Empathic Mimicry: Copying Apocalypse's Powers

"Your ability doesn't have a name, but if I were to name it, it would be Super Power Tattoo." Raciel said, excitedly, looking at Nae Jin-Sang's face after naming the ability.

"Super Power Tattoo?" Nae Jin-Sang asked in confusion.

"Yes, Super Power Tattoo." Raciel answered in confidence.

"What do you mean Super Power Tattoo?" Nae Jin-Sang asked confused.

"What's a tattoo? What can I do?" Nae Jin-Sang asked wanting to know about his awakening ability.

Hearing Nae Jin-Sang's question, Raciel couldn't help but blame himself a little.

"People in this world probably haven't been introduced to Tattoos yet." Raciel thought after hearing Nae Jin-Sang's question.

"Well, a tattoo is like an image or a painting on the skin. This painting stays in the skin for a long time after being affected much by the outside environment." Raciel started to explain what a tattoo was.

"Then what does that have to do with my ability?" Nae Jin-Sang asked Raciel.

"The reason why I am excited about your ability is because of the potential it represents." Raciel then explained why Nae Jin-Sang's ability has so much potential.

"Images are the first form of language that humanity created before words, it was due to this that the early humans could communicate. The problem with this mode of communication is that images can represent many things if viewed differently." Raciel started to explain the way that cave people used to communicate with each other through drawings on walls.

"That's where your ability comes into place; you can manifest images into others, and depending on the meaning of the image, they will have different effects." Raciel then gave Nae Jin-Sang.

"If you picture a sun rising, you could give it the ability to make anyone shine, or you could view it differently. You can imagine the heat of the sun, which would give someone the ability to summon fire with the heat of the sun." While thinking of the capabilities of this ability Raciel couldn't help but imagine how far Nae Jin-Sang could reach if used correctly.

"Of course, for this ability to work, you have to give meaning to an image or picture. This part will be the hardest because not everything is easy to give meaning." Raciel then told Nae Jin-Sang the other thing needed for his ability to work.

"The other downside for this would be that for your ability to work you need to use your stamina or other form of energy. If those two conditions are fulfilled, your ability will work wonders. If not, it will not work." Raciel then pointed toward Nae Yeo-Jin.

"Because of your ability, I was able to tattoo an image onto your sister, which will increase her healing ability to an incredible degree. She will be alright in a day or two, but it was also because of this that I almost fainted due to fatigue." Raciel told Nae Jin-Sang while showing him the tattoo of the caduceus on Yeo-Jin's palm.

"If you want to use your ability with efficiency you'll need to train hard to increase your stamina. When you do I will tattoo something on you that helps you get more energy and to store more energy than you'll need." Raciel tried giving Jin-Sang a goal for now while imagining the Mutant that could absorb even Nuclear Energy for his use.

When Jin-Sang heard what Raciel said, he was discouraged for a little. He thought for a moment that after he acquired the ability, he could become extremely powerful, but it wasn't like that.

But the disappointment was not for long because when Jin-Sang thought about his sister he took a big breath and decided to do everything for his sister and get revenge on the Barbarians for his family's death.

"I'll be in your care!" Jin-Sang said with more conviction than ever flowing through his eyes.

"Good!" Raciel said seeing the current state of Nae Jin-Sang.

"First of all, let's head towards the city. You and your sister need to eat something and recuperate your energies. Your sister needs it more because she needs to heal from the wound on the side of her stomach." Raciel said while looking at where they were and the state of Nae Yeo-Jin.

"Do you know how far the city is?" Raciel asked Nae Jin-Sang to understand how far they were from the city.

"It's not far." Nae Jin-Sang said pointing towards the direction of the city.

"If we keep walking for a bit more we'll reach the city." Nae Jin-Sang added.

"Alright, Let's go!" Raciel while standing from the floor.

"Wait! How are we going to take my sister?" Nae Jin-Sang stopped Raciel and asked him after seeing him standing.

"That's easy, just leave it to me!" Raciel then replaced Nae Jin-Sang's ability and used telekinesis to lift Nae Yeo-Jin from the ground with caution to not disturb her rest and also to one her wound again.

Although Raciel tattooed a symbol of healing that did not mean that she was impervious to her wound opening once again, she does but she still heals fast. If her wound opens again Raciel would have to clean it and close it once again to allow better healing.

The good thing about this is that Nae Yeo-Jin will fully heal in a day or two, this means that he will not have to worry about her wound in a few hours and what would be left is just a skin wound and not organ damage.

After making sure that Nae Yeo-Jin is fully covered in his telekinesis and will not move abruptly when moving, Raciel decides to start heading toward the city.

"Lead the way!" Raciel said to Nae Jin-Sang.

Nae Jin-Sang did so while dumbfounded by the sight of his sisters floating from the ground.

"How did you do that?" Nae Jin-Sang asked surprised when seeing his sister floating and had even tried to see if there was something on the bottom.

"That's just one of the abilities I manage to copy its name is…." Raciel started to tell Nae Jin-Sang about Telekinesis while they headed toward the city.

Their surrounding was still the same as how it was when they started to walk heading towards the city but the more they walked the fewer trees they were and the less taller and bushier it became.

At some point the was now a dirt trail in which they used to better direct themselves towards the destination of the city.

It was after walking for around 25 minutes that Raciel and Nae Jin-Sang finally saw the city from where they were.

The city wall stood as a testament to both the practicality and the artistry of its builders. Crafted from weathered stone blocks of varying shades of gray, it stretched around the settlement in a wide, almost protective embrace. Unlike the towering fortifications of larger cities, this wall was modest in height—roughly three times the height of an average man—but its thickness suggested it could endure more than its appearance let on.

Its surface bore the scars of time, with faint cracks and moss creeping into the crevices, a reminder of the battles and sieges it had survived. At intervals, wooden watchtowers rose above the wall, their peaked roofs providing shelter for the guards who kept a watchful eye on the surrounding landscape.

The gate itself was framed by sturdy wooden beams reinforced with iron, large enough to allow carts and travelers to pass through but not so wide as to leave the city vulnerable. Above the gate, a carved emblem—a stylized dragon entwined with a lotus flower—proclaimed the city's allegiance to the Goguryeo Kingdom.

Despite its utilitarian design, the wall carried a rustic elegance, blending seamlessly with the dense forest that bordered it. It wasn't intimidating like the citadels of larger realms, but it radiated a quiet strength as if whispering to all who approached that it had held firm for generations and would continue to do so.

Although Raciel came from Modern times he was still mesmerized by the impressive sight of Toksong. Modern Buildings try to represent their times and their artistic concept but compared to Toksong it doesn't appreciate the beauty and hope that the builders had when creating this city wall.

"We are here!" Nae Jin-Sang said after seeing the city wall, this brought Raciel from his trance of the beauty of Toksong.

Before Raciel and Nae Jin-Sang got close to the city wall, Raciel decided to stop using his telekinesis and he started to carry Nae Yeo-Jin in his arms, it was then that they started to head towards the city gate.

When Raciel and Nae Jin-Sang got close to the city gate they had a better view of the guards who were keeping a watch on the city.

City guards looked out into the distance from the watchtower above the gate, their keen eyes searching the border of the forest for movement. At regular intervals, others patrolled the wall, their footfall softly resonating against the stone. With bows and spears in hand, they were alert and prepared to stop any impending danger.

When Raciel with Nae Yeo-Jin in his arms and Nae JIn-Sang got close to the gate the guards that were on patrol at the gate closed to them and stopped them.

"Stop! What is your purpose to be here?" Asked one of the two guards that came to them with a stern attitude while the other stayed indifferent to this interaction.

When Raciel was about to talk and tell them some kind of white lie, Nae Jin-Sang interrupted him and talked first to the guards.

"We come from Danguan, we were attacked by the Barbarians and we managed to survive after escaping from Danguan. we want to take refuge in this city." Nae Jin-Sang explains to the guards their experience while making sure to be vague enough to make sure that Raciel could be included in his story.

The guards listened to Nae Jin-Sang without interrupting him at all, but they made sure to look at him and the rest with sharp eyes. When Nae Jin-Sang told his full story the guards stayed quiet for a bit which worried Nae Jin-Sang.

"Alright, you can go through. If you need financial help to sustain yourself I would recommend heading towards the official's office to register as a temporary soldier to defend the city." The guard who stayed indifferent to the attitude of the other guard said.

"Thank You, Thank You!" Raciel and Nae Jin-Sang said at the same time.

The guards didn't say anything else so Nae Jin-Sang and Raciel passed them and headed towards the entrance of the city. When Racile crossed together with Nae Yeo-Jin the guard looked at each other and they had a wary look.

This looked was for a little bit but it was enough for them to agree with their eyes. After they looked they kept doing their due patrol of the city gate.

After crossing the gate and seeing that the guards were not paying any attention to them Nae Jin-Sang could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"What's wrong? Why were you worried?" Raciel asked Jin-Sang after seeing him breathe a sigh of relief.

"I was worried that because of how you looked the guards would not let us go through. I know that because of the Barbarian's invasion, the guards have tightened their guards." Nae Jin-Sang answers Raciel's question.

Hearing this Raciel looked at his clothing and then looked at how Nae Yeo-Jin and Nae Jin-Sang were dressed and he noticed the difference, he was dressed like someone from Modern times, and for people of this time, it was a weird way to dress.

"I see why. Looks like besides eating we need to change clothing." Raciel thought while looking at his clothing.

After adding something else to his list of things to do Raciel finally took a big look at the city.

Inside the city, the streets buzzed with activity despite the somber atmosphere. Refugees huddled in corners, their weary faces a stark contrast to the animated merchants shouting to advertise their wares. Stalls lined the streets, displaying Murim-style goods—bundles of medicinal herbs, gleaming blades, and finely crafted talismans.

The mood was weighed down by whispers of barbarian assaults, a tension that clung to the air like a storm on the horizon. Yet, hope lingered in the confident strides of the city guards, their pristine armor and polished weapons reflecting their elite training. They patrolled with purpose, their presence a silent assurance of safety amidst the unease.

"Follow Me!" Nae Jin-Sang motioned Raciel to follow him as he already knew the city like the palm of his hand.

Nae Jin-Sang traversed the city filled with people with ease and took them to the nearest Inn.

"This is the closest Inn to the city gate and the cheapest." Nae Jin-Sang introduce Raciel.

"I know of this place because whenever my village sent a carriage to sell their crops I always follow them, my dream has always been to live in the city." Nae Jin-Sang explains to Raciel as if expecting Raciel to ask.

"Thanks for telling me this. Don't worry you'll have your revenge against the Barbarians soon or later." Raciel said trying to console Jin-Sang.

"Let's head inside, I'm dying of hunger after a full day without eating and my sister is probably the same." Nae Jin-Sang said while trying to change the subject.

Hearing this Raciel knew that he needed money to stay in this Inn but he forgot to grab the gold he gave the Bandits, the rest he left to the villagers who took him in.

Now he needed to find another stone to turn it into stone, so he started to look for a stone near them.

Nae Jin-Sang saw what Raciel was doing and he was confused for a moment.

"What are you doing?" Nae Jin-Sang asked Raciel after seeing what he was doing.

"I need a stone, this will help us in getting money." Raciel said to Nae Jin-Sang while still looking at a stone near him.

"Isn't that stone in your past?" Nae Jin-Sang said while looking at Raciel weirdly.

Hearing this Raciel was stunned for a moment and he then searched in his pocket, when he entered his hand he felt the stone in his pocket. The stone that he forgot that he saved when he grabbed after turning one of two stones to give to the Bandits after taking him to the city believing that they were merchants.

Feeling this stone Raciel wanted to himself for being so stupid about forgetting a stone he left in his pocket.

"Why do we need a stone to get some money?" Nae Jin-Sang asked still confused as to why Raciel needed a stone.

"You'll see!" Raciel said while taking the stone out of his pocket, he then replaced his Telekinesis with Matter Manipulation.