helios300

Apocalypse, Survival, Crafting, Superpowers

Ethan Cross never expected to wake up in the middle of the apocalypse—let alone with a power straight out of a video game. Stranded in a ruined Nevada city overrun by undead and monstrous mutants, he quickly discovers his unique ability: Duplication. Any non-living object he touches can be copied, but with a catch—the duplicates degrade over time unless reinforced. Armed with this power and his Dimensional Storage, Ethan begins his fight for survival, crafting weapons, fortifying shelter, and outsmarting both the undead and desperate survivors.

But he’s not alone. His first and only companion is Ash, a small, sentient tree with the ability to detect danger, purify the air, and grow stronger by consuming organic matter. As Ethan scavenges, fights, and builds, Ash evolves, proving to be more than just a plant—it’s a powerful force against the horrors of the apocalypse.

From escaping a high-rise deathtrap to constructing a fortified haven, Ethan faces relentless threats: undead swarms, ruthless human factions, and grotesque mutated beasts. But the deeper he digs, the clearer the truth becomes—this plague wasn’t an accident. And the key to ending it lies within a hidden research facility, now a nest for nightmares.

With the world collapsing and an even greater force stirring in the shadows, Ethan must make a choice: continue as a lone wolf or forge a new civilization from the ruins. But survival isn’t just about weapons and walls—it’s about trust. And in a world where everything rots, even alliances can decay.

As the apocalypse enters its next stage, one thing is certain—Ethan will not be a pawn in someone else’s endgame.

Duplicator’s Apocalypse

**Chapter 16 - Echoes of the Abyss**

The air inside the monolith was dense, almost tangible, charged with the lingering energy of whatever force had been locked away within. Ethan ran a hand along the walls as he stepped forward, the stone unnaturally warm beneath his fingers. Symbols, still faintly glowing from the activation, pulsed like the slow heartbeat of something ancient.

Kayla and Brent followed closely, weapons still in hand. Ash's roots curled tightly around Ethan's arm, sensing the tension in the air.

"This place feels… wrong," Brent muttered. "Like it wasn't meant to be found."

Ethan agreed but said nothing. Instead, he focused on the chamber ahead. The corridor led to a vast hall, its ceiling so high that the darkness swallowed it. At the center of the room stood a massive pedestal, atop which rested an ornate, blackened sphere, cracked in multiple places as if something had once tried to escape it.

Ash trembled. The presence of the artifact unsettled the tree deeply.

"What do you think it is?" Kayla asked.

"Something that shouldn't exist," Ethan said. "And something someone didn't want destroyed."

Brent took a cautious step closer. "Well, it's broken now. Maybe it's already been dealt with?"

Before Ethan could answer, the chamber trembled. The floor beneath them shifted slightly, dust cascading from unseen cracks above. The lake outside was still settling, but the monolith had not yet finished reacting to its release of energy.

They weren't words exactly, not in any language Ethan understood, but emotions. A flood of them—rage, sorrow, warning. Ash recoiled, its roots tightening around Ethan's wrist, sending a jolt of urgency through him.

"Move!" he shouted just as the first crack splintered across the ceiling.

The trio ran as the chamber began to collapse, the ancient structure finally giving way. The pedestal cracked apart, and the blackened sphere tumbled to the ground, rolling toward Ethan's feet. He barely had time to react before Ash's roots lashed out, wrapping around the artifact just as another tremor rocked the temple.

A pulse of energy surged outward, sending Ethan reeling backward.

Ethan's mind swam in a void, unanchored and drifting. Images, fractured and fleeting, flashed before him—a city swallowed by the earth, figures in armor standing before a swirling abyss, something colossal and many-eyed watching from the depths. He saw the beast from the lake, but it wasn't alone. More of them slumbered beneath the world, waiting.

Ethan gasped as he snapped back to reality, lying on the cold stone of the collapsing temple. Kayla and Brent were hauling him up, their voices distant and panicked.

"Come on!" Kayla shouted. "We need to get out of here now!"

Ethan's head throbbed, but he forced himself to move, half-stumbling as they rushed toward the exit. The chamber behind them caved in entirely, sealing away whatever had been locked inside for so long.

The lake outside had changed. The once-still water was now turbulent, swirling with a deep, unnatural current. The monolith's glow faded further, its purpose seemingly fulfilled.

"We need to leave," Ethan said, barely able to keep the urgency from his voice. "Now."

Brent didn't argue. They made their way toward a tunnel that sloped upward, the only apparent exit. Ash remained eerily still, its roots wrapped tightly around the artifact it had seized. Whatever it was, Ethan knew it held answers. Answers he wasn't sure he wanted.