The city buzzed with energy, but Haejin Suho wasn't interested in the crowded parks or noisy training grounds. After a long day of kicking trees and dodging curious glances, he wanted somewhere quieter—somewhere he could focus without distractions.
He also was starting to realize that his potential was a little ridiculous, and if he managed to max out everything, there would probably be nobody who could stop him.
He ducked into a narrow alley behind the Awakening Center, where the hum of the city softened to a distant murmur. The walls were lined with ivy and cracked brick, and a patch of sunlight spilled through a gap in the rooftops, warming a small patch of cracked concrete.
"This'll do," Haejin muttered, stretching his legs. The rough ground wasn't exactly comfortable, but it was his own little corner of peace.
He dropped into a loose fighting stance, fingers curling into fists as he focused on the faint glow pulsing in his palms—the small but growing spark of his Martial Arts Tree.
"Prepare thyself, wall!" Haejin said to the wall.
He let loose a series of rapid-fire punches, each strike echoing softly against the brick walls. The air shimmered faintly with energy, and a warm buzz spread from his fists to his arms.
System Notification:[Spirit points gained: 50]
[Spirit point total: 150]
Haejin grinned. "Nice."
After several minutes, he opened up his tree on his display and looked at the next Wing Chun skill. On the emblem was what looked to be an open palm, curiously, he tapped on it.
The system showed a diagram of an open hand deflecting a forward punch. Haejin looked at the description for the skill
[Skill: Pak Sao (Slapping Block)]
[Cost: 200 Spirit Points]
[Effect: Deflects incoming strikes with precise timing, opening opponents for counterattacks.]
"Cool!" He said eagerly, before quickly returning to punching the wall.
After another ten minutes of non-stop punching, Haejin's knuckles were sore and his arms ached, but the steady buzz in his core kept him going. It wasn't painful—more like the ache you get from a long stretch after a nap.
System Notification:[Spirit Points gained: 100]
[Spirit Point total: 250]
He flexed his hand a little. "Huh. That's probably enough."
With a lazy flick, he brought up the holographic screen and tapped through the Martial Arts Tree. A new icon shimmered in the Wing Chun portion, but his gaze was directed to the first Muay Thai skill, and the emblem was a little guy kneeing another little guy in the face.
[Skill: Knee Strike]
[Cost: 250 Spirit Points]
[Effect: A powerful close-range blow capable of staggering opponents.]
"Alright. Violence, but with legs."
He hit Unlock. A warm glow spread through his thighs. He bounced on his toes once or twice. Then turned and kneed a wooden crate.
It practically exploded as small fragments of wood flew in every direction
He took a long sip, leaned back against the wall, and closed his eyes for a second. Not bad for an afternoon.
Then—
"Wow. Kicking trees, punching bricks, and now fighting furniture?"
Haejin cracked one eye open.
A guy was standing at the mouth of the alley, one hand in his pocket, the other lazily tossing a small flame from palm to palm like it was a baseball. His uniform was wrinkled in that I-don't-care-but-actually-do kind of way. His eyes screamed look at me, even though his words tried to play it cool.
Red hair. Cocky stance. Fire magic.
"I'm Jin," he said. "You're that glitch kid, right? Broke the Awakening system? Got, what, fifty trees or something?"
Haejin closed the water bottle and stood up slowly. "Fifty-three," he corrected. "I counted."
Jin's flame flared slightly. "Wow. Must be nice being the chosen one."
"Wouldn't know," Haejin replied. "Still had to kick a tree for five hours to get here."
There was a beat of silence.
Then Jin snorted. "You serious?"
Haejin shrugged. "Worked better than chanting in a circle."
The fire in Jin's hand flickered brighter now, like it was responding to his rising ego. "Well, I figured I'd drop by and test the hype. You know—see if tree-kicking is a viable combat style."
Haejin stretched one arm over his shoulder, then the other. "If this turns into a real fight, and I accidentally punch you through a wall, do I get in any trouble?"
Jin smirked. "Only if I don't melt you first."
System Notification: Sparring Challenge Initiated]
[Opponent: Jin – Ember Control Skill Tree (Fire Type)]
Haejin sighed and tapped his display closed. "Alright. Let's get this over with before I start getting hungry again."
The alley felt narrower now, like it had leaned in to watch.
Jin rolled his neck, fire dancing from knuckle to knuckle. "Hope you're ready. I don't hold back, even in sparring."
Haejin casually dusted his shirt. "Cool. I don't really hold forward, so we'll see how that balances out."
[System Notification: Sparring Challenge Accepted.]
Jin dashed forward with surprising speed, flame trailing behind his fist like a comet. He swung a blazing hook punch straight for Haejin's jaw.
Haejin sidestepped calmly.
The punch passed harmlessly by, leaving a streak of heat in the air.
"Dude," Haejin said flatly. "You trying to start a barbecue?"
Jin scowled, spinning around and launching another strike—this one a fire-enhanced elbow. Haejin ducked under it and slipped in with a flurry of straight punches.
[Skill Activated: Chain Punch]
His fists became a blur.
The first punch caught Jin in the chest, the second grazed his ribs, and the third smacked his arm aside. Jin stumbled, eyes wide.
[Spirit Points Gained: 40]
"Fast," Jin muttered, backpedaling and igniting his other hand. A small flame burst from his palm and arced toward Haejin like a fireball.
Haejin swatted it away with a casual motion—just barely missing the timing.
The flame grazed his sleeve, singing the edge.
He narrowed his eyes. "Okay, that one was warm."
Jin smirked. "Told you I'd melt you."
"Time to return the favor."
Haejin surged forward.
Jin raised both arms to block—too high.
[Skill Activated: Knee Strike]
Haejin stepped in and drove his knee straight into Jin's gut.
THUMP.
Jin doubled over with a grunt, the fire in his hands flickering violently.
[Spirit Points Gained: 80]
He stumbled back and coughed, eyes watering. "You—" he wheezed. "You kneed me."
"Yup," Haejin said, brushing dust off his pants. "Right in the lunch plans."
Jin staggered to his feet, still gasping. "Not done yet—!"
He flung another fireball, this one bigger, brighter.
Haejin didn't move. He watched the incoming flame.
And just before it hit—
[System Alert: New Skill Available for Unlock – Wing Chun: Pak Sao]
[Cost: 200 spirit points]
[Spirit Points: 270]
Without hesitation, Haejin flicked his fingers across the holographic screen.
[Skill Unlocked: Pak Sao (Slapping Block)][Effect: Deflects incoming strikes with precise timing]
The moment the flame was about to strike, Haejin's hand lashed out in a clean, precise motion.
[Skill Activated: Pak Sao]
His palm slapped the fireball aside like it was an annoying bug.
It dissipated harmlessly against the alley wall.
Jin's jaw dropped. "You… unlocked a new skill mid-fight?!"
Haejin just shrugged. "Well, I had the points. Figured why not."
Jin took a moment to process this. He had several questions like "How did just use martial arts on a fireball?" and "Why is he so strong from kicking trees?" But he was most concerned about how he unlocked a new skill just like that.
"It takes time and training to unlock a skill, no matter what it is!" Jin shouted, "How the hell did you do that?"
Haejin wasn't listening and never answered the question, so I will.
As I mentioned earlier, Haejin is clearly a little different than most people, and he is the only one to abide by the Spirit Point System. All other people have to train specific techniques, meditate, and stuff like that.
Jin grit his teeth and launched himself forward, fire spiraling around both fists now. "Alright, enough playing around!"
He came in fast—way faster than before—his body blazing with mana and frustration.
Haejin just stepped sideways.
Jin punched nothing but air. Again.
[Skill Activated: Chain Punch]
Haejin slipped in close and fired off three rapid punches to Jin's shoulder, ribs, and solar plexus.
THUMP. THUMP. THUD.
Jin stumbled back like he'd been hit with a sack of bricks, the flames sputtering out from his hands.
"Dude," Haejin said, stretching his wrist, "have you considered… not charging straight at someone?"
"You're mocking me," Jin growled, coughing.
"Not on purpose. You just kind of make it easy."
Jin roared and pulled both arms back, fire bursting outward in a wide arc—a desperate flare meant to engulf the whole alley.
Haejin didn't flinch.
[Skill Activated: Pak Sao]
His palm snapped out.
SLAP.
The fire scattered around his hand like it had just hit a forcefield made of boredom and good timing.
"Okay," Haejin said, stepping forward, "you're out of tricks."
And then, with one smooth motion, he brought his knee up—
[Skill Activated: Knee Strike]
—slamming it right into Jin's chest again.
Jin flew backward and landed flat on his back in the dirt, gasping for air like a deflated balloon.
[Spirit Points Gained: 100]
[Total Spirit Points: 170]
[Sparring Victory Confirmed]
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Haejin leaned over him.
"You alright?"
Jin wheezed. "...you're a monster."
Haejin scratched his head. "Nah. Just kicked a lot of trees and punched a wall."
Jin groaned, staring at the sky in defeated silence.
Haejin casually brought up his display, already scrolling for the next skill. "You wanna get noodles or something?"
Jin blinked. "You just knocked me out with your kneecap."
"Yeah," Haejin said. "And now I'm hungry."
"I'll pass."
"Suit yourself."