章節 3: Cloning Activated

Lee Seung stepped out of the Awakening Center, the weight of the results hanging heavily on him. He shoved his hands into his pockets, trying to mask the bitterness that clawed at his chest. "So, that's it, huh?" he muttered under his breath, glancing one last time at the building. The memory of the analyst's smug tone echoed in his head.

"Your energy level is barely at four. For a normal human, that's the baseline, but for the weakest of the weak? Well, it's a bit below even that. You should work on boosting it before even thinking about awakening." The analyst's voice had been drenched in sarcasm as she pointed at his results with a dismissive flick of her pen.

Lee Seung had no words for her back then. He knew she was right in a sense; he had always been more invested in academics than physical strength. But even as he walked away, he couldn't help but think about how unbothered he was by it all.

'I wasn't expecting much anyway. What do I need strength for? I'll probably just end up as a farmer or something...'

As he wandered away from the entrance, lost in thought, a commotion caught his attention. One of the Guild recruiters, a tall man with a sharp suit, was handing out business cards with a practiced smile. "Our Guild is seeking talents like yours. We offer the best commission rates on hunts."

The young man receiving the card beamed, glancing at the malachite bracelet on his wrist. The words 'Ghost Cloning' glowed faintly on the band. Lee Seung couldn't help but compare it to the ability he was supposedly supposed to unlock—cloning.

'What's the difference between his ability and mine? Why didn't I get anything like that? I mean, the bracelet.'

The analyst had mentioned that he was a "semi-awakened," meaning he had the potential, but lacked the energy needed to fully unlock his power. But standing there, watching the other guy proudly walk away with his new Guild offer, Lee Seung felt an odd sense of envy prick at him.

'It's just cloning… But still, why does it feel like I'm missing out on something?'

Pushing those thoughts aside, Lee Seung flagged down a taxi and headed home.

***

A short while later, Lee Seung stepped out of the cab and walked the last stretch to his apartment. The road had a slight slope, and though it wasn't steep, he felt a strange weariness in his legs.

'Why am I out of breath already? Guess I'm even weaker than I thought.'

His small, rundown apartment greeted him with the familiar scent of dust and stale air. He tossed his keys on the table and flopped onto his worn-out sofa.

"Today's been a bust. Maybe some ramen will cheer me up."

Before he could even head to the kitchen, a sudden tremor rocked the entire building. The walls creaked, and dust rained down from the ceiling. The sound was deafening, like something heavy had just slammed into the ground nearby.

"What the hell was that?!" Lee Seung shot up, his heart hammering in his chest. Anxiety twisted in his gut. "I don't even have any valuables, but if it's a thief…"

Grabbing a small metal rod for protection, he cautiously made his way to the backyard. The trembling had stopped, but an uneasy silence hung in the air. "Who's there?!" he called out, his voice wavering.

No response.

The backyard was still, except for the swaying redcurrant bushes. But something was off. Lee Seung's eyes narrowed as he noticed a strange brown object nestled between the plants.

'That wasn't there before…'

He approached it slowly, half-expecting it to jump at him. But as he got closer, he realized it was just an old iron box. "An iron box? Where did this come from?" He hesitated, glancing around to see if anyone was watching. 'Is this a prank or something?'

Despite the nagging voice in his head telling him to leave it alone, curiosity got the better of him. He hauled the box inside, dropping it on the floor with a heavy thud. "Let's see what's inside," he murmured, grabbing a knife from the kitchen.

The box was sealed with an intricate lock and a series of strange codes. Lee Seung's frustration quickly mounted as he struggled to pry it open. After several failed attempts, he tossed the knife aside in exasperation.

"Ugh, this is getting ridiculous. Maybe Mr. Song has some acid I can use."

Mr. Song's shop was bustling with customers when Lee Seung arrived, but he managed to pull the old man aside. "Mr. Song, do you have any sulfuric acid?"

Mr. Song looked at him with a puzzled frown. "What do you need acid for?"

"I, uh, need it for something important. I'll pay for it, of course."

The old man chuckled and smacked Lee Seung's arm playfully. "You're always so serious, kid. Don't be shy. Just take what you need."

Back at his apartment, Lee Seung poured the acid over the lock, watching in anticipation. But after several minutes, the lock remained stubbornly intact. "Are you kidding me? Even concentrated acid didn't work?"

Frustration boiled over as he grabbed the knife again and struck the box with all his might. The lock didn't budge, but suddenly, the entire lid flew open with a violent burst of energy. The force sent Lee Seung crashing into the wall, pain shooting through his back as he landed on the sofa.

Dazed and disoriented, he blinked through the haze of pain. The box floated in mid-air, swirling with an eerie, milky white light. _

'What… what is that?'

Before he could process what was happening, a screen flickered into existence before his eyes.

[Energy transmission complete.]

[Cloning activated.]

The words burned into his mind as his vision blurred, the world spinning out of control. The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was the light from the box enveloping him, dragging him into darkness.