Chapter 5

  The world had turned upside down. The man from earlier—the one he tried to save—had been proof of that.

  Ethan had rushed in to help him, even when every instinct screamed to turn away. The guy had been injured, cornered, desperate. Ethan had thought, just for a second, that maybe he could make a difference. But the world didn’t care about hope, and it sure as hell didn’t care about mercy.

  Survival was the only thing that mattered now. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. He couldn’t afford to risk his life for anyone. Not anymore.

  Ethan scanned the abandoned stores and broken-down buildings around him, moving with a purpose. He didn’t need to waste time figuring out what to do next. His power—Perfect Replication—had taken the edge off survival. He could replicate food, water, anything. It was a simple matter of touching something and making a perfect copy.

  No need to hunt for supplies. He doesn't need to depend on anyone.

  He didn’t need anyone. Not anymore.

  As he walked through the streets, his thoughts turned cold. He saw another survivor in the distance—an older man, hunched, looking at the wreckage. Ethan didn’t hesitate this time. He turned and kept walking.

  He didn’t care if the man was in trouble. Didn’t care if the world was full of people just trying to survive. He didn’t need to risk his life for anyone.

  Not anymore.

  Survival was all that mattered. He needed to find his parents. The rest could burn for all he cared.

  It was at that moment he heard a rustling sound, followed by a growl—a deep, guttural sound that made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He froze, instincts kicking in as he searched for the source of the noise. A creature emerged from behind a collapsed wall—tall, grotesque, with spindly limbs and a mouth full of sharp teeth. A type of monster he hadn’t seen before.

  It spotted him immediately, its eyes locking onto him with hungry intensity. Ethan didn’t wait. He rushed forward, his hand going instinctively for the pipe at his side. The creature lunged, claws slashing through the air, but Ethan ducked just in time, feeling the breeze of its attack.

  Ethan’s focus never wavered as the creature lunged at him again, claws extended. He ducked, narrowly avoiding its deadly swipe, and swung the pipe at its side. The hit landed, but the monster barely flinched.

  Stolen story; please report.

  Ethan gripped the pipe tighter, sidestepping just in time to avoid its claws as they scraped across the air. His body was slower than usual—his earlier wounds still left a faint sting, and his arm didn’t have the full range of motion he needed. The monster swiped again, and this time, he couldn’t dodge fast enough.

  Its claws raked across his shoulder, tearing through his jacket and leaving a deep gash. Blood welled up instantly, and pain shot through him. The wound was worse than the others, deeper. He bit down on a curse as he staggered back, vision blurring for a moment from the sharp sting.

  His head spun, but his hands moved instinctively. Another vial of potion appeared in his hand.

  He didn’t hesitate. With a flick of his wrist, he tore off the cap and drank it down, the bitter liquid flooding his system. Almost immediately, the pain dulled, the wound on his shoulder starting to seal itself. But the monster wasn’t done yet.

  It closed the distance again, its teeth snapping as it charged. Ethan had no time to fully recover. He swung the pipe with everything he had, hitting the creature’s face with a satisfying crack. It staggered back, but not for long.

  The monster roared in fury and lunged again.

  He barely sidestepped this time. Its claws scraped across his ribs, leaving another deep gouge. Ethan hissed in pain but didn’t stop. He couldn’t. Another potion appeared in his hand. His fingers fumbled with the bottle, uncapping it with shaky hands. He drank it quickly, feeling the liquid work its magic almost immediately as his body healed.

  But it wasn’t enough. The monster wasn’t slowing down, and neither was Ethan’s own exhaustion. He couldn’t keep relying on these potions forever.

  With a desperate roar, Ethan swung the pipe again, this time aiming for the creature’s throat. The blow connected. The monster let out a choked sound, stumbling back.

  It was weak now.

  Ethan pressed forward, unrelenting, and with one final, brutal swing, the pipe collided with the monster’s skull. It crumpled to the ground, its body twitching before going still.

  Ethan stood over the creature’s body, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His wounds were healing, but the exhaustion weighed heavily on him.

  His fingers trembled as he summoned a potion, drinking it to ease the last of his pain.

  [EXP Gained – 20]

  [EXP Gained – 20]

  The message flickered on his screen.

  Ethan checked the claw marks on his chest. They were deep, the raw gashes still stinging, and his arm throbbed with a persistent ache.

  Still, his HP was steadily recovering, the potions he'd chugged earlier working their magic, the bleeding slowing and the bruises fading.

  Approaching the creature’s lifeless body, he noticed the faint shimmer of loot. He crouched down, inspecting the items with detached interest.

  [Low-Quality Grade Potion x1] "Pointless now," Ethan thought with a grimace. He could replicate a whole stash of them when needed.

  [Monster Claw – Common Item x1] "Might come in handy," he mused, tucking the item into his bag with little more than a passing glance.

  Without wasting any more time, he slung the bag over his shoulder and moved on, his mind already focused on the next task. Parents.Shelter. Rest. But most of all, survival.