Chapter 13 – Rules of Power
Chapter 13 – Rules of Power
Three days had passed since Ha-Joon discovered his powers. The city outside bustled with life — the muffled hum of cars, the occasional bark of a distant dog, and the rhythmic fluttering of curtains stirred by a gentle breeze slipping through the open window. Inside his modest apartment, Ha-Joon sat hunched over his drawing desk, the soft light of a desk lamp illuminating the pages of his manga and casting long shadows across the room.
The faint scent of ink and paper lingered in the air, mixing with the aroma of the instant ramen he'd forgotten on the table. Crumpled drafts littered the floor around him like the remnants of a battle he fought daily — artist versus perfectionism.
Ha-Joon (thinking): "Let's see... After researching and observing how my power works, I've managed to understand some basic rules."
He leaned back in his creaky chair, stretching his arms over his head before letting them fall lazily onto the desk. His eyes scanned the panels of the manga he had been diligently working on — the latest story filled with emotion, action, and ambition.
Ha-Joon: "First, the manga I create absorbs the emotions people feel when reading them. If I focus on the character I want to summon, I can sense exactly how much emotional energy is needed to bring them out."
He tapped a pencil rhythmically against the desk.
Ha-Joon: "Emotional energy — that's the force that fuels the characters. Second, I can use this power in two ways: either summon the full character or borrow their abilities temporarily."
He turned a crisp page, revealing a newly inked panel, still drying under the warm glow of the lamp.
Ha-Joon: "But there are limitations. To summon a character, they must have already appeared in a manga that people have read. And they'll only have the power level up to the point shown in the story. So, for example, if I draw Goku and he hasn't reached Super Saiyan yet, I'm stuck with base form Goku."
He paused and held out his hand. A small, flickering flame danced above his palm, casting playful shadows across his fingertips. The warmth was faint, but real.
Ha-Joon: "If I want to use a character's ability — like the Mangekyō Sharingan — it depends on the energy I have. It drains my own mental or physical strength, depending on the type of power. And summoning a character comes with conditions: either I have to pass a test, like I did with Natsu, gaining their approval... or defeat them in combat."
He chuckled dryly and rested his cheek against his fist.
Ha-Joon: "That completely kills my ambition to summon Uchiha Madara or Acnologia. There's no way they'd accept me — I'd have to fight them... and I'd die before the fight even starts."
The ticking of the clock filled the silence as his thoughts wandered.
Ha-Joon: "I can also summon characters to fight for me, similar to Sung Jin-Woo's shadows. But I'm still far from that level. Even after reaching rank D by summoning Natsu repeatedly these past few days, just to strengthen my base form... I'm still too weak. When I summon Natsu, I get a huge boost, but I can only maintain it for about forty minutes before I collapse."
He stood up and walked slowly to the window, drawing aside the curtain. The city stretched out beneath him, bathed in the warm glow of streetlights. Neon signs blinked in the distance, and the faint sound of laughter echoed from a nearby alleyway. Life went on — unaware of the power he held in his fingertips.
Ha-Joon: "Sung Jin-Woo must be hunting dungeons by now, trying to scrape together enough for rent. He'll probably contact the Lizard team soon..."
A small smile curved his lips as he rested his forehead against the cool glass.
Ha-Joon: "Maybe I should join them. I want to see if he's still on the same path as in the original timeline... or if my presence changed something."
He returned to his desk, carefully closed his sketchbook, and slipped it into his messenger bag. Grabbing his keys and coat from the hook by the door, he took one last glance at his cluttered room.
Ha-Joon: "I'll take a walk. Maybe it'll help clear my mind."
The door clicked shut behind him as he stepped out into the cool night air, the city's heartbeat echoing in his ears.
Thank you for following this fanfic. I invite you to discover my original work, Spirit of Gods and Demons: The Legend Continues, where a new and powerful journey awaits you."