Chapter 7

The hospital was in chaos.Doctors and nurses rushed to evacuate patients. Screams echoed through the hallways, the sound of gurneys being pushed, doors slamming, hurried footsteps. But Ji-Ho remained still, staring at the colossal creature that had emerged from the shadows.

Seconds dragged on like hours.Then, an attack.

The monster's fist lunged forward with devastating speed, smashing into the side of the building where Ji-Ho stood. Walls exploded into debris, windows shattered, and dust consumed everything. But Ji-Ho was no longer there.

In an impossible instant, he leaped.

His once frail body now cut through the air with superhuman grace. He could hardly believe what he was doing.Then he smiled.

For the first time, he felt strong.

Still suspended in the air, Ji-Ho channeled all his energy. Power pulsed inside him like restrained thunder, and he focused it into his fist. The monster tried to grab him, but Ji-Ho blurred past, slipping between its massive fingers. Landing on the creature's arm, he bolted at high speed, running across its rough skin. One final jump and—

Punch.

The explosion echoed for miles.

The impact sent shockwaves through the ground. The civilians watching from the other side of the hospital stood in absolute shock.

"That kid... he can't be the same Ji-Ho from days ago..."

There was only one explanation.

He had awakened.

Ji-Ho moved like a living shadow. His strikes were fast, precise, brutal. He dodged the monster's attacks with superhuman reflexes. And most terrifying of all, he showed no signs of fatigue.

His eyes burned with blue flames.

A smirk formed.

— Is that all? — Ji-Ho asked, bored.

The monster roared, furious. But it attacked no one else. Only Ji-Ho mattered.

"No sign of the other Awakened... They must be busy with another horde." Ji-Ho clenched his fists.

— This monster is mine.

Suddenly, flashes of the forest accident flooded his mind.

His body hesitated. Just for a second.

It was enough.

The monster grabbed Ji-Ho and hurled him with brutal force. His body tore through the air like a missile, crashing through buildings, shattering walls, splitting asphalt as he slammed into the ground.

Silence.

The dust settled.

Then, a sound.

Ji-Ho stood up.

He wiped the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Blue flames began to engulf his body.

His eyes burned.

His muscles tensed.

He took a step forward.

The ground trembled.

— I'm tired of you... — His voice reverberated through the silence.

Every step the monster took sent debris crumbling around them.

— I'm tired of the gods' tyranny...

The echoes of his past filled his mind. His meeting with Freya. The cruel fate forced upon him.

— I'm tired of seeing good people pay for the sins of the wicked...

The monster drew closer, its eyes burning with primordial hatred.

— I'm tired of being weak.

The blue flames around his body erupted, raging like a celestial inferno.

— I'm tired of being afraid.

His eyes glowed, incandescent.

— It's time to put an end to this.

Ji-Ho raised one hand.

And snapped his fingers.

In the next instant, a black lightning bolt tore through the sky. The sound ripped through the air like the thunder of gods.

The monster never had a chance.

It was split in half.

The creature exploded, its pieces scattering across the battlefield before turning to ash. There was no loot. Nothing remained.

The flames around Ji-Ho extinguished. His eyes returned to normal.

He slipped his hands into his jacket pockets and walked toward the ruins of his room. Without emotion, he pulled out his bag of clothes.

And vanished into the smoke.

"Better leave before the Association starts asking questions."

With a single leap, Ji-Ho disappeared.

By the time the Awakened arrived, all they found were ashes and destruction. The ground still smoldered.

Tenkai surveyed the wreckage.

Then looked up.

Atop a distant building, standing against the wind— a silhouette.

"Lee Ji-Ho..."

Ji-Ho arrived home. His sister, Hikari, was trying to get their mother to eat some soup.

— Look, Mom! Guess who's back! — Hikari exclaimed.

His mother's tired eyes opened slightly.

— Ji-Ho...? Is that you, my son?

His time in the hospital had changed him. He was no longer the same.

— Yes, Mom. I'm home. — Ji-Ho sat beside her. — Hikari, let me take over. Go rest.

Hikari handed him the bowl without question. She was exhausted.

— How are you feeling, my son?

— I'm fine. But now we need to take care of you.

— What a miserable position... I should be the one taking care of you...

— We're just repaying everything you've done for us.

The sound of the TV caught his attention. The news was broadcasting footage of the hospital attack.

"A colossal monster appeared today in front of the hospital. It seemed to be looking for someone."

On the screen, an amateur video showed Ji-Ho fighting the creature. The low resolution hid his face, but it was enough to spark rumors.

Ji-Ho turned off the TV immediately.

— You're too young to be watching this, Hikari. — He ruffled his sister's hair.

— What are you going to do now? The Association is still investigating the miners' attack. They've suspended loot extraction.

Ji-Ho leaned back on the couch, staring at the ceiling. Even with divine powers, he was still human. He had responsibilities.

— I don't know yet... Maybe I'll enlist with the Gladiators.

The Gladiators.

A mercenary faction. Awakened individuals who bought hordes from the Association to hunt monsters and keep all the loot. No rules. No bureaucracy. Just power and money.

Maybe it was exactly what he needed.

But one thing was certain in Ji-Ho's mind. He was born with the powers of a god. Without any combat training, he had managed to exterminate a colossus alone.

"It was all so easy… Like I could predict its movements. And when I got hit… My body reacted on its own. What else can I do with these powers? More monsters will come. I need to be ready."

The Next Day.

Ji-Ho woke up early. His body was rested, but his mind was restless. He needed to test his limits.

Without hesitation, he packed a backpack with clothes and supplies for five days. He wrote a note for his family, left it on the table, and left.

This time, there were no doubts. He needed to explore the vastness of his powers.

Driving out of the city, Ji-Ho reached the forest where the accident had happened.

As he stepped out of the car, a chill ran down his spine. Every step brought back flashes of what had happened there. He followed old footprints to the place where the massive tree should have been.

But it was gone.

A vast clearing occupied the space, as if something had completely removed the tree. Ji-Ho felt dizzy. His head throbbed. Visions invaded his mind.

Blue flames. Overwhelming power.

His body trembled.

"Argh… What is this…?"

Ji-Ho dropped to his knees, panting. His body radiated heat. Then, without warning, an explosion of energy erupted from him. Blue flames spread, consuming the ground around him.

Ji-Ho's scream echoed through the forest. Birds scattered in fear. The earth burned.

When he finally regained control, Ji-Ho surveyed the destruction around him.

"...Was that because of my anger?"

His heart pounded. One thing was certain—he couldn't train here. It was too dangerous.

Hours Later.

Ji-Ho found a remote area, surrounded by mountains and covered in dense vegetation.

Perfect.

He dropped his backpack and began testing himself.

First challenge: Speed and jumps.

Ji-Ho bent his legs and leaped.

With a single push, he soared past the treetops.

"This is incredible…"

His reflexes were sharp. His movements, natural. Even without training, everything felt intuitive.

Second challenge: Endurance and vertical running.

He spotted a nearby mountain and started the timer on his watch. Without hesitation, he dashed forward.

The ground cracked under the force of his takeoff.

The wind whipped against his face. Ji-Ho saw everything in real-time, as if his vision had become a high-speed lens.

Reaching the base of the mountain, he didn't slow down.

Gravity didn't stop him. He ran straight up the rock face.

Seconds later, he reached the top.

"Three kilometers in a straight line and another ten in the climb..."

He looked at his hands. His fists trembled with excitement.

"Insane."

Nightfall.

When night came, Ji-Ho returned to his campsite. He gathered firewood and lit a small campfire.

The heat of the flames danced before his eyes, but he didn't feel cold. His body seemed to adjust to the environment automatically.

After a simple meal, he set up his tent and lay down.

For the first time since his coma, his body truly relaxed.

But the peace didn't last.

The rustling of the trees changed. The wind blew differently.

The fire was snuffed out by a sudden gust.

Ji-Ho opened his eyes immediately.

His instincts screamed danger.

He stepped out of the tent. Everything was dark. The dense forest around him blocked out any trace of light.

And then…

Red eyes glowed between the trees. One. Two. Ten. Dozens of them.

The entire forest was infested.

He was surrounded.

But instead of fear, a grin formed on Ji-Ho's lips.

He lowered his head, closed his eyes for a moment… and laughed.

"...This is exactly what I wanted."