Kyung Joo's eyes fluttered open, and he was met with an unfamiliar ceiling. He tried to sit up, but a wave of pain washed over him, forcing him to lie back down. The system, sensing his distress, spoke up, "Close your eyes and feel the essence around you." Kyung Joo obliged, and as he focused on the essence, he began to perceive the world in a different way. The pain didn't disappear, but it became more manageable.
Just as he was getting accustomed to this new sensation, a nurse and a doctor entered the room. "He's awake," the nurse said, checking Kyung Joo's vital signs. The doctor examined him, noting the lack of injuries despite being told that Kyung Joo had been hurt three days ago.
The nurse whispered to the doctor, "He was wounded right here," pointing to Kyung Joo's chest. "Who brought him here?" the doctor asked. The nurse replied, "A college student, Min-seo. According to her, they weren't related, and she found him in the middle of the road, covered in bruises. But when I checked his body, there were hardly any bruises except the one on the chest and some other ones on his legs."
The doctor's expression turned thoughtful. "This could be related to a genetic mutation that accelerates wound healing. Some people have conditions like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or hyperthymesia, where their bodies heal faster than normal. It's possible that this man here has a similar condition." The nurse nodded, taking note of the doctor's observation.
As the medical professionals retrieved samples of Kyung Joo's blood, he opened his eyes, grinning inwardly at the system interface. It seemed that the more people thought about him, the more his CP increased. Additionally, the absorbed essence from humans also fed the system's CP, albeit in small quantities.
"I need to experiment with this," Kyung Joo thought to himself. Before he could get out of bed, the lady, Min-seo, entered the room, her eyes red-rimmed from crying. "You caused all of this," she said, her voice trembling with anger and sadness. "This is all because of you."
Kyung Joo, still trying to process his surroundings, apologized and quickly got out of bed. "Sorry," he said, before hurrying out of the room. Min-seo's tears fell harder as she watched him leave.
Kyung Joo moved swiftly through the hospital corridors, his bare feet slapping against the cold floor. He didn't know where he was going, but he knew he needed to get out of there. As he pushed through the hospital doors, the bright sunlight and cool breeze hit him like a slap in the face.
He took a deep breath, feeling the essence around him. The system interface displayed his current CP levels, which had increased significantly since his encounter with Min-seo. Kyung Joo's mind whirled with possibilities as he walked away from the hospital.
The city streets were bustling with people, cars honking, and sirens blaring in the distance. Kyung Joo felt overwhelmed, but the system helped him navigate through the chaos. He walked for what felt like hours, trying to clear his mind and understand his situation.
As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the city, Kyung Joo stopped at a small park. He sat down on a bench, watching as children played and couples strolled hand in hand. The system interface continued to display his CP levels, which were steadily increasing as people passed by.
Kyung Joo's thoughts turned to Min-seo. The system seemed to be connected to his body, absorbing essence and increasing his CP.
As the stars began to twinkle in the night sky, Kyung Joo stood up, determination burning within him. He would uncover the secrets of the system and his abilities, no matter what it took.