Are You Worthy For This Skill?

[System Notification: The Lord of the Copy Paste wishes to have a word with you.]

I stared at the message, blinked twice, then burst out laughing.

"Lord of the Copy Paste? What's next, Emperor of Ctrl+C?" I muttered, half expecting a talking stapler to appear next.

Still grinning, I rubbed the back of my head. "I swear, if this guy shows up with a keyboard for a weapon, I'm logging out of life."

But deep down, I knew—whatever this 'Lord' wanted, it probably wasn't going to be just a casual chat.

[System Notification: The Lord of Copy Paste has taken interest in you.]

[System Message: The Lord of Copy Paste says—"I offer you a fragment of my true legacy. Prove your worth, and you shall receive the skill: Rough Steal."]

I blinked.

"Wait... Rough Steal? Bro, that sounds more like a street fight than a skill." I muttered, snorting. "What's next? 'Violent Borrow'? 'Aggressive Download'?"

[System Message: The Lord of Copy Paste is not amused.]

[System Message: Rough Steal — A high-contact theft skill that lets the user forcibly extract a skill of their choice from an opponent. Must be in close combat. Only works once per opponent. The stolen skill cannot be used again on the same target.]

I whistled low. "Damn… so it's like a one-time, hands-on robbery."

[System Message: The Lord of Copy Paste says—"It steals not just their power… but leaves them feeling it."]

My smirk widened.

Alright, you got me interested. I'll play your game, Lord Spreadsheet.

[System Notification: The Lord of Copy Paste has given you a Trial.]

[Trial Requirement: Defeat 20 monsters using only normal attacks — fists, feet, headbutts, or any part of your body. No weapons. No skills. Just raw hands-on beatdowns.]

I stared at the screen.

"…What?"

I blinked again, reading it twice just to be sure I wasn't hallucinating.

"You want me to go bare-knuckle brawling with monsters? Are you serious?"

[System Message: The Lord of Copy Paste says—"True mastery begins when you can steal victory without tools. Only then are you worthy of Rough Steal."]

I groaned. "He wants me to go medieval with my fists—against monsters. This guy must be drunk on his own copy-paste magic."

Then I cracked my knuckles, grinning.

Alright then, let's see if I can punch my way to a new skill. Challenge accepted, you passive-aggressive data god.

I didn't waste time.

The moment I spotted the first monster—a gnarly wolf-like beast with jagged teeth and twitching claws—I dived in headfirst, fists clenched.

BAM!

A punch to the jaw.

CRACK!

One to the ribs.

Slam after slam, I beat it down until the creature slumped to the ground, twitching.

[1/20 monsters defeated.]

I wiped the sweat off my brow and grinned. "Nineteen to go."

The second and third fell the same way—knuckles meeting flesh, knees cracking bones. By the time I reached the fifth, my hands were sore, bloodied from the sheer impact. But I didn't stop. Couldn't stop.

The tenth one came at me like it was twice the size of the others, snarling, drooling, and ready to tear me apart.

"Not today."

I spun, gathered my weight into my leg, and kicked it—hard.

The sound was nasty.

Its head snapped clean off, flying through the air like a soccer ball launched into orbit.

[10/20 monsters defeated.]

I stood there, panting, blood on my fists, my foot still tingling from the impact.

"This is insane…" I laughed. "But kinda fun."

After nearly half an hour of brutal hunting, I finally dropped the 19th monster, its body collapsing with a satisfying thud at my feet.

I stood there, breathing heavily, bruises on my arms and dried blood on my knuckles. "Damn… I need a break," I muttered, stretching my neck as my legs wobbled a bit.

Just as I dropped to one knee to catch my breath—

[System Notification: The Lord of Copy Paste says: Follow the arrow.]

"Huh?" I blinked.

A glowing golden arrow flickered into existence, pointing lazily to my left. I turned my head, squinting.

"What now—?"

BAM!

A massive fist exploded into my face, knocking me off my feet and hurling me straight into a stone wall with a thunderous crash. Debris scattered. My back screamed. My pride? Suffering.

[System Notification: The Lord of Copy Paste says: Ooof. That's gonna leave a mark.]

[Also… maybe try dodging next time, Mr. "Future Copy God."]

"Are you mocking me?!" I shouted, spitting out a pebble and trying to stand.

[System Notification: Just a little. Now go make me proud, you floppy noodle.]

I groaned, pushing off the cracked wall, and looked up at the monster.

It was massive. Towering. And worst of all—grinning like it enjoyed that hit.

[Final Challenge: Monster 20 — Juggerbeast | Title: Skill-Eater] [Tier 1]

It's not a rare monster but it has a tier?

I wiped the blood off my chin and grinned back.

"Oh, you're dead."

I stood up slowly, my body aching, my breath ragged—but something inside me had snapped.

I clenched my fists, blood dripping from my knuckles, and let out a primal roar, echoing through the valley like thunder splitting the sky.

The ground cracked beneath my feet with every step I took forward, rage and adrenaline surging through my veins like fire. I could feel the air ripple around me, the pressure building with each heartbeat.

Across from me, the towering Juggerbeast froze. Its glowing yellow eyes locked onto mine.

Then, as if it understood—

As if accepting my challenge—

It stepped forward, heavy and deliberate.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

Each of its steps shook the dirt. The earth between us trembled. It wasn't just a monster—it was a wall of death and fury.

But so was I.

We walked toward each other in silence. No more words. No more system commentary. Just the rumble of war in the air.

Two forces.

Two monsters.

One final test.

As we closed the distance, the world fell silent.

Just me and the Juggerbeast.

Face to face.

Eye to eye.

Its breath was hot and heavy, steaming from its nostrils. Mine came in ragged bursts, chest rising and falling like thunder. For a single breathless second, we stood still—two predators caught in the eye of a storm.

Then—

Something clicked.

A violent synchronicity ignited.

We both moved.

Arms pulled back.

Muscles coiled.

Veins straining.

Eyes burning.

ROOOAAARRR!!!

Our fists rocketed forward, slow at first—

Like two meteors breaching gravity's hold—

Until time itself seemed to bend around the moment of impact.

CRACK!

Flesh met flesh.

Stone split beneath our feet.

A shockwave exploded from the collision—

Dust rippled outward—

Trees bent—

The air howled.

But neither of us moved back.

Locked in place.

Two monsters.

Two wills.

One blow.

Our fists trembled, grinding against each other, pressure building like a dam about to break.

And then—another pulse of perfect sync.

My other arm drew back, shoulder twisting, muscles tightening like coiled steel.

Veins bulged.

Bones strained.

Teeth clenched.

With a guttural roar tearing from my throat, I drove my fist forward—

"RAGHHH!!"

—like a cannon blast.

The Juggerbeast mirrored me. Its own roar, deep and monstrous, shook the trees as it launched a second fist of its own.

Flesh.

Bone.

Raw fury.

BOOOOM!!

Another collision—

Another earthquake beneath our feet.

The ground split beneath us. Pebbles and dirt exploded outward like shrapnel.

Locked again.

Grinding.

Unmoving.

Two monsters refusing to back down.

A second blow… more brutal than the first.

Our fists screamed against one another—neither giving, neither falling.

But something had to break.

And this time… it wouldn't be me.

We traded a flurry of fists—blow for blow, steel meeting steel.

Crack! Crack! Boom!

Every hit was a thunderclap.

Every block sent shockwaves through our arms.

Then—it happened.

I slammed my fist forward, and his met mine mid-air.

CRACK!

His knuckles split—fractured under the pressure.

He grunted, the pain flashing in his eyes for just a second.

That was my opening.

I dashed in.

No hesitation. No mercy.

WHAM!!

My fist drove into his gut like a battering ram. His body curled slightly from the impact—but I wasn't done.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Fists rained down like a storm, hammering into his core, each strike faster, harder, more brutal than the last.

Then—I dropped low. Coiled. Unleashed.

"RAAAHHH!!"

A powerful uppercut tore through the air, crashing into his chin with enough force to lift his feet off the ground.

But the beast—he didn't fall.

THOOM!!

His massive arm came crashing down toward me like a hammer.

But I planted my feet.

Locked my jaw.

And met it head-on.

Our strength collided again.

Stone shattered beneath us.

The wind screamed.

We both held our ground—trembling, growling, refusing to fall.

Two titans locked in the ultimate standoff.

Our breathing was ragged—heavy—hot.

Face to face.

Fists clenched.

Muscles trembling.

I gritted my teeth, every fiber in my body burning.

Then I pulled back—BAM!!

Another crushing blow to his ribs.

He grunted but didn't stagger.

Instead, his eyes flashed—

WHAM!!

His fist slammed into my side with brute force, enough to make the bones rattle.

I growled, digging my heel into the ground. I didn't move.

Crack! Bam! Wham!

We launched into another furious exchange, fists colliding like meteors—

Each strike heavier than the last.

Each impact echoing like thunder across the battlefield.

Left—right—hook—straight—

No dodging.

No blocking.

Just raw power.

The ground beneath us cracked with every clash, tremors pulsing out with each hit.

We were past pain now.

Just two monsters, throwing everything we had at each other, waiting to see who would fall first.

After a brutal rush of blows, I could see it—

The beast was running on fumes.

Its breathing was ragged, uneven. Movements slower, weight dragging.

But me?

I still had fuel in the tank. Still had fight to burn.

A grin spread across my face.

I raised my hand, fingers flicking toward me.

"Come on," I taunted, voice low and cocky.

"Wanna go another round?"

The Juggerbeast didn't snarl this time.

Instead, it lifted its head—slowly. Eyes locked with mine.

There was something behind that glare now.

Recognition.

Then came the sound—CRACK.

Its shattered fist twisted unnaturally, bones grinding as it forced them back into place.

One by one, its fingers curled into a fist again.

Then—ROOOAAARR!

It let out a primal war cry that shook the dust around us.

I didn't flinch.

Instead, I shifted—feet firm, body low, arms poised.

The beast dropped into a stance too—its own version of a brawler's ready form.

I mirrored it.

Same pose.

Same silence.

Same storm waiting to break.

My grin widened.

"Bring it," I growled.

The air snapped tight between us, tension coiled like a spring ready to explode.

The Juggerbeast's body tensed—

Then it gritted its jagged teeth, muscles rippling like waves under its skin.

With a guttural growl, its frame swelled, bulking up with raw power. Veins bulged. Its chest expanded. Its eyes locked onto mine, wild and focused.

And then—that grin.

A twisted, confident smirk like it was saying:

"Try to survive this."

Its trump card was written all over its face.

I didn't flinch.

Didn't blink.

I just stood there, breathing hard.

Every inhale slower, every exhale heavier.

My fists clenched tighter.

"Alright then," I muttered under my breath, letting the weight of the moment sink into my bones.

"Show me what you got."

Because I wasn't just ready to take the hits—

I was ready to return them tenfold.

Our muscles tensed—

Another perfect sync.

BAM. BAM. BAM.

Our fists collided again and again, the shockwaves splitting the air like thunderclaps.

But something changed.

His punches—heavier. Meaner.

Each one slammed into me with more weight than the last.

I gritted my teeth, holding my ground.

But then—

WHAM!

A clean hit. Right in my ribs.

"Gahh—!" I staggered back as pain lanced through me.

The beast roared, a guttural, triumphant howl that shook the dirt beneath our feet.

It found a gap.

And it didn't waste it.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

A brutal flurry of punches rained down on me like meteor strikes, each blow threatening to shatter bone and rip through muscle.

It wasn't just swinging anymore.

It was trying to end me.

As the flurry of punches rained down on me...

I snapped.

Even as its fists slammed into me—one after another like wrecking balls—I planted my feet, clenched my jaw, and fought back.

No dodging. No blocking. Just raw will.

With every blow it landed, I threw one of my own—

fist for fist. fury for fury.

My roar tore through the battlefield,

louder than pain. Louder than fear.

"I'm not dodging…" I growled between heavy breaths, eyes blazing.

"You think I need to? I'm a goddamn man."

Another punch crashed against my shoulder. I didn't care.

I twisted into it, using the force—

And drove a brutal punch into its ribs.

CRACK!

A clean, solid hit.

The sound of bone breaking echoed louder than its roar.

The beast flinched.

I stepped in closer, eyes locked.

"You feel that?" I snarled.

"Good. I've got more."