Is it Wrong to Copy Abilities in Apocalypse?

09:48, 23 July, 20XY.

Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India.

[Yogesh: Have you heard?]

[Vinti: Yeah... he's really going through with it...]

[Kritika: But 100 coins... isn't that kinda steep?]

[Raghav: 100's not too bad. The system's already taking 90 anyway, so what's 10 more?]

[Zahir: Exactly! 100 coins over your life? That's a bargain, bro.]

[Makoto: Sure, it's a deal... but, seriously, can't we find a way outta this?]

[Kriyani: @Makoto, what, you tryna die? Go ahead, do that "something" you're thinking of.]

[Yogesh: He made it clear—100 coins and he won't kill us if we meet him.]

[Malika: @Yogesh, don't forget, it's just once a day. If you run into him again, just hit him up with the 'hi' he told us to send in his personal chat.]

[Yogesh: Oh, yeah. Almost slipped my mind.]

[Makoto: @Kriyani, you talk like you're cool with all this. This is straight-up tyranny, man.]

[Kriyani: @Makoto, And what? You wanna fight him? Go ahead, challenge the system while you're at it, 'cause it's doing the same thing. If you can't do shit, sit down and shut up.]

[Lakhan: Facts. At least he's not bleeding us dry.]

[Kartikesh: Y'all are just scared, acting like you're cool with it 'cause you don't wanna get caught talkin' shit if he reads these chats.]

[Roshan: Oh, is that right? Big talk, huh? Why don't you step up and take him on then? Maybe you'll come out on top.]

[Kriyani: Smh. Spineless fools. No power, no guts, but still wanna act tough like some wannabe King Kong. At least he's sticking to his word. If he says 100 coins means no kill, then that's what it is.]

[Yogesh: @Kriyani, Forget 'em. Must be broke or something, struggling to scrounge up 100 coins. Weaklings. They're goners soon anyway.]

The world chat was bustling for a while. The topic of discussion was again a guy, someone who was growing more and more popular as days passed by—Alex Matthew.

Alex was supposed to hunt beasts and clear zones at a very fast pace so that he could grow stronger faster.

He had to reach 35 level, and then clear a level 30+ zone.

And he only had 3 days time, out of which one day was already over.

That was the reason why he decided to change his approach. He was already given the name, 'the honest devil', due to his actions some time ago.

The way he let every leader and the member of the group that had been trying to kill him, walk away, without getting shot at by him, just because he gave them his word.

They were the ones in the wrong and they were the ones who were trying to kill him, yet he let them go—that was just how much he valued his words.

So, when he asked them to give him coins are exchange for their lives, they didn't even think twice before complying.

This was Alex's way of getting coins way faster than anyone else and getting stronger as quickly as possible.

100 coins from every person he came across—this was his plan.

It may not sound much when said like that, but think about the scenario where Alex came across 100 people, that would give him 10,000 coins without even moving a muscle.

If he met 500 people, then he would get 50,000 coins, more than the highest he had ever collected until now.

So, as Alex looked at his coins, he realized that he was just 10 to 20 people short before his total coins crossed 100,000.

In a single day that passed by, all Alex did was train his body in a way that it would be possible for him to fight even with his one leg out of commission while also collecting coins from any human he came through.

Some did refuse him, only to get killed, not living to tell the tale of what happened to those who tried refusing.

People, however, could guess that, and that was why, the devil part of Alex's new name was more prominent.

Even though he stood by his words, he was a devil, one who would do anything for his profit.

Alex was profiting a lot more by doing this, so why would he do something else?

He was still a 25-level player, with all of his stats at level 25, but that wasn't very bad in his eyes. He already had enough coins to get himself up to level 35, he was just waiting for his coin count to cross 100,000.

<You should keep changing your track after every person you meet, or your movement pattern will be predictable.>

This was a warning Alex's AI gave him long ago.

The fact that his leg was cut off was already found out, and he didn't intend to hide it as well, but things turned worse than he had expected.

He didn't think the system would suddenly interfere with the quest just when he was about to grab the arrow.

How so?

Well, Alex had asked Urmina to come forward and place his arrow in the bushes and walk away, so he had acquired the item, and he was about to make a run for it, but before that could happen the system materialized.

Alex could see fury in her eyes as she had found out something she tried her best to do, was about to fail.

[You dumbfucks can't even fight a limping man?!]

That was all the system spoke, or more like, roared. It stunned the people in their spots, unable to piece the information together until they realized it.

Things slowly started to make sense to them, but before they could even do something, Alex was out of there.

The system, who saw that, even after her pointing it out, Alex was able to get away safely, just huffed and left the scene.

The five leaders, on the other hand, just exchanged a glance before walking away, searching for clues of Alex's whereabouts.

If one of Alex's legs was severed, then they might be able to defeat him—this was what they thought.

The fear of Alex attacking them from the dark, however, still remained, but fortunately for them, Alex was a 'man of his word'. Even if it was to trick them—which they realized a bit too late—Alex did give them his word, so they knew that he wasn't going to come after them.

After that, Alex went on collecting coins until he reached the desired amount he wanted.

He looked at his coins.

[100,076.]

He had finally crossed 100,000 coins. Now he was going to get his stats up to level 35, clear both level 25+ and 30+ zones, and get his leg repaired.

Although he was now able to run on one foot, or more like hop, he still didn't feel that comfortable, so he needed to get a new leg.

Once he gets that...

'I will then be coming for you...'

A demonic grin made its way to his lips as soon as he thought of what the first thing he did after getting his leg would be, but it went away just as fast as it came, replaced by an emotionless look.

He frowned a bit, confused about something before he shook his head and stepped toward the next zone he had to clear, unaware of the fact that the game system was looking down at him from above the clouds with a thoughtful look on her face.

Her eyes kept staring at him for a while, and unlike always, her face had an unusually serious look before her eyes turned to look at something else, and a grin couldn't help but form on her face.

{Just go on like you're going, you dumbass. You will soon realize how bad that decision of yours is, hehe heh.....}

With those words being the last thing she thought, the system disappeared with a puff and the sky returned to its usual peace.