Chapter 4

Chapter 4
## Chapter 4

Avatar (3)

I managed to obtain another fresh capability.

This time around, it appeared to be a subordinate trait tied directly to my unique skill.

Upon reviewing the details, I was finally able to verify that the exact power I had been longing for had manifested.

The clone was effectively nothing less than an alternative physical form for me.

While possessing twin bodies certainly had its advantages, it came with distinct liabilities as well.

The fact that my grocery bills would double was merely a trivial grievance.

‘The true danger lies in the reality that I have no choice but to absorb the clone’s sensory inputs and raw emotions without any kind of protective barrier.’

Muting those sensations by placing the clone into a dormant state wasn’t a flawless mechanism; it was only functional in environments with practically no external triggers.

‘For instance… during an experience like passing away.’

Or when enduring a lethal trauma, blocking out the overwhelming agony and psychological distress would be completely out of the question.

Granted, it might not pose a massive issue since I could always swap the clone out during perilous circumstances.

I had placed my faith in that exact logic when I originally planned to deploy the clone to the alternate realm in my place.

‘Yet danger can strike at any moment and in completely unpredictable ways. A single heartbeat of distraction could end in demise, and in an unpredicted crisis, I might sustain a mortal wound.’

Even if I avoided experiencing it firsthand, watching someone perish right before my eyes would inevitably inflict a crushing psychological trauma, considering my mental fortitude is far more fragile than that of a typical modern individual.

In that regard, the newly unlocked trait was extraordinarily advantageous.

Utilizing the Hub, I gained the capacity to filter and selectively regulate every single sensation and emotional wave transmitted through the clone.

To put it another way, conquering interdimensional disorientation was merely the baseline; this granted complete protection against any form of psychological degradation, including the trauma of death.

I could venture anywhere and execute any task by managing the clone as if I were operating a video game character.

‘All while remaining perfectly safe within a warm, comfortable room!’

[The clone’s latent capability is expanding. Development is quickening.]

The notification persisted, indicating that the benefits did not stop there.

It signified that further positive adjustments had been applied to the clone’s progression speed.

‘Hold on, the clone’s baseline attributes were supposed to mirror my authentic body precisely. If it develops under these conditions…’

Wouldn’t that make it far more gifted and powerful than my actual self?

“Well, given that the clone is going to be the one stepping into harm’s way regardless, becoming more powerful is a positive outcome. It’s a good thing, but still…”

A shadow of conflict crossed my features, accompanied by a complicated sentiment.

‘It doesn’t diminish the primary body, and since I function as the central intellect, it’s perfectly fine. A strategist doesn’t need to outmatch their front-line soldiers. That settles that, so let’s verify the remaining balance of Karma.’

[Unique Skill Advancement (500,000)]

[Retained Karma – 900,213]

That once-massive stockpile of Karma had dwindled by more than half.

Looking at the escalating steepness of the Karma requirements, it was highly probable that this particular upgrade would be my final opportunity.

It might have been pure greed, but a wave of groundless dissatisfaction washed over me.

Following a brief period of deliberation, I ultimately committed to ‘Unique Skill Advancement’ for one last round.

This route offered far better utility than bolstering my standard attributes, so I felt no remorse.

[Unique Skill Advancement (600,000)]

[Retained Karma – 400,213]

[The Unique Skill has evolved, unlocking broader potentials. Every clone inherits a randomized trait.]

This ultimate upgrade completely lived up to my expectations.

The awakening of a trait for the clone.

In a predicament where I possessed virtually zero combat readiness, this was an absolute lifesaver.

‘Naturally, it might not match the caliber of the unique skill granted during an initial awakening, but at this stage, even a minor trait is incredibly welcome.’

Furthermore, that wasn’t the sole modification.

I had multiplied into three distinct entities!

We shifted our gazes to observe one another in rotation.

Backed by successive upgrades, steadily growing multitasking proficiency, and heightened cognitive endurance—all reinforced by the ‘Mind Hub’—there wasn’t the slightest hint of mental disarray.

‘Even so, as the number of clones multiplies down the line, things could easily get muddled. I need to establish a method to tell them apart individually.’

Ultimately, it came down to assigning designations.

“I can’t just refer to them as Clone 1 and Clone 2 indefinitely.”

“I’ve never been particularly creative with designations.”

“Designations… we need proper titles…”

Pondering the dilemma alongside my duplicates, I let out a breath and shook my head.

Even though three brains were analyzing the problem, we all shared the identical creative outlook, meaning group brainstorming didn’t offer much of an edge.

“Let’s settle on ‘Hans.’ It rolls off the tongue easily and sounds decent enough. Perfect.”

Indicating the very first duplicate I had brought forth, I assigned him the designation that had spontaneously surfaced in my thoughts.

What caught me entirely off guard was the immediate consequence of that action.

Hummm—

“What? What is this sudden…?”

A gentle vibration rippled across my consciousness.

It brought no physical agony or distress, yet I intuitively grasped that a transformation had occurred.

-Designation: Hans

-Shared Attributes: ‘Mind Hub,’ ‘Rapid Recovery’

-Distinctive Trait: ‘Magic Affinity’

-Special Designation: The initial clone of Hansung-hyun.

“…This is quite unexpected.”

As the ‘Avatar’ capability progressed, the specific analytics for Hans became permanently accessible within my mind.

If advancing by a whole tier required massive Karma, then this spontaneous development felt like an increment of roughly 0.1.

In comparison to the offerings of the Karma marketplace, it was incredibly minor.

‘In reality, this is likely how natural capabilities typically mature.’

The progression of talents molds itself around the specific intentions and desires of the wielder.

On this occasion, assigning a designation to the clone appeared to be the trigger that unlocked it.

‘Strangely enough, the clone has been granted an analytical readout that my primary body doesn’t even possess.’

Without a dedicated unique skill designed to scan my own parameters, an individual analytical readout simply won’t manifest for me.

This newly materialized information window seemed to be a direct byproduct of the ‘Avatar’ skill maturing to systematically oversee entities under my jurisdiction.

‘I would have selected a far more impressive title if I had known it would be immortalized in a text window like that. I’ll need to be much more deliberate when naming the next one. Still, ‘Magic Affinity’ is intriguing.’

A trait that streamlines the perception and manipulation of magical energy.

While highly advantageous for long-term development, it indicated that I shouldn’t count on any immediate offensive capabilities.

To make matters worse, the secondary clone’s unlocked trait turned out to be ‘Sturdiness,’ which merely bolstered physical resilience.

‘It feels a bit like I struck out on these choices… Oh well, it is what it is. So now, at long last…’

There remained one critical task that I absolutely had to perform.

I needed to confirm its validity beyond a shadow of a doubt.

—

“Huff… Huff…”

I halted directly in front of the exit of my apartment, gripping a sack of refuse in one hand while taking deep, stabilizing breaths.

Historically, merely disposing of a single sack of refuse had been an monumental ordeal for me.

By choosing the quietest hours of the early morning when the pathways were deserted, I would scurry out and back while keeping my eyes glued strictly to the pavement.

Whenever I forced myself outside and crawled back with trembling legs, feeling on the verge of fainting, I would subsequently have to endure a lengthy period of intense sweating and physical misery.

But now, it was time to put the ‘Mind Hub’ to the test.

The capabilities I had verified over and over gave me confidence that my system was fully functional, but stepping out into the full glare of daytime still made me instinctively anxious.

“Alright, let me take the plunge!”

Exhaling deeply, I wrapped my fingers around the handle and swung the door wide open.

The moment I crossed the threshold into the open air, the physical tremors that usually racked my frame began to rapidly dissipate.

I inhaled the crisp outdoor air, traversing the open corridor and making my way down the staircase.

The overwhelming panic to flee back inside that normally hijacked my senses every time I left the apartment was completely absent.

I strolled unhurriedly beneath the bright sunlight toward the local refuse disposal zone and began sorting the materials.

Once the task was complete, I paused to observe my environment.

Discarded cigarette filters scattered across the concrete pavement, a cluster of elderly women conversing animatedly nearby, and the faint, joyful shouts of youngsters echoing from the distant park.

Shutting my eyes while drawing in a deep breath, the pungent odor of the refuse center hit my nose.

“Excuse me, young man, what are you standing there for? Don’t block the disposal bins, step aside so others can drop off their items.”

“Ah, my apologies.”

I lowered my gaze in mild embarrassment, shifting my steps to leisurely walk back toward my residence while continuing to take in the sights.

My chest tightened with emotion as I gazed at the familiar streets surrounding my apartment building—a landscape I hadn’t properly looked at in ages.

I observed the entire scene as though I were watching an immersive film from the absolute safety of my living room couch. Yet, without question, the entity navigating the world outside was truly me.

Directing my movements, processing thoughts, and exchanging words were all actions I was executing firsthand.

Yet, there was no familiar terror, no uncontrollable shaking, and no cold sweat. I was fully capable of sustaining an ordinary interaction.

Every chaotic emotion, ranging from absolute panic to profound disorientation, was entirely absent.

It was as if every single sensory input gathered by the clone passed through a comprehensive filtration system, neutralizing any potential psychological damage before it could reach my core.

Beep-beep-click.

Accompanied by the electronic chime of the front door unlocking, Hans walked inside with a completely relaxed demeanor, having just cleansed his hands in the washroom.

The experiment was an absolute success.

‘Mind Hub’ had vastly outperformed my wildest hopes; I was now unlocked from my limitations.

‘This means I can finally step into the alternate world as well.’

As I gradually re-acclimated myself to the public sphere through this method, the day would eventually come when I could venture out using my authentic physical form.

—

For a span of several days, I dedicated myself to a rigorous phase of coordination before charting a course for the alternate realm.

Regardless of the vast treasures and advantages I stood to harvest from the undertaking, now that my personal preservation was completely locked in, there was zero justification to hold back.

Setting aside my innate curiosity to witness a different reality, the potential for vastly accelerated advancement was a massive draw.

Beyond the sheer temporal discrepancy between the worlds, there existed an inherent growth multiplier bestowed upon awakened individuals within that foreign domain.

When factoring in my clone’s specialized acceleration trait, my path to absolute strength would be drastically shortened.

‘In a society this unstable, raw capability is the ultimate currency.’

I squeezed my hands into tight fists, desperately pushing down the haunting recollections of ‘that specific incident.’

I was fiercely determined never to endure that state of helpless vulnerability again.

Throughout my preparations for the interdimensional journey, I truly came to appreciate the immense utility of ‘Rapid Recovery.’

Even when I pushed the physical form to absolute breaking points, a brief interlude of rest resulted in a flawless reset, thereby maximizing the efficiency of the regimen.

I engaged in relentless physical conditioning without a single pause.

It was slightly disappointing that the physical gains from this brutal conditioning registered solely on the active clone rather than transferring to my primary body.

However, since the clone was engineered as an entirely separate physical vessel from the ground up, that limitation was unavoidable.

‘Then again, since only the clone is crossing over to the foreign realm, it doesn’t change much. Furthermore, the accelerated development multiplier remains active. On top of that, the stat increases purchased from the Karma Store appear to synchronize perfectly whenever I re-summon the duplicate.’

Unlike my original body, whose physical development was strictly confined by the walls of the apartment, the clone could move freely in public, enabling highly efficient conditioning.

Leveraging its supernatural healing properties, I pushed the physical form to its absolute boundaries within an isolated athletic facility, taking care to avoid drawing any unwanted curiosity.

Whenever I sensed that my prolonged presence might look suspicious, I moved my routine outdoors and covered massive distances on foot to build up stamina.

The sheer agony resulting from this hyper-intense conditioning was easily filtered out by the ‘Mind Hub,’ transforming the exhausting physical torment into nothing more than a series of automated, routine movements.

Naturally, given that my primary identity was comfortably navigating the internet back at the apartment, the process wasn’t actually tedious, though watching two identical duplicates with my own face interacting did feel somewhat jarring.

Consequently, I focused my primary training efforts on Hans, who was designated for the interdimensional crossing, while simultaneously utilizing the secondary clone to handle basic home exercises and recreational tasks.

“Incredible! You’ve already defeated the area guardian!”

“Brilliant, don’t stop now!”

Displaying seamless synchronization while operating a cooperative video game mode, a heavily perspiring Hans stepped through the entryway and proceeded directly toward the washroom.

Observing him return from such an intense physical ordeal outside created a bizarre sensation within me, almost as if I were taking unfair advantage of my own asset.

‘It feels slightly inappropriate, but it’s not as though a person feels guilty toward their own arm simply because they are utilizing it to lift weights while keeping the rest of their posture still.’

Prior to Hans completing his shower, I arranged the meal on the table.

While it might have seemed like a secondary concern, our food consumption costs were escalating dramatically.

With three distinct bodies exerting themselves far beyond the parameters of ordinary human beings—and one of them actively driving its physique to near-collapse—the sheer volume of calories being expended was staggering.

Contemplating the rapidly draining bank account brought a pang of anxiety, but I forced myself to view it strictly as a necessary upfront investment.

Retrieving valuable artifacts or materials from the foreign realm via the clone would easily yield a massive financial windfall later on.

‘Disposing of the goods quietly might pose a challenge, but I’ll figure out a solution when the time comes. Ultimately, the clone’s current setup is practically tailor-made for stealth operations.’

To be absolutely clear, I had zero intentions of acquiring wealth by exploiting or harming innocent citizens.

After all, I knew firsthand the agony of being on the receiving end of such malice.

I was committed to conducting myself in a manner that would never bring dishonor to my family’s legacy.

‘That reality only reinforces why crossing over to this alternate world is so critical.’

I didn’t possess any overwhelming combat advantages compared to other individuals who had returned to Earth, meaning there was no straightforward path to generating massive revenue in the domestic market.

Basic manual labor was the only immediate option that came to mind.

“There’s absolutely zero data available concerning the Outerica Dimension, is there?”

“Could it be an unexplored territory? Or perhaps anyone who ventured there simply failed to make it back. Either way, it’s highly inconvenient.”

It had rapidly evolved into a regular practice to articulate my inner thoughts aloud, framing them as a casual dialogue with my duplicates.

Having spent a prolonged period isolated from normal social interactions, it was a natural byproduct.

From this point forward, as I began integrating back into society, my communicative habits would surely normalize.

A short while later.

I conducted a final inspection of the heavily protected duplicate, mirroring the routine from our initial trial.

This wasn’t the identical gear from my past endeavors; these were entirely fresh pieces of equipment I had managed to acquire.

Stepping into an entirely unmapped alternate domain, I couldn’t bring myself to risk the specialized survival gear my parents had meticulously gathered for me; though it had been compiled for worst-case scenarios, I hoped it wouldn’t be required down the line.

“Phew… I believe all preparations are thoroughly complete.”

In truth, performing multiple checks was logically redundant since I possessed the capability to retreat through the gateway at any given second, yet I repeated the process simply to soothe my frayed nerves.

I was fully aware that my survival was fundamentally guaranteed, but the mere reality of stepping into an alien world made an anxious reaction inevitable.

“Alright, shall we make the leap? ‘Dimensional Transfer Gate Summon.'”

Right before my eyes, the familiar interdimensional gateway that I had observed not long ago materialized once more.

—

[Transition to the Outerica Dimension has been successfully executed.]

The sequence itself was remarkably basic.

I called forth the interdimensional gateway, positioned my duplicate directly upon the platform, and initiated the mechanism.

The entire process was so entirely effortless that the profound anxiety I had harbored just moments prior felt utterly ridiculous in the face of such a mundane transition to another realm.

When the distortion faded and I opened my eyes, the identical dense woodland scenery I had briefly observed previously stretched out directly before me.

Or, to be mathematically precise, it differed slightly from my initial viewing.

While the massive, towering flora looked identical, the immediate landscape was shrouded in deep obscurity.

“It’s pitch black…”

I found myself entirely isolated in the heart of an alien woodland during the dead of night.

With the time progression operating at roughly a ten-to-one ratio compared to Earth, this structural discrepancy was bound to happen, yet I couldn’t help but feel a wave of frustration.

I had consciously attempted to calculate the timing to match my initial daytime insertion, but over the intervening period, a calculation drift must have manifested.

To think that my introduction to alien survival would begin in a dark, nocturnal woodland environment.

Even if the terrain had been bathed in perfect daylight, I wouldn’t have felt entirely secure.

I paused to evaluate my options for a brief moment before concluding that remaining stationary was the worse alternative.

“As a general rule of thumb, wandering blindly through an unfamiliar forest after dark is an incredibly foolish blunder, but…”

Following a fleeting moment of doubt, I planted my foot forward with absolute resolve.

My assurance stemmed partly from my vastly heightened physical parameters and the safety net of ‘Rapid Recovery,’ but the primary factor was a fundamental absence of genuine panic.

The debilitating spatial disorientation I had fiercely anticipated was completely neutralized, courtesy of the ‘Mind Hub.’

I viewed this hazardous night trek not as a crisis, but as a thrilling, romantic escapade.

Carrying such a unburdened perspective, fully losing myself in the classic grandeur of exploring an alien frontier, I turned my gaze upward toward the night sky.

Yet, the initial detail that caught my attention was not the arrangement of foreign constellations, but a pair of luminous amber eyes belonging to a predatory predator tracking me from the dark.