The week flashed by, Jiwon's nights consumed by relentless training at the cove.
The Training Weights grinded his muscles, their heft sharpening his control.
By the weekend, late June, he stood at Nagasaki Port, Hashima Island's tour boat, ready to depart.
The SYSTEM's mission—
"INVESTIGATE HASHIMA ISLAND. REWARD: INT +2, EXTRA STAT POINT +1"
—pulsed in his mind, its 10% progress a challenge.
'Let's max this out' he thought, core buzzing with anticipation.
Jiwon's training had paid off big. He'd pushed Aura Suppression to completion, determined to forge it naturally like Force Control and Healing Touch.
At the cove, he compressed his core's energy pulse, shrinking his aura until it vanished from detection.
On the sixth night, the SYSTEM chimed: "NEW ABILITY CREATED: AURA SUPPRESSION (RARE) LVL.1"
'Nailed it!' he smirked, MP dropping to 500 during sessions.
With Aura Suppression, he could mask his presence from Awakened sensors, perfect for Hashima's restricted zones. 'No one's spotting me now'
'Except maybe strong Awakened people... my Aura Suppression is still lvl.1'
Electric Pulse hit new heights, reaching lvl.4. Jiwon used Super Speed and Training Weights to amplify kinetic energy, channelling it into shocks that cracked small boulders, arcs sizzling brighter.
'This'll drop an amateur awakened flat' he calculated, envisioning Force Control's precision boosting stun strikes. 'Kayden's lightning? I'm on the path!'
Animal Synergy also climbed to lvl.3, syncing deeper with Neko's feline instincts. Jiwon's cove runs were cat-like, dodging phantom attacks with fluid grace, Training Weights forging endurance.
He connected with strays and a seagull, sensing their instincts—curiosity, hunger, flight. 'Scouting gold' he noted.
Hashima's ruins could house animals for intel.
His relentless grind pushed other abilities: Super Speed to lvl.14, Force Control to lvl.7, reflecting his honed control.
The SYSTEM rewarded him:
"TRAINING BONUS: +0.5 DEX, +0.5 ATK, +0.5 DEF DUE TO TRAINING WEIGHTS. CURRENT DEX: 23, ATK: 13.5, DEF: 11.5"
Jiwon mapped out Hashima strategies.
Scenario one: rogue Awakened. The island's off-limits mines or buildings could shelter low-tier fighters—smugglers, maybe, or rogue trainees. Heck! maybe even a large organization.
Scenario two: SYSTEM artifact. The mission's focus suggested a hidden item—maybe a core booster or skill scroll. 'But this is unlikely to be the mission, better to still be prepared though'
Scenario three: supernatural anomaly. Hashima's eerie vibe hinted at odd energy—Awakened traces or worse. He'd lean on Super Speed and his DEX for quick reactions, Aura Suppression keeping him off radar.
His Inventory streamlined prep, storing food supplies and water bottles, good for a week that can be summoned with a thought.
He also brought his katana to his Inventory that was gifted to him by Taro when he won a kendo competition when he was 12 despite Hana's protest that a child shouldn't be having such dangerous things, which Taro just shrugged off and laughed.
'Food, check! Weapon, check!'
He held 25 Market points, tempted by Recovery Elixir (20 points) for Hashima's risks but opting to save. If things go south, I'll need flexibility. His SYSTEM glowed:
[World]Eleceed
[Character Info]
〔Name〕Seo Ji-Won
〔Age〕13
〔Level〕10「Exp」■■■■■□□□□□
『HP 800/800』
『MP 600/600』
"Stats"
『ATK』13.5 (+0.5)
『DEF』11.5 (+0.5)
『DEX』23 (+0.5)
『INT』14
「Extra Points」25
[Abilities]
●Super Speed - lvl.14 (+1)
●Kinetic Absorption/Release - lvl.12 (+1)
●Force Control (Unique) - lvl.7 (+1)
●Healing Touch (Rare) - lvl.4 (+3)
●Animal Synergy (Rare) - lvl.3 (+2)
●Electric Pulse - lvl.4 (+3)
●Aura Suppression (Rare) - lvl.1 (New!)
The tour morning dawned clear, the Yamamoto house alive with activity. Hana packed bentos, her gray-streaked bun swaying as she called out reminders.
Taro, fully recovered (Jiwon secretly used his Healing Touch to slowly help his dad recover), checked his fishing gear, muttering about tourist crowds.
Neko rubbed Jiwon's legs, "Guard the house, Neko-chan," he said, ruffling her fur.
He wore a light jacket, Training Weights still on his limbs, and weapon and supplies stashed in Inventory to blend in.
At Nagasaki Port, the tour boat gleamed, its guide—a brisk man in a navy vest—handing out maps.
Hana chatted with a tourist couple, Taro sizing up the boat's hull.
Jiwon scanned the crowd, 'Awakened?' He activated Aura Suppression lvl.1, MP at 590, his presence dimmed. 'No vibes yet.'
The boat's engine roared, slicing through calm waves toward Hashima, its concrete silhouette looming like a sci-fi relic.
Jiwon stood at the bow, sea spray misting his cream-colored hair. 'Showtime.'
He'd follow the 220-meter walkway with Hana and Taro, sticking to the tour's script—three observation platforms, guide's history spiel. But if the SYSTEM demanded more, he'd break away.
'Rogue fighters, artifacts, or weird energy—I'm locked in!' His core thrummed.
The SYSTEM flashed: "MISSION UPDATE: INVESTIGATE HASHIMA ISLAND. PROGRESS: 12%". Jiwon's lips curved. 'Let's roll'
=======================
His gaze drifted to the hooded woman, standing alone at the boat's stern. Her jacket's hood obscured most of her face, but her posture—too still, too alert—pinged his instincts.
'60% sure she's Awakened' he thought, analyzing the faint, prickly energy he'd sensed when passing her earlier.
It wasn't a clear aura, more like a static hum, muted but present. 'She's hiding something'
He kept Aura Suppression active, MP steady at 590, his own presence a ghost. 'No way she clocks me'
To test her, Jiwon slipped into his Hiro Yamamoto act—clueless 13-year-old kid, all wide eyes and clumsy steps.
He shuffled toward the stern, pretending to peer at a passing gull, and "accidentally" bumped her shoulder.
"Oh, sorry, miss!" he chirped, pitching his voice high.
He braced for a reaction, Super Speed ready to dodge if she lashed out.
The woman stiffened, her head turning slightly, eyes hidden in the hood's shadow.
Her gloved hand twitched, but she only muttered, "Watch it, kid," in clipped Japanese, her voice low and neutral.
Jiwon's senses screamed—her energy spiked for a split second, a sharp pulse like a radio signal, then vanished.
'Definitely Awakened' he confirmed, heart racing.
'She's masking, too, but not as clean as me' He flashed a sheepish grin, bowing. "My bad!" Then he scampered back to Hana and Taro, blending into the tour group.
The SYSTEM flared:
"MISSION UPDATE: INVESTIGATE HASHIMA ISLAND. PROGRESS: 30%"
Jiwon's eyes widened, his smirk hidden as he adjusted his jacket.
''30%? Just from that?'
The spike confirmed it—she wasn't just tied to the mission; she was a key player.
'Big role, huh?'
He wasn't sure if she was evil—her vibe wasn't hostile, but it wasn't friendly either.
'Smuggler? Scout? Something worse? Need more intel first'
The boat docked at Hashima's small pier, the guide's voice crackling over a megaphone. "Welcome to Gunkanjima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site! Stay on the 220-meter walkway, no straying—crumbling structures are dangerous!"
Hana adjusted her sunhat, chatting with the tourist couple, while Taro squinted at the island's decaying high-rises.
Jiwon trailed behind, eyes scanning the ruins—rusted staircases, shattered windows, concrete shells swallowed by time. 'Perfect hideout for trouble'
The guide led them along the walkway, pointing out relics of the coal mining era: a mine shaft entrance, sealed off, and a collapsed school building.
Jiwon's Animal Synergy pinged—a faint brush of curiosity from a stray cat, hidden in the rubble.
'Scout potential' he noted, syncing briefly to sense its view: shadows, cracked walls, a faint metallic glint deeper in.
'Something's there.' He kept Aura Suppression on and eyed the hooded woman. She lingered at the group's edge, her gaze flicking to restricted areas. 'She's scoping, too.'
Jiwon's strategies shifted. 'If she's a rogue Awakened, she might move soon.'
'And If it's an anomaly, she might trigger it.' He'd hang back, Kinetic Control primed for defense.
The guide paused at the second observation platform, droning about Mitsubishi's 1916 high-rise. Jiwon sidled closer to Hana, playing the dutiful son.
"Cool place, right, Mom?" he said, voice light. Hana smiled, ruffling his hair. "Eerie, but interesting."
Taro grunted, "Smells like rust."
Jiwon chuckled, but his eyes tracked the hooded woman. She'd stopped, staring at a blocked-off mine entrance, her gloved hand brushing her jacket—hiding a weapon? 'She's making a move.'
'Gotta break away without Mom or Dad noticing.'
The tour group shuffled to the third platform, but the woman lagged, her hooded figure edging toward a gap in the walkway's barriers.
"Mom, I'm gonna check that view real quick!" he called, pointing to a nearby railing. Hana nodded, distracted by the guide. Taro muttered, "Don't fall in, kid, answer your phone and call us so you wouldn'tget lost."
"Okay!" Jiwon then suddenly ran off acting like a playful kid.
Slipping behind a rusted pillar, Jiwon activated Super Speed, blurring to the gap where the woman had vanished.
The mine entrance loomed—dark, sealed, but a faint hum pulsed from within, like the woman's energy but stronger.
'Jackpot!' His katana, stored in Inventory, tempted him, but he held off. 'Not yet.' He synced with the stray cat again, its eyes catching a flicker of movement inside the mine. 'She's in there.'
The SYSTEM chimed:
"MISSION UPDATE: INVESTIGATE HASHIMA ISLAND. PROGRESS: 40%"
Jiwon grinned, adrenaline pumping. 'She's the key, alright.'
He crouched, ready to deflect surprises, and slipped into the mine's shadows, tailing the hooded woman. 'Friend or foe, you're leading me to answers.'
The mine's shadows swallowed Jiwon as he crept forward, the hooded woman's figure flickered ahead, her movements deliberate, pausing to scan crumbled walls.
The tourist path's distant chatter faded, the mine's labyrinth isolating them.
Jiwon synced with the stray cat via Animal Synergy, its sharp eyes catching the woman's path: she ducked under a collapsed beam, heading toward a sealed chamber.
'Restricted zone, big time.' He followed, keeping 20 meters back.
Jiwon saw her enter the chamber, and minutes later a sharp energy spike ripped through the mine, like a core overloading.
A muffled boom echoed from deeper within, vibrations rattling loose pebbles.
'Explosion?' He glanced back—too far for tourists to hear, the mine's walls swallowing the sound.
Jiwon tensed, then sprinted toward the noise, Super Speed blurring his form, staying low.
The tunnel opened into a cavern, its ceiling cracked, faint light filtering through.
The hooded woman stood in a fighting stance, facing three Awakened goons—burly, scarred, their auras oozing malice. One wielded flames flickering on his fists, another had claws glinting like steel, the third radiating a heavy, oppressive force.
'Low-tier, but nasty' Jiwon assessed, crouching behind a rusted mining cart.
The flame-wielder sneered, his voice rough. "Yuki, you thought you could ditch us? The boss don't let traitors walk."
The woman—Yuki—clenched her fists, her energy spiking, revealing a wind-based aura, sharp and cutting.
"Where's Aiko?" she demanded, voice steady but edged with fury. "Let my sister go, Kenji."
The claw-goon laughed, cracking his knuckles. "She's insurance. You finish this job, or she's done."
Jiwon's eyes narrowed, processing their words.
'Yuki's sister, Aiko, kidnapped. Probably awakened too.'
The goons' taunts painted the picture: Yuki was a former gang member, likely a mid-tier Awakened given her wind control.
She'd bailed to protect Aiko, but the gang—some rogue outfit—used her sister to force compliance.
Dirty move, he thought, grip tightening. The metallic glint he'd seen via the cat's eyes gleamed nearby—a sealed wooden crate covered with a large cloth, pulsing faintly. 'That's what Yuki's after?'
Yuki lunged, wind blades slashing from her hands, slicing the cavern's air. Kenji dodged, flames roaring, while the claw-goon charged, his strikes sparking against her wind barrier.
The third goon hung back, his force aura distorting the air, ready to crush.
'Three-on-one, bad odds' Jiwon calculated.
Yuki's skill was sharp, but exhaustion showed—her movements lagged slightly, her MP equivalent draining. 'She's been at this a while.'
'Should I help?' Jiwon conemplated.
The SYSTEM chimed:
"NEW MISSION: DEFEAT THE ROUGE AWAKENERS. REWARD ATK +1, EXTRA STAT POINT+1, MARKET POINTS +50"
"MISSION UPDATE: INVESTIGATE HASHIMA ISLAND. PROGRESS: 50%"
'I swear this system has consciousness...'
'Yuki's fight's the mission's core.' He weighed his options.
'Jump in, I risk exposure but...the rewards are tempting. Stay hidden, I get more intel.'
'...'
'Why am i even contemplating about about this, If Jiwoo was here, he wouldve already made a move and helped that woman' Jiwon thought with a wry smile.
'Welp, I gotta do what I gotta do'
Yuki managed to push back the awakened with fire-based powers into a corner next to the covered crate .
Kenji snarled, hurling a fireball. "You owe us, Yuki! This crate's has your lil ol' sister inside, it would be awful if this crate suddenly got caught on fire!" a muffled cry can be heard inside the crate.
'These bastards!!' Jiwon suddenly was filled with rage
Yuki: "!!!!"
Yuki deflected, wind scattering flames, but the force-goon stomped, the ground quaking, knocking her back.
"Aiko's crying for you," the goon mocked.
Yuki's eyes blazed, her wind aura flaring as she glared at the goons., but a claw swipe grazed her arm, drawing blood.
Kenji's flames roared, aimed at the wooden crate where Aiko's muffled cry echoed, while the claw-goon circled, and the force-goon's aura pulsed menacingly.
Jiwon's rage boiled over, locking onto the threat.
'No more waiting. Jiwoo wouldn't hesitate, and neither will I.'
Jiwon burst into action, Super Speed blurring his form, Aura Suppression cloaking his presence.
He targeted Kenji first—Aiko's safety was priority. The fire-wielder didn't see him coming.
Jiwon's fist, charged with Kinetic Force, slammed into Kenji's jaw, a crack echoing as the goon crumpled, flames fizzling.
But Kenji's durability kicked in—he groaned, already stirring.
'Tough bastard' Jiwon cursed, darting to the crate.
With Kinetic Absorption/Release, Jiwon lifted the crate effortlessly, its weight negligible under his enhanced strength.
He blurred to a far corner, setting it gently behind a rusted mining cart, away from the fight.
Aiko's faint sobs quieted, her aura weak but stable. 'Safe for now.'
Yuki's eyes widened, her wind blades faltering. "Kid?!" she gasped, recognizing him from the boat bump, confusion mixing with her battle focus.
'She doesn't get I'm on her side yet.'
"And who the fuck are you?!" The claw-goon roared, charging Jiwon, claws glinting.
Jiwon dodged with Super Speed, and unleashed an Electric Pulse shock, arcs crackling into the goon's chest.
The thug staggered, but shook it off, his durability shrugging off the stun.
The force-goon stomped, the cavern quaking, forcing Jiwon to leap aside, deflecting falling debris.
'They're tanky' he realized, holding back his full power to avoid alerting tourists above. 'Can't go all-out here.'
Yuki rallied, wind torrents shoving the force-goon back, but her stamina was shot, her movements sluggish.
Jiwon weaved between the goons, Super Speed keeping him untouchable, landing Electric Pulse shocks to push them away.
Kenji was back up, flames flaring, snarling, "Who's this brat?!"
'I'm faster than them, but not enough to drop them clean' he thought, frustration mounting.
The fight shifted as the force-goon pivoted, his crushing aura locking onto Yuki. "Die, traitor!" he bellowed, slamming his fist down, the air warping.
Yuki's wind barrier cracked, her knees buckling, blood pooling from her arm.
Jiwon's heart raced—he was tied up with Kenji's flames and the claw-goon's relentless swipes.
'She's done if I don't act.'
The force-goon raised his fist again, aura surging for a killing blow.
Jiwon's options vanished. 'No choice.'
He summoned the katana from his Inventory, its blade gleaming in the cavern's dim light.
With Super Speed, he blurred past Kenji, The katana sliced through the force-goon's arm, a clean cut, blood spraying as the thug screamed, collapsing.
Jiwon didn't stop—his blade flashed again, piercing the goon's chest, ending him.
The cavern fell silent, save for Yuki's ragged breaths and the goons' groans.
Jiwon's stomach churned, bile rising. First kill. His hands shook, the katana heavy, blood dripping from its edge.
'It felt… wrong.'
His instincts screamed to stay focused, but the weight of taking a life hit hard, his inexperience raw.
He clenched his jaw, forcing the nausea down. 'Not now.'
Kenji and the claw-goon froze, eyes wide at their fallen ally.
Yuki stared, her wind aura dim, shock replacing her fight. "You…" she whispered, unsure if Jiwon was friend or foe.
Jiwon snapped back, Super Speed carrying him to Kenji.
An Electric Pulse shock dropped the fire-wielder again, the claw-goon tried tackled him, but he used his kinetic release to shoved the goon off, sending him crashing into a wall.
'They're still up?!' Jiwon panted, katana ready.
He glanced at Aiko's crate—safe, but time was tight. 'Gotta finish this.'
Jiwon's grip tightened on the katana, its bloodied blade steady despite the tremor in his hands.
Yuki leaned against a wall, her wind aura barely holding, blood dripping from her arm.
The realization hit hard: 'I'm not Jiwoo.' In the manhwa, Jiwoo's kindness shone, sparing enemies when he could, winning hearts. Jiwon's lips twisted into a grim smirk. 'I'm not that noble as my brother'
'No more half-measures' Jiwon thought, 'They don't walk away!'
'If I'm gonna help Jiwoo, I can't hesitate. Killing's part of this world.' The thought was bitter, but resolve hardened. 'I'll carry this weight to get stronger.'
Jiwon moved, Super Speed a blur, katana flashing. He targeted Kenji, the fire-wielder's threat to Aiko unforgivable.
The blade sliced through Kenji's chest, flames dying as blood sprayed, the goon collapsing with a choked gasp.
The claw-goon roared, "Bastard!" and charged, claws raking the air.
Electric Pulse crackling into the thug's side, MP at 450, but the goon's durability kept him standing.
'Tougher than Kenji' Jiwon noted, pivoting.
Yuki's voice rasped, "Kid… what are you?" Her wind blades flickered, trying to support, but she was spent.
Jiwon ignored her, Super Speed carrying him behind the claw-goon. The katana struck true, a clean cut through the thug's back, piercing his heart.
The goon froze, claws clattering, then slumped, lifeless.
The cavern's silence was deafening, broken only by Yuki's labored breathing and Aiko's faint whimpers.
Jiwon's stomach lurched again, nausea surging. 'Two more kills...'
His hands shook, the katana's weight unbearable, blood pooling at his feet.
'This… sucks.'
His first kill had been instinct; these were choice. The trauma clawed at him, his inexperience raw, but he forced it down.
'Get used to it. Seoul's coming, and Jiwoo's path isn't gentle.' Jiwon steeled his mind and stored his still bloodied katana into his inventory.
The SYSTEM chimed:
"MISSION SUCCESSFUL! DEFEAT THE ROGUE AWAKENERS. REWARD: ATK +1, EXTRA STAT POINT +1, MARKET POINTS +50"
"MISSION UPDATE: INVESTIGATE HASHIMA ISLAND. PROGRESS: 90%"
Jiwon's ATK rose to 14.5, his Market balance now 75 points, but the victory felt hollow.
'90%? Aiko's still in that crate.' He synced with the stray cat from the mines via Animal Synergy, confirming no new threats.
Yuki staggered forward, her wind aura gone, eyes wary but softening. "You saved her… why?"
Jiwon shrugged, forcing a Hiro Yamamoto grin despite the bile in his throat. "Don't like bullies."
His voice cracked slightly, betraying his strain. Yuki frowned, unconvinced, but nodded.
"Aiko… she's in there." Jiwon approached the crate, Kinetic Release prying it open with ease.
Aiko, a frail 15-year-old with Yuki's sharp features, blinked up, her Awakened aura faint, wrists raw from ropes.
"Yuki…" she whispered, tears falling. Jiwon cut her bindings with a gentle Kinetic Control nudge, and helped her out.
Yuki rushed over, hugging Aiko tightly, her own wounds ignored. Jiwon stepped back, Healing Touch tempting him to fix their injuries, but exposure risked too much. But he held off.
'Get them out first.'
"More goons might come," he said, voice steadying. "We gotta move."
Yuki nodded, supporting Aiko. "You're… not normal, kid, but... thank you" she muttered,
following his lead, trusting him for now.
Jiwon glanced at the bodies, his stomach twisting.
'Three kills...' He'd sacrificed Jiwoo's kindness for strength, a choice he'd carry.
He led Yuki and Aiko toward the tunnel.
The SYSTEM's final push loomed: 'Get them to safety, and Hashima's done.'