Chapter Title: Chapter 3: The First Copy
Chapter Content:
The blue light from the portal stained the streets, turning the familiar city into a nightmare landscape. Screams echoed as shadowy figures began to crawl out from the swirling vortex. They weren't human.
Aryan stood frozen, his eyes locked on the police officer just ten feet away. The officer was shaking, his hands struggling to aim his pistol at a creature that looked like a wolf made of obsidian.
[Target Identified: Police Officer.]
[Skill Detected: Basic Firearm Mastery (Level 1).]
[Copying in progress... 10%... 50%... 100%.]
Suddenly, Aryan's mind clicked. He felt a strange "muscle memory" in his arms. He knew exactly how to hold a gun, how to breathe, and how to pull the trigger—despite never having held a weapon in his life.
The creature lunged at the officer, knocking the gun away. Before it could bite, Aryan moved. It was as if his body was moving on autopilot. He dove for the fallen weapon, rolled across the pavement, and aimed.
BANG! BANG!
Two shots rang out. Both hit the creature's head with surgical precision. The obsidian wolf shattered into black dust.
[Combat Finished. Experience Gained.]
[System Note: First Copy successful. Copycat Rank: F.]
"Are you... are you a Hunter?" the officer gasped, staring at Aryan in shock.
Aryan looked at his hands, which were still trembling. "No," he whispered, feeling a dark thrill run through him. "I'm just a copycat."
But deep down, he knew. The life he lived as a failed artist was over. The game had begun, and he was the only one with the cheat code.