[VOLUME 16: THE FIRES OF GENESIS][ARC 3: THE SHADOWED REFLECTION]
"That's not me, Elara! It's a mimic! Get away from it!"
The second Wukong stepped fully out of the dark fissure, his own black iron staff gripped tightly in his hands. He was panting slightly, his golden eyes blazing with feral fury as they locked onto the monkey standing closest to Elara.
The first Wukong didn't flinch. He let out a harsh, grating laugh, leaning casually on his staff. "Nice try, mud-clone. But I'm the original."
Elara pressed her back flush against the cold obsidian wall of the alcove. Her mind raced, desperately trying to find a flaw, a glitch, a seam in the illusion.
But there wasn't one.
They were absolutely, terrifyingly identical. Both stood at the exact same height, corded with the same lean, explosive kinetic muscle. Both wore the same tattered crimson-and-gold armor over sun-baked bronze skin. Both had the same messy, untamed mane of dark brown hair streaked with vibrant gold.
