Chapter 9

  Ethan woke up to the sound of his own breath, deep but steady. The air was cold, the kind of chill that crawled under your skin and settled into your bones. He rubbed his eyes, feeling the weight of yesterday’s exhaustion settle heavily on his shoulders.

  Sitting up slowly, the thin blanket he'd replicated fell off his legs. His body was sore—muscles tight from yesterday of movement, of fighting, of constant vigilance. But he had made it through the night.

  His stomach growled, reminding him that he had more pressing matters. Ethan stood, stretching his stiff limbs, and looked around the room.

  He summoned a couple of basic energy bars and a bottle of water. Nothing extravagant, he wasn’t about to risk attracting monsters by replicating anything too noticeable. The food materialized in his hands instantly.

  He ripped open the energy bars and took quick bites, the taste dull but effective. His focus was elsewhere—on the road ahead, on the task that had been haunting him since everything fell apart.

  He finished quickly, stuffing the wrappers into his pockets for later disposal. Then, without wasting another moment, he stood and grabbed his gear, preparing to leave. He didn’t have time to linger in this crumbling building. He had a goal—a very clear one: find his parents.

  Ethan stepped cautiously out into the hallway. The building’s silence was unnerving. It was the kind of quiet that made you feel like you were being watched, though he knew it was just his mind playing tricks on him. He moved swiftly through the building, his senses on high alert, checking every corner before advancing.

  The day had barely begun, and already the weight of everything—the uncertainty, the fear, the loneliness—pressed heavily on him. But he couldn’t afford to stop. Not now. Not when he was this close to finding his parents.

  His hand brushed the summoned gun at his side, a reminder of how unprepared he’d been for all of this. But now, he was better. Stronger. The level-ups were making a difference, even if it wasn’t always obvious. His body was adapting to the strain, his reflexes quicker, his senses sharper. He could feel the changes, even if they were subtle.

  He paused at the exit, taking a moment to adjust to the harsh light outside. The streets were empty, littered with debris. But it was the silence that unnerved him most. Everything felt… wrong.

  He pushed forward, his gaze scanning the surroundings. He wasn’t sure what he expected to find, but he kept his focus. His parents were out there, somewhere. He had to keep moving.

  With his mind set, Ethan walked into the desolate streets, his eyes never stopped scanning, never stopped looking for danger.

  Ethan moved through the ruined streets, his eyes staying vigilant.

  A low growl broke the silence. Ethan’s senses snapped to attention, every nerve on alert. Something was out there. He instinctively reached for his gun, but before he could fully draw it, the creature appeared.

  A hulking figure, its skin mottled with patches of thick, rough armor. An orc-like beast, standing nearly eight feet tall with tusks jutting from its lower jaw and a battleaxe slung over its back. Its eyes locked onto Ethan with a vicious hunger, the growl turning into a roar as it charged forward, shaking the ground with each heavy step.

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  Ethan’s heart slammed against his ribs. It closed the distance in seconds, its massive arm swinging with terrifying speed.

  Ethan barely dodged, rolling to the side just in time to avoid the swipe of the creature's thick claws. The impact shook the ground beneath him.His heart pounded in his chest as he scrambled to his feet, drawing his gun as quickly as he could.

  His first shot rang out, but it went wide.His aim was shaky, too much inexperience. The monster roared again, charging forward, faster than he expected. Ethan gritted his teeth and fired again, this time hitting its shoulder. The creature howled in pain but didn’t stop. It only grew more enraged.

  Fuck

  Another swing of the creature's arm forced Ethan to dive backward, barely avoiding the strike. His ribs ached where the blow had nearly connected. He cursed under his breath, scrambling to his feet again. Blood was already trickling from a shallow cut on his arm.

  “Damn it…” He muttered.

  His hand shot out instinctively, and the familiar feeling of replication surged through him. A healing potion materialized in his hand. He didn’t hesitate and drank the entire bottle. The bitter taste burned down his throat, but the relief was almost immediate. His wounds closed up slightly, the pain lessening, though his body still ached from the strain.

  The monster didn’t wait. It charged again, swinging its axe. Ethan raised his gun, focusing on the beast’s exposed chest. His hands were steadier now, his mind more focused. He pulled the trigger, the shot piercing the creature’s thick hide. The orc-like beast stumbled back, growling in pain, but it didn’t go down.

  Another shot, another hit to the chest. This time, the monster slowed, its movements more sluggish as blood poured from its wounds.

  Ethan knew he couldn’t afford to let up. He’d seen too many survivors get complacent, only to be caught off guard. He fired again, aiming for the creature’s head this time. The bullet hit, but it didn’t penetrate deeply enough. He cursed, but he kept firing, determined to wear it down.

  The creature swung its axe one last time, but this time Ethan was ready. He dodged to the side, then aimed directly at its face, pulling the trigger as his sights locked onto its forehead. The bullet hit its mark, and the creature let out one final roar before collapsing, its body crashing to the ground with a deafening thud.

  [You have leveled up!]

  [Ethan Walker]

  Age: 22

  Level: 9

  Strength: 19

  Dexterity: 19

  Vitality: 19

  Wisdom: 15

  Intelligence: 15

  Stat Points: 8

  Skills:

  Perfect Replication [Lvl. Max]

  Skill Points: 0

  He breathed a sigh of relief. He stood still for a moment, chest heaving, the adrenaline still rushing through his veins. He’d survived. Barely. His hands were trembling from the effort.

  Ethan crouched beside the fallen creature, his breath still ragged from the fight. His body ached, but he forced himself to focus. The orc-like monster had dropped with a heavy thud, leaving a pool of blood spreading across the cracked pavement. Ethan scanned the creature's body for any useful loot, eyes sharp despite his fatigue.

  He spotted something glinting in the monster’s corpse. Reaching out, Ethan pried a rough, battle-worn axe. The weapon was crude, but sturdy—its wooden handle scarred and chipped, the blade dulled from use. It wasn’t a finely crafted weapon, but it had weight to it, the kind that could deliver a heavy blow.

  [Crude Axe x1]

  Ethan hefted the axe, testing its balance. It wasn’t perfect, but it could be useful. Maybe for cutting through obstacles, or even using in the next battle if he needed it. He tucked the axe into his belt, keeping it within easy reach.

  With the new weapon secured, Ethan straightened up, his senses still on high alert. There was no time to linger.