Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 213: Secret Main Character?

”I call my ability, Copy,” William began, his voice steady though his eyes carried the faintest glimmer of pride. ”It allows me to duplicate the awakened abilities of other people.”

As the words fell from William’s lips, Asher’s mind froze for a moment, as though his thoughts had been shattered by the sheer weight of the revelation. He stared at William with unblinking eyes, unable to mask the astonishment flickering through his expression.

’Is this guy secretly the main character of this world or something?’ Asher thought to himself, half in disbelief, half in apprehension.

In his previous life, Asher had read numerous novels where such abilities appeared, and he knew all too well the terrifying implications of powers centered on copying or replicating others. They were the kind of abilities that, depending on the wielder, could bend the balance of power and destabilize entire worlds. Few things were more dangerous than an ability that allowed one to mirror the strengths of others.

His thoughts spun rapidly, branching into a hundred questions at once. ’Is his copying permanent, or is it bound by time? Has he already copied my own abilities? If so, does that mean he also possesses the Star affinity? What exactly are the limitations, and how far could he push them?’

Despite the avalanche of speculation tearing through his mind, Asher forced himself into silence. He would not ask. He would not pry. Instead, he resolved to let William share only what he wished. Forcing the boy into revealing crucial details under the guise of friendship would be foolish, and Asher was no fool.

William, however, smiled faintly when he caught the shock etched in Asher’s eyes. He had anticipated this reaction; it was always the same. Everyone who learned of his ability responded with awe and disbelief.

Normally, William would have left the conversation there, withholding the deeper truths about his power. But from the brief time he had spent with Asher, he understood that the Tenth Sun was far too intelligent to remain ignorant for long.

Whether he revealed it or not, Asher would eventually piece things together. Moreover, this was the Star Academy, a place where abilities would inevitably be displayed in the open. Secrets could not remain hidden forever, not when thousands of sharp eyes were watching.

”Before your thoughts spiral too far,” William said, his voice calm yet deliberate, ”let me clarify. My ability isn’t permanent. I can only copy a person’s awakened ability for twenty-four hours. After that, I lose it, unless I copy it again. And even when I use what I’ve copied, I can only wield it at half the original’s proficiency and control.”

Asher gave a slight nod, digesting the explanation. He could understand such restrictions, though in his mind they hardly seemed restrictive at all. Twenty-four hours was more than enough to unleash devastation, and if William could copy abilities without any cooldown, then in practice, there was no real gap in his strength.

’Still overpowered,’ Asher thought silently.

William left out other details, of course. He spoke nothing of the hidden limitations, the age restriction that required him to be the same age as his target, nor the two final drawbacks he preferred to keep concealed. If Asher discovered those truths on his own, then so be it. If not, William would not volunteer the information.

’Is that why he drew close to me?’ Asher wondered briefly, suspicion flickering across his mind. ’Was his friendship merely a convenient pretext to secure my abilities?’

He quickly dismissed the thought. If William’s Copy ability required friendship as a condition, then he would be the most sociable person alive, constantly seeking connections. But from what Asher had observed, William seemed utterly indifferent to social bonds. He did not chase popularity nor concern himself with others’ opinions.

”Whose abilities did you use during the exam?” Asher asked after a moment of silence.

”Yours,” William replied without hesitation, his voice open and straightforward.

Asher’s expression remained composed, but internally, his thoughts erupted into a storm. He wanted desperately to know just how far William’s ability extended, how much of his own strength the boy had managed to duplicate.

”What abilities did you copy?” Asher pressed, his brow lifting ever so slightly in curiosity.

”You’re not offended?” William asked, studying him carefully.

”Why would I be?” Asher replied evenly, his voice calm and detached. ”At the end of the day, you can only wield half of my control. That alone makes the difference clear. Even if, one day, you gained the power to perfectly replicate another’s mastery, victory in battle isn’t determined by abilities alone. There are countless other factors, instinct, creativity, experience, willpower. I trust I don’t need to list them out for you, do I?”

William nodded quietly, acknowledging the truth in those words.

”Honestly,” William continued, ”I copied your abilities just before the exam began. At first, I thought I’d only gain an element, since every Wargrave is known for possessing just one. But imagine my shock when I realized you had more than one. Space, Gravity, Lightning, and Light.”

His tone carried a blend of awe and exhaustion. ”Truthfully, I was overwhelmed. I couldn’t manage the cost. I burned through my Astra far too quickly. Handling so many elements at once is far more draining than I had anticipated.”

Asher sat in silence, absorbing every word.

’So he didn’t copy the Star affinity itself,’ Asher thought carefully. ’Nor the Star Energy, nor Perfect Astra Control. He only managed to replicate the elements. That alone makes things slightly less terrifying.’

”Can I see?” Asher asked at last, genuine curiosity flickering in his voice.

William shook his head regretfully. ”It’s been more than twenty-four hours since I copied yours. I already copied another during orientation.”

Without further explanation, he raised a hand. Wind surged from his palm with sudden ferocity, a pulse of energy so sharp it knocked the couch behind him backward with effortless force.

”The Royal twins?” Asher asked, recognizing the ability immediately.

William nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Asher studied him in silence, his expression calm but his mind tumultuous.

This boy... this monster called William. His Copy ability can even bypass bloodlines. If he continues to grow, if he finds enough Astra to sustain himself... he might one day become one of the most dangerous forces alive.

Asher leaned back, lost in thought. ’If he had possessed greater Astra reserves during the battle exam, perhaps he could have maintained his second-place rank. Perhaps he wouldn’t have dropped to fourth.’

But he pushed the notion aside. Astra reserves were not something easily controlled. The quantity each individual possessed wasn’t tied intrinsically to their Life Rank. Even two people within the same sub-rank and Life Rank could differ drastically in how much Astra energy their bodies could hold.

’I wonder... will his ability ever evolve into something permanent?’ Asher mused. The thought sent a chill down his spine.

If that day ever came, if William gained the power to keep what he copied forever, then he would not simply be strong. He would be unstoppable, a threat so immense that even the most powerful would think twice before crossing him.