Chapter 4. No Limitation
Kim Do-Joon found himself in a room with a door that he assumed would lead to the rest of the labyrinth. The first thing he did was try to find a way back to where he started. Although some mysterious quest window kept babbling about rewards upon completion, what mattered most to him at the moment was returning to Earth.
"There’s nothing here…"
He couldn’t find an exit, no matter how hard he searched. He checked for cracks, hidden doors, and even holes in the ceiling, but he didn’t find any. It seemed his only way out was to clear the labyrinth.
Well, it seems I have no choice.
"Ha…" Kim Do-Joon took a deep breath. He then retrieved a potion from his inventory.
[Minor Hunting Falcon Potion]
Rarity
- Rare
Classification
- Potion
Effect
- Gain a Minor Vision Boost effect for 30 minutes.
Unlike ordinary healing potions, the Minor Hunting Falcon Potion was quite expensive. However, he could not afford to save it for later. After all, he did not know what was inside the labyrinth.
Drinking the potion made him feel refreshed. His vision also became clearer and wider. He could even see better in the dark now.
With a firm hand on his axe, he entered the labyrinth. Rather than just a mere burrow or tunnel, the passage was properly built with bricks. Not only was it wide enough for several people to move comfortably, but it also had torches lighting up the path at regular intervals.
I’ll look for a safe room first.
Even though the power of the potion had enhanced his eyesight, Kim Do-Joon still walked slowly, being extra cautious not to step on any traps. After about an hour of walking, he safely reached what seemed like a safe room. Fortunately, he didn’t encounter any traps or beasts.
Entering the room, he sighed with relief. "Haaa…"
In the center of the room was a relatively large chest in front of a small fountain.
Does that contain an item?
Click.
Opening the chest revealed a sturdy-looking axe. It seemed well-maintained, considering how clean and shiny it was, but it looked normal otherwise. However, the information window that popped up told him otherwise.
[Young Kujika Tribesmen’s Broadaxe]
Description
- A weapon used by Kujika tribe members who have not yet reached adulthood. By raising their young to wield weapons instead of toys, the Kujika tribe became one of the strongest warrior tribes.
Rarity
- Common
Classification
- Weapon
Effect
- Attack Power + 5-15
- Strength Level + 1
It really is an item from the system!
Although it was just a common-rarity with mediocre effects, it might as well be an oasis in a desert for Kim Do-Joon, who lacked any system items besides his potions.
Amid his delight, messages appeared.
[You can copy-paste the effect of an item onto other targets.]
[Would you like to proceed?]
The messages had a slightly different feel from those of the Yggdrasil System. He had been wondering what it meant to copy-paste item effects.
Kim Do-Joon gulped nervously. Cautiously, he took out an ordinary knife from his inventory and placed it next to the axe.
[One of the effects of the Young Kujika Tribesmen’s Broadaxe can be copied and pasted onto Knife.]
[Item effects available for copy-pasting:]
1. Attack Power + 5-15
2. Strength Level + 1
"You’re saying I can copy one of these effects onto my knife?" Kim Do-Joon muttered.
His heart raced with excitement upon realizing that he could change his completely normal knife into a system item. Such a feat would be unprecedented—revolutionary, even!
However, the next message chilled his excitement.
[Caution! The item used as material will be destroyed! A certain amount of Coins is required to preserve it.]
[You currently have 0 Coins.]
What? It’ll be destroyed?
What was the point of copy-pasting, then? Even a preschooler would know that they’d lose out if they sacrificed an axe with two effects to create a knife with just one. He could protect the axe had he the Coins, but he did not know how to obtain the Coins and did not have any.
Wait a minute.
A thought crossed his mind. Since he needed the axe, he could not use it as a sacrifice. He did, however, have another item he could use as fodder instead.
[Greater Healing Potion]
He only had a few emergency potions left. Potions were also system items, so it should be possible to transfer its effect to the axe.
[The effect of the Greater Healing Potion can be copied and pasted onto the Young Kujika Tribesmen’s Broadaxe.]
[Item effect available for copy-pasting:]
[1. The user receives the Greater Regeneration effect for 15 seconds.]
Nice!
Kim Do-Joon’s face lit up.
[Caution! The item used as material will be destroyed! A certain amount of ‘Coins’ are required to preserve it.]
The warning did not sway him this time. After all, potions were disposable items.
[Ding!]
[The item effect has been successfully copied and pasted.]
[The Greater Healing Potion has been destroyed.]
[The transferred ability will be adjusted according to the recipient's classification.]
[Young Kujika Tribesmen’s Broadaxe]
Description
- A weapon used by Kujika tribe members who have not yet reached adulthood. By raising their young to wield weapons instead of toys, the Kujika tribe became one of the strongest warrior tribes.
Rarity
- Common
Classification
- Weapon
Effect
- Attack Power + 5-15
- Strength Level + 1
Additional Effect
- Attacks grant the user the Greater Regeneration effect for 30 seconds.
Kim Do-Joon’s eyes widened. Although the axe had successfully inherited the effect, the effect itself had changed. In exchange for the longer buff duration of thirty seconds, he now had to attack before it could be activated.
Is this… a good thing?
While it seemed advantageous to have the effect almost perpetually active during combat, he could not use it to heal himself afterward.
Well… since it’s almost constantly triggered in combat, I can just treat it like a potion that doesn't need to be consumed.
Calling an item with this sort of effect trash would only invite ridicule from others. Potion consumption during combat was a chronic weakness of Hunters.
I should try other things too.
Kim Do-Joon cheerfully pulled out another potion and held it against the axe. A message appeared.
[This skill can only be activated on the same target once a day.]
"Damn it…" he muttered.
It seemed like he could not freely copy-paste as much as he wanted. Nevertheless, although his spirits were slightly dampened, all was well. He could still use the skill on different targets.
I have plenty of potions anyway.
Kim Do-Joon chuckled.
[Knife]
[Additional Effect]
- Attacks grant the user a Minor Stamina Boost effect for 40 minutes.
[T-shirt]
[Additional Effect]
- When hit, the user gains a Minor Durability Boost effect for 40 minutes.
[Cargo Pants]
[Additional Effect]
- When hit, the user gains a Minor Vision Boost effect for 40 minutes.
[Sneakers]
[Additional Effect]
- When hit, the user gains a Minor Speed Boost effect for 40 minutes.
…
Kim Do-Joon sacrificed several Superior Potions to change his clothes into system items. Since the potions’ effects could not overlap, he used different types instead.
In contrast to the Healing Potion’s thirty-second duration, the buff potions’ effects lasted for much longer. Hence, although they were more expensive, using them as fodder proved worth it.
Can’t I use this ability to make and sell valuable items?
He wondered if the additional effects would be visible to others. If they were, he could be hailed as a groundbreaking expert for transforming normal objects into items. However, after mulling it over, he changed his mind.
Actually, it would be better if others couldn’t see the additional effects.’
Thirty-five years of life, six years of which he spent as an Awakener, made him realize that the world was not kind.
Beneath the veneer of a society where civilization and culture flourished were the very same laws of the animal kingdom. Power, wealth, and force reigned supreme, dictating the course of society.
A unique ability potentially posing significant ramifications for the social order would be better off undisclosed. That was, at least, until he could cultivate enough power to protect himself and his family.
As Kim Do-Joon continued to contemplate, he let out a small sigh. He didn’t know if the copy-paste skill consumed his mental strength or if it was just because of the late hour, but he felt quite exhausted.
I’ll just rest for now.
His worries could wait. He needed to conserve his stamina to break through the labyrinth’s unknown dangers. Luckily, he did not have to worry about the time nor the dungeon closing. For as long as he could clear the labyrinth, he would be sent back to Earth.
Hence, although he was still on edge, the impatience and anxiety that he had been feeling had at least disappeared.
Since rushing deeper into the labyrinth blindly could set off traps and kill him, Kim Do-Joon decided to take his time. After meticulously locking the safe room’s door and setting up simple alarm traps, he went to bed.
***
The next day, Kim Do-Joon woke up feeling refreshed. Quenching his thirst and washing his face with the water from the fountain cleared his mind.
Just to be safe, I should check my equipment before I head out.
Worried that everything had just been a mere dream, he carefully examined the items that he had made yesterday. After confirming that they were all real, he checked the messages that he had received the previous day with a smile. One thing in particular caught his eye.
[Target: No Limitation]
Wait. It has no limits?
He had been too surprised by his new ability yesterday to scrutinize it in detail. It was only after a good night's sleep that he began to question the message.
Perhaps…?
He furrowed his eyebrows at the passing thought.
As if possessed, Kim Do-Joon took out the last Minor Hunting Falcon Potion in his inventory. When he held it close to him, another message appeared.
[The effect of the Minor Hunting Falcon Potion can be copied and pasted onto Kim Do-Joon.]
[Item effect available for copy-pasting:]
[1. Gain a Minor Vision Boost effect for 30 minutes.]
Kim Do-Joon tightened his grip on the bottle.