My Alter Ego’s Path to Greatness - Chapter 2
Avatar (1)
〈Those who have awakened their abilities are transported to another world and can return to Earth by achieving certain conditions.〉
It was a word that directly expressed the current era.
It was the fundamental cause of the current chaos in society.
-A large fire broke out in a commercial building in Jeonnam, and fire officials are currently working to extinguish it.
-The arsonist disappeared after running away from the scene, and the Supernatural Abilities Management Bureau said that it was a crime not to ask questions before sending an awakened person to another world….
“It’s especially polarizing these days.”
I turned my head while watching today’s news on TV.
Wherever you go these days, incidents and accidents never end.
Although it has absolutely nothing to do with me, who is stuck in a corner of my room.
‘A desperate crime before transfer to another world with a low survival rate. And even the chaos caused by those who returned…’
As if ignoring the apocalypse theory that it would be destroyed in 2000 AD, the world is still fine twenty years later.
‘No, it’s too shit to say it’s fine.’
The world did not end, but humanity had to adapt to new changes.
And I was a victim of that transition.
“……”
It’s already been two years since I lost my family due to the Awakening’s terror and became a loner, locked in a corner of my room.
Ding-dong—
the sound of a bell suddenly heard.
I headed to the intercom, limping on one leg that had become uncomfortable due to the aftereffects of the accident.
‘Is it already that day…’
A familiar person was standing in front of the door with a businesslike expression.
“hello. It came from the Transmission Investigation Department of the Ability Management Bureau. Are you Seonghyeon Han?”
As soon as I opened the door and faced it, I heard a business-like voice.
I’ve met him a few times, but he always says that every time I see him.
“Yes… whatever you see.”
The investigator, not paying attention to the grumpy answer, looked at the electronic pad and my face several times and then immediately said goodbye.
“Yes, it has been confirmed. If you awaken, please report it to the Ability Management Bureau. Have a good day.”
Suddenly,
my first interaction with an outsider in half a year ended in less than a minute.
-Isn’t the problem that since awakenings and transmissions occur randomly, there is no way to know when someone awakened and disappeared?
-Legally, the rule is to wake up and report, but how can things in this world just follow the rules? A more institutional and fundamental solution is needed!
I left the loud noise of the panelists talking on TV and headed to the kitchen.
‘Oh, by the way, I guess we ran out of food.’
Still, I tried to open the cupboard just in case, but as expected, only an empty space greeted me.
I clicked my tongue and picked up my smartphone to order ingredients, but then immediately put it down.
‘…done. ‘I’ll order delivery later.’
The accident not only took my family and legs, but also my courage.
From that day on, I was confined to the house due to the trauma of being outside, and only communicated with the world through the Internet with my one remaining friend.
Well, because of that, I receive confirmation calls every month and visit confirmation every six months. I guess I’ll have to endure it.
-So what you are doing as a transfer investigation is not effective! It’s just the result of desk-based administration…
-But you can’t just sit back and do nothing…
I returned to the living room and started the routine that I’ve continued for two years, using the sound of the TV as a radio.
“Whoosh whoosh!”
All kinds of exercise equipment located in one corner of the living room.
These were items that I had used every single day since I prepared them for leg rehabilitation training.
‘…No matter what I did, it didn’t work.’
My body was healthy, but that was all.
There was no sign of any improvement in the recovery of the leg, which was the original goal.
Even though I know it’s useless, I just can’t let go and keep repeating it out of habit.
I thought that if I could overcome my disability, I could also overcome trauma.
I felt like if I gave up even this, I would have nothing left.
“Whoa….”
Feeling a sudden sense of self-destruction, I put down the dumbbells and looked blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought.
How did this happen?
I’m not the only unfortunate person in the world, so why couldn’t I overcome it?
Why does my whole body tremble and become paralyzed with fear when I even take a step outside?
Would anything have been different if I had had more courage?
If only I could get out of this corner of my room and go anywhere…
It was when I fell into a swamp of self-torture.
《Detection of dimensional inflection points. Connect to the Akasha System.》
I jumped up from my chair at the phrase that suddenly appeared before my eyes.
《Awakening a unique skill.》
“Huh? suddenly? I?”
And soon I fell into panic.
The awakening of a supernatural ability is the same as a transfer to another world.
But there’s no way I, who can’t even go outside the door, would be able to live in another world even if I had a special ability, right?
But as if my situation didn’t matter, letters kept appearing in front of my eyes.
《Awakening is complete. The unique skill “Avatar” has been awakened. 》
《24 hours left until delivery.》
And with that last phrase, I lost my mind.
***
“Ugh… my head…”
My head hurts.
When I came to, it was already dark outside.
As I woke up, my body throbbing with thirst, and gulped down some water in the kitchen, I suddenly realized something.
‘uh? ‘Is your leg better?’
Slowly move your legs back and forth.
Although I haven’t fully recovered yet, I feel much more comfortable than before.
‘Physical strengthening after awakening? If this continues to grow, won’t a complete cure be possible?’
I stopped the happiness circuit and soon faced reality.
What is the probability that he will be able to survive, grow, and return from the other world, even with his uncomfortable legs, as he already has the problem of not being able to go outside?
‘What are the odds? ‘It won’t be long before he dies somewhere.’
What can I do when there are so many athletes and special forces who cannot return?
Of course, I couldn’t just sit back and give up.
“It’s called ‘Avatar’…”
When I thought about this ability, the information that was imprinted in my head upon awakening came to mind.
〈Unique skill “Avatar” – Creates an alter ego.〉
“No matter what, it’s still too unfriendly….”
No, I knew it because I heard it.
In this awakening, there was no intuitive and friendly status window or detailed skill explanation like in the game.
I had to figure out my physical abilities and condition by physically moving my body, and for skills, all I had was the bare minimum information engraved in my head.
The direction of your future growth was entirely up to you.
“Let’s try it out first. “I have no idea what or how much I can do with my alter ego.”
It wasn’t difficult to use this ability.
Immediately after I close my eyes and use it as imprinted on my head.
I realized that the unique skill was activated properly.
I slowly opened my eyes.
There was me in front of my eyes.
His eyes were open tentatively, as if observing the messy hair in his sloppy training clothes.
I looked around to make sure there was nothing strange.
No matter where you look, it’s me.
Even moving my head back and forth to observe was like looking in a mirror.
When we extend our right hands to each other and shake hands, we feel a warm feeling.
Clear evidence that it is real and not an illusion.
Then, suddenly, I felt something strange in my vision.
I didn’t really feel it because we were focused on each other like looking in a mirror, but our visions overlapped.
When I stood with my back to him, I was able to realize it more clearly.
Now I can see front and back at the same time!
However, once I recognized my separate body, it became more difficult to move my body.
As I move my two bodies separately, my limbs become twisted and my expanded field of vision becomes dizzy.
It feels very heterogeneous, as if a separate body part has been created that only shares the brain.
‘Why did my brain increase in size to two?’
But you have no choice but to get used to it.
Because this is the only way I can survive.
Grumble—
…Now that I think about it, I fell asleep like I was fainting without eating anything today.
Let’s first think about biting into the chicken. It’s all about making a living.
***
A few hours later.
“Oh, this won’t work.”
As expected, it was impossible.
To some extent, I got used to it.
Now I could summon and cancel summons skillfully, and if one body was stationary, the other body could move as usual.
However, when both bodies tried to move at the same time, all they could do was stop and move slowly.
‘I wonder if I can move properly outside before that…’
If I had enough time, I might be able to become more accustomed to using my special ability, but I don’t have much time left.
“Now I have to prepare for transmission…”
I took out the items I had at home and the things I had ordered before practice and organized them.
In a large bag, I packed survival supplies such as a fire steel multi-tool, a portable kitchen knife, easily edible preserved foods, and a water bottle.
I couldn’t bring a full-fledged weapon.
For some reason, transfer of weapons to other worlds was restricted.
We tried to take firearms from abroad, but failed, and we were able to find out that among the cold weapons, knives were the Maginot Line.
Safety equipment such as an open-face motorcycle helmet that does not block vision, shin guards, vambraces, and a bullet-proof vest.
I took out the items my parents had prepared before they passed away and put them on one by one.
Since I didn’t know who would be sent or when, I obtained these in advance and put them in the warehouse.
‘I never thought I’d actually use it…’
I realized I hadn’t contacted my only friend, so I called him, but he didn’t answer.
Come to think of it, I said I wouldn’t be able to contact you for a while because I had work to do.
It was unfortunate, but I had no choice but to send a text message saying thank you for the time and put down the phone.
Lastly, I calmed my mind by looking at information on a website about this world.
The other worlds being transmitted are random, and there are hundreds of locations revealed so far, so it is not clear where exactly it will go, but it is better than not knowing anything.
Anxiety about lack of skills due to lack of skill.
Worries about being able to adapt in a dimension other than just the outside world.
Nevertheless, the feeling of struggling to survive somehow disturbs my mind and body.
The moment I calmed my mind and took a deep breath.
A blue-light transmission field had formed beneath my feet.
“There are 10 minutes left until transmission.”
I looked down at the otherworldly transmission line beneath my feet.
If you stand on this for 10 minutes, you will be transported to another world and struggle to survive in an unknown place.
‘Did you say that while in another world, the aging of the body follows Earth’s time? As long as I survive, it will definitely be beneficial.’
The flow of time varies depending on the transmitted world, but is said to be approximately 1:10 on average.
‘…To return, you usually have to survive in this world for a year or about 10 years. Ha… 10 years. ‘I’m not kidding.’
With that thought in mind, I took a step back and without realizing it, I left the transmission line.
Then, the bluish transmission line slowly began to glow red.
The red transmission line is nothing short of a warning.
In that state, when the time comes, the awakened person will be forcibly sent to another world.
I left behind all the luggage I had packed and went with my bare body.
When the situation comes right in front of me, I feel distraught again.
Suddenly, it occurred to me that I didn’t report my awakening to the Ability Management Bureau because I was out of my mind, but in this situation, I know something.
I immediately erased it from my mind.
‘Ah… I wish someone would go up there instead of me…’
Of course, it was nothing more than a meaningless thought.
It was no exaggeration to say that people around the world had tried every possible method since awakening and transference began twenty years ago.
If someone else goes up, the transmission line will remain red and the person who went up will be ignored and the awakened person will be forced to go.
The otherworldly transmission line only recognizes and operates on the awakened person himself.
Then suddenly a thought crossed my mind.
‘Perhaps… no, it can’t be. Still, maybe?’
I immediately used “Avatar”.
Unlike me, who was heavily armed with all kinds of items, the summoned avatar was dressed in the same sloppy training clothes as before.
As I moved, recalling the senses I had been practicing, the alter ego climbed onto the transmission line without hesitation.
And soon the color of the transmission line began to change.
“do! it’s okay?”
The light in the transmission line seemed to turn blue and then stopped in the middle.
I sighed in regret as I looked at the purple glowing transmission line.
‘That’s right. It can’t be that easy.’
I was curious about what would happen over time in that state, but I had no intention of testing it myself.
If something goes wrong, the survival probability, which is already low, will converge to zero.
I thought I was trying it in a way that said, “If it works, it’s okay, if it doesn’t work,” but I think I was expecting a lot without realizing it.
My legs became weak from dejection, so I sat down and looked at the clock. There were only 5 minutes left.
There really wasn’t much time.
Now you have to make up your mind and go up.
I closed my eyes tightly and took one last deep breath.
And in ‘sight’.
I saw myself sitting down with my eyes closed, heavily armed.
Since one side of the field of view was limited, my attention naturally focused on the other side of the field, and without realizing it, most of my mind was focused on the avatar.
And the transmission line began to emit a blue light.
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