Mai Lee woke up with a start, his breath coming in sharp gasps as he stared at the unfamiliar ceiling. For a moment, he couldn't remember where he was. The last thing he recalled was walking through his apartment when a strange light had overwhelmed him. Now, he was lying on the cold, concrete floor of a small, dimly lit room.
His mind raced. He pushed himself up, his hands trembling as he surveyed the room. There were no windows. Only stone walls that seemed to pulse with a faint, eerie glow. A metal door sat at the far end, slightly ajar, revealing a faint outline of the world beyond. But it wasn't the world he knew.
"Where am I?" His voice echoed strangely in the silence.
Suddenly, a cold voice filled his head, as if the air itself were speaking to him.
"Welcome to the Solo Leveling system."
Mai Lee froze, his body instinctively going tense. The voice continued, its tone devoid of emotion, like a machine speaking.
"Your arrival has been recorded. You are now bound to the world of Solo Leveling. Your journey as a hunter begins now."
A flood of thoughts rushed through his mind, but they didn't make sense. Hunter? Solo Leveling? Was he dreaming? No. The sensation, the weight of the air, the unfamiliar surroundings—this was no dream. It was real.
"You possess the ability to copy and master any talent, skill, or ability within a 1 km radius, including those from monsters. The process is automatic and instantaneous."
His heart skipped a beat. Copy talents? From monsters? What was this system, and why was it choosing him?
"You may also fuse copied talents to create greater abilities. Your path will be shaped by these powers."
Mai Lee stood up, his body still aching from the abrupt awakening. He had to get out of this room. He didn't know what was going on, but there was no time to waste. The system had made it clear that his survival was up to him.
With every step he took toward the door, a sudden feeling of unease washed over him. He wasn't alone. The air around him seemed to hum, vibrating with an unseen presence. Mai Lee's eyes narrowed as he pushed the door open.
The sight before him left him speechless. The hallway stretched endlessly in both directions, illuminated by dim lights that seemed to flicker sporadically. And then, at the far end of the hallway, a massive figure appeared.
A monster. Its body was colossal, with jagged, stone-like armor that pulsed with an ominous energy. It was a creature from his nightmares, standing in front of him with glowing red eyes.
Mai Lee's mind instantly reacted. His ability kicked in.
Copying Talent: [Stone Giant's Strength]
The moment the ability activated, he felt a surge of power. His muscles tightened, and his bones felt as though they were infused with the same strength that the monster possessed. It was instantaneous—his body felt stronger, more resilient. He could feel the beast's raw power coursing through him.
Without thinking, he raised his hand, instinctively summoning the power he had just copied. A blast of earth-shaking force erupted from his palm, sending the stone monster crashing back into the wall. The impact was so powerful that the entire hallway shook, dust and debris falling from the ceiling.
His heart raced. The ability had worked. He could copy powers, and with them, he had gained a strength he had never known.
Status Update:
Name: Mai LeeLevel: 1HP: 100%Mana: 100%Strength: 20 (Stone Giant's Strength Activated)Agility: 10Intelligence: 12Luck: 15Copied Talent(s): Stone Giant's Strength (Active)Fused Talent(s): NoneExperience Points (EXP): 0/100
He stared at the status window that had appeared before him. His strength was already greater than it had been just moments ago. But there was no time to dwell on it. The monster was getting back up.
Mai Lee didn't wait for it to fully recover. With a swift motion, he raised his hand again, fusing the power he had copied into a new technique. The moment the fusion occurred, he felt his strength amplify beyond anything he had ever experienced. His next attack was a combination of raw power and precision, sending the beast crashing into the wall for good.
The monster lay still, defeated. Mai Lee took a deep breath, his heart still pounding. The power was real. And he had just scratched the surface.