Reversing Life With Item Copy

How did it come to this…?

Kim Do-Joon blinked in disbelief as he surveyed the open clearing. Almost all of the Mahal Tribe had gathered there, with weapons at their sides and small pouches of provisions hanging from their belts. Only the very young, the elderly, and a handful of villagers were absent to protect the village.

So, they’ve decided to come with me after all.

A mix of annoyance and resignation washed over him. Going alone would’ve been far more convenient. With Sky Thunder, his speed would be unmatched, allowing him to complete the task much faster.

Well, it can’t be helped?

After all, they refused to tell him where the beast was hiding. It wasn’t like he could just capture one of them and torture the information out? The Mahal were firm on sticking together.

Of course, there was the option of sneaking out and searching the forest alone. However, between venturing off solo or leading this whole pack into the hunt—it seemed the latter was slightly more favorable. He didn’t have too many complaints about it.

Besides, there seems to be a deeper story behind all this.

From what Jamel had said, it was clear that the five-horned beast and the Mahal Tribe had a long, bitter history. Over a century, many of their people had been killed by that monster. Therefore, this hunt wasn’t just about survival, but also revenge. And with that, he understood their eagerness to join the hunt.

As Jamel said, this might be our last chance, Fuad mused, scanning the determined faces of his warriors. His eyes briefly flickered to Kim Do-Joon, the outsider standing among them.

The more time passed, the stronger the one-horned beast had become. Now, with five fully grown horns, it was practically the king of this forest. And yet, something even more troubling loomed over them.

Fifty years ago, when we cut its head, people said they had seen signs of a sixth horn sprouting, Fuad thought grimly, a secret only a few elders in the tribe were aware of.

Once the beast fully developed that sixth horn, it would become an unstoppable force beyond their reach.

Fuad’s gaze settled on Kim Do-Joon again.

Thank you.

Earlier, Kim Do-Joon had said something that ignited the warriors' pride, and now they were burning with determination, their spirits soaring. They were eager to prove themselves and show that they were a force to be reckoned with.

Even Fuad couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pride. He wanted to show the arrogant outsider how formidable the Mahal were.

However, as both a warrior and the chief, Fuad had to prioritize the safety of his people. A small part of him couldn’t shake the worry in his heart.

The arrival of this traveler… could it be a blessing sent by the gods? Or a curse sent to lead them into ruin?

He was uncertain, so he started to think that only time would reveal the truth.

“Let’s go!” Fuad shouted.

“Let’s go—!”

The air filled with the loud war cries of the Mahal warriors as they charged into the forest, drums echoing behind them, played by the villagers who stayed behind.

Kim Do-Joon watched from the rear, trailing behind the group.

“Come on, Mister! Let’s go!” Shura, who had appeared at his side without him noticing, grabbed his arm and pulled him forward.

She too had strapped a weapon and a pouch of provisions to her waist, ready for battle. There was no way Shura would sit out on a hunt this big. Anyone who could fight had already been gathered.

Well, guess I better follow along, Kim Do-Joon thought, sighing as he followed the tribe into the deep forest. Their pace was faster than he had expected. They weren’t exactly running, but their walk was brisk. The real issue, however, was the path they took.

At first, it seemed they were following a trail, but soon enough, they began cutting down anything that got in their way. Branches, underbrush, even trees—nothing was spared as they forged a straight path ahead, clearing the forest like bulldozers.

“We’ll take all the trees we cut down on our way back,” Shura explained casually.

“Oh really?” Kim Do-Joon asked.

“Yep! The more wood, the better.”

Apparently, when the entire tribe went on a hunt like this, they didn’t just hunt. They took everything with them on their way back—trees, fallen prey, anything useful.

Well, that’s a little strange.

After spending so much time fighting elves, this sight was a bit foreign to him. Elves were extremely protective of nature, going as far as to banish innocent Fire Spirits out of fear that they’d accidentally set the forest ablaze. They treated the forest with reverence, as if wounding it was the greatest sin.

In contrast, the Mahal Tribe had no such qualms. They hacked through the forest with little regard, cutting through the brush and trees like it was nothing. In a way, it was almost refreshing to see.

“Kraaa!”

Boom!

A loud crash echoed from one side. Kim Do-Joon turned his head just in time to see a few warriors take down a one-horned beast that had charged at them. Within moments, the creature was on the ground.

“One down!”

“Good work! Just take the horn for now and follow along!”

The beast's horn, which gleamed with a faint white light, was swiftly cut off with a sharp blade. Normally, they’d have dragged the entire body back or butchered it on the spot.

“Oh! There’s another one over there! I’ll join you in a bit, mister!” Shura exclaimed excitedly, running off as soon as she spotted another beast.

It was clear she was having the time of her life. This was probably her first experience with such a large-scale hunt.

Several more of the ferocious one-horned beast beasts attacked the group, but none posed any real threat to the Mahal warriors. The tribe had been hunting these creatures for ages—so much so that capturing one was part of their rite of passage. A few stray beasts were hardly enough to challenge them.

This is quite nice.

Kim Do-Joon didn’t need to lift a finger yet. He simply had to follow the lead of the tribe. Sure, a small part of him was itching to swing his spear, but he welcomed the break.

“We’ve found the herd!” a voice called out from the front.

It seemed they had finally located a large group of the creatures. Dozens of the beasts gathered together, but Kim Do-Joon saw no fear in the eyes of the Mahal warriors—only the steely gaze of hunters staring down their prey.

“Alright, let’s take them down, and then we rest for a bit,” Fuad commanded.

Kim Do-Joon observed the warriors' confidence and thought to himself, “Looks like I won’t have much to do for a while.”

It had been a while since he had been able to just blend into the background. Recently, he had spent so much time protecting others, but now he found himself surrounded by capable allies.

I guess I’ll take it easy for now.

Though, he knew everything would change once they encountered the real target.

***

Several days had passed since the Mahal Tribe set out on their hunt. Throughout this time, the group camped outdoors, but not a single person appeared to be struggling. Even the youngest of them, Shura, was still full of energy, and so was Kim Do-Joon.

They had encountered numerous one-horned beasts during the hunt. Among them, some even had two or three horns, but none of them could stand up to the blades of the Mahal warriors.

A one-horned beast, its mouth wide open, lunged at one of the Mahal warriors, intending to swallow him whole.

“Raaaargh!

Clang!

The warrior blocked the attack with his short spear and quickly glanced behind him. There, standing calmly, was the traveler who had started this entire hunt.

The traveler… doesn't seem strong at all… the warrior thought, bewildered. When he first saw Kim Do-Joon, it puzzled him. The Mahal’s strongest warriors always gave off an unmistakable aura of power, something even a casual observer could sense. Yet, this traveler seemed no different from an ordinary person who had meager training.

But Jamel would never lie.

Jamel, the tribe’s head blacksmith and one of their most respected figures, had vouched for Kim Do-Joon. He claimed that the traveler had taken down a three-horned beast with a single strike. In the Mahal Tribe, Jamel’s word was as good as law.

Therefore, the fact that Kim Do-Joon seemed so normal was even more terrifying for this warrior. A man this powerful, with no visible aura or presence, was a chilling reminder of just how vast the gap between them truly was.

But I can’t tolerate him looking down on us.

His determination burned just as fiercely as it had the moment they had left the village. No, it seemed to grow stronger with each passing day. If Fuad, the chief, had not stopped them, every warrior would have challenged the traveler to a duel the moment they left the village.

Thunk!

The warrior narrowly dodged the beast’s snapping jaws, thrusting his spear into its neck. The beast convulsed briefly before collapsing to the ground. After retrieving his spear, the warrior took a moment to survey the surroundings. The other warriors had taken care of the rest of the one-horned beasts as well.

“My name is Maod,” he muttered, staring down at the beast he had slain. “Carry my name to the Celestial Palace.”

It was a traditional saying among the Mahal Tribe—a plea to the gods to recognize their bravery and carry their deeds to the celestial realm. They always said it after defeating a powerful foe or a great beast.

The sun blazed down from above, casting its light on Maod and the fallen beast. Maod’s shadow stretched long across the creature’s body. He shifted slightly to the side, ensuring that the carcass was bathed fully in sunlight. The Mahal believed that this light would carry the soul of the fallen beast to the Palace of the Sun.

But then, a massive shadow suddenly eclipsed them both.

Startled, Maod looked up.

There it was.

No way… What is it doing here?!

Standing before him was the very creature they had been hunting—the five-horned beast.

We’re supposed to be far from its nest! Why did it suddenly appear?!

“Maod!” someone called out.

Maod’s eyes widened in realization. As a seasoned warrior, he instantly knew it was too late to dodge. No matter where or how he moved, there was no future in which he could avoid the beast’s deadly fangs.

“Raaaah!”

The beast’s grotesque maw opened wide, saliva dripping between its jagged, monstrous teeth.

Maod knew this was it. His instincts as a warrior told him his time had come. However, even in the face of death, he refused to look away. If this was the end, he would at least leave a mark. He would make sure that his spear, the symbol of his hard-earned skill, left some trace on his eventual killer.

Raising his spear high, Maod prepared for his final strike.

Crackle—

However, suddenly, a crackling flash of lightning shot out from the side, striking the beast in its ribs. The creature let out a pained roar as it was violently thrown to the side, crashing to the ground.

Maod’s hair whipped in the powerful gust of wind that followed the attack. His wide eyes locked onto the source of the blast. There stood the traveler, Kim Do-Joon, his spear still sparking with residual lightning.

***

Kim Do-Joon felt in top condition. The past few days had been spent resting, leaving him fully charged, both physically and magically.

“That monster…”

“With just one strike?”

The first blow from Kim Do-Joon had landed squarely on the five-horned beast, shocking the surrounding warriors. The massive creature roared in fury, struggling to its feet.

“Ready your spears! This time, we’ll take it down for good!” Fuad shouted, rallying the others.

The warriors swiftly raised their spears, preparing for the signal to attack. Fuad lifted his hand, ready to give the order. However, before he could bring his hand down, Kim Do-Joon had already dashed forward.

Swoosh—!

“What in the…!” Fuad gasped in disbelief at Kim Do-Joon’s sudden move.

The creature before them had devoured countless Mahal warriors. It was a predator stronger than any of them had faced before. To take down a beast like this, one had to weaken it from afar, bleeding it out with spear throws before engaging.

Yet, here was Kim Do-Joon charging in headfirst. The warriors were left paralyzed. They couldn’t throw their spears in fear of injuring Kim Do-Joon, who was dangerously close to the beast.

Should I have warned him?

Fuad gritted his teeth. Had he known this would happen, he would have told the traveler not to be rash!

I thought he wouldn’t be reckless because he’s experienced! Now what? Should we follow him into the fray? But the beast is still at full strength, not a scratch on it.

However, just then, Fuad saw something he could not believe.

“C-Chief…” one of the warriors stammered beside him.

Fuad couldn’t respond. Before their eyes, a massive ball of fire blazed around Kim Do-Joon, swirling and growing with intensity. The five-horned monster was now being completely overwhelmed by a far greater monster.

***

I’ll go all out from the start.

Kim Do-Joon was in peak condition, so he unleashed the full power of his Heart of Flame right away, clashing head-on with the beast.

What a tough hide.

The monster’s skin was incredibly thick, so much so that even a legendary blade would struggle to pierce it. But to Kim Do-Joon, it was like stabbing through tofu.

No matter how strong or sturdy it was, it was still just a beast. It wasn’t even a challenge for him anymore.

As they fought, something else became clear to Kim Do-Joon. It was something he had been meaning to confirm ever since encountering the creature.

Was this monster just a living being with high regenerative abilities, or was it something more? Is it an undead?

Boom!

A blast of the Heart of Flame energy erupted from Kim Do-Joon’s spear, which he had thrust near the creature’s heart. Its tough outer skin couldn’t protect it from an internal explosion. Blood and chunks of flesh rained down as the beast crumbled.

Thud!

The creature collapsed to the ground, seeming lifeless. However, a moment later, the beast twitched. Slowly, with an unnatural, jerking motion, it began to rise again. Its remaining flesh and blood melted away, leaving only bone.

A piercing, indescribable scream tore through the air.

So, it really is undead.

It seemed that some power was imbued in that scream, as the surrounding dead one-horned beasts began to stagger and rise again.

Kim Do-Joon readied his spear once more. The warm-up was over. Now, it was time for the real fight.