Chapter 15: Pushing the Limits of Copying
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The growl echoed through the Ruins, sending a chill down Adam's spine. His eyes scanned the shadows, searching for the source of the noise. His instincts screamed that something dangerous was coming, but the darkness made it difficult to see. He could feel the presence drawing closer, and his heart raced as his hands hovered near his weapons.
Sienna, Jarek, and Lena were already on high alert, each of them positioning themselves in strategic spots. Sienna had her crossbow drawn, while Jarek had his sword out, ready for anything. Lena, the quietest of them all, stood near Adam, her fingers lightly resting on the hilt of her dagger.
"What is it?" Jarek whispered, his eyes darting to every corner of the stone room.
"I don't know, but we're not alone," Adam replied, his voice low. His senses were on edge. The sound of the footsteps had become louder now, a rhythmic pounding that reverberated through the ancient stone. Whatever it was, it wasn't human.
Sienna's gaze narrowed as she peered into the shadows. "Whatever it is, it's big. We need to move."
But before they could react, the beast emerged from the darkness.
It was unlike anything Adam had seen before—a hulking creature, covered in thick, spiked armor, with eyes glowing an unnatural shade of red. Its movements were slow but deliberate, each step causing the ground beneath them to tremble. The beast's claws scraped against the stone as it approached, its growls becoming deeper, more menacing.
Adam's first instinct was to retreat, but there was nowhere to go. The entrance to the Ruins had already been sealed off by the massive stone door they had yet to open.
"We need to fight," Lena said, her voice steady, though her hand tightened on her weapon. "It's not going to let us pass without a fight."
Adam nodded, his mind racing. He couldn't rely on brute force alone, and with his abilities on limited use, he needed to be strategic. His eyes shifted toward his teammates—each of them had their own unique strengths, but this creature seemed more formidable than anything they had encountered so far.
The growls grew louder as the creature lunged forward, its jaws snapping. Adam's heart skipped a beat, but before he could react, his mind flashed back to his Copying ability. The creature, like every other living being, had a specific emotional connection to its surroundings. If Adam could evoke the right feelings from it—fear, rage, anything—it might be possible to copy one of its abilities.
"Focus!" Sienna shouted, breaking Adam's concentration. "We can't let it catch us off guard!"
The creature roared as it lunged, its massive claws slashing toward Jarek, who barely dodged the attack. The ground cracked beneath the weight of the creature's strike. In that moment, Adam knew he had to act.
He focused his energy, recalling the unique power that had served him so well. Copying—the ability to absorb the traits of those with strong feelings toward him—was his best option. But it was a gamble. He needed to get close enough to the beast to trigger that connection, but the danger was high.
As the creature reared up for another strike, Adam sprinted forward, drawing the creature's attention. His heart pounded as he closed the distance between them, hoping he could trigger its emotional reaction. It growled louder, seemingly enraged by his approach, but there was something else too—a hint of confusion. Was it responding to him directly? Adam wasn't sure, but the emotions were strong enough for him to seize the opportunity.
In that split second, he activated his ability.
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[Copying Ability Activated.]
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Adam felt a rush of energy flood through him as the creature's traits merged with his own. His strength surged, and he could feel his senses sharpening. His reflexes became faster, his body more resilient. The creature's Regeneration ability had been absorbed. His wounds, which had been shallow but painful, healed almost instantly, and he felt an overwhelming surge of power flood his limbs.
The beast recoiled as Adam felt the power of its abilities coursing through him. It staggered backward, seemingly momentarily disoriented by the new presence within Adam.
"Adam!" Sienna shouted, her voice a mix of disbelief and awe. "What just happened?"
"I copied its ability," Adam replied, his voice steady but tinged with exhilaration. "We can win this."
With his newfound power, Adam launched himself at the creature, his movements more fluid, more precise. His enhanced strength and speed allowed him to strike quickly, dodging the beast's swipes with ease. The creature, now disoriented and confused by the loss of its strength, struggled to adapt.
Lena and Jarek took advantage of the distraction. Lena darted forward, stabbing her dagger into the creature's side, while Jarek used the opening to land a powerful blow to its back. The creature howled in pain but continued to fight back with fury.
Adam, now more confident than ever, leapt into the fray. He slashed at the beast's legs, weakening its stance, and struck again, each blow landing with deadly precision. The Regeneration ability kept him in the fight, allowing him to recover quickly from any damage he took.
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Minutes passed, each one feeling like an eternity, as the battle raged on. Finally, with one last roar, the beast collapsed to the ground, its body crumpling under the combined assault of Adam, Jarek, and Lena.
Adam stood over it, his breath coming in heavy gasps. His muscles were sore, but the victory was theirs. The creature had been strong, but with his newly copied ability and the teamwork of his allies, they had emerged victorious.
Sienna approached, inspecting the beast's corpse. "That was close," she said, her voice tense. "But we did it."
Adam nodded, still feeling the rush of power from his copied ability. The creature's Regeneration would be useful, but more importantly, it had demonstrated how vital his copying power could be in the right circumstances. If he could keep this up, he might have a chance to survive whatever else the Organization threw his way.
"We need to move," Jarek said, breaking the moment of silence. "There could be more of them. And we still need to open that door."
Adam looked toward the ancient stone door, the symbols still intact. They had won this fight, but the real challenge lay ahead. The artifact—and whatever it was protecting—was still waiting.
"Let's get it done," Adam replied, his voice steady. "We're not leaving without that artifact."
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End of Chapter 15.