Life Rebooted with Copy and Paste

The rain poured down relentlessly, so much so that it was hard to see and hear. In the next moment, the ground trembled as underground water suddenly erupted, shooting up like waterfalls from all directions.

A massive flood was building—the force of it uprooted trees, carried away dirt and rocks like they were nothing.

Crack!

To avoid the rushing water, Kim Do-Joon climbed to the top of a large tree that still stood. Below, all he saw was a disaster. It was as if a massive flood had consumed everything, turning the entire area into a raging torrent.

— Are you holding up alright?

Vulcanus asked, his voice barely made it through the roar of the water. He was now in dragon form, flapping his wings furiously to stay afloat in the storm.

“This tree should hold for a bit,” Kim Do-Joon responded, his eyes scanning the chaotic scene.

Both of them took a moment to catch their breath, but suddenly, their attention was drawn to one particular spot.

Boom!

— I’m going to kill you insolent fools. I'll crush you until there’s not even a drop of blood or a scrap of flesh left.

A voice, deep and filled with rage, reverberated through the air, shaking the very atmosphere.

A colossal being made entirely of water, far larger than Vulcanus in his enormous dragon, appeared. The air trembled, almost as if afraid of the water giant’s wrath.

“Why is he so angry?” Kim Do-Joon asked, frowning at the sight.

He knew Nereid was notorious for his fickle temper, but this was on a whole other level. Even accounting for his erratic nature, this rage seemed strange.

Vulcanus gave an explanation as he hovered above.

— He’s furious because that avatar was one of his favorites.

“One of his favorites?” Kim Do-Joon asked, a bit surprised.

— Long ago... No, it doesn’t matter right now. It’s ancient history. There’s no point in bringing it up now. Just think of it as a prized possession that’s been destroyed.

Vulcanus didn’t explain further, but Kim Do-Joon had a pretty good idea. Perhaps, it was akin to how Vulcanus felt about Naiyel. Still, it wasn’t like knowing the reason would change anything—all that mattered was survival.

“You could’ve mentioned it was an important vessel sooner,” Kim Do-Joon said, raising an eyebrow.

— Well, you didn’t need to know. Even if you had known, would you have done anything differently?

Kim-Do Joon couldn’t refute Vulcanus’ point. He wouldn’t have gone easy on Nereid just because of that.

— Die!

Suddenly, Nereid slammed its foot down. Tidal waves surged up from beneath its feet, rushing toward them, threatening to swallow them both.

Both moved in an instant. Kim Do-Joon leapt to another tree, while Vulcanus soared higher into the sky.

Swoosh—!

Crack—! Crack!

The previous tree that Kim Do-Joon stood on was shattered by the wave instantly.

Watching this, Kim Do-Joon glanced up at Vulcanus.

“Hey, give me a ride,” Kim Do-Joon said casually.

— What?

Vulcanus’ expression twisted in disgust, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. His reaction was so strong that if he asked ten random people on the street, all of them would agree that he was genuinely repulsed.

— No way. You’re on your own.

“Seriously? That’s low...” Kim Do-Joon muttered, pouting a bit.

He didn’t get to finish his complaint. Nereid’s massive fist was coming straight for him. There was no way he’d remain unscathed if he got hit by the fist the size of a building.

Therefore, Kim Do-Joon quickly jumped again, this time aiming for Nereid.

Well, I have no other choice.

Since Vulcanus refused to help, he had to deal with this on his own. He landed on Nereid's massive fist, intending to climb up its arm and get closer to him.

“Huh?”

Splash!

It was like trying to stand on water. Before he could react, Kim Do-Joon sank straight into the giant’s body. It felt like he was in the ocean's depths, where no light reached. Powerful currents swirled around him, tossing him around, making it impossible to find stable ground.

Amid the chaotic currents, small Water sSpirits began swarming toward him.

Sssshhhh—

Some looked like fish, others like tiny humans wielding tridents, and others resembled birds. They came in all shapes and sizes, charging at him like a school of piranhas.

Tsk.

Kim Do-Joon clicked his tongue in frustration. Being submerged underwater without air was not exactly an ideal situation. Sure, as a Hunter, he could hold his breath far longer than an ordinary person, but even he had his limits—especially with enemies like this lurking around.

Iron Staff.

Kim Do-Joon gripped the weapon tightly. Almost immediately, flames began to dance along its length, sizzling as they evaporated in the water. Despite the intense pressure around him, new flames constantly reignited, battling the surrounding water.

With a sharp inhale, Kim Do-Joon swung the staff downward with all his might, twisting his entire body into the motion. The fiery energy left a burning trail in the water, cutting through the currents. The Water Spirits rushing toward him recoiled in fear, and those unlucky enough to touch the flames evaporated on the spot.

[You have defeated a monster. You have gained Experience Points (EXP).]

They give out Experience Points for these?

Kim Do-Joon chuckled in disbelief as he emerged from the Nereid’s massive arm.

“Pwah! Cough! Cough!”

He gasped for air soon as his head broke the surface.

— Are you alright?

Vulcanus asked, flying closer. His tone was gruff as always, but with a hint of concern. Wiping his soaked hair, Kim Do-Joon looked up at the dragon.

“Still not going to give me a ride?”

— Tsk.

Vulcanus clicked his tongue loudly, clearly displeased. The irritation in his expression was plain as day. Still, Vulcanus grudgingly lowered his back, offering it as a perch. Kim Do-Joon quickly climbed on, gripping one of the large spikes protruding from the dragon’s back.

— Just don’t fall off.

“Don’t worry,” Kim Do-Joon replied, settling into place.

Anyone familiar with Vulcanus, or even Sallyon, would've been shocked at the scene. Heck, those from the Stem would’ve faint from the sheer absurdity. Their ruler was being treated like a steed!

As annoyed as he was, Vulcanus was aware that fighting Nereid needed some teamwork. Vulcanus soared higher and higher into the sky, and Kim Do-Joon was tempted to whistle at the breathtaking view below. However, he held back. Who knew how the dragon would react?

— Hmph. Now there’s one less target to worry about.

Nereid sneered from below. Dozens of whirlpools formed in both his body and the floodwaters, shooting toward Vulcanus in a coordinated assault. Vulcanus responded with practiced precision. He canceled some of the whirlpools with his flames, while deftly dodging others as he closed in on Nereid.

Compared to Nereid, Vulcanus wasn’t exactly small either. To compare their sizes, it was like a man facing a large hawk. As Nereid reached out his massive hand to grab Vulcanus, the dragon responded without hesitation.

Fwoooosh!

A torrent of flames shot out from Vulcanus’ mouth in a fiery breath attack. Meanwhile, Kim Do-Joon channeled the power of the Iron Staff, wrapping it in flames. He unleashed a gust of wind that merged with Vulcanus’ breath, amplifying its strength.

The enhanced breath attack tore through Nereid's arm, shooting up its forearm, and blasting through its shoulder.

It works! Kim Do-Joon thought, tightening his grip on the staff. He’d sealed Nereid’s regeneration, so there was no way he could recover. The end was finally in sight!

— How futile.

Whooosh!

Kim Do-Joon’s eyes widened in shock as Nereid's destroyed arm began to reform. Water surged into the empty space, recreating the massive limb almost instantly. For the first time since they started fighting, Kim Do-Joon’s confidence wavered.

Nereid’s next attack came fast. This time, they couldn’t avoid it at such close range, so Vulcanus quickly pulled back to gain distance. As Vulcanus maneuvered away, Kim Do-Joon’s mind raced.

What the hell? Why is it regenerating?

He even saw the confirmation message.

Could it be because that was just the avatar?

Kim Do-Joon wondered, struggling to find an explanation.

[Water Lord]

Compatibility

- 0%

[Additional Effect]

- non-regenerating

No, that’s not it.

If Nereid had changed avatar, then his Insight skill wouldn’t have shown "non-regenerating." The mark wouldn’t apply in that case.

Oh... wait a second...

Then, he recalled the moment when he first acquired the “non-regenerating” ability.

[Non-regenerating]

- The bearer is unable to heal or regenerate body parts. Higher-ranking entities and those already capable of regeneration are immune to this effect.

Either Nereid was immune to the seal, or what he did wasn’t a regeneration but restoration, a different concept.

It’s probably the latter.

Either way, they had failed to wear down Nereid. They had to come up with a new strategy right away.

“How do we handle this?” Kim Do-Joon asked, turning to Vulcanus.

— We need to find the Core.

The Core was the source of Nereid’s power—an equivalent of Vulcanus' Heart of Flame.

— It’s not easy to locate from the outside. Even if you spot it, the Core can move freely inside, making it difficult to destroy.

“Then, what do we do?” Kim Do-Joon pressed.

— We have to go inside and grab it.

“Inside? You mean inside that thing’s body?”

A heavy silence followed as Kim Do-Joon processed the idea.

“Who’s going in?” Kim Do-Joon asked, breaking the silence.

— Well, someone has to stay outside to keep this monster busy, right?

Vulcanus shot back, implying that he should go in. Kim Do-Joon looked down, but it made sense. He didn’t have the strength or aerial maneuverability to hold off Nereid, especially with only a few trees left as his footholds. Once those were gone, he would be swept away in the flood.

With a resigned sigh, Kim Do-Joon accepted his role.

“Alright, fine. I’ll do it.”

Besides, he had already gone in once earlier.

— Good luck.

Vulcanus said with a smirk that seemed more mocking than encouraging. Kim Do-Joon couldn’t help but feel a sense of deja vu, reminiscing of being stuck with the worst tasks during his military service.

A few moments later, a small figure leaped from Vulcanus’ back, landing on Nereid's massive shoulder.

***

Swoosh—!

Kim Do-Joon descended swiftly, swinging the Iron Staff coated in the Heart of Flame as he fell. Hopefully, the Core would be near the entry point, and if not, at least the strike would reduce the impact when he hit the water below.

But the Core wasn’t there, and he just plunged into Nereid’s watery body.

Here we go again.

He bit down on a makeshift air pouch he had hastily prepared beforehand. The primitive device would give him a little more time to breathe inside Nereid’s body.

— Foolish Human. What do you hope to accomplish inside my domain?

Nereid's voice echoed mockingly around him.

Kim Do-Joon didn’t bother to reply. Instead, he focused on what laid ahead.

Swoosh. Swoosh.

Just as before, Water Spirits started swarming toward him like angry hornets.

[You have defeated a monster. You have gained Experience Points (EXP).]

[You have defeated a monster. You have gained Experience Points (EXP).]

...

Messages of gained Experience Points flashed in front of Kim Do-Joon's eyes, but there was no time to be distracted by them. The real priority was finding Nereid’s Core.

Where do I even begin?

Kim Do-Joon struck down another Water Spirit as he swam through Nereid's body. Despite the difficulty of moving underwater, his enhanced physical abilities allowed him to press forward. His Iron Staff glowed a deep red due to his mana supply, illuminating the murky water around him.

Maintaining the fiery energy of his Heart of Flame was harder inside Nereid’s watery body, but it didn’t matter. With limited air, he couldn’t stay submerged for long. He had to be quick.

I can’t just wander around aimlessly. If only there was a way to get a sense of direction...

As he was thinking, his staff’s flame caught his eyes. Despite being fueled by mana, the flame was flickering and dying out intermittently.

This is it!

Kim Do-Joon’s mind raced back to the nature of the Heart of Flame—the mana flame that no ordinary water could extinguish. His staff’s flame was being snuffed out because Nereid’s body was infused with spirit power, on par with Heart of Flame.

The Core—the source of Nereid’s power—would likely be surrounded by an even stronger concentration of this energy. As such, the closer he got to it, the quicker his flame would be extinguished.

Hah! Alright.

Kim Do-Joon summoned multiple flames around his body, watching closely. The first to go out would point him in the right direction, but they all extinguished almost simultaneously. It was nearly impossible to tell which one died first—he’d need slow motion to catch it.

Over there!

The flame on one side had gone out just a fraction of a second sooner. It was barely noticeable, but it was enough for Kim Do-Joon.

He swam in that direction, and in the next moment, he felt the entire body of water around him tremble. Nereid had noticed.

A small grin formed on his lips. Nereid’s reaction said it all—he was on the right path. Even more Water Spirits swarmed toward him. They were endless, as if every spirit within Nereid's body was converging on him.

The pressure from the water increased, crushing him. Sudden currents appeared from all sides, threatening to sweep him away. In spite of that, Kim Do-Joon’s determination held firm.

I found it!

His eyes locked onto a small, glowing object deep within Nereid's body.

As he raised his staff toward it, he recalled a certain memory. Back when Karlish first taught him Violent Stream, he had said something. The ancient legend of Nox, the god of storms, who’d pierced through an island surrounded by hurricanes.

Kim Do-Joon couldn’t help but feel a certain similarity with his situation. Torrential rain, spiraling whirlpools, and crashing waves all tried to stop him, with the giant of the storm standing tall in the center.

Inventory.

Kim Do-Joon pulled out an ordinary knife that had no special effect.

— Wait! Hold on, human! You don’t understand—! Vulcanus! Stop getting in the way!

Nereid's voice echoed, laced with panic. Kim Do-Joon paid no heed to it, focusing on the task at hand. He let go of the knife, letting it drift in the water for a moment.

Too late.

The next moment, Kim Do-Joon stomped on the knife. Then, a surge of mana exploded from his foot, shooting toward Nereid’s Core like a lightning bolt.

— No!

The Core began to move, trying to escape Kim Do-Joon’s attack. It darted away, desperate to avoid being struck, but it was too late.

Like the Sky Thunder, Kim Do-Joon shot forward, leaving only a trail of afterimages as his staff smashed into the Core. The attack missed the center by a small margin, yet caused enough damage.

Babababam—!

The Violent Stream that wrapped around the whirlpool soared into the sky, shattering the Core.

***

“What the...?” someone muttered in disbelief.

Even from a distance, the sight was unmistakable. There was a towering giant locked in battle with a dragon wreathed in blazing flames.

Jecheon Seong, Son Chang-Il, and several other Hunters rushed toward the scene. Their instincts told them this was no ordinary battle. And then, they saw it.

A figure rocketed out from the giant’s head, surrounded by a blinding flash of light. From where the figure had emerged, the thick storm clouds began to part, as if marking the end of a cataclysm.