《My Clones Are Too Broken [LitRPG Progression Fantasy]》 Chapter 1: A New World In the streets of New York City, a golden-haired young man walked along the sidewalk, his green eyes shining with delight as he listened to music on his headphones. "4 rings before 40, he''s still pushing, that''s why he''s the goat," Alex sang to his favorite remix out loud, attracting the bystanders with his melodious (horrific) voice. Noticing all the weird looks he was getting, he lowered his head and started speed walking. ''I did it again, he thought. Soon, he reached a run down apartment complex; stepping inside and past the heeps of litter all over, he walked through the hallways and entered the elevator. "4th Floor" he politely informed the grumpy elevator man on which floor he wanted to go to. One awkwardly silent elevator ride later, he reached the 4th floor, pulled out his keys, and walked towards the room at the end of the hall, 403. The door spun open, a nauseating draft assaulting his nose; looking at the lumps of trash and garments all over the apartment, his face contorted. Why me? Why couldn''t I just have a pretty maid to clean all this up for me! He lamented his fate of being born into a middle-class family with no cute maid in sight. He took off his headphones, putting them on his desk and sinking into his gaming chair that had been imported all the way from IKEA. "What''s new? This damned update is just changing the mob skins! What a rip off," he groaned, looking at his favorite open-world game releasing such a worthless update. He closed the games tab and he started going through his social media. No replies today either. Jobs are a precious commodity nowadays; it seems that even being a janitor requires three years of job experience; why do I need the experience to mop? He closed his social media, he instead switching to some YouTube videos, wondering if there was anything new he''d be interested in. Nope, another dud. Everything was so plain nowadays; sometimes he thought it was so bad he wondered if there was even a point in trying to experience anything new anymore. He shut off his PC, genuinely bored out of his mind. Nothing, nothing to do, not even a job he could work overtime for or someone he could talk to; after all, his family was old-fashioned and didn''t use technology. As for relationships, even though he was pretty handsome, the state of the dating scene today freaked him out, so that was a no-go. In truth, life was a dull mess, and though he had the conviction to change, there weren''t any chances, not for someone like him. If only he could get isekai''d, a magical world full of monsters and dungeons, a land he''d conquer with a sword in hand. Oh! The delight that would have been. [Transport Arranged, No 7389.] [Talent, Approved. Welcome, Mortal.] Alex felt his eyes grow heavy, and not because of his usual all-nighters. A glimpse of the strange text floating in front of him had caught him; what arrogant troll was this? Mortal? Is he an Immortal? 8th grade syndrome I swear- A burst of light filled the apartment room, Alex''s figure disappearing entirely, along with many others in different parts of the globe. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Alex felt his mind go blank, and a second later, he was in a vast field, the majestic sunlight falling on him; He spun around and could see hundreds of people in the field, no less confused than he was. There were many others, presumably thousands, possibly more. "What the hell is this? I was on the toilet damnit" A grumpy old man complained A woman screamed, her clothes messy and her silky blond hair falling off like a wig, revealing a sliver of her bald scalp. It seemed she been caught while getting ready. In another group of people, a small boy was crying as he held onto a dinosaur plushie. Similarly, many other situations of people being transported at unfortunate timing occured. Some singing their favorite music in the shower, eyes closed only to open them to a grassy expanse. While others had been interrupted during their bathroom breaks. [SILENCE] A giant blue screen popped up above grassy plains, everyone turning their heads towards it simultaneously. [THIS WILL ONLY BE SAID ONCE. ] [YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO REPOPULATE THIS WORLD. YOU ALL HAVE TALENTS THAT MAY BE OF USE TO YOU; DO NOT OFFEND THE 7 TEMPLES; ASIDE FROM THAT, DO AS YOU WISH.] As the bluescreen disappeared a wave of confusion and anger shot out from the gathered humans. "Hey, I''ve gotta head to work soon; let me out! I''ll get fired if I''m late again,." called a man with a potbelly who took his baseball cap off and slapped it against his thigh. "Yeah! Let us out! Stop wasting our time!" This lady''s voice was high and shrill, like it could be used to shake dust off chandeliers from ten metres away. "Yeah-" But as time passed, the sun began dimming, signaling night''s eventual arrival. Alex, as a certified keyboard warrior, knew exactly what this situation was. A dream! This practically seemed to be identical to one of those fake r/TellReddit stories, though why did his dream have multiplayer on? Scanning the area, these people didn''t remotely look like anyone he knew personally, could his sleep deprived brain possibly conjure up so many new faces? Unsure, Alex pinched his skin trying to test if his pain sensors were working. ¡°Ah!¡± He let out a shreek, attracting some judgemental looks along with it. So it''s not a dream, a kidnapping maybe? But considering the situation of the people around him, it was highly unlikely. Leaving only one possibility. An Isekai! You have talents from what that screen thingy said, and you grow stronger and beat some boss-type monster, like a demon king, it meets the description pretty well. "Status" he called out confidently. (.........) "Inventory!" Worry crept into his words (.........) "Shop?" Disbelief plagued his speech... People began to look at him strangely; everyone landed safely,, didn''t they? So why did this guy seem to have a screw or two loose? "He''s not crazy, guys; I tried it just now; try thinking "Talent" really hard." A black-haired young man stepped forward, he flashed a smile, ruined only by the fact that his clothing choice was.... questionable for his age. The parents, who had luckily been transported with their children stared in confusion while the children seemed to have their eyes glow. ''Weirdo, I didn''t know people still wore clothes like that after middle school. The young man wore some sagging black jeans, a heavy metal t shirt and a black coat to top it all off. A certified middle schoolers emo phase fit. A blue screen appeared in front of Alex after he followed the strange man''s advice. Name: Alex Edward Age: 19 Talent: Cloning [F] [Growth Talent] Level: 1 Exp: 0/100 Class: Not Selected Hp: 100/100 Hp Recovery: 4/M Attack: 10 Defense: 0 Mana: 7/7 Mana Recovery: 0.01/S Stamina: 4 "Eh? It''s not that bad; the stats are seemingly decent. Talent is an F Rank but a Growth Talent, I''m obviously the protagonist in this situation." Alex smirked at his status His thought process was driven by a unique novel he read as a kid, where the protagonist started from the lowest level talent and eventually evolved it into the highest rank, becoming the strongest in his verse. "Oohhhh I''m S rank!" The black-haired young man shouted triumphantly. "Move aside, you side characters. It''s my turn to shine." He mocked as he pushed through the crowd, charging into the forest confidently. A few minutes passed, and the young man had yet to return. But an old guest did make an appearance. [GO TO THE VILLAGE, EAST OF WHERE YOU ARE.] It didn''t take a genius to realize why that extra little bit of help was sent down. The crowd, nervously looking at the setting sun seemed to finally catch air of the seriousness of this predicament. Naturally, they began walking towards the east, aiming for the village. As for how they figured out which way was east, they just had to look at the Sun to find out. Alex followed behind the pack, albeit a bit sluggishly, as he was furiously staring at his Talent Panel, trying to understand how this broken thing was rated F Rank. [Cloning Talent] Level 1:- Grants the ability to summon a clone at the cost of 5 mana; the clone is identical to the player, and any items or weapons will be duplicated and received by the clone. This is only possible once per unique item. XP is also transferred to the host. Cooldown:- None. "Unique item?" Alex looked at his Talent description, lost in thought. "Maybe it''s like a URL? So every item has a different URL separating them from one another? Wouldn''t that mean he could become filthy rich by selling his copied items and buying them over and over?" The thought left his mind as soon as it entered; he didn''t know enough about this place; he might be cut open for research or just directly killed for witchcraft. I mean, he had 7 mana so it meant he could already summon a clone. Add on the item-sharing feature, which seemed like a potentially exploitable bug. Not to mention! This was the [F] version of his talent, what about S? Like that weird idiot who died in the forest? What if it surpasses even that?? A flurry of emotions assaulted him, his heart beat vigorously. Finally! My life is getting interesting!" He commented as he looked at the setting sun, it was time to begin making his way towards the village. Chapter 2: Starter Pack Night fell as the moon stood high in the sky, shining majestically. A large group of people seemed to be running in a frenzy at this moment, afraid of what night had in store for them. Little did they know, there was no predator nearby, confident or brain-dead enough to attack a colossal force of thousands of prey. "We''re close, I see the light!" A grumpy old man screamed out joyfully "Finally, we''ve been going for so long. I want to go back home!" A woman dressed in office attire remarked, her exhaustion obvious to the naked eye. Perhaps wearing heels to work was the reason for her downfall? ''What if the village can even hold so many people; what if there''s a Hunger Games-type scene to pick out the lucky residents?'' he thought to himself However, soon he found himself proven wrong. They reached the "village," and honestly, he couldn''t understand what part of this beautiful city was a village. Although no skyscrapers were present, thick stone walls were going around the village; looking into the village from the open gate, numerous houses were spread out, and even shops! Before the group could regain their calm or move forward, a figure appeared, dawning chainmail armor covering it from head to toe. A sharp silver spear in its hand. "ATTENTION! Esteemed Travelers! Please form four lines: one for men, another for women, a third for the elderly, and lastly, one for children! Please cooperate as night has fallen and it is dangerous to be out!" A manly voice commanded from under the helmet. To the soldier''s dismay, such a large group of people would hardly be able to form such a disciplined system. This began a riot of sorts, the old and elderly being pushed to the ground, the children being separated from their parents if they luckily met them. The young and strong men pushed through the pack, trying to enter the city first. Suddenly, a torrent of screams rang out. Looking to the front, one would be astounded to see a bear-like man on his knees as blood spilled out from his chest. "Was I not clear?" A cold line from the armed guard, the visage of a guide disappearing replaced by a soldier forged by war. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. "GET IN YOUR LINES" he screamed for order, a group of similarly dressed guards stepping ahead and surrounding the messy group. Naturally, in front of such a display, everyone became docile. Alex ended up near the front of his line. ''These guys are 2D NPC''s, they can kill us. They''re just following orders it seems, but that doesn''t mean we can disrespect them as if they''re mindless zombies.'' he thought "Next!" A guard stationed at the very front of his line announced, Alex stepped forward. "Please state your name, age, and Talent Rank," the guard said as he sized Alex up. "Alex Edwards, 19, F Rank" Alex confidently said, not mentioning the growing potential his talent possessed. "You are assigned to house 468; you will receive food and water that will last you a week; you may live in the residence for a week before you have to pay for it if you choose to remain there." The guard said, waving for Alex to head inside. "Does that mean I can change my residence?" Alex inquired as he stepped past the guard "Yes, you can move to the populated side of the city for 1 silver a day." The guard responded without looking back, shouting out for the next person to come forward a second later. ''So it''s all about money here too, huh?'' Alex understood that wealth was a universal requirement for an enjoyable life, and in this world, he would definitely need it. Stepping into the city, without heading to his assigned residence, he ran up to one of the merchants setting up a stall near the city center; why? Well, because of the glorious sign "Starter Pack Available," that caught his eye. The merchant''s eyes glowed as Alex approached the stall. "Hello, good sir! Might I interest you in any of my exceptional goods?" Seeing the collection of goods, Alex shook his head. "No, thank you! Please give me a Starter Pack." Hearing his words the merchant rolled his eyes, handing him a little ring without so much as a word. "Thank you!" Alex smiled at the man and walked away, towards the back end of the city. House 468. "Not so much of a house is it? More like one of those dirt shacks I used to build in my favorite open-world game." Alex said looking at the humble stone shack Inside, a simple wool bed and a medieval-style toilet were present. Regardless, Alex sat down on his rather comfortable bed, wearing the ring the merchant had given him. Inventory:- Space: 3/32 Items: Stone Sword, Health Potion x3, Mana Potion x1. A blue screen appeared in front of him, this time displaying rows of empty blue boxes, with three filled with the mentioned items. He pulled out all the items, spreading them on his bed. The conditions seemed to be right; he now tried to feel his Talent, thinking about using its ability. In a second, he felt like he had lost something, as a light membrane appeared before him, and out of the membrane came..him. Well, a clone of him, to be exact. Now came the time for testing how this Talent worked. First, he tried moving his hand, but the clone''s hand didn''t move. Next, he thought about the clone moving its hand; it did work. Okay, so it was a spilt screen experience, it seemed. He wondered if commanding it worked. "Do a push-up." In response, the clone got on the ground, performing a clean push-up. So that worked too? This means he could potentially use his clones for automation as well. Now onto the most exciting aspect of his talent, he picked up his stone sword in his right hand, looking at the clone in anticipation. A light membrane appeared near the clone''s right hand, spitting out a stone sword from it. "I''m rich!" Alex triumphantly roared; he and the clone simultaneously put down their swords, and Alex picked up all the potions he had gotten joyfully. Soon, looking at the 3 green and 1 blue potion in the Clone''s hand, Alex couldn''t stop himself from breaking out into an evil smirk; this was his time to shine! He felt the urge to pick up his swords and head toward monsters with his trusty clone! Nonetheless, looking at the pitch-black night outside, the thought of going into the forest quickly left his mind. "You, guard the door." He commanded his clone, as he placed the potions on the ground and nestled into his wool bed. ''Tonight marks the arrival of the protagonist! From tomorrow I begin my conquest of this realm!'' He thought as his mind wandered till he fell asleep. Chapter 3: Easy Levels The morning sun rose as imaginary roasters began to crow. Alex tossed over in his sleep and opening his eyes; a figure stood before him. He jumped up in fright. "I have nothing on me; I''m poor. You should rob someone else!" The figure stood still, giving Alex the time to let his drowsy eyes focus on it properly. "Oh, Clonie! You scared me to death dude." Alex breathed a sigh of relief looking at his clone still standing guard for him. The clone, motionless as always simply stared at Alex. Staring at his handsome face, Alex pulled out a piece of bread from his inventory and began to chew on it. You ask where he got that bread from? Last night while he was trying to sleep, he suddenly felt something poke his neck. When he got up to investigate what it was, he found another storage ring. Before he could attempt to touch it, the ring spat out a few pieces of bread and a couple of water bottles, disappearing right after it had done so. Thinking he was dreaming he subconsciously stored the food and water in his inventory, going back to sleep. Now back to the present, it seemed that the week''s ration the guard had told him about had a strange delivery method. Although, with just these few pieces of bread and bottles of water could he really survive a week? Probably not, unless he starved himself. Seemed like the guards or whoever managed this village wanted them to go adventuring for wealth. "It''s time to depart; follow me, Clonie." Alex pushed the door of his little hut open, letting in the warm light. So soon after dawn, people on Earth were usually still asleep, but here everyone was out, and the streets were filled with crowds. Alex walked into the crowd helplessly. "I guess they''ve finally realized this isn''t some sick game; it''s a super awesome game!" Pushing through the dense group of people, Alex felt his arms grow tired from shoving. Seriously was there some discount on eggs or something? Following a tedious arm workout, Alex and his clone arrived at the city gates. "Good sir! Could you please point me in the direction of the weakest mobs around here?" Alex walked up to the guard who had previously checked him in "Mobs? If you speak of monsters, down near the fields where you came from, there should be some boar packs. Be careful in your battles with them, though; their tusks will kill you in one blow." The kind guard offered a hefty amount of information with a smile. "Thank you, thank you! I''ll keep that in mind, and yes, by mobs, I did mean monsters." He smiled at the surrounding guards as he walked through along with his clone, the guards not paying much attention to it. "So my talent is common; it seems the growth part of it is a mutation of sorts; otherwise, wouldn''t they try currying favor with this young master?" He talked to himself, or in this case to his clone. Seeing the nonresponsive clone, he sighed, "I wonder if my talent keeps upgrading, will you eventually develop some autonomy? It''s pretty lonely if I have no one to talk to on my hero''s journey" Speculations about his talent kept popping up in his mind throughout the night, could he use them to teleport to their location? He remembered there was an anime with a hunter who aura-farmed using that. Maybe he could even be immortal once he had a bunch of clones, like Wu Kong. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Soon, his thoughts receded to the back of his mind; walking over a small hill, he saw that stretched across the plains were multiple packs of boars, some numbering over a dozen while others had only 2. His mind considered all the possibilities and combinations he could use the clone for. Name: Alex Edward Age: 19 Talent: Cloning [F] [Growth Talent] Level: 1 Exp: 0/100 Class: Not Selected Hp: 100/100 Hp Recovery: 4/M Attack: 10 Defense: 0 Mana: 7/7 Mana Recovery: 0.01/S Stamina: 4 Looking at his Talent Page, he had a full mana storage, meaning in case his clone died, he could summon another one. "Okay! Clonie, we''re going for those two boars." He said as he moved towards the side, beginning to circle around towards the back of the boars while his clone charged head-first. The two boars, peacefully munching on grass, were alarmed as the rustling of leaves was heard; they turned towards the clone''s direction, pressing their feet into the ground, readying a charge-up attack. The clone, in response,, took a step back, parrying the firstboar''s''s horn with his brittle stone sword. Unsurprisingly, in front of the boar charges, the clone was pushed back a few meters, barely managing to stay on his feet. "Auchke," a feeble voice rang out behind the roar; it turned its head to see the human it had previously hit away, mounting its mate and pulling a bloodied stone sword out of its chest. [Gained 16 XP] A prompt appeared before Alex, who was bracing himself as an enraged boar charged at him. A heavy collision occurred, Alex flying back and hitting a tree. The boar moved closer to him as he lay, resulting in a small chuckle. "You''re so pissed off it looks like your brain stopped working; finish it, Clonie!" Alex announced the boar''s fate, as a stone sword thrust into it from behind and took its life. [Gained 16 XP] Alex slumped into the tree''s stump, letting out a hearty laugh. This clone of his, even now when it was at its worst was easily a broken leveling tool early on. His greatest advantage at the moment wasn''t the fact that he had the extra attack power in the form of his clone but that his clone could act as a distraction, making this hunt all too easy and safe for him, needing only a few modifications for a broken XP farm. He jumped up, excited as he thought about the gains of his next plan. His expression dropped slightly when he realized that the two boars had dropped nothing, were there no mob drops? "Such terrible thoughts I should keep to myself," he said as he sat down near one of the boars. He clumsily cut off its horns and stored them in his inventory, then with his added experience, cut off the second boar horns, this time using one to carve into the other until both horns were hollow inside. Calling over his clone, he handed him a horn, "Start digging; we need a 10x10 meter area; make it 4 meters deep." Alex himself rolled up his sleeves and started digging as well. Time passed, and Alex noticed there were some boar cries in the distance. ''Others have begun hunting. I need to hurry up, or I''ll get left behind.'' he thought, looking at the barely 1/3 of the progress they had made, He gritted his teeth and went back to it. Again and again, scoop by scoop the hole was soon half finished. But by this time, the night was already upon them, and Alex was entirely exhausted, having spent at least 4 hours digging with his sore arms. Next, he would abuse his first advantage. A free worker! "Clonie, I leave the rest to you, don''t disappoint me!" He said trying to encourage the clone, who flashed him a look before he went back to digging. Alex began heading back to the city, quickly rushing to his house and jumping onto his heavenly bed. His eyes grew heavy, and he fell asleep. However, as time moved on, he soon found himself uncomfortable when suddenly he sat up, his body sweating furiously. "Clones dead isn''t it?" He imprinted the strange, suffocating feeling into his mind, making sure he wouldn''t be too careless with his clone''s lives, at least after tomorrow. Using his talent once more, a clone spawned in front of him, he handed him the boar horn. "Wait for an hour, then leave and go back to mining, whatever killed you is probably gone by now." Alex left the clone with its orders, turning over and falling back asleep. Soon enough, the sun emerged once more. Alex, feeling his well-rested body, got up after his morning breakfast, a bottle of water and a loaf of bread, his last batch; he used most of his supplies to restore his energy to dig. "Good morning to you all! I hope you''re doing well!" Alex ceremoniously greeted the guards. "Ah, it''s you. Thank you for your kind intentions; let me return them by advising you against letting out your clone at night. Some beasts have grown strong, terribly strong. They can kill the owner of a clone through the clone itself so be wary." The guard enlightened him causing Alex to break out in a sweat "Can kill me through my clone!?" He had underestimated this world; it seemed far more complex than just mindless beasts roaming the land. "Thank you again for your advice, I''ll make sure not to send him out at night anymore." He gave a slight bow to the guard, once again leaving the city. In the Plains area, near a tree trunk, Alex''s clone was resting with his eyes closed; to his right was a large ditch. Alex smiled upon seeing the ditch "Good work! My finest employee, where is the sheet?" Clonie rose to his feet and walked near one of the trees, opening a secret department in its trunk and pulling out a thin but large sheet of joined leaves. The clone threw the sheet over the hole, covering it thoroughly. "Time to rear the prey." Alex nodded at his clone, who, understanding the signal, ran towards the vast plains, leaving his sword and makeshift shovel behind. In a few minutes, the ground began to shake, and near the horizon, a terrifying sight showed itself: a handsome young man running for his life expressionlessly as a horde of seemingly endless boars chased after him. Alex moved deeper into the forest, hiding behind a thick tree as he watched the scene unfold. Clonie led the pack to run as fast as he could, barely dodging several lethal attacks. He pushed himself to the limit and slowed down just as he neared the hidden trap. A boar speared into his now still body; unable to contain its momentum, it moved forward, falling straight through the sheet and into the hole. Along with it, the horde of enraged boars comedically fell into the hole one by one, much like zombies from a certain zombie apocalypse movie. Alex stepped forward, his mind a bit dizzy because of his clone''s death, but his face equipping a smile as he held a piece of wool, lighting it on fire with a little medieval lighter he had bought, and he threw it into the pit. Almost instantly, the sheet at the bottom of the ditch caught fire, the boars inside beginning to boil as Alex sat back and watched the XP come in. [Gained 16 XP] [Gained 16 XP] ....... [Level Up!] Soon his Talent panel looked a little like this. Name: Alex Edward Age: 19 Talent: Cloning [F] [Growth Talent] Level: 3 Exp: 143/300 Class: Not Selected Hp: 200/200 Hp Recovery: 8/M Attack: 10 Defense: 0 Mana: 7/7 Mana Recovery: 0.01/S Stamina: 4 Attribute Points: 6 "How worth it the wait was." He smiled, this being the first of many times he would be using this trap to speed level. Chapter 4: Merchant Marco Name: Alex Edward Age: 19 Talent: Cloning [F] [Growth Talent] Level: 3 Exp: 143/300 Class: Not Selected Hp: 200/200 Hp Recovery: 11/M Attack: 10 Defense: 0 Mana: 7/7 Mana Recovery: 0.01/S Stamina: 4 Attribute Points: 6 Alex looked at his Talent Panel thoughtfully. ''Two levels that netted me a total of 100 HP, 50 per level,, and 3 attribute points per level'' His current stats were divided into Attack, Defense, Mana, and Stamina. He had no need for the attack as his main hunting method was his clones, the same for defense. Mana seemed to be his focus stat since he needed it for his clone. Stamina, well, he wasn''t entirely sure what it changed, but it wouldn''t hurt to try. Alex tapped on the panel, splitting his attributes between Mana and Stamina. Name: Alex Edward Age: 19 Talent: Cloning [F] [Growth Talent] Level: 3 Exp: 143/300 Class: Not Selected Hp: 200/200 Hp Recovery: 15/M Attack: 10 Defense: 0 Mana: 10/10 Mana Recovery: 0.01/S Stamina: 7 Attribute Points: 0 10 Mana points, enough to summon his clone twice...or possibly two clones? Immediately, he got to his feet, and feeling his talent, he summoned a clone. Then, with his remaining mana, he willed for another summon... "Excepted as much" he sighed hopelessly, sprawling out on the ground. Well, it was a [F] Talent; if it was any better, he might have suspected the grading system to be blind. Looking at his clone, he instructed him to get another batch of boars; he needed to keep increasing the gap between him and other players, assuming there was any at all. He had no knowledge of the abilities of S-rank talents; they might already have reached level 10 or could still be stuck at level 2, but he had no way of knowing. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Alex glanced at his panel once more, focusing on the stat below Health, Health Recovery. Hp Recovery: 15/M So stamina increased his HP regeneration. But why didn''t mana recovery increase as well? Could there be a secret stat to increase it that he hadn''t unlocked, or maybe it could only increase through potions and such? The ground under Alex seemed to visibly shake. "My cue to back off," Alex said as he hid behind a tree, focusing on the flat land that was getting uprooted by the hooves of boars at that moment charging madly at his clone. Like it was routine, the clone jumped over the hidden ditch; this time, he managed to land on the other side, just barely escaping his terrible fate if he fell. The boars, foolish as ever in their stampede, began to fall into the ditch, with some even piercing their fellow beasts with their horns on accident. Alex breathed a sigh of relief, stepping forward to harvest his prey. Just then, from just the top of the hill, another figure appeared, a boar. But this was no ordinary boar; it had one giant horn instead of multiple, and it stood an astounding 3 meters tall with a body as big as a polar bear. Its fur seemed to have been charred black, yet it remained uninjured. Compared to this, the many 1-meter pig-sized boars in his elaborate trap were nothing. "Clonie, go west, its aggro is already locked on you, so it shouldn''t be a problem; I''ll escape towards the village. If you do escape and night has already fallen...take one for the team okay?" The clone put up no fight, meeting a nearby stick at the large boar and running west, opposite the village, and into the deep canopy of this oak forest. Upon seeing the clone''s act of disrespect, the boar grew wilder, sprinting as best as it could behind him. Alex, upon seeing this, lit up another flare, setting fire to some wool and throwing it in the ditch. "Bomb''s away!" The XP began to flood in as he sprinted his way back towards the village. Gained 16 XP Level Up! Level Up! By the time he had reached the village, the influx of XP had vanished, his level rising further. A smile crept onto his face as he summoned his Talent panel once more. Name: Alex Edward Age: 19 Talent: Cloning [F] [Growth Talent] Level: 5 Exp: 489/500 Class: Not Selected Hp: 300/300 Hp Recovery: 20/M Attack: 10 Defense: 0 Mana: 10/10 Mana Recovery: 0.01/S Stamina: 7 Attribute Points: 6 His level had increased greatly, resupplying him with some attribute points. Not to mention how frustratingly close to level 5 he was. "Hello again! Thanks for having me!" Alex greeted the guards on his way inside. Instead of heading to his residence, he went towards a nearby merchant. "Hey, boss! I''ve got some goods I''d like to sell, would you be down to buy any?" Alex smiled warmly at the chubby middle-aged man in front of him. The merchant looked Alex up and down, his gaze becoming lazy when he saw the casual dress he wore. "What is it, newbie? I doubt you have anything much of value." ''Merchants were known to be cunning, luring their customers in by aggravating them and buying their items for cheap. Did this guy seriously think he was going to fall for his rage bait?'' Alex thought as he pulled out a boar horn "Here, how much can I get for one of these?" He deliberately spoke in a naive tone, trying to attract the merchants'' greed. "Oh? This is a barely useful material, not that much better than stone. 4 copper coins," the merchant spoke generously, but his eyes failed to hide his intentions. Success! Now, to yap. "This horn right here is a boar horn, a monster that needs a coordinating team of level one''s or a level three hunter to kill them. Considering that, how could this possibly be worth as little as 4 copper coins?" Alex pulled information out of thin air, lining it with confidence in hopes of fooling the merchant. "Haha! You''re a wise young man, what is your name? I''m Marcos, how many of these horns would you have at the moment? I''ll take each for 7 copper coins." Marcos smiled delightfully at the young man before him. "Alex, and to answer your question, I have quite the stash," Alex replied, pulling up his inventory and checking how many horns he had. Inventory:- Space: 27/32 Items: Stone Sword, Health Potion x3, Mana Potion x1, Boar Horn x22 "I would have had more, but some of the beast horns break or get too dirty with flesh for me to bother to keep them," Alex remarked as he laid out his drops in front of Marco. "Wonderful! I count twenty-two horns, so I''ll pay you a total of 154 copper coins! Hell, for such a big customer I''ll make an exception and round it off at 160 for you!" Marco stored all the horns, handing Alex a silver coin and 60 copper coins. "Whenever you get anything more you want to sell, come to me, I''ll give you family prices!" Marco pst his chest, not a breath passing where he didn''t let out a little chuckle. "Naturally, as long as I get my promised family price," Alex reassured the profiteer as he walked out of the store. As he tried to leave, another figure tried to enter; the two collided, and the figure fell. Alex focused his eyes on the person in front of him, a kid barely 12 years old, his eyes resolute as he looked ahead of him. Alex offered him a hand, trying his best to muster a comforting smile for the lost child. The boy stared blankly at Alex, his expression changing numerous times. His eyes sparkled, unnaturally mature for someone of his age. "Clone Talent...Growth Type?" The young boy said subconsciously, leaving Alex dumbstruck- Chapter 5: "Mighty" Overseer The little boy''s words dropped, and the room went silent; Alex felt his brain nearly implode. This didn''t make sense; how did this kid know about his talent? How much did he know about it? Was he following him? ''Wait, no maybe he had heard it wrong. Maybe the kid was just daydreaming and happened to think about something he saw on Earth.'' Alex stopped himself from thinking negatively, resorting to some delusional coping. "Hey Alex, just cause I''m being nice to you doesn''t mean you get to stall my other customers." Marco''s voice brought him out of his trance "Ah, yeah, sorry, man." He apologized and continued, "As for you, little buddy, c''mon up! Don''t worry, I won''t drop you." His hand still stretched out for the little boy, albeit shaking a bit. "Oh, sorry! I''ve just never seen a growth type before, so I got a bit startled," the young boy innocently admitted. "Hey Marco, I''m gonna borrow your customer for a bit. I''ll bring him back without a scratch don''t worry." Alex announced as he hurriedly pulled the little boy out of the shop leaving Marco alone behind the counter to dischiper the situation. "Hey kiddo, what''s your name? And why do you keep talking about this growth thing?" Alex questioned the confused kid in front of him, trying his best not to startle him further. "What do you mean? Isn''t your clone Talent a growth type, it says so! Oh and my name is Liam, I don''t have a last name" Liam rustled his head of black hair in uncertainty ''So he isn''t mistaken. Crap'' the situation grew worse; instead of it being a dark-robed figure emitting brutal killing intent, the person who uncovered his biggest secret was just a kid, his eyes shining with the naivety of a toddler. He took a deep breath, channeling his nonexistent nurturing nature. "Liam, my name is Alex, okay? So could you try and tell me about who or what this "it" is that is showing you my talent?" "Oh, I didn''t mention it before, did I!"ILiam comically slapped his forehead, his small and cute figure resembling a distraught baby panda. "My talent, it lets me see stuff about anything I look at. Look" He said as he waved his hand, a blue screen appearing in front of it [Overseer Talent] You are heaven''s chosen overseer; gain all known information about any item, person, or event you see or think of. There are no limitations except that other EX talents will not be shown. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. "The hell" Alex blurted out in his shock. "Liam is your talent an EX rank?" He questioned, trying to comprehend the terrifying person he had encountered. "Yeah... everyone else has cool talents that give them strength, and I''m stuck with a boring one that tells me useless information," Liam said, his voice shaky as if he was about to burst into tears. ''Boring? Gaining near omniscience was boring for kids these days? Maybe he wasn''t the protagonist after all, Liam matched the description better, cluelessly overpowered and an innocent and loveable character.'' Alex''s invincible momentum broke in front of the overpowered from the start protagonist. "Say Liam. Have you told anyone else about this talent of yours?" Alex calmed down, it was time to gauge the severity of this issue. "Nope, I haven''t talked to anyone since I thought no one would want to team up with me! I only said something to you because your talent was different than the others!" Liam revealed his sad but lucky situation. "Good! Don''t tell anyone okay Liam? You can team with me, I promise I''m not a bad guy!" Alex shot his shot, aiming to take the kid under his wing. Liam, hearing this, jumped up, his eyes practically shining. "Really!? I promise I''ll help you as much as I can! I''ll try to find a way to use my talent to help you!" Alex walked closer to Liam, picking him up and spinning around happily "Of course! Don''t worry about your talent. It''s a real op!" He comforted him, offering head pats. "We should head back inside; you probably wanted to buy something from Marco, didn''t you?" Alex remembered about the merchant who he poached a customer from. "Ah, no. I just wanted to ask him if he had any food since I ran out and had no money." Liam put his head down, ashamed of his lack of finances. "Perfecto! I was just about to head over to buy some food; I''ll get you some, too." Alex reassured him, holding onto his hand and walking near the merchant''s shop. The door flew open, "Hey Marco, I''m taking this one out of your hair, don''t worry about it! Thanks again!" "YOU-" The door was luckily shut before Marco could finish his words. Alex held Liam''s hand as they both headed towards the market, aiming to stock up on some supplies before he went out to hunt again. On the way, Alex felt his gaze move to Liam, his eyes softening a bit as he reminisced. ''Those clothes, a stained shirt, and a homemade rip-jean, both a couple sizes larger than Liam. The look in his eyes, the relief when I said he could come with me; just like me back then, an orphan or worse.'' Now, it might not have been the wisest decision to invite Liam to party with him; after all, he didn''t know much about him. There was a big chance he could be a part of a gang, sent to lure in people with piety, all to kill or rob them in the end. Of course, he frankly didn''t care, he was alone, but considering his 6 available attribute points, adding to the fact his clone was already dead and available to summon again, he had enough mana to summon him twice; through all these factors he was sure no average crook could do him harm. Even if he wasn''t so sure in himself, it just didn''t sit right, a kid wandering around asking people for food. He wasn''t Mr. Beast, but the least he could do was help out. Not to mention it was too dangerous to let Liam be taken in by someone else, possibly with intentions to abuse his talent. He left his thoughts and returned to the real world, arriving before a bakery; instead of the modern ones he was used to, it was a large tent with ceiling lamps for lighting, smooth stone tables for customers to sit and feast, and a large furnace in the back, presumably to cook their goods. "Hey Liam, what do you want to get? It''s on me so buy whatever you want." Alex proclaimed like a rich noble, playing the part well. Liam, all smiles headed towards the counter where a variety of tasty sweets were on display. His eyes darted between the items, his face soon growing strained by the pressure to choose. Noticing his trouble, Alex nudged him, "It''s on me; you can get as many as you want." Liam took a moment to process his words; moving forward, he embraced Alex, wetting his worn-out pants with his tears. "Thank you" he choked on his words. Alex smiled, once more patting the boy''s head "There there, it''s okay. From now on, you can get lots of things, okay?" ''I was overthinking it, Overseer, he''s just a kid. A good kid. Thankfully I found him before anyone with ill intention did.'' Liam pulled away suddenly, his face flushed red from embarrassment. He shook it off, and once again looked up at Alex "Thanks Alex, I''ll pay you back I swear!" Alex only smiled, "I''ll take care of you kiddo, so just enjoy yourself for a while. I''ll rent a better house so you can stay at my place." His words brought out an even brighter smile from Liam who thanked him again, only this time Alex didn''t seem to hear him, his eyes unfocused. ''This time, I''ll save a life. To make up for that night, even just a little bit.'' he thought, thinking of his past. It seemed a rewind was in order. Chapter 6: Boar King, D Rank Talent The house stood at the edge of the village walls, a small, weathered structure that had long since lost any signs of comfort. Its wooden walls were cracked, the roof patched together with whatever materials could be scavenged. A single window, barely holding together, allowed faint morning light to creep in. Inside, the air was cool, carrying the lingering scent of burning firewood and the dampness of unpolished floors. It had the bare minimum¡ªtwo rooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen. Yet, despite its rundown state, it was a home. And for Liam, it was more than he had ever dared to ask for with his state of poverty. Alex stood by the bedside, his sharp eyes softening as he looked at the sleeping boy. Liam''s black hair was a mess, and his chest was rising and falling in a steady rhythm. He looked peaceful¡ªfar from the tense kid he had found yesterday. ¡°Wake up, Liam,¡± Alex said gently, shaking him by the shoulder. Liam stirred, rubbing his eyes before blinking up at Alex. A small smile formed on his face as he stretched. ¡°Good morning¡­¡± ¡°Come on, breakfast is ready.¡± Liam sat up quickly, following Alex toward the small table where two bowls were placed, filled halfway with yogurt and a loaf of bread at its side. He wondered how Alex had already gotten enough money to afford both a month''s accommodation and all this food. Alex had fed him, given him warmth and a place to stay, and, most importantly, treated him like a person. Liam¡¯s hands tightened around his bowl as he thought about it. He had known hunger, fear, and pain. But now, sitting here, eating breakfast with Alex, he felt something else¡ªthankfulness. Once they finished, Alex stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s head out. It¡¯s time for some scouting." Liam nodded eagerly, quickly slipping on his worn-out shoes before following Alex out the door. The village was quiet in the early morning. A few merchants were already awake, eagerly offering discounts to the nearby citizens. As they made their way to the village¡¯s entrance, Liam stuck close to Alex, his excitement barely contained. Near the entrance stood a guard wrapped in heavy armor, his face cold and unreadable. But despite his rigid posture, there was no malice in his gaze. He gave Alex a nod before turning his attention to Liam, studying him for a moment before giving a slight grunt of approval. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°So you''ve formed a party? With a child?¡± the guard asked. Alex nodded. ¡°Hell yeah, I have. Don''t underestimate Liam because of his age; he''s got potential.¡± The guard said nothing more, stepping aside to let them pass. Liam stole a glance at Alex, admiring how effortlessly he conversed with the stern guard. He hoped that one day, he¡¯d be able to do that too. The plains stretched endlessly before them, a vast expanse of tall grass swaying gently in the breeze. And at its center lay Alex¡¯s XP farm¡ªa deep pit dug into the earth, its edges steep enough to trap anything that fell in. Alex walked toward the pit, surveying it before summoning a clone with a flick of his hand. Clonie turned and sprinted off into the distance. Liam watched curiously. ¡°What¡¯s it doing?¡± ¡°Luring them in,¡± Alex replied. Minutes later, the clone came racing back, a horde of boars charging after him, their heavy bodies thundering across the plains. The clone reached the pit first, leaping over it effortlessly. The moment he did, Alex handed Liam a piece of wool. ¡°Light it when I tell you to okay? Make sure you don''t burn yourself.¡± "Wait for it...Now!" Alex predicted the timing and instructed Liam Liam hesitated before striking a flint against the fabric, setting it ablaze. The flames flickered, casting a warm glow against his fingers. ¡°Okay, throw it in" Alex smiled, with this Liam should reach level 3. Liam did as he was told, tossing the burning wool into the pit just as the herd of boars fell in. The dry grass at the bottom caught fire instantly, and within moments, the pit was engulfed in flames. The trapped boars squealed in agony, their bodies thrashing as the fire consumed them. Alex instinctively grabbed Liam, turning him around and pointing into the forest at a tree where a squirrel made its nest. "Say, Liam, isn''t that squirrel really cute?" He distracted the boy, intending to shelter him from this world''s cruelty till he could. Liam turned his eyes up, looking at the adorable little critter with eyes glowing in awe. A moment later, Liam¡¯s eyes widened in delight. ¡°I leveled up! I¡¯m level three!¡± Unable to contain his joy, he hugged Alex tightly. Alex chuckled, ruffling Liam¡¯s hair. ¡°Good. But we¡¯re not done yet.¡± Liam stepped back, "What do you mean?" His innocent inquiry was met with a little nod and no explanation from Alex Alex summoned another clone, sending it off in the same direction. ¡°Get ready,¡± Alex warned. ¡°When you see a boar bigger than the rest appear, I want you to tell me all of his stats and talent information, okay? Could you do that for me bud?" "I''ll do it!" Liam replied enthusiastically. Liam braced himself as the clone returned, another batch of boars barreling toward them. Just like before, the clone cleared the pit, leading the boars straight into the trap. But then¡ªthe ground shook. A heavy presence emerged from the forest, its massive frame crashing through the trees. A beast, unlike the others. It stood at least three meters tall, its muscular body covered in thick, scarred hide. Its tusks were jagged, its eyes burning with raw aggression. Liam gulped. ¡°A-Alex..is that it?¡± Alex¡¯s expression hardened. Don''t worry, you''re safe with me." Liam focused after hearing Alex''s reassurance, and suddenly, text appeared in his vision. Evolved Boar King Age: Adult Talent: Strong Attack [D] Level: 10 HP: 700/700 HP Recovery: 30/M Attack: 10 Defense: 15 Mana: 0 Mana Recovery: 0 Stamina: 20 Liam¡¯s voice continued as he read out the beast''s Talent information. [Strong Attack Talent] A rare talent among beasts, it allows the beast to gain an amplification of 2 to all attacks for a duration of 10 minutes. Cooldown: 1 day Alex¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°This is a tough one. I¡¯ll have to be careful.¡± Alex clenched his jaw. If that talent activated, the Boar King¡¯s attack would double. That meant if it hit him, it wouldn¡¯t just hurt¡ªit could be lethal in just 4 hits. Without hesitation, Alex tossed another piece of burning wool into the pit, setting the trapped boars alight once again. But this time, his eyes were filled with something different¡ªworry. Grabbing Liam¡¯s wrist, he turned and bolted. ¡°Run!¡± The Boar King let out a deafening roar and charged. The hunt had begun, but who would assume the role of the hunter was yet to be decided. Chapter 7: A Desperate Gamble Alex clenched his fists as he ran, his mind racing with frustration. This isn''t fair. The first boss¡ªtheir first real challenge¡ªhad already mutated into an evolved version of itself? He had expected danger, but not like this. Not a monster that had defied expectations, turning a simple hunt into a battle for survival. He gritted his teeth and swiped his hand through the air, pulling up his status panel. Name: Alex Edward Age: 19 Talent: Cloning [F] [Growth Talent] Level: 7 Exp: 52/700 Class: Not Selected Hp: 300/300 Hp Recovery: 30/M Attack: 10 Defense: 0 Mana: 4/10 Mana Recovery: 0.01/S Stamina: 7 Attribute Points: 12 He exhaled, forcing himself to focus on the good. Level 7. That meant more attribute points. Without hesitation, he dumped ten of them into his mana and the remaining two into his attack. His body tensed as the changes settled in, his mind briefly jolting with the rush of new energy. Updated Status Panel: Mana: 14/20 Attack: 12 He flexed his fingers, feeling the slight increase in strength. "This is doable¡­ I think?" he muttered, though doubt lingered in his mind. Then, his thoughts flickered back to the small marketplace from the day before. While Liam had been debating over which sweets to buy, lost in innocent indecision, Alex had been making his own purchases¡ªones that could mean the difference between life and death. A bottle of poison. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. A bottle of anesthesia. And ten spikes harvested from a Level 20 monster. It had cost him everything he had earned, leaving him broke once again. But right now, he could only hope it had been worth it. Alex looked down at Liam, who was breathing heavily, his small frame trembling. The boy was trying to be strong, but Alex could see the fear creeping into his eyes. "It¡¯ll be fine," Alex reassured him, his voice steady. "Just stay close." Then, without hesitation, he summoned a clone. As the copy materialized beside him, Alex tossed him a bottle of anesthesia and a single spike. The clone caught them effortlessly, already understanding the plan. Without hesitation, he cracked the bottle against the tip of the spike, coating the weapon with the potent liquid before slowing his pace¡ªplacing himself directly in the path of the charging Boar King. The beast, blinded by fury, roared as it lunged forward, its massive hooves pounding the ground like thunder. Alex¡¯s clone didn¡¯t flinch. As the beast¡¯s tusks pierced straight through his chest, the clone twisted its body, driving the spike into the Boar King¡¯s eye. The beast shrieked. A horrible, guttural sound of pain that echoed through the open plains. Blood and shattered bone dripped from its ruined eye, and as the anesthesia seeped into its system, the Boar King¡¯s movements began to slow. Its legs trembled, its breath growing heavy. Alex¡¯s clone vanished into dust, but not before twisting the spike one last time, burying it deeper. Alex felt a surge of relief. It was working. The anesthesia was dulling its senses. This was his chance. He summoned another clone, tossing him a poisoned spike. "Finish it." The clone nodded, gripping the spike tightly as he sprinted forward. The Boar King, still dazed, barely reacted. Victory was within reach. But then¡ª The beast shuddered. Its body began to glow faintly, its muscles flexing unnaturally. A surge of power rippled through its massive frame. Its talent was activating. Before Alex could react, the Boar King lunged. Faster than before. More precise than before. The clone barely had time to react before a tusk impaled his chest, lifting him off the ground. The poisoned spike in his hands missed its mark¡ªby a hair¡¯s breadth. A wasted opportunity. Alex¡¯s heart stopped for a moment. He had miscalculated. The anesthesia¡ªit had been meant for humans. It wasn¡¯t strong enough to fully paralyze a beast of this size. The moment he realized his mistake, he acted. "Run!" With no other choice, he turned and sprinted toward the village, his mind racing for solutions. Liam was in his arms, holding on tightly, but Alex could feel his tiny hands shaking. "A-Alex," Liam stammered, his voice filled with fear. "You should¡ªleave me behind." Alex tightened his grip. "Quiet." The Boar King was gaining on them. Its wounded eye bled, but its remaining one burned with rage. Alex¡¯s arms were aching. He couldn¡¯t keep this up. He wasn¡¯t strong enough. His breath was ragged. His legs were on fire. He wouldn¡¯t make it. Desperation took over. Alex clenched his jaw and, in one swift motion, threw Liam to the left¡ªinto the dense forest. "Liam!" The boy vanished into the trees, swallowed by the dark canopy. Alex didn¡¯t have time to look back. Because in that instant, pain exploded in his stomach. A massive horn ripped through his body. CRITICAL HIT! The system¡¯s voice rang in his head, but he barely heard it over the sound of his own blood splattering onto the ground. The Boar King pulled back, yanking its horn free. Alex stumbled forward, his vision flickering. His hands pressed against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding¡ªbut it was useless. His knees buckled. The world blurred. His thoughts faded. But¡ª His mana. 5/20. Enough for one more¡­ Gritting his teeth, Alex forced his hand up. "Summon¡­ clone." The last of his strength drained from his body. A final clone appeared. One holding three spikes. The Boar King, startled, hesitated for just a second. That was all it took. Before it could react, the clone drove a spike through its front leg. The Boar King howled. A second spike¡ªits back leg. The beast staggered. A third spike¡ªstraight through its throat. The Boar King let out a choked sound, its massive frame trembling¡ªbefore finally collapsing. Silence. Alex, lying in a pool of his own blood, felt his world go dark. Somewhere, distant yet near, he heard the voice of the system. [Boar King defeated.] And the sound of Liam screaming. Then¡ª Nothing. Chapter 8: A Vivid Nightmare A warm glow filled the house, the scent of freshly baked bread drifting through the air. Laughter echoed from the living room as Alex sat nestled between his parents on the couch. His mother¡¯s fingers combed gently through his hair while his father playfully ruffled it. ¡°You¡¯re going to be a strong one, Alex,¡± his father said, pride gleaming in his eyes. ¡°Maybe an athlete! Or a scholar!¡± Alex grinned. ¡°Why not both?¡± His mother chuckled, her voice light and full of warmth. ¡°Then we¡¯ll have to get you the best books and the best trainers, won¡¯t we?¡± For the first six years of his life, Alex had known nothing but happiness. His parents had worked tirelessly for him, pouring all their love into their only child. His father, a dedicated man with a strong will, provided for them well. His mother, the heart of the home, made every day special. But fate was cruel. It started as a cough, nothing alarming at first. Then came the fatigue, the rapid weight loss, the sleepless nights. The diagnosis hit like a hammer. Cancer. The word alone sent chills through the household. Alex, barely able to understand, only saw his mother growing weaker. The warmth in her voice faded, her laughter became rare, and soon, even the smallest tasks drained her. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mom. I¡¯ll help,¡± Alex said one night, climbing onto the bed beside her. She smiled, weak but full of love. ¡°I know you will, sweetheart. You always do.¡± Years passed. The hospital visits became frequent. His father held onto his strength, never letting Alex see his pain, but the burden was evident. The money they had saved drained quickly. The once bright and lively house dimmed, filled with quiet whispers of worry and grief. Then, she was gone. Alex was twelve when it happened. The day started like any other, but by evening, everything shattered. His mother¡¯s hand, once so warm, lay cold in his grasp. His father sat beside the bed, his head in his hands, shoulders shaking. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The funeral was a blur. Faces he barely recognized, murmured condolences, the suffocating scent of flowers. He wanted to cry, to scream, but all he could do was sit in silence, numb to the world around him. And then, his father changed. Grief swallowed the man whole. His strong front cracked, and soon, bottles of alcohol replaced the warmth of his embrace. At first, he tried to keep it together, but as the days passed, he lost himself. The man who had once carried Alex on his shoulders, who had held his hand so tightly, now stumbled through the house, barely recognizing his son. Then came the gambling. ¡°Just one more game, Alex. I can fix this,¡± his father would mutter. But he never did. The losses piled up, debts grew, and their stable home became a battlefield of unpaid bills and desperation. The night before his thirteenth birthday, his father raised a hand against him. It never landed. Realization dawned in his father¡¯s eyes, horror etched across his face. Without a word, he left. Just like that. Alex never saw him again. Days later, the police came. His father had taken his own life. A single bullet. A letter, unreadable through Alex¡¯s tears, spoke of regret, of failure, and a final attempt at redemption¡ªhis organs donated to give others a chance at life. Alex didn¡¯t know how to process it. He stopped crying. He stopped speaking. The pain was too much. Orphaned, he was sent away. The orphanage was cold, unfamiliar. No warm hands to hold him, no gentle words to ease his nightmares. He became just another child among many, forgotten by the world. And then, the debt collectors came. ¡°Your father owed us. Debts don¡¯t just disappear, boy.¡± He was sixteen when they first arrived. He tried everything. He begged, he promised, he even considered selling a part of himself¡ªanything to escape the ever-growing shadow of his father¡¯s mistakes. But no matter what he did, it was never enough. Then, one day, a man came. Unlike the others, he didn¡¯t sneer or threaten. He offered a contract. ¡°Work with us, and we¡¯ll clear your father¡¯s debt.¡± Something in Alex had already died by then. He didn¡¯t care anymore. He took the paper, signed without reading. And as he did, something within him whispered that he was sealing his fate. But fate had one last twist. The night before he was to begin working, the man returned, holding an envelope. ¡°Alex,¡± he said, voice softer than before. ¡°I did this behind their backs. This is for you.¡± Confused, Alex reached for the envelope, but then¡ª A flash of silver. His own hand, gripping a knife. A swift plunge. The man staggered, his eyes wide, blood pooling from the wound in his chest. The contract fluttered to the floor, now stained red. The envelope slipped from his fingers, revealing its contents¡ªa letter, money, a chance at a future. ¡°I was going to help you,¡± the man choked out, collapsing to the ground. Alex¡¯s breath hitched. No. No, no, no. He fell to his knees, hands shaking, eyes wide with horror as the man¡ªthe only person who had ever tried to help him¡ªlay dying before him. He wanted to scream, to undo what he had done, but it was too late. He had killed the only kindness left in his life. He was arrested. There was no fight left in him. He barely heard the judge¡¯s words, barely registered the angry faces of the man¡¯s family. Guilty. That night, in the cold darkness of his cell, Alex truly died. The boy who had once laughed, who had once dreamed, who had once held onto hope¡ªhe was gone. All that remained was a hollow shell, a mask of smiles and empty words, carried by a ghost of the past. And then, he woke up. Race Against Time Liam stumbled through the forest, his breaths ragged and uneven. The weight of Alex¡¯s limp body pressed down on his small frame, but he refused to stop. His legs burned, his arms trembled, but he couldn¡¯t let go. He wouldn¡¯t. The village was too far. He had known it from the start. Even if he ran with all his might, Alex would bleed out long before they reached safety. His mind spun, grasping for any alternative. Then, he remembered. His talent¡ªOverseer. One that gave him knowledge about anything his eyes landed on. If he could find something¡ªanything¡ªthat could heal Alex, then maybe¡­ just maybe¡­ With newfound urgency, Liam forced himself deeper into the undergrowth, his eyes darting across every plant, every root, every glistening drop of morning dew. Text flooded his vision as the system processed each object. [Bitter Root] - A mildly toxic root that causes nausea when ingested. Not it. [Silverthorn Berry] - Used in some basic medicinal pastes, but requires proper processing to be effective. Not it. [Venomspike Weed] - A lethal herb that paralyzes upon contact. Not suitable for consumption. Useless! None of it was useful. He grit his teeth, pushing forward, his desperation mounting with each useless identification. His thoughts raced. What do I do? What do I do?! The moonlight barely pierced the dense foliage above, casting eerie shadows that twisted and danced as he stumbled past them. The darkness seemed suffocating, pressing in on him, whispering that he was too late, that Alex was already slipping away. No. He wouldn¡¯t accept that. A large tree root snagged his foot, sending him crashing to the ground. Alex¡¯s body nearly slipped from his grasp, and panic surged through Liam as he scrambled to pull him close again. His fingers brushed against Alex¡¯s chest, now damp with blood. It was warm. Too warm. The wound was still bleeding, soaking into his own hands. His breath hitched. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. He wasn¡¯t going to make it. Tears blurred his vision, frustration bubbling inside him. Why?! Why can¡¯t I find anything?! He punched the ground, his small fist sinking into the damp earth. His heart pounded in his ears. He had to keep moving. Had to¡ª A glint of gold. His eyes widened. His gaze locked onto a single leaf, glowing faintly beneath the roots of an ancient tree. The system¡¯s text appeared before him. [Phoenix Leaf] - A rare, miraculous herb. Upon consumption, restores the user to full health regardless of injuries. Usable only once. Liam¡¯s breath caught. His fingers trembled as he reached forward, gently plucking the leaf from its resting place. It was warm as if holding the last remnants of the sun¡¯s light. This was it. This was what he needed. Wasting no time, he turned back to Alex, his heart hammering against his ribs. His hands shook as he carefully opened Alex¡¯s mouth and placed the leaf inside. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, Alex¡¯s body convulsed. A faint golden glow enveloped him, the deep wound on his stomach knitting together before Liam¡¯s wide eyes. The blood vanished. His pale complexion slowly returned to normal. Liam let out a shaky breath, his exhaustion finally catching up to him. His hands clenched at the fabric of Alex¡¯s shirt as he stared at his face, waiting. Hoping. Alex¡¯s lips parted, a faint whisper escaping. A name. A plea. ¡°¡­Mom¡­ Dad¡­¡± Liam¡¯s heart clenched. Alex¡¯s brows furrowed, his face contorting in pain as he relived something¡ªsomething distant, something buried. Liam didn¡¯t understand. He only knew that whatever it was, it hurt. And for the first time that night, Liam felt truly helpless. The forest was silent, save for the faint rustling of leaves in the wind. Liam sat there, clutching Alex¡¯s hand, not knowing what to do. But at least¡­ at least he was alive. And for now, that was enough. Alex gasped as he jolted awake, his entire body trembling. His mind was still trapped in the last moment¡ªthe sheer agony, the darkness creeping in, the sensation of life slipping away. His breath came in ragged gasps as he clutched at his stomach, half-expecting to find himself still impaled. But then his eyes fell on Liam. The boy''s face was pale, his eyes puffy and red, exhaustion written all over his features. Liam had been crying. He had been desperate. And seeing that, Alex felt something inside him settle. He swallowed hard, trying to compose himself before forcing a smirk onto his face. "We killed the Boar King, right?" he rasped, his voice rough. "I have elite ball knowledge, this proves it." Liam blinked at him, confused at first, before letting out a small, relieved laugh. The tension in the air lightened, if only for a moment. Alex sighed and let his head fall back against the ground, feeling the damp earth beneath him. He was alive. He didn''t know how, but he was alive. And that meant he needed to reassess everything. "Talent," he muttered, pulling up his attribute panel. Name: Alex Edward Age: 19 Talent: Cloning [F] [Growth Talent] Level: 10 Exp: 12/1000 Class: Not Selected (Change Available) Hp: 700/700 Hp Recovery: 30/M Attack: 12 Defense: 0 Mana: 20/20 Mana Recovery: 0.01/S Stamina: 7 Attribute Points: 9 Alex exhaled deeply, staring at his new stats. The increase in level had granted him more points to allocate, and his mana pool had expanded considerably. He flexed his fingers, feeling the renewed strength in his limbs. "This was worth it..," he murmured, mostly to himself. "I think." He glanced at Liam, who was still kneeling beside him, watching him intently. The boy had saved his life. Somehow, against all odds, he had pulled him back from the brink of death. "You did good, kid," Alex said, this time with genuine warmth. "You really saved my butt out there." Liam didn''t say anything¡ªhe just looked away, his small hands clenching into fists. Alex let the silence settle between them, knowing that, for now, words weren¡¯t necessary. The battle was over. But what came next? That was a question for another moment. For now, Alex was just grateful to be breathing.