5 stolen gauntlet [chapter 5]

Chapter 6

Opening the door, Cain entered a room filled with specialized machines for jewel inspection. A large computer monitor displayed a network of surveillance cameras, including those positioned at the train station he had just left. Taking a seat, he placed the gauntlet on the table before him, finally afforded a proper opportunity to examine it.

"Hmm," Cain pondered, his eyes fixated on the alluring gems that had initially drawn him to the gauntlet. His curiosity got the better of him, and he reached out to touch one of the spheres, mistaking it for a gem. In an instant, the gauntlet shimmered with a brilliant blue light, and an exact duplicate of himself materialized at his side. Startled, Cain rose to his feet, narrowly avoiding activating his Magic-Field spell.

"Hello there," the duplicate of him greeted, waving playfully. "You thought this was a gem? Seriously? Maybe it was because you were thinking, 'I'm not getting caught today and made the mistake of mistaking this for a gem.' But it's just a metal sphere. Damn, how can it be a gem?" The duplicate laughed, and Cain's tension eased as he realized it was merely an independent-thinking clone, merely!!!!.

"So, what? You're a clone of me?" Cain inquired, a mix of curiosity and amusement coloring his voice.

"Hmm, more of a duplicate, but what the hell, we're the same. You know what I know and think," the duplicate replied, his laughter echoing in the room. "That is some powerful gauntlet. Imagine all the heists we could pull off, how much we could fill this place up!"

The clone's words triggered a mix of intrigue and concern within Cain. He observed the duplicate for a moment before reaching out to touch the sphere once more, causing the clone to vanish into thin air. "Oh, great. At least there's a way to get rid of him. That was creepy," Cain whispered to himself, his gaze fixed on the gauntlet.

"What the hell did you steal, Cain?" he questioned aloud, placing the gauntlet carefully on the table. His mind raced, contemplating the implications of his actions. "What if this belonged to a powerful supervillain?" he mused, his brows furrowing with concern. "What if there's a tracker hidden within?"

Driven by an insatiable curiosity, Cain meticulously inspected the gauntlet, scrutinizing every detail for any sign of tracking devices or hidden mechanisms. After a thorough investigation, a wave of relief washed over him. "Well, I'm thankful that there's no tracker that I can see," he muttered, a weight lifting from his shoulders.

However, the revelation of the gauntlet's capabilities lingered in his thoughts. "An item that instantaneously clones someone and creates an independent-thinking duplicate... This won't go unnoticed. It's only a matter of time before a hero or supervillain tracks it down," Cain murmured, his voice tinged with concern.

Just as his mind brimmed with questions and uncertainties, the floating system interface materialized once again, drawing his attention. A slight grin formed on his lips as he embraced the realization of his true potential. "That's right," he exclaimed, his voice filled with newfound determination. "I'm not just a thief; I'm a wizard. And it's not just a title; I can use actual spells."

Cain's mind raced with possibilities, his thoughts intertwining with the allure of spellcasting. "To make use of the spells, I need more charges, and for the Magic-Field spell not to break upon impact, I need spell points—plenty of them," he pondered, his gaze fixated on the floating interface. "And the only way to acquire them is through leveling up. I think" still unsure, before shaking the uncertainty out of his head.

With a surge of determination, Cain conjured a white ethereal blade into existence, its spectral form a testament to his growing powers. "And to level up, I need experience points," he affirmed, the blade shimmering in his hand. Leaving the working room behind, he ventured forth, ready to embark on a new chapter of his journey—a chapter that promised both danger and untold possibilities.

Leaving the working room behind, Cain stepped into another chamber known as well, the training room or practice room. The room was expansive, filled with various gym equipment such as punching bags and weights. As he entered, the ethereal blade continued to hover effortlessly beside him, its spectral presence a constant reminder of his growing powers.

Cain sighed, his eyes fixed on the floating blade. "Alright, let's see just how sharp you are," he murmured, his voice laced with anticipation. With a swift motion, he aimed the blade at a punching bag before launching it forward with remarkable speed. The blade sliced through the bag, effortlessly cleaving it in half. A satisfied smile crept across Cain's face as he observed the aftermath. "Quite sharp, alright," he remarked, impressed by the blade's precision.

Glancing at the floating screen, the interface displayed his updated status:

[Name: Cain O'Brien]

[Level: 1 (10/100)]

[Spell-Points: 0]

[Mana-Charge: 0/1 (each spell requires a single charge unless specified; charges can be regained with meditation)]

[Spells:

Magic-Field: With a wave of your hand, you create a barrier of arcane energy to deflect ranged attacks, but it can only deflect 1 attack, rank 1 (1 spell point) Cost: 1 charge

Arcane-Blade: An ethereal blade is summoned and launched at high speeds against the target, rank 1 (1 spell point) Cost: 1 charge]

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for those who have watched The Batman series, you should know what this gauntlet is.

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