Zane stood among ruins and blood, the chipped blade still gripped tight in his hand. Dust swirled around him. His heart thundered in his chest.
Just minutes ago, he was nothing—a scavenger scraping for scraps in Sector 9.
Now?
He had just used Bladestorm.
A high-grade combat talent.
One that belonged solely to Reks Calder, a Rank-A warrior and blade specialist.
And now—it was Zane's.
> [Talent Eclipse: Initial Activation Successful]
[Talent Copied: Bladestorm (Sync Rate: 100%)]
[Talent Storage: Unlimited]
[Category Sorting Enabled – Combat / Mobility / Special]
He stared at his trembling hands, barely comprehending.
He had no strength.
No system.
No training.
And yet… he had just killed a monster using a technique that should have been impossible for him.
It was real.
The system. The skill. The power.
---
A scream in the distance snapped him out of it.
Reks.
Zane sprinted through debris, dodging broken rebar and shattered walls. He found the warrior collapsed behind a pile of rubble—his body bloodied, shoulder twisted, armor shattered.
But… he was still breathing.
Zane's heart clenched. "He's alive."
The boy he had saved earlier stood silently nearby, his small body trembling.
Zane turned to him. "Help me carry him. We have to get him out of here."
The boy gave a small nod.
Together, they dragged Reks through the crumbling street, finally slipping into an abandoned storage room—a rusted door, cold floors, and silence inside. Safe. For now.
Zane set Reks down carefully, leaning his body against the wall.
Then, for the first time since the chaos began, he looked at the boy.
"…Hey," he said gently. "What's your name?"
The boy hesitated, hugging his knees. After a moment, he whispered, "…Ren."
Zane nodded. "You okay, Ren?"
Ren blinked. "You… saved me."
"I just did what I had to," Zane said, then looked toward Reks.
"…Now it's our turn to save him."
---
Zane opened the system.
Light flickered in his vision.
> [Eclipse Points: +1]
[Talent Scan – Activated]
[Quest Trigger: Direct Contact with a Talented Individual]
[Active Talent: Bladestorm – Permanent, 100% Sync]
Then—new features unlocked.
> ✦ New Functions Unlocked ✦
➤ Talent Scan – Identify talent potential and category of any individual
➤ Talent Fusion – Locked (Unlock with 2 or more compatible skills)
Zane stared at the glowing interface.
He blinked. Then whispered:
"I can… see other people's talents?"
It wasn't just a system anymore.
It was insight—into the world's deepest mechanics.
Into strength.
Into potential.
Into what made someone powerful.
His thoughts raced.
If he could see who had talents…
If he could understand what they were…
And if he could copy them…
Then the very world that had thrown him away would become his playground.
---
He turned toward Ren.
The system scanned automatically.
> [Scan Target: Civilian – Not Registered in Awakened Database]
[Name: Ren]
[Talent: None Detected]
Zane exhaled slowly.
"So not everyone has one…"
He tapped his chin.
"Or maybe some just haven't awakened yet."
> [System Note: Talents exist in three states – Dormant / Active / Mutated]
"Even people without power might change… if pushed hard enough?"
He frowned.
The world… was far more complex than he realized.
---
Suddenly—
"…You're still alive," a hoarse voice broke the silence.
Zane's head snapped up.
Reks's eyes fluttered open. His breath ragged. His face pale.
"You're awake," Zane said, rushing over.
Reks gave a weak grin. "I thought you'd be the first to die."
Zane chuckled dryly. "I thought so too."
Then Reks glanced at the broken blade in Zane's hand. "That move you used… That was Bladestorm, wasn't it?"
Zane hesitated. Then gave a slow nod. "Yeah. It was yours."
Reks raised an eyebrow. "How?"
Zane sat beside him, voice low. "When I saw you collapsing… something awakened in me. A system. It gave me a quest when I touched you. Said if I completed it, I could copy your talent."
Reks stared at the ceiling, silent.
"…And you succeeded."
Zane nodded. "I used your skill to save you. And Ren."
Reks let out a dry laugh. "You used it better than I did when I first learned it."
Zane's hands tightened. "If only I got there faster…"
"You did more than enough."
"…But Zane," he continued, eyes dimming.
"If you could copy anyone's power… whose would you take?"
Zane paused. Then, softly, "I don't know yet."
"But one thing's for sure…"
"I won't copy anyone who abandoned this place."
Reks smiled faintly. "Good answer."
"…And if you could become anyone?"
Zane looked down. "I don't want to be a hero. Heroes only show up when it's already too late."
"I just want to be strong enough… to never be stepped on again."
Reks was quiet.
"…You're different, Zane. That can be your strength. Or your downfall."
Then, after a long silence:
"…What will you do with all that power?"
Zane clenched his fists.
"If they have talents, I'll copy them."
"If they have power, I'll learn it."
"I don't care about rules anymore."
"This world will follow my terms."
Reks smiled. Closed his eyes.
"…Then live that path… until the end."
His hand dropped.
His chest stilled.
Reks Calder… was gone.
Zane stood frozen.
Then slowly, he bowed his head.
"…Thank you."
---
> [Eclipse Points: +1]
[Talent Acquired: Bladestorm – Permanent]
[Talent Scan – Active]
[Talent Fusion – Locked]
Fusion requirements unmet – Combine compatible talents to unlock new skill trees
Zane rose, shadows swallowing his figure.
This world had taken everything from him.
But starting now—
He would take more than they could ever imagine.
With strength not his own.
With scars they couldn't see.
Zane Arclight walked out of the darkness.
And the world had no idea…
What kind of monster they had just created.
---