The morning sun barely touched Bukcheon, a pale light filtering through the smog and mist. Haneul adjusted his uniform, knuckles still raw from yesterday's Shadow Mode drills. His crew followed behind him, small but loyal, their eyes wide with anticipation. This was his first official tournament match, and every step toward the registration hall felt like walking toward a storm.
The tournament hall was enormous, filled with fighters of all sizes, some intimidatingly large, others deceptively small and fast. The air smelled of sweat, blood, and anticipation, mixing into a heavy, almost oppressive atmosphere. Haneul's stomach twisted, and for the first time in weeks, fear clawed through him.
[System Notification]
**Tournament Tier: Amateur Division]
**Next Opponent: Shin Kyung-ho, Midweight Brawler]
**Suggested Strategy: Observe patterns, exploit openings]
Haneul's first glance at Kyung-ho was enough to send a shiver down his spine. Broad shoulders, knotted muscles, and a grin that made him look hungry for victory. His fists twitched at his sides, ready to crush anyone who got in the way.
Seok-jae leaned close, whispering, "He's strong… really strong." Haneul nodded, heart pounding. "Then we fight smart. That's all we can do."
The bell rang. The fight began. Kyung-ho lunged immediately, fists hammering in a brutal combination. Haneul twisted instinctively, pain flaring as one punch grazed his ribs, sending shock through his chest.
[Damage Taken: 8/50]
The purple glow of Shadow Mode began to coil faintly along his arms, responding to the surge of adrenaline. He threw his first counter, a precise jab aimed at Kyung-ho's jaw. It connected, but barely phased the larger fighter.
[Skill Progress: Precision Jab III +1%]
Kyung-ho's fists were relentless, striking harder than anything Haneul had faced. Each blow brought memories of past beatings—the alleys, the taunts, the fear. Pain lanced through his ribs, his shoulder, his jaw. He stumbled, nearly falling to the floor, and for the first time, the thought of losing screamed at him.
[Endurance Check Failed – temporary fatigue penalty]
He forced himself to rise, focusing on rhythm, timing, the lessons from Shadow Mode. His movements sharpened, weaving and ducking with a fluidity that felt unnatural for his skinny frame. Every dodge and counter was measured, calculated, yet still painfully slow against Kyung-ho's raw power.
A vicious uppercut caught him in the gut. Pain exploded across his abdomen, knocking the wind out of him. Haneul collapsed briefly, gritting his teeth, refusing to surrender.
[Damage Taken: 15/50]
The crowd cheered, a dull roar that felt distant through the haze of his pain. Shadow Mode flared fully, a bright violet coiling along his veins, sharpening his reflexes and precision. He swung again, landing a clean hook to Kyung-ho's temple, staggering the bigger fighter.
[Progress: Counter Strike III unlocked][Strength +0.8, Reflex +0.7]
Kyung-ho recovered quickly, throwing a flurry of punches. Haneul's vision blurred, sweat and blood stinging his eyes. Another hit caught his shoulder, sending him staggering sideways. He felt close to collapse, trembling from exhaustion, yet the System's voice whispered calmly:
"Endure. Adapt. Exploit openings. Pain is temporary."
Haneul clenched his fists, feeling every ache, every sharp flare of muscle and bone. His body screamed to stop, but he focused on the pattern—Kyung-ho favored left hooks after his first swing.
He shifted weight, ducked, and landed a rapid sequence of precise jabs and hooks, the purple glow pulsing with each hit. Kyung-ho staggered again, finally faltering under the combination.
[Skill Unlock: Shadow Focus I – +10% precision when near defeat]
Exhaustion threatened to drag him down. His ribs burned, knuckles throbbed, and a cut on his lip split further. Yet Haneul's mind sharpened, seeing every swing, every opening. He countered with a decisive uppercut that lifted Kyung-ho slightly off balance.
[Damage Inflicted: 30/50]
Kyung-ho staggered backward, breathing heavily. The bell rang, signaling the end of the match. Haneul collapsed onto one knee, chest heaving, sweat and blood mixing with the moisture on the floor. The crowd's cheers felt distant, almost unreal.
[Match Complete – Victory][Reward: Adrenal Surge II – +15% strength and reflex for 3 minutes][Endurance +1.0, Strength +1.2, Reflex +1.0]
Seok-jae and Hwan rushed to support him, helping him to stand. "You did it… you actually did it!" Seok-jae breathed. Haneul wiped blood from his lip, trying to smile through exhaustion.
"I barely did," he muttered. "I almost lost… felt like I was going to die out there."
[System Notification]
**Stress Analysis: Extreme – Mental resilience increased +0.5]
**Shadow Mode efficiency increased by 5% in combat situations]
Haneul's body was battered, ribs bruised, and knuckles raw. Yet he had survived his first tournament match. The victory wasn't clean, wasn't easy, and hadn't made him invincible. He was still the skinny boy with the birthmark, vulnerable, human—but now, he was also a survivor.
He left the ring with his crew, each of them exhausted, bruised, yet silently proud. The tournament had already begun teaching him that survival meant more than strength—it meant endurance, strategy, and the willingness to endure real pain.
[System Notification]
**Next Opponent Estimated: Higher skill tier]
**Prepare: Increase Shadow Mode mastery and counter skill]
That night, Haneul sat alone on the rooftop of the school, looking at the city lights shimmering through the mist. Every bruise, every cut, every ache reminded him that he was still human. Still vulnerable.
Yet, somewhere deep inside, a spark burned—a spark that refused to die. The System's hum was steady in his mind.
"Prepare. You have only begun your ascent."
Haneul's fists clenched tightly, purple glow faintly pulsing. "Then I'll get stronger," he whispered. "No matter how much it hurts."
And with that, the skinny boy with the birthmark began his climb into the shadows of Bukcheon's fighting world.