, not daring to speak, or even swallow.

One prisoner even felt an unspeakable urge to poop but barely managed to hold himself together, trembling from the sheer tension.

If this went on any longer, it was safe to say he'd be dealing with constipation for days.

Still, he felt it was worth it, just to witness the showdown between Zarek and Melissa.

'It's definitely worth it… worth it…' he prayed silently, over and over.

Meanwhile, Zarek and Melissa continued to stare each other down.

The air felt like it could ignite at any second.

Then, just when it seemed like the battle would erupt, Melissa smiled… and began to laugh.

Zarek, to everyone's shock, laughed with her at the exact same moment.

Their laughter echoed through the room, bouncing off the walls.

Everyone froze in place, stunned and confused, unsure whether they were about to witness a duel or not.

"What are they doing?" the poor guy on the verge of constipation muttered, his face twisted in bewilderment.

He wasn't alone. Nearly every prisoner wore the same flabbergasted expression, staring at Zarek and Melissa, who were laughing for no apparent reason.

"Weren't they about to fight?" another prisoner asked, rubbing his bald head in disbelief.

The laughter only lasted a moment before both Zarek and Melissa abruptly stopped.

Their backs straightened as they looked at each other with renewed focus.

"Why did you laugh?" Melissa asked, tilting her head slightly. A flicker of confusion danced in her eyes.

"Because you laughed," Zarek replied with a casual shrug. Then he asked, "Why did you laugh?"

"Because I found something funny."

"I see. Well, I laughed because I found your laugh funny."

"..."

Melissa stared at him, eyes narrowing. Her voice turned sharp, serious.

"Do you really dare to joke with the strongest Telekinetic Master?"

"Are you a Telekinetic Grandmaster?" Zarek asked casually, picking his ear without a care.

"...No," Melissa replied calmly.

"You might be the strongest Master," Zarek said as he blew the dust off his fingertip, "but in front of a Grandmaster, you wouldn't stand a chance. You're just someone too afraid to take the next step."

"..." Melissa fell silent. Her face went blank, expressionless.

Then, without a word, she slowly raised her hand and pointed directly at Zarek.

But Zarek was ready.

He lifted his hammer, aiming it toward her, his body already wrapped in a layer of Telekinetic energy.

'Let's see the power of a Telekinetic Master,' he thought with excitement.

Bang!

All hell broke loose.

From Melissa's outstretched hand, a terrifying force erupted, like a storm with her at its epicenter.

The floors cracked, the walls trembled. Dust and debris exploded in every direction, filling the air in a blinding cloud. At the heart of it all stood Zarek, bracing himself as he took the full force of the attack head-on.

His hammer was the first to feel the pressure. Though it didn't break, Zarek's arm was violently shoved back, the sheer force threatening to rip it from his shoulder as it was flung hard into the air.

Then pure, crushing Telekinesis smashed through the defensive Telekinesis Zarek had wrapped around himself as if it were paper.

At last, the Telekinetic power slammed into his unprotected body with brutality.

His body felt like a kite with its string suddenly cut. Bones cracked, snapped, and shattered under the pressure.

But…

He endured, standing tall with his back straight.

Through the blinding pain, the ringing in his ears, and the weight threatening to tear him apart, Zarek persisted.

He resisted with everything he had.

The Telekinetic force dragged him across the ground, his body carving a deep, jagged trail in the floor as he was pushed back.

He only came to a stop when his back slammed against the wall with a loud crack. The Telekinetic pressure still lingered, but its momentum had long since faded.

Zarek coughed, then opened his mouth and roared, not in pain, but exhilaration.

"Hahaha! I did it!"

He clenched his fist tightly, the strain making him wince as pain shot through his body—his shattered Telekinetic barrier had taken its toll.

But despite the agony, his eyes burned with excitement.

Because even now… his body was healing.

And more than that, he was growing stronger.

"Oh? You actually took the blow?" Melissa tilted her head, genuine surprise flashing in her eyes.

"Yeah, I took it," Zarek thumped his chest, then slammed his foot into the ground. "Come on, hit me again, if you've got the guts."

Melissa paused, then the corner of her lips curled into a faint, dangerous smile:

"Are you sure?"

Zarek's instincts flared at hyperspeed. His heart pounded, and cold sweat broke out across his skin.

In his vision, Melissa seemed to grow larger with every passing second, towering, overwhelming, like a force of nature.

Then, she spoke calmly:

"You have two options right now. One, join us, we'll give you a position worthy of your potential. And the other…" She didn't finish her sentence.

She didn't need to. Her eyes said it all.

"I…" Zarek opened his mouth.