Chapter 4
[Warning! Executing system transfer will annihilate the caster's physical body. Proceed?]
The mechanical voice faded as the man opened his mouth.
"Keh... whatever... cough! This body's done for anyway. Execute!"
As the execution command left his lips, a series of mechanical sounds echoed in Junhyeok's mind:
[User Park Kang-ho has initiated system transfer.]
[Registering transfer target Choi Junhyeok as new user.]
[Second Original System. Beginning transfer of Copy Master.]
[Scanning User Choi Junhyeok's body. 10%......]
[20%......]
The system transfer had begun, but Junhyeok remained tense. The process could still be canceled at any time.
'Any moment now! Stay alert until the very end!'
Junhyeok had to maintain his facade until the transfer completed.
"Wh-what the hell...? What did you just do to me?!"
Seeing Junhyeok's panicked expression, the man called Kang-ho smirked bitterly.
"Kekeuk, I'm giving you... cough! My power. You hit... the jackpot. Abilities that'd disappear when I die anyway. Keuk! Doing good deeds like this... cough! Isn't my style but... haah. No choice. Please... find my family... take care of them."
"What are you even..."
As Junhyeok tried to speak, Kang-ho urgently cut him off.
"No time! Keuk! Just accept it! And remember... this power becomes poison if others learn of it. So stay hidden until... cough cough! At least until your second awakening."
When Kang-ho advised absolute secrecy, Junhyeok made a genuinely baffled expression.
'Huh? Wait—did Gichul hyung ignore this warning and reveal his ability? This is...'
Gichul must have heard the same advice, yet still went public—proof he was a complete moron.
"......"
Meanwhile, mechanical sounds continued in Junhyeok's ears:
[60%......]
[70%......]
The body scan neared completion while Junhyeok maintained his confused act.
At 70%, Kang-ho's body began glowing faintly.
"Kekeke. Almost done. Haah... Life's a fucking joke. In fantasy novels, they return home and live like kings, but..."
As light enveloped him, Kang-ho's pained expression grew peaceful—even as his body faded.
"H-hey! Your body is..."
Junhyeok stammered in feigned shock when Kang-ho suddenly grabbed his collar.
Yank!
"Ghk!"
"Remember. Find my family... or I'll haunt you from beyond the grave."
Releasing his grip with a hollow smile, Kang-ho's form dissipated further.
"Damn it... After struggling to return home, I end up giving my power away like dog treats. Kekeke. Fuck... I wanted to be filial..."
Poof!
With those final words, Kang-ho dissolved into motes of light.
Junhyeok's panicked expression instantly flattened into blankness.
"So this is how you get powers? To vanish so pointlessly... Bittersweet. Well, no choice. Might as well honor his request."
[100%......]
[User Choi Junhyeok's body scan complete.]
[User's physique incompatible with system integration. Reconstructing body via awakening.]
"Body reconstruction... They said it'd be excruciating, right? Hoo..."
Typically, awakening didn't involve physical reconstruction. This held true whether the awakening was natural or forced.
But Gichul had explicitly described undergoing agonizing bodily restructuring during his awakening. Now, Junhyeok's own body began reshaping itself in the same gruesome manner.
[Warning! Minor discomfort may accompany the reconstruction process.]
[Beginning awakening. 1%......]
The warning vanished as unbearable pain erupted through Junhyeok's entire being.
Crunch! Crack!
"Kgh! Gaaah!"
Even mentally prepared, Junhyeok couldn't suppress his screams.
[10%......]
[15%......]
Bones twisted. Muscles tore. The torture defied comprehension.
Junhyeok wished for unconsciousness a hundred times over, but his mind remained cruelly lucid.
"KRRRAAAAH! AAAAGH! UGHHH!"
Snap! Crunch!
"Minor discomfort" his ass. White noise flooded Junhyeok's brain as the agony peaked.
[Awakening rate 50% reached. Generating core for Original System user.]
"FUCK! SSSHIIIIT! AAAH!"
The torture only relented after 60%, gradually diminishing until...
[90%......]
[95%......]
[100%]
[Awakening complete. Second Original System: Copy Master has fully integrated with User Choi Junhyeok.]
Thirty minutes.
An eternity in hell.
Junhyeok collapsed, gasping.
"Haah... haah... Fuck... Thought I'd die..."
New mechanical tones chimed:
[System transfer complete. All stats reset for new user.]
[First transfer bonus granted.]
[Inheriting three random skills from previous user Park Kang-ho. Randomizing......]
Zing!
[Randomization complete. Inherited skills available in Skill Window.]
"......"
[Derivative System detected on planet. Adjusting interface......]
Zzzzzzt!
[Adjustments complete. New commands available.]
"Display commands."
Three Korean options materialized:
[Status Window Open]
[Skill Window Open]
[Skill Deck Open]
"Status Window Open."
User: Choi Junhyeok [1st Awakening]
Age: 25
Class: Copy Master
System: Second Original
ATK: 100 DEF: 100
HP: 15,000 Force: 5,000 [1/sec regeneration]
Core: Forming [1%......]
"Max HP and Force stats... Just like they said. Heh. Good start."
Awakeners received randomized HP (6,000-15,000) and Force (2,000-5,000). Junhyeok had hit both ceilings.
"Hmm... Core formation? Gichul never mentioned this."
The Copy Master ability description matched what he'd heard—but nothing about cores.
"Skill Window Open."
Unique Skill: [Active] Copy [Lv.Max]
Activate through physical contact with Derivative System users (awakened beings)
Copy up to 3 skills per target
Copied skills don't level up
24-hour cooldown per target
Usable without Skill Deck registration
Cast Time: Instant
Cooldown: None
Force Cost: 500
General Skill: [Passive] Force Booster [Lv.Max]
+100% max Force
+1 Force/sec regeneration
Requires Skill Deck registration
General Skill: [Active] Force Weapon [Lv.Max]
Summon weapon shapes using Force
Base ATK: 15,000 (1st Awakening)
+200% ATK per awakening tier
8 preset forms [customizable]
Requires Skill Deck registration
Cast Time: Instant
Duration: 12hrs
Cooldown: 5hrs after dismissal
Force Cost: 5,000
"These are... insane. Max-level Copy? Broken Force skills?"
Gichul's inherited skills had been mediocre utilities. Junhyeok's haul defied comparison.
"Original System? Derivative System? What's the difference?"
Shaking off questions, Junhyeok rose.
"Speculation wastes time. Let's collect loot."
He'd intentionally avoided scavenging earlier to mirror Gichul's naive mistake. Now, with powers secured...
Monster corpses disintegrated into ash, leaving valuable parts, crystals, skill cards, and awakening stones. Even low-tier drops brought decent money.
Junhyeok grinned at the ruined apartment complex.
"Time to reap what others missed."
