The golden figure raised one hand. High, like he was lifting the whole sky.
And then the chains came.
Not just chains — they were like thunder crashing down. Golden light tearing through the clouds, snapping and rattling like lightning that wanted to bind the world itself. The whole construction site shook under the sound.
Hyun Woo's broken body was on the ground. Cold, still, not even breathing. His face pale, cheek burned, lips cracked.
The System's voice echoed, flat but heavy.
[Warning… system law broken]
[Rule: Life cannot return once gone]
[System… changing law…]
[New Rule: By the will of Justice, the dead may rise]
The chains trembled like they were alive, pulling, stretching, fighting against something unseen. It wasn't just dragging a body. It was pulling something deeper.
From far above, a tiny spark of light appeared. At first it was nothing, like a firefly lost in the dark sky. Then brighter, then brighter still, until the chains caught it.
It was Hyun Woo's soul.
The chain wrapped it, dragging it down, pulling it through the black night, forcing it back into his body that should have stayed cold.
The System flashed again.
[Justice Avatar System Fully Activated]
[Skill Unlocked: Chain of Justice]
[Effect: Once tied, no corrupt soul can run away.]
[Host too weak to get more skills]
[Not enough Justice Points]
The words echoed, but before they could fade, the golden figure's voice crushed them.
"Change the rule."
The golden figure's voice was low, but it carried the weight of mountains. "Give him another skill."
The System stuttered. Glitched. Its voice cracked.
[System… changing rule…]
[New Skill Forced]
[Skill Unlocked: Eyes of Verdict]
[Effect: All lies will be seen. The guilty cannot hide truth before these eyes.]
[Warning… Host too weak…]
[Warning… Host too weak…]
The warnings repeated again and again like screams of a machine breaking.
But the god didn't care. His chains lowered, fading, breaking apart into sparks. He lifted his palm, and from it a small glowing orb drifted down, like a falling star.
It sank into Hyun Woo's chest.
[Justice Points… found]
[Strengthening body of Host]
[Preparing vessel to hold Power of Justice]
Hyun Woo's body twitched. His fingers curled weakly. His chest rose once, shallow, then fell.
Then again, stronger this time. His skin began to glow faintly as blood dried and wounds closed. The burn on his cheek healed slow, leaving only faint marks.
[Host body repair complete]
[Power of Justice contained]
[Installing last skill…]
[Skill Unlocked: Judgment Strike]
[Effect: The guilty will feel the weight of their sins. Pain equal to their crimes will fall on them.]
Time started again.
Hyun Woo opened his eyes slowly. His vision was blurry at first, but when he squeezed his eyes and rubbed them, things started to look clearer.
As he woke up, he felt something strange.
It was like two voices were in his head. One deep, heavy like thunder. The other flat, like a machine.
To him it felt like a dream.
He saw a golden man. The man raised his hand and chains came out, wrapping around him and holding him tight.
At the same time a screen floated in front of his eyes, giving him skills, saying words he couldn't understand.
He couldn't tell if it was real or just a dream.
As he stood up, one hand was on his knee and the other on the ground to push himself up.
When he finally stood, his head felt dizzy, and he put his hand on it.
"Ugh… what happened… where am I…"
Kang was about to make a call on his phone, but he disconnected the call.
It was like only one ring went, not even more, and before his father could pick up the phone, Kang cut the call.
He did it because he saw Hyun Woo standing up from the ground, still alive, not dead like he thought.
"Look, the dog woke up…"
"He's like a dog. No matter how much you beat him, he still stands up again."
They stood up again from their place and moved toward Hyun Woo.
And then, he heard the strange voice.
[ Warning: Host has no knowledge of skill ]
[ Warning: Host has no knowledge of power ]
[ Tutorial Mode: Activated ]
[ System Override: Taking over host body ]
[ Purpose: To teach. To guide. ]
Hyun Woo gasped and grabbed his head. "Wh… what? Who's talking? Who—"
Hyun Woo's eyes went wide when he heard the voice inside his head. He didn't know who it was, or what it was. His heart jumped, his body froze.
He was scared, because someone was speaking straight in his ears even though no one was near him.
He looked around, turning his head left and right, then left again. All he could see were Kang and his friends, but they were far, not close enough.
Still, the voice was there, straight in his head, clear like someone whispering right beside him. It made no sense, but it was real.
Suddenly, his whole body felt strange. He tried to move but nothing happened. His mind kept shouting at his legs, his arms, to move, but the body was not listening at all. It was like it belonged to someone else.
[ Tutorial Mode: ON ]
[ Identity Confirmed: Vessel of the God of Justice ]
[ System: Justice Avatar ]
[ Status: Chosen by the God of Justice to act as his vessel on earth ]
[ Objective: Carry out justice in the name of the God of Justice ]
[ Instruction: Power demonstration will begin ]
[ Reminder: Record every sensation. Remember the feeling. ]
And then it came inside him. Not words but something else.
It was like a strange itch crawling in his veins, burning and pushing, forcing him to know how the power worked.
It was not teaching him with words, it was teaching him through feeling.
His eyes turned golden. Sparks flashed from his right hand. Suddenly glowing chains started coming out, crawling from his skin, wrapping tight around his hand like they were alive.
On Kang's side—
"B-Boss… what the hell is that… in his hand?"
They were drunk, squinting their eyes hard, heads swaying like they couldn't keep them straight. Everything looked blurry, glowing shapes moving around.
One of them rubbed his eyes and muttered, "Tch… how much did you drink, idiot? Golden light chain? You seeing things now."
Another one hiccuped and laughed, "Yeah right, what next? Maybe wings on his back? Haha, stop spouting crap."
But even while they mocked, all of them kept staring, their smiles twitching, because the glow didn't fade. It was real.
"Chain of Justice," Hyun Woo said. But the voice was not his own.
It was heavy, low, like a whisper that pressed against the air.
He lifted his arm, straight, flat, lined with the air.
And then golden chains burst out from his hand. They shot forward fast, wrapping around every one of them.
The chains glowed brighter, locking them down. None of them could move.
Their drunk laughs were gone. Their eyes wide, their throats dry. Fear hit them all at once, hard and heavy, making their bodies stiff like they couldn't even move.
[ Judgement: Initiated ]
[ Process: Evaluating Souls ]
[ Target: Kang Ji-ho ]
[ Crime Detected: Abetment to Suicide ]
[ Note: Leader of the group. Led the bullying of a fellow student until death. Victim ended own life due to torment. Verdict: Guilty ]
[ Target: Min Dae-ho ]
[ Crime Detected: Abetment to Suicide ]
[ Note: Took part in bullying a fellow student until death. Victim ended own life due to their actions. Verdict: Guilty ]
[ Target: Joo Sang-woo ]
[ Crime Detected: Abetment to Suicide ]
[ Note: Encouraged and stood by during the bullying. Shared guilt in the victim's death. Verdict: Guilty ]
[ Target: Park Il-jin ]
[ Crime Detected: Abetment to Suicide ]
[ Note: Took part in torment, did not stop the act. Presence and action led to the victim's suicide. Verdict: Guilty ]
They could hear it. Every word, every line, cutting inside their heads. It was like the voice wasn't just talking — it was drilling straight into their hearts.
And then the street around them was gone. The smell of smoke, the sound of bottles, the whole world they knew — gone in a blink.
They were still standing, but their souls had been pulled into somewhere else.
A place of black. A void. No walls. No sky. Just endless dark beneath their feet.
And in that place, Hyun Woo stood.
His face the same, his body the same. But he was surrounded by golden light, chains crawling and moving around him like snakes, glowing and alive.
They looked around, confused, their voices still loud even though only their souls were standing there.
"Tch… what is this place?" one of them said, his voice shaking but trying to sound arrogant.
"Hyun Woo… it's him, right? It's still him…" another muttered, staring hard.