Alex clenched his fists as he ran, his mind racing with frustration.
This isn't fair.
The first boss—their first real challenge—had already mutated into an evolved version of itself? He had expected danger, but not like this. Not a monster that had defied expectations, turning a simple hunt into a battle for survival.
He gritted his teeth and swiped his hand through the air, pulling up his status panel.
Name: Alex Edward
Age: 19
Talent: Cloning [F] [Growth Talent]
Level: 7
Exp: 52/700
Class: Not Selected
Hp: 300/300
Hp Recovery: 30/M
Attack: 10
Defense: 0
Mana: 4/10
Mana Recovery: 0.01/S
Stamina: 7
Attribute Points: 12
He exhaled, forcing himself to focus on the good. Level 7. That meant more attribute points.
Without hesitation, he dumped ten of them into his mana and the remaining two into his attack. His body tensed as the changes settled in, his mind briefly jolting with the rush of new energy.
Updated Status Panel:
Mana: 14/20
Attack: 12
He flexed his fingers, feeling the slight increase in strength. "This is doable… I think?" he muttered, though doubt lingered in his mind.
Then, his thoughts flickered back to the small marketplace from the day before.
While Liam had been debating over which sweets to buy, lost in innocent indecision, Alex had been making his own purchases—ones that could mean the difference between life and death.
A bottle of poison.
A bottle of anesthesia.
And ten spikes harvested from a Level 20 monster.
It had cost him everything he had earned, leaving him broke once again. But right now, he could only hope it had been worth it.
Alex looked down at Liam, who was breathing heavily, his small frame trembling. The boy was trying to be strong, but Alex could see the fear creeping into his eyes.
"It'll be fine," Alex reassured him, his voice steady. "Just stay close."
Then, without hesitation, he summoned a clone.
As the copy materialized beside him, Alex tossed him a bottle of anesthesia and a single spike. The clone caught them effortlessly, already understanding the plan. Without hesitation, he cracked the bottle against the tip of the spike, coating the weapon with the potent liquid before slowing his pace—placing himself directly in the path of the charging Boar King.
The beast, blinded by fury, roared as it lunged forward, its massive hooves pounding the ground like thunder.
Alex's clone didn't flinch.
As the beast's tusks pierced straight through his chest, the clone twisted its body, driving the spike into the Boar King's eye.
The beast shrieked. A horrible, guttural sound of pain that echoed through the open plains. Blood and shattered bone dripped from its ruined eye, and as the anesthesia seeped into its system, the Boar King's movements began to slow. Its legs trembled, its breath growing heavy.
Alex's clone vanished into dust, but not before twisting the spike one last time, burying it deeper.
Alex felt a surge of relief. It was working. The anesthesia was dulling its senses. This was his chance.
He summoned another clone, tossing him a poisoned spike.
"Finish it."
The clone nodded, gripping the spike tightly as he sprinted forward. The Boar King, still dazed, barely reacted.
Victory was within reach.
But then—
The beast shuddered.
Its body began to glow faintly, its muscles flexing unnaturally. A surge of power rippled through its massive frame.
Its talent was activating.
Before Alex could react, the Boar King lunged.
Faster than before.
More precise than before.
The clone barely had time to react before a tusk impaled his chest, lifting him off the ground. The poisoned spike in his hands missed its mark—by a hair's breadth.
A wasted opportunity.
Alex's heart stopped for a moment.
He had miscalculated.
The anesthesia—it had been meant for humans. It wasn't strong enough to fully paralyze a beast of this size.
The moment he realized his mistake, he acted.
"Run!"
With no other choice, he turned and sprinted toward the village, his mind racing for solutions.
Liam was in his arms, holding on tightly, but Alex could feel his tiny hands shaking.
"A-Alex," Liam stammered, his voice filled with fear. "You should—leave me behind."
Alex tightened his grip.
"Quiet."
The Boar King was gaining on them.
Its wounded eye bled, but its remaining one burned with rage.
Alex's arms were aching. He couldn't keep this up. He wasn't strong enough.
His breath was ragged. His legs were on fire.
He wouldn't make it.
Desperation took over.
Alex clenched his jaw and, in one swift motion, threw Liam to the left—into the dense forest.
"Liam!"
The boy vanished into the trees, swallowed by the dark canopy.
Alex didn't have time to look back.
Because in that instant, pain exploded in his stomach.
A massive horn ripped through his body.
CRITICAL HIT!
The system's voice rang in his head, but he barely heard it over the sound of his own blood splattering onto the ground.
The Boar King pulled back, yanking its horn free. Alex stumbled forward, his vision flickering.
His hands pressed against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding—but it was useless.
His knees buckled.
The world blurred.
His thoughts faded.
But—
His mana.
5/20.
Enough for one more…
Gritting his teeth, Alex forced his hand up.
"Summon… clone."
The last of his strength drained from his body.
A final clone appeared.
One holding three spikes.
The Boar King, startled, hesitated for just a second.
That was all it took.
Before it could react, the clone drove a spike through its front leg.
The Boar King howled.
A second spike—its back leg.
The beast staggered.
A third spike—straight through its throat.
The Boar King let out a choked sound, its massive frame trembling—before finally collapsing.
Silence.
Alex, lying in a pool of his own blood, felt his world go dark.
Somewhere, distant yet near, he heard the voice of the system.
[Boar King defeated.]
And the sound of Liam screaming.
Then—
Nothing.