Life Rebooted with Copy and Paste

[Ice Crystal Core]

Kim Do-Joon looked up at the Core in front of him. It was large, so much so that he had to crane his neck to fully take it in.

With a soft thud, he set down the Aether Core he had been carrying. The Aether Core and the Ice Crystal Core were similar in color, but the latter had a much clearer, purer quality to it.

This is going to be a pain to break.

The larger the Core, the more mana it would contain, which meant more for him to absorb. With anticipation, Kim Do-Joon tapped lightly on different parts of the Ice Crystal Core, testing it. The durability of the material didn’t seem much different from other Aether Cores he had encountered.

Then, a message suddenly appeared before him.

[The effect of the Ice Crystal Core can be copied and pasted onto Kim Do-Joon.]

His eyes widened in surprise. From the moment he first discovered the Core at the harbor, he had immediately checked to see if the Core could be copy-pasted. Of course, he had no intention of destroying it. He just wanted to make sure.

However, nothing had happened. It seemed that, unlike ordinary items, that Core couldn’t be copied. That was when he had copy-pasted the defense effect to the Core.

Still not working...

Just to be sure, he touched the Aether Core he had placed on the ground earlier, just to be sure, but no message appeared. There was something different about this Ice Crystal Core.

The word Ice Crystal had been appearing frequently ever since he had entered this labyrinth. Narrowing his eyes, Kim Do-Joon inspected the Core more closely. He felt like he was on the verge of understanding something, but before he could delve deeper, the copy-paste process had completed.

[Ding!] [The item effect has been successfully copied and pasted.] [The Ice Crystal Core has been destroyed.]

The enormous Ice Crystal Core collapsed, shattering as waves of energy rushed out from it like a tidal wave.

Whenever Kim Do-Joon broke an Aether Core, there was always a surge of energy. Usually, over half would be absorbed into his Aether Core, while the rest would be drawn into him through mana breathing. This time, however, the energy was far greater than before.

The overwhelming force of the energy surged toward the Aether Core on the ground, as if drawn by instinct. However, just as it was about to be absorbed, the energy of Ice Crystal froze in place, as if being repelled.

Snap!

It pushed against the invisible barrier, trying to force its way into the Aether Core, but to no avail. None of the energy was being shared with the Core. Instead, all of it was being forcibly directed straight into Kim Do-Joon.

It wasn’t the usual process of mana breathing, but the copy-paste skill at work.

[You have absorbed the energy of Ice Crystal.]

[Your mana level has increased by 1.]

[Your mana level has increased by 1.]

[Your mana level has increased by 1.]

...

The messages kept coming one after another. His mana was surging at an incredible rate. After a short while, another notification appeared.

[The passive has evolved into .]

A new type of energy—far more intense than anything he had ever experienced—spread throughout his entire body. He trembled uncontrollably, a deep shudder coursing through him.

If his previous mana had been like cold water, this new mana felt like liquid nitrogen coursing through his veins.

“Gah!” Kim Do-Joon gasped.

Suddenly, a sharp pain tore through him. Something wasn’t right. Gritting his teeth, he held onto himself, trying to focus inward and figure out what was happening. Thankfully, it didn’t take long for him to identify the source of the problem.

The real issue was that the energy of Ice Crystal was clashing with the power of Heart of Flame inside him. The two forces were colliding violently within his body.

***

— ...p!

The first thing Kim Do-Joon felt was a throbbing headache, as if his skull was about to crack open.

— ... up ...ready!

Along with the throbbing pain in his head, a ringing sound filled his ears. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open. Instead of the familiar ceiling of his home, he saw a strange, unfamiliar one.

— Wake up already!

"Ah!" Kim Do-Joon gasped and shot up in response to Karlish's booming voice, on high alert.

His eyes surveyed the area, trying to assess the situation. He was met with silence. No enemies were nearby, and the weight of the spear in his hand grounded him enough to calm his racing heart.

— You alright?

Where am I...?

Kim Do-Joon wondered, his eyes scanning his surroundings. He quickly realized he was on Nagaraja Rixit's island, deep within the altar at the center. The scattered fragments of the Ice Crystal Core and his own Aether Core laid on the ground in disarray. All the memories came rushing back to him.

He had absorbed the energy from the Ice Crystal, which had sparked a violent clash with the power of the Heart of Flame already inside him. The two energies had fought for dominance, causing him unbearable pain.

He had tried his best to control them, to pacify both forces as they tore through his body. However, neither the Ice Crystal’s energy nor the power of the Heart of Flame was willing to cooperate.

The Ice Crystal energy made the first move, attempting to consume the power of the Heart of Flame, much like a frozen beast devouring its prey. At that moment, the power of the Heart of Flame had been the weaker of the two, as it was at the same level as his mana core. Meanwhile, the Ice Crystal energy had grown more powerful after absorbing part of the mana core.

But then, the power of the Heart of Flame began to fight back. Possessing the ability to harmonize with other forces, it swelled in size and power until it was on par with the Ice Crystal. That was when things got out of hand.

No matter how much Kim Do-Joon tried to calm them down, the two energies clashed like feuding siblings, completely ignoring his attempts to mediate.

Fearing his body wouldn’t survive the internal battle, Kim Do-Joon took drastic action and forcibly separated the two energies. He followed Karlish’s advice, placing the Ice Crystal energy where his mana core had once resided in his heart, and moving the power of the Heart of Flame down to his lower abdomen.

Finally, both forces settled down, and Kim Do-Joon soon passed out from exhaustion.

Phew...

— It seems like everything’s somewhat stabilized now.

Yeah, it’s quiet now...

The pain was gone, and his body felt peaceful once again. Yet, a nagging sense of unease crept into his mind. There was an immense amount of energy coursing through his body, far more than before, both in quantity and quality.

What worried him most was how he would control it. If the energies refused to listen to him and went on a rampage like before, it would be disastrous. What use was tremendous power if he could not manage it?

I should test it out.

Kim Do-Joon cautiously focused on drawing out the energy from the Ice Crystal first. Since it had originally come from his mana core, it was easier to control. He felt a familiar response almost immediately.

Whoosh!

In an instant, a beautiful ice flower bloomed from his hand, freezing the moisture in the air. The flower sparkled in the light, intricate and delicate. Kim Do-Joon widened his eyes in surprise. He retracted the energy, then called it forth again, repeating the process.

Contrary to his fears, the energy was responding perfectly to his commands, with no signs of rebellion or instability.

— Oh... The flow of your mana has become much smoother.

In fact, just as Karlish said, it felt even easier to manipulate than before.

Kim Do-Joon was slightly confused but intrigued. He withdrew the energy of Ice Crystal and shifted his focus to the power of the Heart of Flame, the one that had been trickier to control in the past due originating from Vulcanus.

Fwoosh!

But now, the fire energy sprang to life without resistance, unlike the old days when he had to coax, subdue, or forcibly suppress it to make it obey. Now, it followed his will almost instinctively. He could even control the size of the flames with remarkable precision.

What the...?

Kim Do-Joon narrowed his eyes, puzzled. It was definitely a good development, but not knowing the reason behind it left him uneasy.

To investigate further, Kim Do-Joon alternated between summoning the energy of Ice Crystal and the power of the Heart of Flame, watching closely for any clues. After observing the energies for a while, he noticed something strange.

These guys...

It felt as if they were competing with each other. Each energy responded as though it wanted to be faster or more precise than the other, as if trying to prove who was more useful to him.

Realizing this, Kim Do-Joon couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle. It was as if he had become the babysitter for two bickering children. However, there was one thing he absolutely couldn’t do.

"Ugh!" Kim Do-Joon grimaced.

He couldn’t summon both energies at the same time. The moment he attempted it, they immediately started clashing again, threatening to turn his body into a battlefield. Before they could wreak havoc again, Kim Do-Joon quickly separated them.

“Ha...”

Wiping the sweat from his brow, he sighed deeply. But soon, a grin spread across his face. Despite the hurdles, the results were more than satisfying.

The amount of energy within him had increased dramatically, far beyond his anticipation. Moreover, its quality had also improved in a way that couldn’t even be compared to before. While the power of the Heart of Flame had simply grown in quantity, his newly-attained Ice Crystal Core had refined his mana, turning it stronger and purer.

Moreover, one of his primary goals in this labyrinth, which was to control the power of the Heart of Flame, had been achieved. Not only could he manage that energy, he also found his overall mana control was faster and more precise.

Curious, Kim Do-Joon decided to test it out. Following Karlish's instructions, he tore through the energy currents with his spear.

“Wow...”

Around the spear, a quiet yet powerful energy swirled. His limit of fifty layers of energy—sometimes sixty on a good day—now easily surpassed one hundred layers. His progress was nothing short of incredible.

As he relaxed his focus, the intense energy enveloping the spear dissipated effortlessly. Just as Karlish had said, the flow had become incredibly smooth and natural.

In summary, Kim Do-Joon’s overall feeling suggested that he had become much stronger.

— You’ve finally become useful, you rascal! Hahaha!

Karlish’s voice boomed with satisfaction. Kim Do-Joon’s heart also pounded with indescribable excitement. He had been steadily growing, but it had been a long time since he had felt such a rapid surge of power. The exhilaration surpassed even what he had felt when he first acquired the power of the Heart of Flame.

With his heart racing, a bold thought crossed his mind.

Could I possibly win against elder Jecheon Seong?

— What? Don’t get ahead of yourself. You’re not even close yet.

Karlish shot back immediately, crushing Kim Do-Joon’s wishful fantasy. His shoulders slumped a little at the harsh reality. It was still too early to win against him.

Just then, a warning message flashed before his eyes.

[Warning. You cannot possess two Aether Cores. Please remove one of them.]

[Warning. You cannot possess two Aether Cores. Please remove one of them.]

...

The message repeated several times, finally catching Kim Do-Joon's attention. He had been so focused on managing the energy inside him that he hadn’t noticed until now.

Two? But I already destroyed the Ice Crystal Core, and I only have one left.

Kim Do-Joon frowned in confusion. Puzzled, he considered his situation.

No way...

[Additional Effect]

- Passive: Ice Crystal

Am I being considered a Core myself?

Since he had copy-pasted Ice Crystal Core into his body, it seemed plausible. In fact, there was no other explanation for such a message to appear.

He grabbed the Aether Core lying on the ground with one hand. Despite the defense power effect it held, it crumbled like a tofu with a little pressure from his fingers.

Crack!

As it shattered, the contained mana spilled out and instantly went into Kim Do-Joon's body.

[You have absorbed the energy of Ice Crystal.]

[Your mana level has increased by 1.]

Kim Do-Joon glanced at the notification, but something else caught his attention entirely. The Aether Core’s energy had been completely absorbed by him.

This showed that the system of the labyrinth was treating him as a Core, at least within this dungeon.

That means there’s no risk of failure anymore.

The possibility of failing to clear the labyrinth weighed heavily on Kim Do-Joon’s mind. Despite copy-pasting the defense power effect, his Aether Core wasn’t indestructible, worrying him constantly.

Hence why he had always carried it like a precious burden. But now, with this newfound ability, he no longer needed to worry. As long as he was alive, his Core wouldn’t break.

In the system of this labyrinth, where Cores had to be destroyed to progress, this was an almost absolute advantage.

Wait... But even with the Ice Crystal Core, I still can’t clear the dungeon?

He had defeated the boss and destroyed the Ice Crystal Core, yet the clear message hadn;t appeared. Considering the mechanics of the labyrinth so far, it seemed he had to destroy all the Aether Cores scattered throughout the dungeon.

This was a far more tedious requirement compared to other dungeons, where usually defeating the boss was sufficient for a clear. Nevertheless, there was no choice but to proceed. If he had to do it, then he would do it.

With a determined stride, Kim Do-Joon climbed the stairs. Soon, he emerged from the altar.

“Yes yes, bring it on.”

Before him sat Ashunagaga, reclining in a lavish chair, enjoying the fruits offered by her followers. Her relaxed demeanor made Kim Do-Joon chuckle.

“Ah! You’ve come... no, you’re here!” Ashunaga exclaimed, standing up abruptly upon seeing him.

Her reaction drew the attention of the other followers, who were still filled with a deep-seated fear of Kim Do-Joon. Ignoring the hundreds of eyes upon him, an idea suddenly struck Kim Do-Joon.

“I think it’s time for me to head back home,” Kim Do-Joon announced.

“Really? Are you serious?” Ashunaga asked, breaking into a wide grin.

It was no wonder she was so delighted. She had gained hundreds of followers for free and acquired a massive island to call her own. With Kim Do-Joon gone, she felt invincible.

If only this monster of a human were to disappear, my world would be perfect!

She thought there would be no one daring enough to invade this large island. With Rixit dead, she could now enjoy her newfound power without a worry.

However, Kim Do-Joon had to dampen her enthusiasm.

“I’ll be going, so make sure to conquer some other islands while I’m away.”

“... Excuse me?” Ashunaga responded, her expression turning blank.

However, Kim Do-Joon showed no signs of sympathy, pressing the point home.

“It’s your homework, so don’t forget.”

***

In the grand conference room of the Association, a few individuals had gathered. Given the size of the room, there were only a handful of people present.

However, examining their faces, it was clear these weren’t to be underestimated. Among them were Association President Son Chang-Il, S-rank Hunter Shin Yoo-Sung, Yeon Hong-Ah, and the nation’s top S-rank Hunter, Ko Cheong-Cheon, who had returned at Son Chang-Il's summons.

Along with the guild masters of the major guilds, including Oh Tae-Jin, the total number of attendees was less than ten. However, no one dared to look down upon them. Their mere influence could easily reach into the tens of thousands.

In this tense atmosphere, Son Chang-Il was the first to speak.

“As you all know, we need to discuss the mysterious forest in Haenam...”

“Sorry, excuse me,” Shin Yoo-Sung interjected, raising a hand slightly. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

His interruption caused the conversation to pause, but Son Chang-Il nodded, signaling him to continue.

“It seems we’re missing someone... Where is Hunter Kim Do-Joon?”

Several others nodded in agreement, sharing similar sentiments. Son Chang-Il, Yeon Hong-Ah, and even Oh Tae-Jin looked concerned.

However, some were not on the same page.

“Who is that?” Ko Cheong-Cheon and a few others squinted at Shin Yoo-Sung, puzzled.