Chapter 2: Exploiting the System

Ethan's breath was still ragged as he stared at the crumpled wolf corpse before him.

The adrenaline was fading. The reality of his situation was setting in.

I just killed that thing.

He clenched his fists, his knuckles sore from gripping the duplicated rocks. His palms were coated in dark blood, the metallic scent clogging his nostrils.

Then, another notification flickered in front of him.

[You have obtained a lootable corpse.]

[Would you like to harvest resources?]

Loot?

He didn't hesitate.

[Harvesting…]

[You have obtained:]

Direbone Fangs x2 (Basic crafting material)

Direhide Pelt x1 (Basic armor material)

Raw Beast Meat x3 (Consumable - Risk of spoilage)

The items materialized into his hands, weighty and real.

His fingers brushed the Direhide Pelt. It was coarse, thick—probably good for armor. He slung it over his shoulder, eyeing the meat.

Food.

His stomach twisted. He hadn't even realized how starving he was until now.

But another thought took priority.

The duplication skill.

The game had already let him duplicate a rock. What about something useful?

He held up the meat and focused.

[Duplicating…]

[Resource duplicated successfully.]

A second slab of meat appeared in his other hand.

Ethan's heart pounded.

This is it.

He wasn't just surviving. He was exploiting the game.

---

Testing the Limits

Over the next hour, Ethan sat near a fallen tree, systematically testing his ability.

He duplicated the meat twice before the system blocked further attempts, confirming a limit.

The Direbone Fangs couldn't be duplicated, likely because they were a 'crafted' resource.

He could duplicate water—an unfair advantage in a survival setting.

This isn't just useful. This is game-breaking.

If he could amass resources effortlessly, it meant total control over survival and trade.

But before he could start planning long-term—

A voice called out.

"Oi. You look like you've had a rough day."

Ethan's head snapped up.

A man stood a few meters away, leaning casually against a tree.

Tall, lean, but muscular. His armor was cobbled together from different beast hides, and he carried a rusted sword that had clearly seen better days.

But the most dangerous thing?

The calm smile on his face.

Ethan's grip tightened around a rock.

Is he an enemy?

The man raised a hand, as if sensing Ethan's tension. "Relax. If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't have announced myself."

A notification flickered.

[Player 'Vance' has initiated interaction.]

Another player.

Ethan's mind raced. Was this guy alone? Part of a group? Could he be trusted?

Vance gestured at the wolf carcass. "That yours?"

Ethan hesitated. "Yeah."

Vance's eyebrows lifted slightly. "Not bad for a newbie." His eyes flicked over the crude remains of Ethan's rock barrage. "Most players don't even last a day without a weapon."

Ethan didn't reply.

He was still assessing the situation.

Vance gave a small chuckle. "You don't trust me. That's good. You shouldn't trust anyone here." He leaned in slightly, his expression shifting from amused to serious. "This world isn't just about killing monsters. It's about surviving the people playing the game."

Ethan's jaw clenched.

Vance straightened. "But hey, I'm not your enemy." He glanced toward the horizon. "Word of advice—get out of this area before nightfall. You're lucky you ran into me first and not one of the real bastards."

Ethan frowned. "Why?"

Vance's smile returned, but there was something unsettling behind it.

"Because when night falls, this place doesn't belong to us anymore."

Then, he vanished into the trees.

A chilling breeze swept through the forest.

Ethan exhaled slowly.

I need to get moving.

---

A Dangerous Nightfall

As the sun dipped below the jagged peaks in the distance, the atmosphere changed.

The wind grew colder. The trees groaned as if they were alive. A distant howl echoed—not from a wolf, but something worse.

Then, the system chimed.

[Night Event: 'The Hunting Shadows' has begun.]

[Warning: High-level entities will now patrol the area.]

Ethan's blood ran cold.

From the depths of the forest, a shape emerged.

Tall. Humanoid. But its skin rippled like shifting shadows.

It had no face.

But Ethan knew.

It was looking right at him.