My SSS-Rank Clone Talent: I Level Up Endlessly! novel Chapter 94

Chapter 94: Whale Space!

"I’ve heard that already," Eryke said in a casual tone.

"So."

Black haze gathered around his arms, solidifying and shaping itself into a sword that he gripped tightly.

"Why did you call me here?"

"Haha! Unlike you, those two idiots over there fell into my illusion trap. They’ve been bound for what feels like an eternity now. Even if they realized it, they couldn’t escape anymore. But you... you’re different. You broke through my illusion as if you were never caught in it at all."

"That’s correct," Eryke replied simply, his tone calm.

"..." The whale was silent for a moment.

"Just what are you?"

"Didn’t that big lizard already introduce me?" Eryke scoffed.

In the game of conversation, one must be careful not to reveal too much. The less you disclose about yourself and the more you learn about your opponent, the greater your advantage.

"I’ve heard some things, but..." The whale shifted its massive body and turned its gaze toward him, Eryke’s visage reflected in its eyes.

"You’re more interesting than I expected you to be."

Eryke didn’t respond. His gaze wandered across the surroundings, thoughtful suspicion stirring within him.

"Is this an illusion too?"

"No. This is my Whale Space," the whale replied.

"Whale Space?"

"That’s right. This place is my domain, a beautiful heaven for all. You can seek anything here and attain it. A true paradise of happiness."

"Paradise of happiness, huh..." Eryke spoke lightly, ending with a scoff.

"Why? You don’t believe it?" the whale asked. "You can try it right now, imagine anything you desire, and it will soon come into existence."

"I don’t doubt you," Eryke replied in a crisp and clear tone.

"But that’s not true happiness."

"Huh? What do you mean?" The whale’s voice brimmed with curiosity.

"This isn’t happiness, it’s just the gratification of desire. It might be fun for a few years, but eventually, you’d be left aimless, with nothing left to strive for."

Eryke continued:

"If everything is handed to you on a golden platter, life becomes dull. How could that be paradise, if your existence turns meaningless?"

"Surely you can find endless entertainment here, anything you can possibly imagine. Your life would never grow dull," the whale retorted.

"...You see," Eryke said, "I might enjoy that kind of entertainment for a while, but there’s no sense of accomplishment in it. A life where you can have everything, one that everyone dreams of, sounds ideal, but in the end, it loses its meaning."

He clenched his hand into a fist:

"I’m not speaking for others, only for myself. It would all become dull. With nothing left to strive for, there’d be nothing left to enjoy."

"It’s not the goal I seek. It’s the journey toward that goal that I truly value."

"Haha... certainly interesting," the whale responded, its voice echoing in a guttural tone, as if carried through deep water.

"But I imagine many would disagree with you."

Eryke shook his head:

"There may be those who disagree with me, but this is the path I enjoy."

"Good, good. A different way of looking at the world, I must say," the whale replied.