Over the following days, Chevie began to experiment with the strange power he'd discovered.
At first, it was subtle—a faint sense of duplication, as if part of him could exist elsewhere.
It wasn't until a chance encounter with another Gate that he fully understood the scope of his ability.
Faced with another pack of beasts, Chevie instinctively summoned his clone. The experience was surreal, watching a perfect copy of himself step forward to fight.
The clone moved with precision and confidence, its actions reflecting Chevie's thoughts and instincts.
Ezren had been waiting when Chevie returned from that battle, bloodied but alive. "You've awakened," he said simply.
Chevie nodded, the weight of what had happened sinking in. "I think so."
Ezren smiled faintly.
After that Chevie summarized his awakened ability: Clone.
[Special Ability: Perfect Clone]
The clone shared his mind, power, and will but could act independently.
When he retrieve the clone or if it dies, it will feedback every experiences, powers, pains, and everything to the main body.
Feedback to the main body is a gradual process: the lower the feedback, the faster the response, while the greater the feedback, the slower the process becomes.
Calling it perfect clone is really suitable but theres a massive flaw with this ability, It only has one life. Once the clone dies, it will never be able to manifest again.
According to Ezren, his Special Ability is an Unknown rank and all the Unknown rank Special Ability have this common trait, a very big flaw.
It's either it can only be used once, the user will die if he used it, or it will disappear at some point.
Special Ability are rank from Low, Mid, High, and Unknown.
Chevie who heard this looked at Ezren deeply. Ever since he met him, he never exhibit his Special Ability.
...
A few days later...
Chevie adjusted the strap of his bag as he navigated the bustling streets. He wasn't here for long—just a brief stop to check in on Mira, fulfilling a promise that had weighed on him since Darius's passing.
The city hummed with life, blending the sounds of street vendors hawking their goods with the faint hum of Aetherium-powered transports.
A group of children darted past, brandishing wooden swords and shouting about conquering Gates.
Chevie smiled gently as he walked, looking at the seemingly peaceful sight.
Mira's house was modest but well-kept, a reflection of the family's humble lifestyle. Chevie hesitated for a moment before knocking, the sound echoing faintly in the quiet street.
The door opened, and Mira's face lit up with surprise. "Chevie!"
"Hey," he said, scratching the back of his neck. "Hope I'm not interrupting."
"Not at all," she replied, stepping aside to let him in.
The atmosphere inside was warm and inviting, the faint scent of freshly brewed tea lingering in the air.
Mira led him to the small living room, where a tray of tea and biscuits awaited.
"It's been a while," Mira said, pouring a cup for Chevie.
"Yeah," he admitted, taking a seat. "I've been… busy."
Mira nodded, her expression softening. "I get it. Life's been different without Darius, but it's nice to see you again."
Chevie took a sip of tea, the warmth spreading through him. "It's the least I can do."
Their conversation drifted to lighter topics, with Mira sharing stories about her work and the latest happenings in Avenridge.
For a brief moment, it felt almost normal—like the chaos of the world outside didn't exist.
The peace was shattered by a loud crash outside, followed by panicked shouts. Chevie was on his feet in an instant, Echo's Edge in hand.
"Stay here," he told Mira, his tone firm.
She started to protest, but the look in his eyes silenced her.
Chevie stepped outside to find a group of rogue Gatewalkers causing havoc in the street.
They were unloading crates from a transport, their mismatched armor and aggressive demeanor leaving no doubt about their intentions.
"Great," Chevie muttered. "Just what I needed."
One of the rogues spotted him, nudging his companion. "Hey, look. Another hero wannabe."
"You guys really picked the wrong street."
Chevie sighed, drawing Echo's Edge.
The first rogue charged, his weapon—a crude axe—raised high.
Chevie sidestepped easily, the axe slamming into the ground where he'd been standing. Before the rogue could recover, Chevie's katana flashed, disarming him with a single, precise strike.
Two more rogues joined the fray, their weapons crackling with Aetherium energy. Chevie moved like a shadow, his movements fluid and deliberate.
Activating Aetherstride, he blinked behind one of them, delivering a clean strike that left the rogue sprawled on the ground.
The remaining rogues hesitated, their confidence faltering.
"What's wrong?" Chevie asked, his tone casual. "Second thoughts?"
The leader growled, activating a shield of glowing energy around himself. Chevie smirked, channeling power into Echo's Edge.
The katana flared brightly as he unleashed Astral Cleave, the energy slash tearing through the shield and cutting the leader's body into two.
The fight was over in moments. The street fell silent as the remaining rogues scattered, not caring about their dead leader or the crates they were transporting.
Chevie sheathed Echo's Edge and turned back toward the house, finding Mira standing in the doorway, her eyes wide with a mixture of awe and concern.
"That was…" she began, struggling to find the right words.
"Messy," Chevie finished for her, brushing dust from his jacket.
"You didn't even break a sweat," she said, stepping closer. "How strong are you?"
Chevie shrugged, his casual demeanor firmly in place. "Strong enough."
Mira frowned, clearly unsatisfied with the vague answer. "You could've been hurt."
"Not likely."
Chevie chuckled. Dead bodies lying on the street after Chevie's attack and Mira still worried about him.
As the commotion died down and the street returned to its usual rhythm, Chevie prepared to leave. Mira walked him to the edge of the neighborhood, her expression thoughtful.
"Thank you," she said quietly. "For everything."
Chevie nodded, adjusting the strap of his bag. "Take care, Mira. And don't worry about those guys—they won't be back."
With that, he turned and walked away, his figure blending into the bustling streets of Avenridge.
As he moved toward his next destination, Chevie couldn't help but smile.