Kael Ardyn stumbled through the dense forest, clutching the crude branch he'd turned into a makeshift weapon. Every step sent a jolt of pain through his legs, his breath coming in short, uneven gasps. He wasn't sure what was worse—the searing ache in his arms from the fight with the Feral Wolf, or the gnawing fear that another creature might leap out at any moment.
This wasn't Earth. That much was painfully clear.
The towering trees loomed overhead, their glowing leaves casting an eerie blue-green light across the forest floor. The air was thick, heavy with the scent of moss and damp soil. Kael glanced at the faintly glowing screen hovering at the edge of his vision. His HP and MP indicators weren't reassuring.
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HP: 65/100
MP: 35/50
---
"Not ideal," he muttered under his breath. "And I'm down to just this stick."
The fight with the wolf had drained him in more ways than one. The creature had been faster and stronger than anything he'd ever faced before, and if not for his Body Double, he'd probably be dead. Even with the wolf defeated, Kael didn't feel safe. There were still howls in the distance, and the forest seemed alive with unseen threats.
He came to a stop by a fallen log, setting the branch down as he tried to catch his breath. A soft chime echoed in his mind, reminding him of the notifications he'd yet to check.
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[You have earned a new skill: Basic Combat Instincts (Novice).]
[You have completed Quest: Survive the First Night (Partial).]
Reward: Beginner's Survival Pack unlocked.
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Kael frowned, his thoughts racing. "Beginner's Survival Pack? That sounds promising."
As if responding to his words, another notification appeared.
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[Beginner's Survival Pack contains:
- 1x Healing Salve
- 1x Stamina Tonic
- 1x Bread Loaf
- 1x Basic Knife (Novice) ]
Would you like to access your inventory?
[Yes] / [No]
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"Of course, I have an inventory," Kael said with a bitter laugh. He willed the screen to open, and a small grid of glowing icons materialized in his mind's eye. He focused on the Healing Salve, and a glass vial appeared in his hand.
"Neat," he muttered, uncorking the vial. He poured the cool green liquid over the claw marks on his forearm. The effect was immediate—the pain dulled, and the wounds began to close.
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HP: 85/100
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"Not perfect, but better." He stashed the empty vial back into his inventory and turned his attention to the Basic Knife. A short blade with a plain wooden handle materialized in his grip. It wasn't fancy, but it was infinitely better than a stick.
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Item Equipped: Basic Knife (Novice)
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Kael gave the knife a few experimental swings. It felt light, balanced, and surprisingly sharp. "This'll do for now," he said, tucking it into his belt as he stood up.
As he moved deeper into the forest, Kael replayed the wolf fight in his mind. The memories from his Body Double had been vivid—too vivid. He could recall every strike, every dodge, and even the wolf's subtle shifts in posture before it lunged. It was like watching himself fight from a third-person perspective.
"Body Double isn't just a combat skill," Kael murmured. "It's a learning tool."
The realization sent a ripple of hope through him. If he could replicate the moves of his clones and learn from them, his potential for growth was massive. But that was only one piece of the puzzle. He opened the system interface again, focusing on the skill that had intrigued him most.
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Skill Replication (Unique):
- Description: Grants the ability to permanently copy skills from other individuals upon observation or contact. Skills replicated will retain their current tier.
- MP Cost: 10 MP per replication.
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Kael clenched his fists, his mind racing with possibilities. Skill Replication was the kind of ability people in games would kill for. The ability to copy another person's hard-earned skills? It was almost unfair. Almost.
"If I can figure out how to use this properly…" Kael let the thought trail off. There were still too many unknowns, and he had a sinking feeling the System wasn't going to hand him answers on a silver platter.
A low growl snapped him out of his thoughts. Kael froze, gripping the handle of his knife as his eyes darted through the shadows. Another growl echoed, this one closer.
Then, from the underbrush, stepped a humanoid creature. Its mottled green skin gleamed under the faint light of the trees, and its jagged teeth curled into a snarl. It held a crude spear in its clawed hands, its beady eyes locking onto Kael with predatory intent.
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[Forest Goblin - Level 2]
HP: 40/40
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"Wonderful," Kael muttered, raising his knife. The goblin let out a screech and charged.
Kael sidestepped the initial thrust, the goblin's spear stabbing into the air where he'd just been. He retaliated with a slash of his own, the knife scoring a shallow cut across the goblin's arm. The creature screeched in rage and spun for another attack.
Kael activated Skill Replication, focusing on the goblin's spear movements.
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[Skill Replication Activated.]
Skill Replicated: Spear Proficiency (Basic)
-10 MP
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MP: 25/50
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A surge of knowledge flooded Kael's mind. He now understood the basics of spear combat—how to thrust, parry, and maintain balance. The goblin lunged again, but this time, Kael's body moved instinctively. He dodged to the side, his knife slicing into the goblin's exposed leg.
The goblin staggered, but it wasn't done yet. Kael gritted his teeth and activated Body Double.
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[Skill Activated: Body Double]
-15 MP
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MP: 10/50
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The air shimmered beside Kael as a clone materialized, knife in hand. The goblin froze, its eyes darting between Kael and his double. The hesitation cost it dearly. The clone lunged forward, its blade aiming for the goblin's chest. The goblin parried the attack with surprising skill, but the clone's assault left it wide open.
Kael seized the opportunity, driving his knife into the goblin's side. The creature let out a strangled cry before collapsing to the ground.
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[Victory!]
You have defeated Forest Goblin (Level 2).
+10 XP
---
Kael let out a shaky breath as the clone shimmered and vanished, leaving behind another flood of sensory feedback. He gritted his teeth as the memories replayed in his mind—the clone's movements, its perspective during the fight, and even the goblin's final moments.
"It's… almost too much," Kael muttered, leaning against a tree for support. The sensory overload was disorienting, but the benefits were undeniable. He now had a working knowledge of spear combat, something he hadn't known a few minutes ago.
His eyes fell to the goblin's crude spear, still clutched in its lifeless hand. He picked it up, inspecting it carefully. It wasn't much—just a sharpened stick with a stone tip—but it was better than nothing.
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[Item Acquired: Crude Spear]
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Kael's fingers tightened around the spear as he opened his status page to check his progress.
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Name: Kael Ardyn
Level: 2
HP: 60/100
MP: 10/50
Stats:
- Strength: 12 (+2)
- Agility: 12 (+2)
- Endurance: 11 (+1)
- Intelligence: 13 (+1)
- Wisdom: 12 (+1)
- Charisma: 9
- Luck: 8
Skills:
- Skill Replication (Unique)
- Body Double (Rare, Tier: Grandmaster)
- Improvised Weaponry (Basic)
- Spear Proficiency (Basic)
---
The goblin encounter had been taxing, both physically and mentally, but it had also been a wake-up call. This world wasn't just dangerous—it was a crucible, designed to push him to his limits. And if he wanted to survive, he'd need to get stronger. Fast.
Kael stood, gripping the crude spear as he looked toward the horizon. The faintest hint of dawn was beginning to light the sky, casting long shadows through the forest. The howls in the distance had faded, but he knew they would return.
"I don't know why I'm here," he said softly, "but I'm not going to die before I figure it out."
With that, Kael stepped forward, ready to face whatever came next.