Chapter 1: Reincarnated with the Power to Duplicate Anything Genre: Reincarnation, System, Modern Fantasy, Wealth, Romance The Life I Always Hated My name is Alex. I'm eighteen years old, a Grade 12 student, and honestly, I'm tired of my life. Not because I have some terrible disease or because my family has abandoned me. I'm just tired of being me. Every day, I wake up, take a bath, put on my school uniform, and head to school. I attend classes, listen to my teachers, talk to a few classmates, and go home when the day is over. The same routine repeats itself over and over again. There's nothing special about my life. I'm not handsome. I'm not rich. I'm not particularly talented, either. I'm just an ordinary guy trying to get through each day. And the worst part? I have to watch other people my age living the kind of life I've always wanted. Especially my classmates. Some of them are handsome enough to make girls turn their heads whenever they walk past. Others come from wealthy families, wear expensive shoes, own the latest phones, and never seem to worry about money. And almost all the guys I envy have something I don't. A beautiful girlfriend. "Bro, look at my girlfriend's new post!" I was sitting inside our classroom during lunch break when my classmate, Mark, suddenly shoved his phone in front of my face. On the screen was a picture of him and his girlfriend. She was beautiful, with long hair and a sweet smile. She leaned against his shoulder while he held up a peace sign. The caption read: My favorite person. ❤️ "She's pretty, right?" Mark asked proudly. I forced a smile. "Yeah, bro. She's beautiful." "Thanks! We're going out this Saturday. I'm taking her to the mall, then we're going to eat at this expensive restaurant my dad recommended." He continued talking excitedly about his plans. I nodded along, pretending to be interested. But deep inside, I felt something unpleasant twisting in my chest. Jealousy. I hated that feeling. I hated how easily it came whenever I saw someone with something I wanted. It wasn't Mark's fault that he had a beautiful girlfriend. He hadn't done anything wrong. But I couldn't help comparing myself to him. Why does he have a girlfriend while I don't even have one? I was eighteen years old. Eighteen. And I had never experienced what it felt like to have a girl genuinely like me. I'd never received a good morning message from a girlfriend. I'd never held a girl's hand while walking around the mall. I'd never had someone tell me, "I love you," and mean it romantically. Whenever I saw couples at school, I couldn't help wondering what was wrong with me. Was I too ugly? Was my personality boring? Was I simply not good enough? I didn't know. All I knew was that every time I opened Facebook or TikTok, I saw another reminder of the things I didn't have. Handsome guys showing off their girlfriends. Rich guys buying their girlfriends expensive gifts. Couples traveling together, celebrating anniversaries, and posting pictures of their happy lives. And there I was, lying on my bed at night, scrolling through my phone and wondering when it would finally be my turn. Sometimes, I imagined what it would be like to have a beautiful girlfriend. Someone who would smile whenever she saw me. Someone who would message me first. Someone who would choose me even when there were other guys who were more handsome or richer than I was. But every time I returned to reality, those thoughts disappeared. Because dreams didn't change anything. And wishing I were someone else wouldn't magically make me handsome or rich. "Hey, Alex!" Mark's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "Huh? What?" "You're spacing out again. Are you okay?" I shrugged. "Yeah. I'm fine." He looked at me for a moment before grinning. "By the way, bro, why don't you get a girlfriend? You're eighteen already!" I laughed awkwardly. "Who would want to date me?" "Don't say that! Just find a girl you like and confess!" I looked away. Easy for you to say. Mark had a handsome face, a confident personality, and a girlfriend who clearly adored him. What did I have? An old phone, a nearly empty wallet, and a face that I considered painfully ordinary. I didn't say any of that aloud. Instead, I smiled and replied, "Maybe someday." Mark returned to his phone. And I returned to my thoughts. Maybe someday. Those two words had become my favorite excuse. --- The World Was Never Fair Classes ended at five in the afternoon. I packed my things and walked out of the school gate with the rest of the students. The afternoon sun was still bright, and the streets were crowded with people heading home. As I walked toward the bus stop, a black sports car pulled up in front of a nearby café. It was a Lamborghini. Even someone like me, who had never owned anything expensive, could recognize it immediately. The engine sounded incredible. Several students stopped to take pictures. A moment later, a handsome young man stepped out of the driver's seat. He looked around twenty years old. He wore designer clothes, an expensive watch, and a pair of sneakers that probably cost more than everything in my wallet combined. Then a beautiful girl walked out of the passenger seat. She smiled at him and linked her arm with his. He casually put an arm around her waist. They looked like the main characters of a romantic movie. "Wow! That guy is so handsome!" "His girlfriend is gorgeous, too!" "Look at that car! I wonder how rich his family is." I heard people talking around me. I stood there silently, watching the couple walk into the café. For some reason, I couldn't look away. It wasn't just about the Lamborghini. It wasn't just about the expensive clothes or the handsome face. It was everything. The guy had the looks, the money, and the girl. He had the three things I had spent years wishing for. And judging by his relaxed expression, he probably didn't even realize how lucky he was. I lowered my head. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. "Must be nice." I shoved my hands into my pockets and continued walking. "Must be nice to be handsome." I passed a shop window and caught my reflection. Messy hair. Ordinary face. Cheap clothes. A tired expression. I stopped walking. For a few seconds, I stared at myself. Then I looked away. "Whatever." I continued toward the bus stop, but the thoughts in my head refused to disappear. Why was life like this? Why were some people born into wealthy families while others struggled to afford basic necessities? Why were some guys naturally handsome while others had to live with faces they weren't happy with? And why did it seem so easy for other people to find love? I knew that money and appearance weren't everything. I'd heard those words countless times. But it was difficult to believe them when the people around me seemed to enjoy so many advantages. I didn't want to become the richest man in the world just to make others jealous. At least, that's what I told myself. But if someone gave me the chance to become rich, handsome, and successful overnight, would I refuse? Of course not. I'd accept it immediately. Who wouldn't want a better life? I wanted to stop worrying about money. I wanted to wear expensive clothes without feeling embarrassed. I wanted to walk into a room without feeling inferior to every handsome guy I saw. And, if I'm being honest, I wanted a beautiful girlfriend, too. Someone who would look at me the way Mark's girlfriend looked at him. Someone who would make me feel like I was worth something. Was that really so much to ask? I sighed. "Whatever. I'll just go home." I had no idea that this ordinary afternoon would be the last day of my first life. --- An Unexpected Death It was already getting dark when I reached the road near my neighborhood. I was walking along the sidewalk, looking at my phone, when I received a notification. Mark had uploaded another picture. It was a selfie of him and his girlfriend. They were smiling at the camera, their faces close together. The caption read: Can't wait to spend the weekend with you, baby. ❤️ I stared at the picture. Then I locked my phone. For some reason, that small post made me feel lonelier than I wanted to admit. I shoved my phone into my pocket and looked up at the sky. "Seriously, God?" I laughed quietly. "Is my life really going to be like this forever?" I knew it was a ridiculous question. The world didn't owe me anything. But I was eighteen. I was still young. I wanted to experience so many things. I wanted to travel, buy expensive things, fall in love, and live without constantly worrying about what other people had that I didn't. I wanted to wake up one morning and feel genuinely excited about my life. Instead, I felt like I was watching everyone else move forward while I remained stuck in the same place. "I'm so tired," I whispered. A few drops of rain began falling from the sky. I glanced at the road ahead. The pedestrian light was green, so I started crossing. Then I heard a horn. HONK! HONK! I turned my head. A truck was speeding toward me. My eyes widened. "What—" I tried to move. But it was too late. The headlights blinded me. A deafening crash filled my ears. And then— Everything went black. --- A Second Chance "Beep... Beep... Beep..." A strange sound echoed in my ears. I frowned. What is that noise? My body felt strangely light. I slowly opened my eyes, expecting to see a hospital ceiling. Instead, I saw something completely different. A luxurious chandelier hung above me. I blinked several times. Then I sat up. "Where... am I?" I looked around. I was lying on a massive bed inside an enormous bedroom. The walls were decorated with elegant paintings. The floor was covered with a soft carpet, and enormous windows stretched from the floor to the ceiling. Beyond the windows was a beautiful garden. I could even see a swimming pool and several luxury cars parked in a driveway. I stared at the room. Then I stared at the bed. Then I stared at the room again. "What the hell?!" I immediately got out of bed. My bare feet touched the soft carpet as I hurried toward the nearest mirror. And when I saw my reflection, I completely froze. A handsome young man stared back at me. He had thick black hair, clear skin, sharp facial features, and a well-defined jawline. His eyes were bright, his nose was straight, and his appearance looked almost unreal. He was the kind of guy I would have envied at school. The kind of guy girls would secretly stare at. The kind of guy who could probably walk into a room and attract attention without even trying. I touched my face. The reflection did the same. I opened my mouth. The reflection opened its mouth. Then I grabbed my cheeks. "WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO MY FACE?!" I looked at myself from every possible angle. "No way. No freaking way!" I pinched my cheek. "Ouch!" I pinched it again. "OW! Okay, okay! It's real!" I stepped backward, my mind racing. Wait a minute. Wasn't I crossing the road? Didn't a truck hit me? My eyes widened. "Oh, my God." I looked at my reflection again. "Did I... die?" Suddenly, a strange mechanical voice sounded inside my head. [DING!] [Congratulations, Host!] [Your consciousness has successfully reincarnated into a new body.] I stopped breathing. "...What?" [Welcome to your second life.] I stared into empty space. Then I slowly raised a hand to my forehead. "Okay. Either I'm dreaming, or I've officially gone crazy." [Neither statement is correct, Host.] I nearly jumped out of my skin. "WHO SAID THAT?!" [I am the Infinite Duplication System, an artificial intelligence integrated into your consciousness.] I stood completely still. An artificial intelligence? Inside my head? And it was calling me Host? I swallowed. "Wait. Are you telling me I'm in another world?" [Correct, Host. Your previous life has ended. Your consciousness has successfully transferred into a new body.] I covered my mouth. For several seconds, I couldn't say anything. Then I started laughing. Not because anything was particularly funny. I was simply overwhelmed. I had died. Actually died. And somehow, I had been given another chance. But that wasn't the most incredible part. I looked at my reflection again. I was handsome. Really handsome. I approached the mirror and ran my fingers through my hair. "System..." [Yes, Host?] "Am I really this handsome?" [Affirmative. Your current appearance is classified as exceptionally attractive.] I grinned. A huge, uncontrollable grin. "HAHAHAHAHA!" I couldn't help myself. For eighteen years, I had envied handsome guys. Now I had become one. For eighteen years, I had wished I could experience a different life. Now I had a second one. And judging by the luxurious bedroom around me, I might have become rich, too. But I was getting ahead of myself. There was still one important question. "System, what exactly can you do?" A translucent blue screen suddenly appeared in front of my eyes. --- The Infinite Duplication System [SYSTEM STATUS: ACTIVE] Host: Alex Age: 18 Primary Ability: Infinite Duplication Secondary Functions: Artificial Intelligence Assistant Object Research Object Analysis Instant Duplication Personal Information Retrieval [ABILITY DESCRIPTION] The Host possesses the ability to duplicate eligible physical objects after successfully researching them. Research Function: When the Host sees an object of interest, he may issue the command: "Research [Object Name]." The System will analyze the object for sixty seconds. Once the research is complete, the object will be registered in the Host's duplication database. The Host may then duplicate the registered object at any time. Duplication Function: The Host may issue the command: "Duplicate [Object Name] Quantity [Number]." The requested objects will be generated instantly. Example: Research Lamborghini Aventador. Wait 60 seconds. Duplicate Lamborghini Aventador Quantity 3. Result: Three identical Lamborghini Aventadors are instantly generated. Current Research Database: Empty. --- I stared at the screen. Once. Twice. Three times. Then I looked toward the window. A Lamborghini was parked in the driveway. I could see its sleek body and distinctive design even from inside the bedroom. I pointed at it. "System, can I duplicate that Lamborghini?" [Affirmative, Host. However, the target must first undergo the research process.] I smiled. "Then let's do it." I walked closer to the window and focused on the vehicle. "Research Lamborghini." [Target identified.] [Research initiated.] [Progress: 1%...] A progress bar appeared before my eyes. I watched it carefully. Ten percent. Twenty percent. Thirty percent. While waiting, I began imagining the possibilities. If I could duplicate a Lamborghini, I could own several luxury cars. If I could duplicate gold, I could become incredibly wealthy. If I could duplicate expensive watches, diamonds, or other valuable objects, I might never have to worry about money again. And if I could duplicate almost anything I saw... My new life would be completely different from my old one. I would never have to stand on the sidelines, watching other people enjoy the things I wanted. I could build my own future. Maybe I could even become someone people admired. Someone confident. Someone successful. Someone who didn't feel inferior whenever he saw a handsome guy walking beside a beautiful girl. The progress bar continued filling. Seventy percent. Eighty-five percent. Ninety-nine percent. [DING!] [Research completed successfully.] [Registered Object: Lamborghini.] [Duplication is now available.] I clenched my fists. "YES!" I looked at the car outside. Then I spoke as clearly as possible. "Duplicate Lamborghini Quantity 3!" [Duplication request confirmed.] [Generating three identical objects...] [DING!] [Duplication successful!] I rushed to the window. And what I saw made my jaw drop. The driveway had originally contained one Lamborghini. Now it contained four. Four identical luxury cars stood side by side. I rubbed my eyes. Then I opened them again. They were still there. "OH. MY. GOD!" I started laughing. "IT ACTUALLY WORKS!" I ran around the bedroom like a crazy person. I had just created three luxury cars out of absolutely nothing! No money. No dealership. No loan. No paperwork. Just a simple command. I dropped onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. For the first time in my entire life, I felt like I had discovered something that could change everything. Then another thought crossed my mind. A thought so exciting that I immediately sat up. "System, can I research other objects, too?" [Affirmative, Host.] "Anything I see?" [The System can research and duplicate eligible physical objects. Certain objects may be subject to restrictions or additional requirements.] I nodded. That was good enough for me. I looked at the luxurious room. Then I looked at the cars outside. A slow smile spread across my face. I had spent my previous life wishing I could be someone else. I had envied handsome guys. I had envied rich guys. I had envied classmates who had beautiful girlfriends. I had even questioned why the world seemed to favor everyone except me. But now? Everything had changed. I had a handsome new body. I had a mysterious system that could answer my questions. And I had the power to duplicate valuable objects. I didn't know who I was in this world yet. I didn't know whether my new family was rich or poor. I didn't even know why I had been given this ability. But one thing was certain. I wasn't going to waste my second life. I stood in front of the mirror and adjusted my hair. Then I looked at my reflection and smiled confidently. "Just wait." I pointed at myself. "This time, I'm going to live the life I've always wanted." I paused. Then another thought made me grin. "And maybe..." I imagined walking into school in an expensive car, wearing designer clothes, with every student turning to look at me. I imagined the surprise on Mark's face. I imagined finally having the confidence to talk to the girls I had always been too nervous to approach. I chuckled. "Maybe I'll finally get myself a girlfriend, too." [Host, would you like me to retrieve information regarding your current identity?] I stopped smiling. Right. I still had no idea whose body I was living in. I turned toward the floating blue screen. "Of course. Tell me everything about myself in this world." [Identity retrieval initiated.] [Name: Alex.] [Age: 18.] [Education: Grade 12 student.] My eyes widened. "Wait. I'm still a student?" [Correct, Host.] I slowly smiled. An eighteen-year-old student. Handsome. Potentially wealthy. And equipped with a duplication system. I could already imagine the possibilities. But before I could get carried away, another notification appeared. [Additional information retrieved.] [Current Residence: Carter Family Mansion.] [Family Financial Status: Pending verification.] [School Enrollment: Confirmed.] [Additional personal records are available for review.] I stared at the screen. Then I grinned. "System, show me the way to my new life." [Understood, Host.] I walked toward the bedroom door. Outside, sunlight illuminated the enormous mansion. My second life had officially begun. And this time, I was determined to make it count. END OF CHAPTER 1

Tired of being Poor in this World