CHAPTER 5: A New Beginning
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The status window hovered in front of Ji-ho's eyes, glowing faintly in the dark room.
> [ STATUS WINDOW ]
Name: Kim Ji-ho (Awakened – Evolution Triggered)
Strength: DDD
Agility: DDD
Stamina: DDD
Will Power: ???
Superpower: Destructive Laser
— Transfers condensed destructive energy into a concentrated ray.
Able to blast through matter depending on user's attack power output.
Ji-ho stared at the screen in silence.
His stats had tripled.
No—evolved.
From the weakest "E" rank to a solid foundation of power. His body felt different. Taller. Broader. Sharper. His once average frame was now cut with lean muscle, his hair an inky black that shimmered slightly, and his once-dull brown eyes had turned into a sharp crimson—like flickering flames locked behind glass.
"Did I change because of the power I absorbed?" he muttered, his fingers brushing the cold chain of the pendant.
With a deep breath, he laid back and allowed the darkness to take him.
For the first time in ten nights, he slept in peace.
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The Next Morning
A soft knock stirred him awake. Ji-ho blinked at the ceiling, then turned to find Ye-jun sleeping beside him, mouth slightly open.
The door creaked open, and a young woman stepped inside with a tray.
Seo-oh.
She wore a cozy oversized sweater and joggers, her long dark hair tied into a low ponytail. Her features were soft but captivating—smooth porcelain skin, eyes like deep hazel glass, and a gentle curve to her lips as she looked at them.
"You slept like rocks," she said softly. "Thought you might be hungry."
Ji-ho straightened up, rubbing his neck. "You didn't have to..."
"I wanted to," she interrupted with a small smile. "And I've decided—if you want, you two can stay. It's safer here. This area's quiet. And… I've gotten used to having you around."
Ji-ho blinked. "You mean it?"
She nodded. "And also, don't blow up my clinic again."
A weak chuckle escaped his lips. "I'll try."
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Days turned to weeks.
Life at the clinic was calm. Almost... normal.
They helped with chores, organized medicine, cooked simple meals. Ji-ho was surprisingly good at brewing herbal teas, while Ye-jun took interest in the recovery equipment, asking endless questions that Seo-oh answered patiently.
They shared breakfast, played old board games at night, and made fun of Ji-ho's failed attempts at cooking rice.
Bit by bit, a new rhythm was born.
And somewhere along that rhythm, Ji-ho began to notice Seo-oh differently.
Not just because of her beauty—but the way she smiled even after a long day, how her voice softened when talking to Ye-jun, or how she laughed with genuine lightness when she teased Ji-ho.
Whenever their hands brushed while passing plates…
Whenever she patched up Ji-ho's bruised arms without flinching…
Whenever she looked at him and saw a person, not a weapon…
A quiet warmth stirred in Ji-ho's chest. Something unfamiliar, something dangerous in its own way.
Not rage.
Not chaos.
But maybe… just maybe…
Hope.