Is it Wrong to Copy Abilities in Apocalypse?

Alex never planned on engaging in combat with the beasts inside the maze.

He knew that he had a fair chance at defeating them; after all, they had a very slow speed compared to his.

They had high defenses, but what defense couldn't be broken by continuous attacks?

Even the strongest armor has its chinks.

But in the end, Alex decided against it.

What if he gets surrounded by them?

What if there's no space left for him to even rush through?

So, just like before, Alex decided to bolt away from here, but just as he turned back...

*Gaooaoaoa...*

*Gagagagaga...*

*Aouaouaou...*

…..

…

.

More and more of those nightmarish entities kept pouring in from all sides; it was as if they were waiting for him to get here, wanting to see what was happening.

But wait—!

'Why did I come here in the first place?'

Alex frowned as he realized that his situation might be more tricky than he had thought.

*Gaooaoaoa...*

"I-I don't want to d-die...

Please, h-help me."

As Alex's eyes inadvertently moved to look at the owner of the voice again, he realized why all of this happened in the first place.

Alex's eyes sharpened.

His analytic eyes couldn't see the skill set of any beast that was 10 or more levels higher than him, so he wasn't aware of this abomination-type creature's skill, nor the normal ones.

The normal ones, however, had very low mana, so low that they might not survive for long if they even used their ability, but this chimera hybrid...

'Level 10 mana.'

It had a mana double of what Alex did...

*Drag*

"C-Can you c-come closer...?"

The beast kept dragging its gelatinous body toward Alex at a speed that screamed danger while leaving a slimy trail behind.

It was faster and larger than the other beasts.

The pathway that was 4 meters wide, enough for two of the normal chimeras to adjust, was getting almost covered by its jiggling, fat body.

Alex's mind raced as he saw the situation.

Then the next second, however, he paused as he heard the AI's question.

'What's the rank of the ability?'

He questioned hurriedly as he saw the creatures inching closer; he didn't have time anymore.

The AI replied, causing Alex to squint his eyes.

'How long will it take for you to copy it?'

He inquired with his eyes moving left and right, scanning the movements of the creatures, trying to look for a way out of there, which he wasn't able to do.

The AI, instead of answering the question Alex asked, told him about the conditions to make the time faster, as just like Alex, it could see that they were short on time.

'How long?'

Alex squinted his eyes with a frown between his brows.

He wanted the answer to this question, and the AI finally responded.

'Get compelled?'

Alex muttered in doubt.

What did the AI want him to do now?

The moment Alex heard those words, his frown deepened, and a contemplative look marred his face before he gave out a slow nod.

'All right, I'll try—!'

His words, however, were cut short. His body froze on the spot.

*Drag*

"Y-You won't leave me, right?"

His head turned toward the beast as his eyes grew blank, clearly losing consciousness.

*Step**Step*...

Alex turned toward the beast and started to walk closer to it.

The beast wasn't using its ability to full potency until now, but as it saw Alex scanning the surroundings, searching for a way to run away, it finally used the amount of mana it was required for the ability it had.

*Drag*

It dragged its body closer to Alex as its tentacles moved toward Alex slowly.

It wasn't even in a hurry, as it knew that once the human fell to his ability, they would only wake up when they felt their body melting in his body. Screaming in pain.

But how could it have known that Alex wasn't alone?

The AI, back to its mechanical and monotonous tone, questions.

But Alex, who was walking toward the creature with blank eyes, couldn't reply.

The AI, however, didn't stop.

Although it had returned to its most basic form, where it would be just a normal AI looking for the best practical solution, it still had its emotions online, and it knew that Alex was in danger—a mortal danger.

So, the AI decided to override Alex's order to never do anything without his permission.

*BZZZZZZZZZ*

A shock which was intense enough to cause Alex's mind to blank for a moment passed through his body, and before the beast could even react...

*Woosh*

*Pant**Pant*...

Alex was away from the beast, breathing heavily as he tried to stabilize his body. The pain of the shock was still lingering in his body.

Neither the AI nor him spoke about the permission override.

Both of them knew that it was a compulsory action, and although Alex didn't like it when things went against his will, even if he could answer the AI's question before, his answer would've been yes, so it was fine.

Alex's eyes then stared at the beast with utmost seriousness, and the beast, still trying to understand what had happened, just stared at its tentacles, but the next second...

*GAOAOAOA!*

It roared out loud, flailing its tentacles here and there, wanting to crush anyone and everyone.

'Ghhhh!'

Alex groaned as he felt his eardrums bleeding.

*Grit*

He just ground his teeth before he took out his bow and arrow from the inventory.

Alex heard the AI's words, but he didn't say anything, his focus remained on the enraged beast as he knocked his arrow and aimed it at one of the beast's eyes.

They were burning with anger as the beast seemed to have gone into a frenzy, but it was not uncalled for.

That abomination had yet to face defeat by anyone, and all of its prey had never been able to resist it, yet now it failed.

How could this not anger the beast?

*Woosh*

*Clanck*

"..."

Silence, undeniable, and utter silence.

The moment Alex shot the arrow, the beast closed its eyes, causing the arrow to crash against its skin with a clang, leaving the beast unharmed but dumbfounded.

Its other eyes widened in disbelief before they turned toward Alex, only to find the guy rushing toward the cluster of normal chimeras coming from the other side, and...

"I-I W-WILL KILL YOU!!"

All of the agonizing expressions on the faces that were still being absorbed by the abomination twisted in rage and disbelief, roaring at the same time, causing the ground itself to tremble.