Is it Wrong to Copy Abilities in Apocalypse?

23:59, 17 July, 20XY.

Almost a week had passed since the start of the apocalypse, from the evening of 11 July to the evening of 17 July—6 complete days.

It wouldn't be long before a week had passed.

The humans had thought that the seven days they had before the next scenario started would be a period of relaxation—a time when they would be able to recover from all they had gone through.

But the system didn't seem to be in the mood to let them rest, as the first thing it did was impose a compulsory food supply on them, which meant compulsory coin deduction.

It would've been fine if the coin deduction stayed the same as the first day, 12th July—11th was pardoned because it was the tutorial day... maybe.

10 coins were easily manageable with the power humans in this world had right now.

Yes, there were humans who weren't even getting their powers up, hoping to stay away from the scenarios, but the ones who were responsible for them or the ones who were looking after them needed to play the game; they had to keep growing after all.

But then, as days passed, the coin required for the compulsory food supply kept increasing.

10 on 12th, 20 on 13th, 30 on 14th, and so on.

Today was 18, and many people were trying to collect coins for their family members and friends who couldn't do it themselves.

The number of coins one needed to give out today was probably going to be 70, which by no means was low.

Collecting that many coins wouldn't be a problem for an average human at this moment, but what if they had people hanging like pieces of baggage behind them?

Many started to despair and prepare for the penalty, accepting their fates.

'It's just pain, right?! I will survive!'

This is what most of them thought; they had never really experienced that pain after all.

But just then, a system notification flashed in front of every human throughout the world, alerting them as they weren't ready to take any more from the system; there was one quest going on already, excluding the bounty quest.

[The second round of the first scenario will be conducted in the marked green zones within the given time: 03:59:59.]

That was all the system said before it went quiet.

This left the humans confused.

'That's all?'

'No further instructions?'

There was no information about any second-round type of thing in the information as well.

But just then...

*Beep**Beep*...

One after another, several beeping sounds came out of the system interface, causing a mass panic, but when someone finally found out what those beeping noises were for, he quickly sent a message in the world chat.

[Maichel: Look at the map! There are new green zones all over the map!!]

The others who saw that message hurriedly started going through their maps, and their eyes widened; some even had tears appear in their eyes.

The number of green zones decreased after the first scenario ended, making it hard for humans to survive.

It was hardest for those who had their families sitting on their backs, depending on them to protect their lives.

Now, however, with so many green zones available, they could finally leave their families there and go hunt alone without worrying about their loved ones' safety.

But what was the meaning behind that notification by the system?

Why did so many green zones suddenly appear?

People wanted answers, but the system didn't respond to them, as if wanting them to figure it out themselves.

But that was only for those who had a system with a personality a bit mellow.

The ones who had a system as shitty as Alex's gamer system, or even worse, had a very bad ending.

Some were left stunned in their spots as a punishment for not using their brains properly and pestering the system continuously.

Yes, not every system was like the one Alex or anyone within India had.

Each country had a system with a different type of personality.

But no matter what kind of personality they had, none of them answered the questions that humans all over the world had.

This made humans realize that they had to think of what it was by themselves, and just then, a message appeared in the world chat.

[Kelvin: Is this second round like a second chance for those who didn't take part in the first tutorial?]

That question was as if a bulb of realization was lit up in the minds of every single human.

Their minds, which had been only thinking about how to survive, after a long time, started to think logically.

[Rosaline: It is possible, but why would anyone who didn't take part in the first try change their minds now?]

A woman questioned in the world chat; after all, if one had decided not to take part and they have someone else looking after them, then why would they change their minds now?

[Gidion: Because they can't upgrade their stats past level 5 if they don't participate in the first scenario.]

A guy answered the question and one could imagine the grim look on his face even though they couldn't see it.

[Chris: What?! There's such a thing?!]

[Voldemort: How?! Just when I was thinking of helping my wife level up her stats by using coins!]

[Dumbledoor: W-Wouldn't it simply mean that those who don't take part in the first scenario will die sooner or later...?]

[Harry: Wait a second—! How did you two get here?!]

...

..

.

Many such chats of shock, fear, and dread started to flash past the screen one after another.

The humans finally realized the importance of the scenario.

The ones who thought that they could just get stronger with the help of the ones responsible for them were now frozen in their spots.

If one couldn't upgrade their stats past level 5, then wouldn't it simply mean that when the beasts with their stats at levels 20 and 30 were to roam around the world, they could be killed anytime?

Surviving as is now was already hard with the fear of a beast suddenly jumping up on them, so what about later?

As the realization of the urgency of the situation hit the humans, they started to rush to the green zones—not to just seek shelter; now they wanted to take part in the second round of the first scenario.

They knew now why these green zones suddenly sprouted all over the world; they were for the second round of the first scenario.

But the thing is that not only were the ones who hadn't yet participated in the scenario, but even the ones who had already cleared it were headed for those spots.

Some were hoping to gain the reward coins of the scenario by completing it, some wanted to help their family members clear the scenario, and some were just curious about seeing things play out.

But some rare few humans had entirely different plans.

One of them was Alex, who was sitting under a large piece of debris with his left shoulder covered in a bandage.

He had been staring at the messages flashing in the world chat, and he knew that it was time for him to move as well.