100\% Drop Rate: My Special Ability is Perfect Replication

New borders and increased proximity had caused a lot of tensions between nations and people. Sudden changes in climate killed many. But the world council was unified in peace and cooperation.

They were too unified if you asked Faust.

"What’s happening," he murmured, deciding to ask Kye later.

Right now, a new screen opened in front of him.

[You have been invited for an interview with Narad’s Room]

[You have been invited for an private conversation with Gorat ra Nero]

[You have been Invited for a private tasting with Sword Over A Grill]

[You have been invited...]

He got so many that he was almost lost for a second, but the system put Narad’s Room at the top. The name was so strangely human Faust was unsure for a moment, but Kye had told him prior that this was the name of the talk show he was meant to be on.

Hesitantly, he accepted the invitation and the world turned a pure white as he was teleported.

◇◇◇

The Interview was a decent rest. Faust first found himself backstage in a strange room. There he spoke to a Stage manager and, over text, Kye.

They told him how this worked.

He was still in Earth’s Origin server, just a secluded part of it. He would speak to Narad across a hologram projection so neither of them would be in the room.

They asked him to just be himself.

But just avoid attacking the host.

"I’m not a wild animal," Faust grumbled.

The stage manager was a four-armed alien wearing an earth-style black suit. He resembled an Orc a little, tall and broad-shouldered with grey skin, maybe he was once one.

"I apologize for that," the manager said. "We have a lot of peculiar guests. Narad himself is a bit peculiar so you two should get along.

Kye: That was the general management’s idea when they booked you with him.

The wait was short and Faust even got to eat some earth food like ice cream and cheesecake. They really picked the most random things.

Finally it was time for him to have the interview.

The set of the Narad’s room was a basic living room with a wall to ceiling tv. Brown couches and carpets, potted green plants and absurdist paintings decorated the room. Recessed golden lights gave the room a sleepy ambience.

There were only two huge couches and no windows. It felt like a movie night. On one of the couches was the host.

He could tell Narad had started as a human. But modifications and race evolutions changed him slightly.

Narad wore a full black suit with white stripes and brown loafers. He also wore a bowler hat, but a horn protruding from his forehead like a unicorn that tipped the hat over. He was light brown skinned, but red tattoos glowed over his skin.

He got up and Faust craned his neck to meet his eyes. Narad was around ten feet tall. His head was drawing close to the high roof.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Faust."

His voice was jarringly soft and small. Faust suppressed a chuckle and nodded to him. They both were in completely different places now, connected through holograms, so they didn’t shake.

Instead they quickly took their seats. The couches were made for a ten foot man to comfortably lounge in, so he looked tiny on them. He struggled to find a comfortable position where he was lying on the coach and seeing the screen, till he gave up.

Now he just sat at the top of the backrest, which was conveniently just the right side.

Narad had to look up at him now, while reclining on his chair. A sprite smile formed on the host’s face.

"That’s a new one. Although it might be a bit awkward if I had other guests."

Faust shrugged. "They’ll live."

The interview started immediately. Narad’s show was more casual, taped instead of live.

They talked about the system’s portrayal of him and how much deviation it was from the truth. Faust just leaned into the role of fearless, instinctive fighter. Better his enemies know the mask than the person.

Narad asked good questions. Faust could tell the man had fought before. He had a calm, relaxed energy to him. Words were rushed and he didn’t care if they came out perfect.

The strange human-like man was actually a giant. One with stunted growth. Faust got to know more about him since Narad allowed him to ask questions too.

"... and I’ve told this story a lot of time," Narad said with a small apologetic laugh. "But I came into our Diraften—it’s like a house cave in your world—and I saw my parents fighting again. This time I just ignored them and went to my room. Since then I’ve hated fighting."

Faust understood why Kye and the Stage manager described Narad as strange. Giants loved battle. They lived for it.

And yet Narad was a pacifist. A dwarf giant that still led the leaderboards in all categories during his time as an active Player.

Faust had to admit that was interesting.

Finally they landed on a topic that Faust was interested in.

"Negan," Narad started, rubbing his hands. "That was a battle for the ages."

The giant screen in front of them instantly displayed snippets of their flashy battle. There was a sequence where they showed each missed strike from Negan and Faust. Anyone that knew what Schema Negan had would know Faust was using the same thing now.

But for those that didn’t they couldn’t assume.

It could be a skill, equipment or completely different Schema. The point of the shots were to show Negan’s predictions failing.

Then they showed Faust outmanoeuvring him.

Narad watched each shot carefully. "You faced power far above yours unflinchingly. Some might call you brave, but I’ve seen people sharing the sentiment that you’re just mad. They’re saying bravery comes only if someone feels fear. My question is what do you think won you this battle?"

Faust sat with the question for a while, expression changing as he thought. Finally he said,

"There’s a point in the fight when Negan wonders why my heart was beating so quickly. He thinks it’s fear, and he’s mostly right, but that’s not the whole story."

"When I’m in the middle of the fight I can focus on winning so I don’t really look scared. I forget the fear I felt of losing before the fight starts. And my pounding heart gets lost in the sounds of battle. But it’s still there. That’s why I hate when I have to slow down. That’s why I prefer to throw the first hit."

"The fear stays a brief flash as long as you keep doing," Narad mused, rubbing one of the glowing tattoos on his chin. "Does that make it hard for you? The start of the fight where all you have is fear? Does it disturb you if you start losing?"

Faust shook his head hard, confusion written on his face.

"What? No. If I wasn’t afraid I wouldn’t fight. Without the fear of losing, the victory could never be sweet. If I wasn’t challenging myself to do more I wouldn’t be afraid of losing."

He tilted his head. "So why worry when you are winning or losing. The challenge is more important."