Is it Wrong to Copy Abilities in Apocalypse?

(Third POV)

[> Status Window

Name: Alex Matthew

Race: Human.

Title: Undead Slasher (Common)

Coins: 1118

Stats:

- Strength – Level 1 (Tier 1)

- Defense – Level 1 (Tier 1)

- Agility – Level 1 (Tier 1)

- Stamina – Level 1 (Tier 1)

- Mana – Level 1 (Tier 1)

Skills:

Sovereign of All Weapons (Mythical) (Level 1- Tier 1) – Once-in-a-millennium genius; when he sets his mind on learning something, none can impede his progress.

- Weapon Mastery: Mastery of any weapon to its pinnacle.

- Weak-point Detection: Proficient in identifying the vulnerabilities of any weapon.

- Aura: Ability to imbue a weapon with mana, enhancing its attack power. (Locked)

- Fast Learner: Quick to grasp any weapon-related skill through observation.

Deathbringer's Gaze (Legendary) (Level 1- Tier 1) – Killing comes effortlessly once accustomed.

- Killing Intent: Can stun weaker-willed enemies for extended durations.

- Death's Command: Temporarily gains control over opponents based on their willpower.

- Illusion of Death: Capable of inducing vivid images of their own demise through eye contact. (Locked)

Unnamed Battle Art (Rare) (Upgradable) (Level 1- Tier 1) – Diligent effort never goes unrewarded; results are apparent with perseverance.

- Integration: Ability to integrate various combat styles into his own.

- Battle Analytics: Identifies weaknesses in the user's combat techniques.

- Enlightenment: Breaks through skill limits. (Locked)

Basic Royal Medical Art (Common) (Level 1- Tier 1) – Knowledgeable in herbs and their medicinal applications.

<]

'I see….

'All those strange feelings and abilities I could use were because of this….'

Alex muttered as he looked at his skills in amazement.

He was done reading the information or more like hearing it since all of it just played in his head.

So, he knew what was going on and what he had to prevent.

There was a thing called rules in the information section, but just like the status window, there were things locked in the information section as well.

However, unlike the status window, where the locked things were still displayed, just greyed out.

In the information section, after a certain point, the whole page was locked.

Alex, however, didn't question the game system about it.

The information clearly said that the game system can't peek at your status panel, it can only guess, so if that locked thing was only his panel, and it was somehow unique, then it would get annoying.

So, he decided to keep quiet about it.

The AI commented as it read Alex's thoughts.

'I know that as well…'

But Alex already knew about it, after all, both he and the AI were one entity. Alex knew what the AI thought, and the AI could tell what was going on inside Alex's mind.

[Are you done?]

Alex turned to look at the system, only to find her staring at him with an impatient look.

"Yes."

Alex simply nodded his head.

Now that he knew the reason for Mr. Pandey and Prateek's deaths, he was much more cautious around the system.

'She can kill anyone as long as she judges them to be insulting her in any way…'

That was the rule.

[ - Respect the system or face the consequences.]

Everything that had happened till now looked unfair.

The system suddenly spawned, started bossing over them with her haughty attitude, and then the rule that prevented them from insulting or shouting at the system.

But Alex didn't have a problem with all that.

Yes, that was what Alex was going to do.

Ignore.

The only time he would speak to her would be when it was necessary, or else he wouldn't.

[Good, on to the next tutorial then!

Follow the green arrow!]

The moment System saw Alex nod his head, a wide smile formed on her face.

She pointed at the green arrow marker that appeared in Alex's sight.

The arrow was right above Alex's head, pointing toward the back of the village.

Alex glanced at the system, and although her smile right now didn't look anything evil or something, Alex felt like things were not that simple.

{Let's see how you deal with the next tutorial…}

And just as he had thought, the system was not just going to give up.

She wanted to see despair on that cold face of Alex.

And without her realizing it, she had already started getting involved with Alex more than she was supposed to.

.....

<As I said before, I can copy anything, and the skill that man was using to grind those herbs was a common rank skill, making it easier for me to copy it.

So, I copied it.>

The AI replied to Alex when it saw Alex looking at the 'Basic Royal Medical Art' in confusion.

Alex, who was busy with his thoughts, frowned a bit, but his frown loosened in an instant.

He didn't want to show any reaction on his face.

'Even if the system is not visible, she can still keep an eye on me…'

Alex knew that from the list of information.

There is no blind spot for the system, it can see everything as long as you can see the status window.

'Copied the skill, how did you do it?'

Alex frowned inwardly as he questioned.

There was no game system at the time Gulshan was treating him.

So, how did the AI copy a skill?

<The game system doesn't give you skills, it just upgrades it into a fitting magical skill.

So, everyone in this world has skills, it's just that the system now enables them to view it.>

The things that AI spoke, were the information Alex was receiving.

The AI didn't need to speak, it just needed to think about it and Alex would know that, but it still spoke out loud.

Alex then recalled the moment he first saw the AI, the time it just came and then shut itself.

'So, that medical art in my status was the thing that you copied from Gulshan at the start?'

Alex questioned as realization hit him.

The system replied instantly.

(PS: This is all a mental communication, the exchange of information directly in the mind, but I make it in speech since it is the thoughts of both Alex and the AI separately.)

Right now, Alex was still following the arrow, and it had been ten minutes.

The path ahead of Alex was now clearer, the density of the forest was thinning, and it was quite apparent that he was moving out of the forest, but the game system that always kept staring at him was now gone.

[I can't waste my energy on a mere mortal!]

That's what she said, but Alex couldn't guess why she disappeared.

'The energy required to keep her manifestation must've run out.'

And yeah, that was the reason.

The system can't maintain her form for long, at least not yet.

'So, you can copy every skill?'

Alex questioned again.

These things about the AI's functioning were not available to him.

What the AI's abilities were was still a mystery to him.

But that didn't make him agitated.

The AI couldn't harm him, his gut feeling told him that, and he trusted his gut a lot since it had saved him many times.

The AI replied to Alex's question, but that reply made Alex confused.

'Doesn't that mean you can copy the skill or ability?'

If one can copy all those things, then didn't they already copy the skill?

'Elaborate.'

Alex frowned at the AI's answer.

<Take Gulshan's skill for example, it was a common ranked skill, and the things you had to do in it were simple, grind and grind.

So, it was easy for me to copy, and when I see someone using their skill, I can scan their brain for more information, but that only gives me access to the information related to the skills, nothing else.

So, it gave me knowledge about the herbs as well, and I implanted everything related to that in your mind, making it a new skill for you.

But if that skill was not a simple skill, instead it was a sword art, then it would take time.

At first sight, all I would be able to give you is the footwork of that sword art, then by time, I will be able to copy the blade movements, and so on.

So, although it sounds easy, it is not as simple as just copying it, even though I'm not that broken.>

Alex nodded his head inwardly.

Things started to fit in now.

He finally knew about the function of this AI, and honestly, the thought of throwing it away was long gone.

He needs to survive in this world, a world which is probably going through an apocalypse.

So, he had to get stronger, and for that, this AI was a crucial thing.

This AI could help him reach new heights.

Everything was now clear, but Alex's frown still didn't loosen.