In a small but cozy house tucked into a quiet part of Seoul, a ten-year-old girl lay curled on the sofa, a half-watched cartoon playing on the TV in front of her.
She wore a white hoodie, slightly oversized on her small frame, and soft leggings. The glow of the screen lit up her worried face.
"It's quite late... why isn't Jinwoo coming?" she muttered, eyes flickering to the clock.
Biting her lip, she reached for her smartphone and sent a message.
[Where are you, Jinwoo? Why are you so late today?]
But the message didn't reach Jinwoo.
Instead, in the middle of the night, on a nearly abandoned street — a man in black leaned against a wall, grinning down at the screen of a phone that wasn't his.
"Oh? I kept his phone on me just in case... but looks like I'm lucky tonight."
"A new plaything, huh?" he whispered with a grin that oozed evil.
His smile widened, eyes glowing with malice.
Meanwhile—
On a cracked, blood-smeared road where Seo Jinwoo's body lay still—
Something stirred.
Deep within his dying consciousness, a flicker of awareness sparked.
And then—A glowing system panel appeared before the darkness.
[The host for System #444 has been found.]
[Binding process starting.]
[Process failed: Host body unstable.]
[Error: Host's soul is missing from body.]
[Initiating soul restoration protocol.]
[Restoration progress — 15%]
[Restoration progress — 28%]
[Restoration progress — 49%]
[Restoration progress — 58%]
[Restoration progress — 72%]
[Restoration progress — 98%]
[Soul restoration completed.]
[Restarting binding process...]
[Binding successful.]
[You have gained 550 Negative Emotion Value from today's income.]
[Would you like to awaken your power? Y/N]
[Host did not select any option.]
[Default selection: YES]
[Initiating awakening process...]
FLASH!
A surge of dark light burst through Jinwoo's body. His chest jerked as if pulled back to life by invisible chains.
The system activated.
At the same time—
Back on the villain's side of the city, the man in black casually replied to the message he'd just received from Jina.
[I'm on the way. But I forgot the way. Can you tell me which area we live in?]
A moment later, Jina's reply popped up.
[Are you kidding? Don't make fun and come home early!]
The man chuckled.
"Hehe… so feisty. I'm going to enjoy this one…"
But just then—
A voice echoed behind him. Low. Cold. Heavy enough to pierce bone.
"Hey… you know what?"
"You just crossed the line."
The man froze.
"You should've been satisfied after killing me."
"But thinking about doing the same thing to her..."
"That was the worst mistake of your life."
The villain slowly turned his head.
And there he stood.
Seo Jinwoo.
Blood soaked his body. His head hung low. His hoodie clung to his frame like a shroud of death. Shadows clung to his face, which was hidden beneath wet strands of hair.
Then—
He raised his head.
His eyes glowed with sharp, frozen fury. His killing intent was suffocating — a pressure so intense it made the air itself feel heavy.
"You just pissed me off."
The villain barely had time to blink.
Jinwoo moved.
BOOM—!
In a blur of speed, Jinwoo shot forward and appeared right in front of him.
"You like punching faces, don't you?"
CRACK!
Jinwoo's fist smashed into the man's cheek with brutal force, sending him flying through the air.
THUD!
The villain hit the pavement hard, skidding several meters before rolling to a stop.
(What the hell just happened?! I'm sure I killed him! How is he still alive?! And that strength—! Don't tell me... don't tell me he awakened too!)
The man staggered to his feet, but before he could even catch a breath—
Jinwoo was already in front of him again.
"You've got time to think?" Jinwoo said flatly.
WHAM!
With a sharp turn, Jinwoo's foot rocketed into the man's face. His jaw snapped sideways.
The kick lifted him clean off the ground.
THUD—CRASH!
The man smashed into a nearby wall. The plaster exploded behind him, cracks spreading like spiderwebs. He hit the ground coughing up blood.
Before he could even blink—
Jinwoo appeared again.
The man's eyes widened in raw terror.
"P-Please… spare me...!"
Jinwoo crouched down, his voice cold, but with a smile curling on his face.
"Oh, now you want mercy?"
"Then... you shouldn't have thought about the girl."
His eyes widened, dark and soulless. His face twisted with quiet fury.
THUD—CRACK!
Jinwoo's final punch exploded forward, driving the man's head into the wall behind him.
The sound echoed.
And the body fell limp.
The man died.
Jinwoo stood up, blood dripping from his fists.
The cold wind swept through the street.
He looked down at the corpse — his expression unreadable.
The night that had almost ended him...
...had become the night he awakened.