"What... is that thing?" Lee Seung's voice trembled, barely audible as a wave of dizziness washed over him. He tried to steady himself, but the pain in his head intensified, blurring his vision. He squeezed his eyes shut, groaning, "Argh..."
But just before darkness took hold, he caught a glimpse of something—a flicker of light. A glowing screen materialized in front of him, displaying cryptic text.
[Energy transmission completed.]
[Cloning activated.]
---
A few moments later, Lee Seung's eyes fluttered open. He winced, the dull ache in his skull refusing to fade. Groaning, he slowly sat up, pressing a hand against his throbbing temple. As his eyes adjusted to the light, he was met with an unexpected sight—a translucent screen floating before him, radiating a soft, ethereal glow. The interface pulsed gently, revealing a series of icons and data panels.
His heart raced as he read the words displayed.
[You have activated Cloning ability.]
'So it wasn't just a hallucination,' Lee Seung thought, still trying to make sense of it all. Surprised? Absolutely. But afraid? Not quite. What harm could a simple screen do? Curiosity quickly overshadowed any lingering apprehension.
His eyes darted back to the screen as it began shifting on its own. Lines of code flickered across the display, followed by a series of messages.
[Code: K4mP_7qR9zL#3xJ!6uB]
[User: Lee Seung]
[Verification complete.]
[System access granted.]
[Registration complete.]
The words hung in the air for a moment before the screen dimmed slightly. Lee Seung slowly got to his feet, still marveling at what was happening. His lips curled into a disbelieving smile.
"Wow... this is unreal. I can't believe it!"
---
Meanwhile, at the World Hunter Association (W.H.A.) headquarters…
A man in a crisp black suit, his build suggesting an athlete's strength, stepped into a spacious office. He held an iPad in his hand as he approached a large desk. Bowing respectfully, he greeted the older man seated behind it. "Greetings, President Park."
The man addressed as President Park glanced up, his sharp eyes framed by a wide, grey mustache. Despite his age, his physique remained imposing, a testament to years of discipline.
The suited man handed him the iPad. "President Park, there's something you need to see."
The older man's eyes narrowed as he skimmed through the news report displayed on the screen. The suited man continued, "There was a spaceship crash earlier today in a district of Seoul. The victims... were aliens. The army responded quickly and secured the area, but none of the aliens survived."
President Park leaned back in his chair, letting out a heavy sigh. "The government may have signed a treaty with those aliens years ago, but we mustn't let that alliance cloud our judgment. They helped us create the technology that allows for metahuman enhancement, yes, but they've always had ulterior motives. We can't let them exploit our world unchecked."
"Isn't that conclusion a bit hasty, sir?" the suited man asked calmly.
President Park stood and moved toward the large window overlooking the city. "Kim Seijin, the same rules that apply in the dungeons apply here. In those cursed places, trust is a luxury—hunters betray one another over scraps. In the end, it's about survival. Trust no one but yourself."** His voice carried a steely resolve. **"Think of this as another lesson, like when I taught you judo." A faint, almost paternal smile crossed his face.
Kim Seijin bowed deeply, golden strands of hair catching the sunlight. "I understand, President. If we don't act, these aliens might exploit our lands, leading to bloodshed. I'll handle it. You can rely on me."
---
Back in his apartment, Lee Seung's mind raced. The screen's display changed, presenting him with a choice: accept the system or decline it. His thoughts churned, a storm of conflicting emotions.
'This... this might have side effects. But I can't let that stop me. I need strength. I need power.'
Memories surged—his parents' lifeless bodies, the blood, the monstrous creature that tore them apart. It had been six long years, but the pain was still fresh.
'So what if I'm not a Hunter? I can use this power to make money... pay for my sister's treatment...'
His resolve solidified. "I accept!"
The screen flared to life with a sharp hiss.
[Welcome to Subject's Information Icon.]
[Lee Seung]
[Ability: Cloning, LV. 1]
[Stats]
[Strength: 0.12]
[Reflex: 0.01]
[Mana content: 2.03]
[Endurance: 0.06]
[Stamina: 0.01]
Lee Seung stared at the pitiful numbers, his initial excitement waning. "Seriously...? I'm this weak?" He sighed in disbelief.
'It's not like I was expecting to be a superhuman right away, but this is just embarrassing.'
Before he could dwell too much on it, the screen shifted again, displaying something that reignited his curiosity.
[Clone summoning available. Would you like to summon your first clone?]
His heart thudded. The potential benefits flashed in his mind—multiple tasks, training, and maybe even fighting. 'This could make life so much easier!'
Just as he was about to proceed, another warning flashed:
[Warning: Summoning a clone depends on the subject's ability to concentrate mana. Failure may result in summoning an evil spirit.]
A shiver ran down his spine. For a moment, his mind filled with terrifying images—shadowy figures, twisted faces, the worst possible outcome.
'Great... just what I need.'
But he shook it off, steeling himself. 'No, I can do this. I won't screw it up.'
The screen prompted him to choose a command word for the summoning. He couldn't be bothered to overthink it. The first word that came to mind would have to do.
"Emerge!"
The room trembled as a low hum reverberated around him. Blue flames erupted from the floor, swirling around him and rising to his waist. The air crackled with energy as mana surged out of his chest.
Bang!
The monitor fell, books toppled off the shelves, and the room was left in chaos. Lee Seung's eyes snapped shut as he felt a strange movement within his body—an intense, foreign sensation that made his skin crawl. The mana gathered at his chest, twisting and turning before it finally settled.
When he opened his eyes, he was face-to-face with... himself.
His exact replica stood there, staring back at him. Same height, same frame, same barely-there muscles.
His jaw dropped. *"Whoa... this is insane!"
For someone who'd always been overshadowed and overlooked, this moment felt surreal.
The clone smiled warmly. "I am here, master! Forever here to serve you!"
Lee Seung's thoughts spiraled. 'This... is me!'
But then, he noticed something unsettling—his clone was completely naked. A wave of awkwardness washed over him.
"Uh... hold on a sec." He quickly grabbed a spare T-shirt from his wardrobe and tossed it at the clone. "Here, put this on. You're... exposed."
The clone nodded obediently. "Yes, master."
It wasn't long before the clone had slipped into the shirt. Lee Seung sighed in relief, though his discomfort lingered. "Man, I never thought I'd feel like a pervert staring at myself..."
"Per-vert?" The clone tilted his head, utterly confused.
Lee Seung shook his head, laughing despite himself. "You're so naive." Clearing his throat, he got back on track. "Anyway, enough distractions. I made you for a reason, so let's get to work."
Please use your power stones so that I can continue daily update.
"Yes, master," the clone replied, voice echoing Lee's own with eerie precision.
Just then, Lee's eyes widened as a sudden realization struck him. Something had crashed when he summoned his clone. "Oh no!" He shot up and spun around, his gaze locking onto his monitor lying face-down on the floor.
Rushing over, he gently picked it up, turning it over with a wince. His shoulders sagged in relief. Only a minor scratch. He set it back in its rightful place, smoothing his hand over the surface as if apologizing.
"Whew," he exhaled, before glancing back at the clone with a teasing smile. "Hey, I'm the only one who gets hungry, right? You're just a clone, no need to worry about feeding you, huh?"
The idea of providing for a second mouth made his wallet ache. He barely scraped by as it was. 'I can hardly afford a decent meal for myself,' Lee thought, biting his lip as he waited anxiously for an answer.
As if on cue, the clone's stomach grumbled loudly.
Lee's face fell. 'Aigoo! My clone gets hungry too?' He shook his head, rubbing his temples. 'Well, no problem. Once I land a job using this ability, feeding him should be manageable.'
Deciding to put the clone to use immediately, he handed over the leftover snacks he'd prepared for the Awakening exam earlier, then sat back at his desk and opened up his browser. A quick search led him to a website called Awakened Wiki, where metahumans could apply for various jobs based on their abilities.
Without wasting time, Lee clicked on the Bodyguard Section. His eyes darted to the top listings. The most dangerous gigs were rated five-star. He clicked on one out of curiosity and gasped at the daily rate: 28 million won.
He quickly backed out. The money was tempting, sure, but he wasn't that desperate to put his life on the line.
After scrolling for a while, he found something more reasonable—a one-star rated job that paid 1.4 million won a day. It wasn't as lucrative as the top-tier jobs, but still a far cry from what he ever dreamed of earning. And with two bodies working, he'd be raking in 2.8 million won daily.
Heart racing, Lee grabbed his phone and dialed the contact listed.
Ding... ding…
"Hello, good evening. I'm Lee Seung, and I'd like to apply as a bodyguard for—"
"Oh, thank you for choosing us!" A woman's voice cut him off, a bit too eager. "If you're available, please come to Woosung Construction Industry tomorrow to start."
Lee blinked. "I—uh, sure. I don't mind."
"Great! See you tomorrow then."
Before he could respond, the call ended. He stared at his phone, unease creeping in. There was something off about how desperate she sounded.
Pushing the thought aside, he turned to his clone. "You'll start working out tomorrow morning. Three hours straight. Take my watch with you and come back when time's up."
---
The next morning dawned clear, sunlight filtering through the trees as the neighborhood buzzed with life. The usual joggers were out, stretching and chatting before starting their routine. Two middle-aged men, Mr. Ma and his friend, were setting up for a race.
"Good morning, Mr. Ma! Let's make it a proper race today. I won't lose this time."
Mr. Ma grinned. "You're on. Just remember I have to be at work by nine, so don't go too hard."
Across the park, a woman in workout gear exchanged pleasantries with another neighbor, both setting up for their own routines.
Just then, a blur of blue streaked past them. The joggers turned in mild surprise as they watched a young man in a blue sweater dash by, his pace relentless and unyielding. He wasn't a familiar face, and the way he pushed himself was beyond the usual morning exercise crowd.
The group shook their heads, dismissing it as another overzealous fitness buff. But as time passed and they continued their own workouts, they couldn't help but glance over at the figure still at it—now doing push-ups in the middle of the road.
"What's he trying to prove?" Mr. Ma muttered under his breath.
His friend chuckled. "Whatever it is, he can't manage more than fifteen at that speed. He'll burn out soon."
But as the minutes ticked by, the man in blue showed no signs of stopping. "He's at sixteen… twenty-five… thirty-five!" Mr. Ma counted, his interest piqued.
By the time the young man hit forty, both joggers had abandoned their routine to watch in awe.
Back at home, Lee stirred from sleep, yawning as he stretched. After a quick sip of water and brushing his teeth, he noticed something off—his clone was nowhere in sight.
"Oh, right, I told him to work out," he remembered.
Hours later, a knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. When he opened it, his clone stood there, drenched in sweat and panting like he'd run a marathon.
"I'm back, master."
"Good job. Go clean up and meet me here in two minutes," Lee ordered, a hint of pride creeping into his voice.
As the clone hurried off, Lee sat down on the stairs, contemplating how he could track his progress. He needed a way to check if the clone's workout had any impact on his stats.
As if responding to his thoughts, the familiar blue screen materialized before him, shimmering with a soft glow.
"Does this thing read my mind?" Lee muttered, half-impressed, half-creeped out.
With a thought, he willed the screen to show his stats. The interface shifted, displaying his attributes. They were slightly rearranged compared to before, but what stood out was the noticeable increase in strength—up by 0.5, all thanks to his clone's morning workout.
A slow grin spread across Lee's face. "So, his pain doesn't transfer to me, but his strength does. Interesting."
The possibilities raced through his mind. If he could make his clone work out daily, his growth would be exponential.
Soon after, his clone returned, now dressed and ready. Lee observed him thoughtfully. "We can't walk around looking identical like this. People will get suspicious." He rummaged through his things and handed the clone a face mask and cap. "Put these on. Let's not risk anyone figuring out the truth."
They stepped out together, blending into the early morning bustle. A quick taxi ride brought them to the towering gates of Woosung Construction Industry. Lee's heart thudded in his chest as he stared up at the building. This was it—the start of his metahuman journey.
Nerves tingling, he turned to his clone. "You scared?"
"No," the clone replied, calm as ever.
"Of course you're not. You don't share my nerves either," Lee sighed. "Alright, let's do this."
Inside, they were directed to the reception desk. Lee stepped forward, clearing his throat. "Good morning, I'm, uh, Lee Seung, and—"
"Good morning, Mr. Lee." The woman behind the desk cut him off with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "No need to introduce yourself. I recognize the voice from yesterday."
Lee's unease returned tenfold. Her overly eager tone and forced smile set off alarm bells. Still, he nodded and took a seat as she instructed, waiting for the CEO.
As he sat there, doubts gnawed at him. 'Am I really cut out for guarding a CEO? This job might be way riskier than I signed up for...'
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