ch 24 : unlocked powers
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System Notification: "Congratulations! User has beaten Siro Oni."
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In another part of Seoul…
"So the winner of the round is... Daniel Park!" The referee's announcement echoed through the arena, followed by a deafening roar of applause from the crowd. Daniel, drenched in sweat , looked around in disbelief. He hadn't expected to be thrown into an MMA match in his bigger body, yet here he was, victorious.
As he made his way out of the arena, Daniel couldn't help but reflect on how much had changed. "To think Lin would put me in an MMA club again... but in my big body this time," Daniel muttered to himself, shaking his head in mild exasperation. Though he had initially been reluctant, he had to admit the experience was exhilarating. His bigger body's strength and speed made him a force to be reckoned with, even against seasoned fighters.
As Daniel walked home, the adrenaline from the fight still coursing through his veins, he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. There, on a bench near the Seoul subway station, was a familiar figure slumped over, seemingly asleep. Daniel blinked in surprise. "Is that... Lin?"
Curiosity piqued, Daniel approached the bench. Lin looked exhausted, his clothes slightly disheveled, and his face bore the marks of a recent fight. Daniel hesitated for a moment, then gently nudged him. "Umm... Lin?" Daniel nudged him again, a bit more firmly this time.
Lin jolted awake, his eyes snapping open with a sharp intake of breath. For a moment, he looked disoriented, his gaze darting around as if he was still in the middle of a fight. Then his eyes focused on Daniel, and he relaxed slightly, though his body remained tense, a remnant of whatever battle he had just come from.
"Daniel?" Lin's voice was hoarse, and he blinked a few times as if trying to shake off the fog of exhaustion.
"Yeah, it's me," Daniel replied, concern creeping into his voice. "What happened to you? You look like you went 100 rounds with a gorilla ."
Lin chuckled, but it was a dry, tired sound. "You could say that. Just finished up something... intense." He glanced down at his bruised knuckles, then back at Daniel, forcing a smile. "Looks like you've been through the wringer yourself."
Daniel shrugged, a small grin tugging at his lips. "MMA club. Courtesy of you, of course."
Lin smirked, though it was clear he was still recovering from whatever ordeal he had just endured. "You're welcome. Consider it part of your training."
Daniel studied Lin more closely, noticing the weariness in his eyes. "You sure you're okay, Lin? You look like you could use a hospital more than a bench right now."
Lin waved him off, attempting to stand but wobbling slightly. Daniel quickly reached out to steady him. "I'm fine. Just need to rest... somewhere that's not this bench."
Daniel frowned but nodded, knowing better than to argue. "Alright. Let's go then. We also have to go to school today."
Lin gave him a nod, and together they began walking toward their building. As they moved through the quiet streets, Lin's mind raced, replaying the fight with Gun over and over. The pain in his body was distant now, numbed by sheer willpower, but he knew that once the adrenaline fully wore off, it would hit him like a ton of bricks.
"Lin," Daniel began hesitantly as they walked, "whatever you just went through... do you want to talk about it?"
Lin was silent for a moment, his thoughts a tangled mess of pain, exhaustion, and something else—something darker. Finally, he shook his head. "Not now, Daniel. Maybe later. Right now... I just need to rest."
Daniel nodded, respecting his friend's need for space. "Okay. But whenever you're ready, I'm here."
As they reached there apartment, Lin glanced up at the building, then back at Daniel. "Thanks, Daniel. For everything."
Daniel gave him a small, reassuring smile. "Anytime, Lin. Now let's get you inside before you pass out on the doorstep."
Lin managed a weak chuckle as they entered the building. But as he followed Daniel inside, the weight of everything that had happened pressed down on him, making his steps feel heavier with each passing moment.
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Once inside, Daniel set Lin down on the couch, making sure he was comfortable. "I'll go now," Daniel said, heading to his apartment.
Lin nodded absently, leaning back against the couch with a tired sigh. His body felt like it was made of lead, every muscle screaming in protest. Closing his eyes, he focused on his breathing, trying to steady his racing thoughts.
"Isol, you here?" Lin asked internally.
"Yes, I'm here. Do you need anything?" came the familiar voice of his system, gentle yet concerned.
"Yeah, is there any notification?" Lin inquired, feeling the weight of his exhaustion pulling at him.
*"There are a lot of them. Do you want to know about all of them?" Isol's voice held a hint of amusement, almost like a smirk.
"Sure, lay them on me." Lin replied, his curiosity piqued despite his weariness.
"Here they are."
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Martial Techniques:
- Kudo
- Shorinji Kempo
- Shotokan
- Yamazaki-Style Kyokushin Karate
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Unlocked Existing Powers:
- UI Mode
- Tom Lee's Strength
- Diego Kang's Speed
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Current Stats:
- Name: Hong Lin
- Age: 18
- Weight: 159 lb / 72 kg
- Height: 183 cm / 6 feet
- Strength: 5 ★
- Speed: 5 ★
- Intelligence: SS
- Endurance: 5★
- Stamina: 4★
- Reflexes: 5★
- Potential: SR (ascended)
Martial Arts:
- Boxing
- Muay Thai
- Aikido
- Kyokushin Karate
- Taekwondo
- Capoeira
- Judo
- Dirty Boxing
- Brazilian Jujutsu
- Mujin Sserieum
- MMA
- Ultra Instinct
- Kudo
- Shorinji Kempo
- Shotokan
- Yamazaki-Style Kyokushin Karate
- Copy
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"Isol, I always wondered why some of those powers were locked." Lin inquired, his voice carrying a note of frustration.
Before Isol could answer, Lin added, "It's because of them, right? I'm still just their plaything."
Isol remained silent for a moment before responding softly, "I'm sorry, Lin."
Lin sighed, feeling a mix of resignation and defiance. "Whatever. I'm going to rest."
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The next morning, Lin entered his classroom, still feeling the lingering fatigue from the previous day's battles. The students around him buzzed with excitement, chattering about the upcoming school festival. But Lin wasn't in the mood to join in; his mind was elsewhere, still processing everything that had happened.
Ignoring the noise, he made his way to his desk and sat down, resting his head on his folded arms. He needed to clear his mind, but the weight of his recent battles and the unsettling truth about his powers hung over him like a dark cloud.
As he closed his eyes, trying to block out the world, one thought kept repeating in his mind: "I won't be their puppet forever. I'll find a way to break free."
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End of Chapter