Chapter 5: Eyewatchers
Rain fell in soft sheets across Seoul, turning sidewalks into rivers and headlights into scattered stars.
Jin stood outside the hospital entrance, hood pulled over his head, his breath visible in the chill. His jacket still had faint traces of monster blood along the sleeve.
Inside his pocket, his phone buzzed.
> [Time Energy: Fully Recovered]
[New Daily Quest Available]
He ignored the system prompt and exhaled deeply.
"I'll get stronger later," he muttered. "Right now…"
He pushed open the glass door and made his way to the third floor.
---
Room 305 – Seoul General Hospital
"Jin?" his mother's voice was weak but warm.
"Yeah, Mom. I'm here."
She smiled from her bed, thin and pale. An oxygen tube rested beneath her nose.
"I told you not to run around so much. You look tired."
"I'm fine." He pulled up a chair beside her. "You're the one who needs to rest."
"Doctors say my numbers improved a little," she said quietly. "It's not a miracle, but... I'm still here."
Jin nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat.
She looked at him, eyes studying his face. "You're different."
"Huh?"
"I don't know. The way you walk. It's like you're... not afraid anymore."
Jin hesitated, then laughed softly. "Maybe I got tired of being afraid."
---
Elsewhere – Hunter Guild HQ, Seoul
"Run it again," the man said, eyes fixed on the playback.
A grainy surveillance video showed Jin darting through the shadows of a dungeon—then vanishing.
Not dodging. Not ducking.
Blinking.
Teleporting short distances.
The man frowned. "That's not a skill registered in any ability library."
"No, sir. We ran it through the registry twice. Nothing matches."
"What's his name again?"
"Jin Ryu. E-Rank. Failed aptitude test three times."
"And now?"
"Cleared a c-Rank gate. Alone."
The man turned toward the window, watching the rain. "Get me everything on him. Family, medical, guild applications."
"Yes, Hunter Dojin."
---
Later That Night – Jin's Apartment
Jin finished bandaging his side, wincing as he tightened the wrap.
"Okay. You survived one dungeon," he muttered. "Big deal. Don't get cocky."
He opened the system menu.
> [Skill Tree Unlocked – Time Branch Initiated]
– Blink Lv.2
– Battle Sense Lv.1
– Time Slow Lv.1
Next Available: Chrono Dodge (5 Skill Points)
Jin stared at the option.
"Chrono Dodge?"
He tapped it.
> [You will gain the ability to slip milliseconds into the future to evade attacks. Warning: High Time Energy cost.]
He hesitated... then accepted.
His body felt slightly lighter, more responsive. Like time was bending slightly around his movements.
Then came a knock at the door.
Jin froze.
No one ever visited this late.
He stood slowly and approached the door, hand near his dagger.
He opened it an inch.
A man in a sleek black coat stood outside, holding an umbrella.
"Jin Ryu?" the man asked politely.
"Who's asking?"
"I'm with the Hunter's Guild. We'd like to speak with you."
"Not interested."
"We saw what you did."
Jin's grip tightened.
The man smiled slightly. "Don't worry. We're not here to arrest you. In fact, we'd like to offer you a chance."
"What kind of chance?"
"A promotion. A re-evaluation. You're no longer E-Rank, Mr. Ryu. And I think you know that."
Jin said nothing.
The man handed him a card.
> [Jong Dojin – Hunter's Guild Senior Recruiter]
"Power is only dangerous when it's hidden."
"Come in tomorrow. We'll be watching either way."
He turned and walked off into the rain.
---
The Next Morning – Hunter's Guild Reassessment Center
Ayla Sung adjusted her glasses, scrolling through files. Her long black hair was tied up, and a steaming coffee sat untouched on her desk.
"Ryu, Jin," she murmured. "Why hasn't he registered a guild? No partner records… not even a team resume?"
She blinked as another file opened—containing a blurry freeze-frame of Jin's Blink mid-combat.
"That shouldn't be possible…"
A male assistant leaned in. "Should we flag it?"
"No," Ayla said quickly, standing up. "I want to see him tested myself."
---
End of Chapter 5