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 19 - Into the Heart of the Forge**

The tunnel stretched endlessly ahead, carved not by human hands but by something far older. The walls pulsed with a dull, golden glow, veins of energy running through the stone like molten metal frozen in time. The forge awaited them at the end of this path, but Ethan felt the weight of the guardian's warning pressing down on him. If they failed, the world would be devoured.

Ethan glanced down at Ash, whose roots trembled slightly against his wrist. The artifact the tree had seized still pulsed with a dark energy, sending faint ripples through the air. Whatever process was required to reforge it, Ethan suspected it would not be simple.

Brent exhaled sharply. "This whole place feels alive. I don't like it."

Kayla ran a hand along the tunnel's walls, watching as the golden veins reacted to her touch. "Maybe it is. The guardian said this was the last forge. If it was built to seal something that powerful, it has to be more than just a machine."

Ethan nodded, but he kept moving. There was no point in hesitating now. He adjusted the straps on his gear, ensuring his weapons were ready. The ruins had already proven to be more than just relics of the past—they were an active part of something much bigger, something dangerous.

As they pressed deeper into the passage, the temperature began to rise. The cool dampness of the ruins gave way to dry heat, and the scent of molten metal filled the air. The tunnel eventually widened into a vast chamber, and what lay before them was unlike anything Ethan had ever seen.

The forge was a marvel of ancient engineering—massive gears interlocked with stone mechanisms, rivers of molten gold and silver coursing through carved channels in the ground. At the heart of the room stood a colossal anvil, its surface etched with symbols similar to those on the monolith. Suspended above it was a hammer, seemingly untouched by time, held aloft by invisible forces.

Ash's roots pulsed as they reached the chamber's center, the small tree reacting to the energy in the air. The masked guardian materialized once more, standing before the anvil as if waiting for them.

Ethan approached cautiously. "Alright. We're here. Now tell us what needs to be done."

The guardian raised a hand, and the forge roared to life. The molten rivers surged, casting flickering shadows across the chamber. The hammer above the anvil began to descend ever so slowly, its presence filling the room with a sense of finality.

"The artifact must be reforged in the fire of the lost," the guardian intoned. "But fire alone will not be enough. Blood, will, and sacrifice must shape it anew."

Brent tensed. "Sacrifice? What kind of sacrifice?"

The guardian's mask seemed to crack just slightly as it spoke. "The past must be given form once more. The echoes of the old world must bind the new."

Ethan's grip on Ash tightened. He didn't like the sound of that. But before he could question further, the chamber trembled violently.

A guttural, inhuman growl resonated through the cavern, and from the tunnel they had entered, a dark form began to emerge. It was not the beast they had seen before, but something different—a creature of obsidian flesh, with burning veins of molten gold running beneath its skin. Its face was twisted, hollow eyes glowing with malevolence.

Kayla raised her weapon. "I think we've got company."

The guardian's voice remained calm. "The hunger has sent its heralds. They will not allow you to complete the reforging."

Ethan stepped forward, feeling Ash's roots coil around his wrist like armor. "Then we'll just have to make sure they fail first."

The battle for the forge had begun.