Is it Wrong to Copy Abilities in Apocalypse?

Humans right now have it easy.

For some reason, the system wasn't manifesting itself, nor had there been any tasks for them.

So they didn't have to stay in constant worry that they might get a sudden mission to do.

There were rarely any beasts roaming around, as they were mostly settled in the red zones.

There were some still starling around, looking for food or a place to settle in, but with the newfound power of humans, defeating one or two stray beasts was not hard, especially when the said beasts were just low-level monsters.

So, after all the sh*t they went through, this moment brought relief to the humans.

They felt like it was the best they could get.

But not everything was fine...

With the whole world in shambles, getting a constant supply of water was almost impossible.

If, by any chance, some convenience store was still functioning, then maybe, just maybe, one could find some food and water there; other than that...

[You are being provided with the compulsory daily food supply.]

A notification flashed in from of every human on Earth, causing a wave of surprise.

'Did the system suddenly turn generous?'

'What does it want from us?'

'It wants us to live?'

'I don't want nothing from this mf!'

….

..

.

Many people came to different conclusions, but there were some people who felt immensely grateful to the system right now.

Almost everyone had been starving since the start of the apocalypse, and although it had not even been a day since that time, the physical and mental stress they went through took a lot of their energy.

Now, the humans were left drained, and many were desperately searching for food.

So, when they heard or saw the notification, the ones who just wanted to eat something started cheering, but the next instant...

[10 coins are being deducted.]

A new notification popped up below the first one, causing humans to grind their teeth in anger.

'I knew it!'

'There's no way the system could suddenly turn generous.'

'Well, I expected that much…'

'There's no free food in the world, huh?'

'W-What..?'

'But I don't have a single coin left.'

'Will I not have to pay at all?'

'I guess it's fair.'

…..

…

.

This new notification caused another wave of emotions, but this time, instead of surprise and doubt, anger, panic, and delight were what most people felt.

They earned coins by killing monsters and completing tutorials, and although the food was important, they could survive a day or two without it, but the thing they needed the most right now was power—something they would get only by using coins.

So, when they heard that the coins they had been saving to get themselves a power-up were getting taken away, their raging about it wasn't unjustified.

Then there were the ones who were alerted by this revelation.

Was this coin reduction just a one-time thing, or was it going to go on forever?

Some were panicking as they saw that they didn't have a single coin.

'What would happen to us?'

They wanted to know this.

There was no way the system was going to let them be; there was just no way!

They were sure about it.

Not a single cell in their brain wanted to believe that they would be left scott-free.

But there were some people who thought otherwise...

"Hahahaha, I don't have a coin, so what are you gonna do?!"

A man with a small build, dark brown hair, and thin, black eyes shouted as he laughed with a smug smile.

He didn't think that the system could do anything to him.

The system can't kill him without a valid reason; he had read the rule, so he knew that as well.

That was why he was so confident about it, but just as he was celebrating, thinking that he had cheated the system, a new notification flashed in front of his eyes.

[You do not have sufficient coins; if you can not gather the required coin and pay it within 2 minutes, then a penalty will be issued.]

"Hahahah—huh?"

His laughter, however, got stuck in his throat, and his eyes widened as he read the contents of the notification.

"W-What…?"

He stammered, trying to hold the illusionary screen for support as his eyes bore into the screen.

"Penalty??"

He questioned no one in particular, disbelief evident in his voice.

"Why is there a penalty!?"

His tone rose as he screamed hysterically.

He couldn't believe this was happening.

But the system didn't reply.

[You do not have sufficient coins; if you can not gather the required coin and pay it within 2 minutes, then a penalty will be issued.]

The same notification kept blinking again and again, with a new timer that had appeared just a second after the notification arrived.

[1:57]

The time ticked, getting lower with every second, and the man who realized that he wasn't going to find a way out of this situation, had his eyes trembling.

*Thud*

'W-What do I do….?'

He fell to his knees, his palm covering his face.

He used to travel alone, so even after the apocalypse, he roamed alone.

But now he regrets his actions.

He wished that he had someone to help him right now.

But as he recalled the situation of the place he was in, his eyes started to tear up.

'This place is deserted.'

He had been staying in this area for a while, so he knew that there was not a single soul left in this area.

All of them had left for the green zones.

He now regretted not following them and waiting to enjoy the view of the river in this area.

He was just a normal Indian guy, and just so you know, being normal in India was not something anyone would want to be.

He was just a normal salaryman in this area, but his life was lifing so hard that he never got time for himself; that was why when the apocalypse hit, although horrified, he was still a bit relieved that he wouldn't have to go back to how he used to be.

But it all came crashing down now.

All the relief he had felt was now gone.

He looked at his status window, and again, he felt like crying.

'Why does everything seem like sh*t to me now?'

He lamented inwardly, but just as he was about to lose hope, his eyes widened.

'Is that a human?!'

He was shocked to see a human still passing through this area, but after the momentary shock came joy.

"Fuck, yeah!"

He jumped up on his feet and pumped his fists.

'I can still be saved!'

He didn't even think of anything and he directly rushed toward the only human he had seen in hours.

"Hey!"

He shouted at the red-haired boy, wanting to grab the boy's attention but being ignored.

The man, however, yelled again.

"Help me!"

He thought that the boy couldn't hear him, but this time, the boy paused, much to the man's relief, and the man rushed toward the boy without a second thought.

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