Chapter 2
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Predecessor (2)
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‘Absolute Clone?’
Of course, I had no idea what kind of ability this was.
So I had no choice but to turn and look at Lee Seojun.
…….
Lee Seojun's expression grew complicated in all sorts of ways for a moment before he nodded.
-It's a good ability. Now you can build other abilities around this Absolute Clone.
"Is it really a good ability?"
-Hmm.
As I asked again, Lee Seojun pondered seriously before speaking.
-Truth be told, in the game, Absolute Clone lets you create multiple clones, but you can only control one at a time.
"Oh?"
-And it doesn't boost your base abilities either. To be honest, it's one of the weaker EX-rank abilities.
You could create multiple clones but control only one.
And since it didn't enhance base abilities, that's why Lee Seojun called it underwhelming.
-But that's just the game. In reality, it might be different.
I nodded as if I understood, since I wouldn't know until I tried it for real, then asked about the ability he'd acquired.
"What ability did you get?"
-[Infinite Power]. It makes your MP infinite for a set time.
"……?"
He failed even with that ability?
Reading my expression, Lee Seojun answered defensively.
-I told you, it was a close failure. I got right up to the brink of success.
"Yeah, got it."
Now that I'd come over, failure wasn't an option anyway.
I hadn't just toured worlds 1 through 14—I'd built up power from all fourteen of them.
-Uh…… Anyway, why don't you try using Absolute Clone? You never know how it'll work in reality.
"How do I use it?"
-It's Absolute Clone, so just think about creating one more clone inside your head, right?
From his response, it seemed even Lee Seojun had never actually used Absolute Clone, so he wasn't entirely sure.
‘Might as well give it a shot.’
It was an ability I'd gone to the trouble of getting, so I decided to try it, focusing my mind on creating one more clone.
Swish―
At the same moment, an indescribably bizarre sensation washed over me.
It felt like my body was splitting in two.
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
The instant it split via Absolute Clone, the exact same words came from both my mouth and my clone's.
‘No, this isn't just a clone……’
Absolute Clone.
When I first saw the name, I'd thought it summoned a copy of my physical form, but no.
It was splitting me—the entity that was me—and my body into two.
…….
I instinctively realized I could wield the powers from my previous worlds even with the split body.
-How is it? Can you move them separately?
"Separately……."
At Lee Seojun's words, I raised one hand and wiggled it around.
To be honest, with my vision split into two and my body into two, moving separately wasn't easy.
"Not easy."
Both bodies moved their hands in sync.
But with more focus, I could move them apart—though the movements weren't satisfying.
"It's not like growing extra limbs. The body itself doubled, but I've only got one brain issuing commands."
Everything had doubled except for exactly two things.
The brain giving commands and the unique energy I'd always possessed as myself.
‘If I draw all the energy from one body to the other, the first one won't have any left to use.’
But energy itself wasn't a big issue, so I ignored it.
"Can't really use this in combat."
-I think it's because your proficiency is low. You're moving both at once, so raising proficiency should solve it.
"Proficiency?"
-Yes. Say "[Status Window]".
It seemed there was something like a status window.
Some of the worlds I'd passed through had pop-up status windows now and then.
"Status Window."
So I had no resistance to saying the words.
👤 Name:Lee Seongmin
🧬 Innate Ability
① Absolute Clone (EX) (Proficiency: 0.001%)
🧬 Acquired Ability--
⚔ Acquired Skills--
…….
Sure enough, as Lee Seojun said, there was proficiency next to Absolute Clone.
"0.001%."
Separately, below it were stats all painted F.
Considering my current physical abilities, F made no sense, but the reason wasn't hard to figure out.
"These stats aren't quantifying my actual body."
-Ah, no. F is the average for a normal person.
Lee Seojun seemed to think I was a regular guy and said F was normal.
I didn't feel like debating it, so I nodded vaguely and checked proficiency again.
"Proficiency at 0.001% is normal too, right?"
-Yes. My guess is, at 100%, you can freely control however many you want.
"However many?"
-In the game, the max was 20, but this isn't a game.
At that, I thought seriously about Absolute Clone.
‘If I could split into 50 and control them freely……’
It might be pretty damn good.
In a way, an ability I absolutely needed.
"Nice."
So I set a goal to max out Absolute Clone's proficiency to 100%.
Of course, at this rate, it wouldn't happen in a day or two.
-Uh…… Glad you like it. Want me to recommend skills that synergize with Absolute Clone?
"There are skills for Absolute Clone?"
-Supportive ones, yeah. Like, if you learn multi-casting skills, controlling them would be easier.
Come to think of it, Lee Seojun had already experienced this world.
"Ah, you know this world inside out, huh."
-Obviously. Over ten years on the game, plus living it firsthand. Just trust me.
Lee Seojun spoke with total confidence.
His complicated look earlier when I got Absolute Clone seemed like a lie.
‘Still, I should take his help.’
I had zero knowledge of this world right now.
So I decided to rely on him and asked about proficiency.
"Got it. Anyway, how do I raise proficiency?"
-Keep using it like now, and it'll go up bit by bit.
"No potions or elixirs to boost proficiency?"
-There are, but…… they don't work on EX-rank. Gotta invest time and effort.
Because it was EX-rank, it had to be raised through time and effort.
Having ended up stuck in this world against my will, I moved my two split bodies again.
‘Man, not easy.’
Move one, and the other jerks awkwardly.
The problem was, this was how proficiency went up.
Lee Seojun waited silently, probably hoping I'd adapt to Absolute Clone.
-Mr. Lee Seongmin. Time to head out now.
"Already?"
-Yes.
At the mention of departure time, I checked the clock—about two hours had passed.
I nodded, opened the status window, and checked Absolute Clone's proficiency.
🧬 Innate Ability
① Absolute Clone (EX) (Proficiency: 0.002%)
"Moved for two hours, and only 0.001% up."
-You need to move actively, like in training or combat.
"Training or combat, huh……."
Fidgeting like this wouldn't cut it.
"Send one to the mountains and keep it moving?"
-Mountains? What about meals?
"One body eating should cover it."
Since energy wasn't split, gains from eating weren't either.
Hearing that, Lee Seojun looked like he'd thought of a decent idea and shared some applications.
-Oh, that's good. No need to pack extra food when heading out.
"Yeah, kinda. Not a big deal though."
-……?
I shook my head at his confused look, as if it was nothing.
"Let's go for now. Where to?"
Thud…… thud……
Getting out and starting off was fine, but my walking speed now was less than half a normal person's.
‘Even walking's tough.’
Following Lee Seojun's directions to the Hero Officer Academy, one body headed to the nearby mountains.
In short, two bodies walking different directions made even heading to the academy hard.
-You okay?
"Honestly? It's rough. Double vision's dizzying enough."
There was vision from my eyes and vision drawn in my mind.
I could tell that focusing on the mental vision swapped it with the eye vision.
"Having to move separately with vision like this? Can't adapt."
But I liked Absolute Clone enough to grit my teeth and raise proficiency.
-Still, walk faster. Might be late otherwise.
"……."
At "late," I gave up controlling the other body.
Stopping its steps and closing its eyes finally eased things.
"Good now. Lead the way."
-You deactivated Absolute Clone?
"Nah, just stopped walking and closed eyes."
-Good, you're adapting bit by bit.
"Call it adapting? Debatable."
Ended up moving just one body anyway.
Not much adaptation there.
‘Anyway.’
Heading to the Hero Officer Academy, I looked around.
Plenty of folks in uniforms like the one I'd changed into at the studio apartment.
"They're Hero Officer Academy students too, huh."
-Yeah. No one worth noting, though.
Lee Seojun glanced around as he replied.
And just like that, the academy's main gate came into view.