Jun-Ho knelt beside the severely wounded Lore, the metallic tang of blood filling the small apartment. The clone was a grotesque mess of crushed bark, monster gore, and broken bones. The earlier excitement of the 50 million AP reward evaporated instantly as the gravity of the situation hit him.
"A hospital… I can't," Jun-Ho muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I can't just walk into an emergency room with a naked, bloody guy who looks exactly like me, say he fell off the roof, and expect no questions. I don't have a twin brother, and he definitely doesn't have an ID."
He looked back at the personal System screen glowing faintly above the blood-spattered floor. "System! Is there any way to heal him? I mean, completely fix him, now?"
[Ding!]
[System Message: Affirmative. Clones, being metaphysical extensions of the host's consciousness anchored by the System, can be stored in the System Space. Upon re-manifestation, the Clone's physical form is rendered perfect, restoring all vitality and healing all injuries.]
Jun-Ho's eyes widened. "Unsummon and resummon? That's incredible! Do it! Unsummon Lore!"
Before Lore could offer another defiant gesture, his body began to shimmer, turning into a fine, sparkling golden dust that spiraled up into the blue screen. The grotesque, bloody form was instantly vaporized and gone, leaving nothing behind but the mess of dirt and monster blood.
Jun-Ho felt a strange, brief sense of relief, followed by a slight panic. He quickly focused on the empty space. "Lore, I summon thee!"
The golden Magic Circle flared again, and Lore reappeared, standing exactly where he had just vanished. But this time, he was pristine. His skin was clean, unblemished, and his body was clearly whole, no longer twisted and broken. He instinctively raised his hands, flexing his fingers and testing his ribs. No pain. The wounds were gone.
"Wow," Lore murmured, looking down at his healed body, a profound sense of shock replacing his previous pain and fury.
Jun-Ho, relieved and eager to focus on his new power, turned his attention to the System. "Okay, stats! I leveled up to Level 2! I need to see the character sheet so I can put points into Strength or Agility. Where is the stat allocation screen?"
[Ding!]
[System Message: Stat allocation in the traditional sense is not a feature of this System. All passive stat increases acquired by the Clone (Lore's Level 2 base stats) are automatically applied to the Original User, Lee Jun-Ho. Furthermore, each User Level Up rewards the host with 5 Achievement Points (AP). AP is the currency used in the System Shop to purchase body upgrades, skills, and equipment.]
Jun-Ho blinked, disappointed that he couldn't play a traditional RPG, but then he quickly recovered. AP was better! "Open the Shop!"
The blue screen changed, displaying a massive, searchable catalog of items, skills, and upgrades. In the top corner, his currency total gleamed.
Achievement Points: 50,000,005 AP
"Fifty million and five! That's incredible!" Jun-Ho whistled. "System, I have a ton of points. What's the single best upgrade I can buy right now?"
[Ding!]
[System Recommendation: With the current Achievement Points (AP) available, the host should prioritize a foundational physical upgrade. I recommend spending 1,000,000 AP to upgrade the host's body structure to High Human. This upgrade will significantly increase the host's Strength, Agility, Vitality, Vigor, Intelligence, Endurance, and Dexterity, elevating all physical attributes far beyond that of a normal human benchmark.]
Jun-Ho didn't hesitate. "One million points is nothing for that kind of power. System, apply the High Human upgrade now!"
[Ding!']
[System Update: Processing purchase...]
[Ding! High Human Body Upgrade has been bought for 1,000,000 AP]
A wave of warmth immediately washed over Jun-Ho, originating deep within his core and spreading outward. It wasn't painful, but intensely invigorating. His muscles tightened and became more defined, his posture straightened, and he felt a lightness in his limbs he'd never experienced. His vision sharpened, and the ambient sounds of the apartment seemed clearer. He was stronger, faster, and healthier than he had ever been.
He clenched and unclenched his fist, testing his new power. He turned toward his bedroom wall, a plain stretch of drywall. He threw a quick, light jab, intending to just test the speed.
CRUNCH!
His fist sailed through the drywall, leaving a clean, fist-sized hole and scattering plaster dust across the carpet.
"YES!" Jun-Ho roared, jumping up and down, completely ignoring the damage to his wall. "That is amazing! I'm strong! I'm actually powerful now!"
He calmed himself and turned back to the System Shop. "Okay, now we shop for Lore. We need to gear him up for success. What should we buy next, Lore?"
Lore, who had been quietly observing Jun-Ho's transformation and checking his own body's power increase, nodded seriously. "The Ravager fight was pure luck and a temporary trait boost. We have no armor, no proper weapon, and no skills. I need skills. Basic combat knowledge, not just instinct."
"Good point," Jun-Ho agreed, rapidly selecting items in the System Shop.
[Ding! Basic Combat has been bought for 500 AP]
[Ding! Basic Weapon Handling has been bought for 1,000 AP]
[Ding! Magic Compression has been bought for 400 AP]
[Ding! Master Mana Manipulation has been bought for 5,000 AP]
[Ding! Steel Sword has been bought for 600 AP]
[Ding! Basic Adventure Wear (Leather Armor Set) has been bought for 10,000 AP]
[Ding! Basic Fire Magic has been bought for 1,000 AP]
[Ding! Basic Ice Magic has been bought for 1,000 AP]
[Ding! Basic Wind Magic has been bought for 1,000 AP]
[Ding! Basic Water Magic has been bought for 1,000 AP]
[Ding! Basic Earth Magic has been bought for 1,000 AP]
[Ding!]
[System Update: All purchases processed. Remaining AP: 48,977,505.]
As the skills and knowledge flooded Jun-Ho's mind, the equipment materialized on the floor in a shimmering flash of light.
Lore quickly stepped forward, picking up the high-quality, practical leather armor set. The pieces, a chest plate, gauntlets, boots, and pants.They were simple but sturdy, a massive upgrade from tree bark. He efficiently donned the gear, securing the leather straps. He then picked up the newly purchased Steel Sword, testing its weight and balance with a few practiced swings. The knowledge from the Basic Combat and Basic Weapon Handling skills instantly guided his movements, making them sharp and effective.
Jun-Ho looked at his clone, now armed, armored, and ready. He felt a surge of confidence.
"Ready to go back?" Jun-Ho asked, stepping back to the wall panel.
Lore gave him a confident, if slightly grim, nod. "Ready. The next time I come back, we won't just have a few skills and a new body. I'll make us the strongest."
Jun-Ho grinned. "Go get 'em, Lore."
"Send me back, System!" Lore commanded, turning toward the Magic Circle.
The golden circle flared a final time, and Lore vanished, but this time, with a smooth, silent whoosh of air.
Lore immediately materialized back on the rough, uneven ground of the New World. He was standing exactly where the Ravager had fallen, the massive corpse still beside him. The forest still held the uneasy silence of a recent, violent death. But Lore was no longer the naked, terrified Level 1.
He tested his new skills. He mentally focused, and a small, flickering flame appeared in his palm, Basic Fire Magic. He dismissed it and focused on his body. The High Human upgrade, applied to his host, resonated through the clone, providing a clear, grounded sense of physical capability. He was wearing armor, he held a sword, and he knew how to use both.
Lore looked down at the massive, inert Horned Forest Ravager. He drew the Steel Sword, its blade glinting in the dappled sunlight, and smirked.
"Time for Chapter Two of the trial," he whispered, a new, cold determination setting in. "And this time, I'm prepared."