A New Skill

Blood trickled down Seung's forehead, mingling with sweat as it traced the contours of his neck. Jiwon's heart raced—she had never encountered gangsters before, and seeing Seung injured only deepened her fear.

The once ordinary day had quickly spiraled into something far more dangerous.

Seung rubbed his neck, his fingers coming away smeared with pale crimson. His eyes narrowed, focusing on the man before him, who smirked with a twisted sense of satisfaction.

"Haha, you shouldn't have messed with me. Now you'll suffer for your naivety," the outlaw metahuman sneered, his voice dripping with malice.

Seung had anticipated encountering him again, but the timing caught him off guard. Still, this wasn't necessarily a bad thing. He had tested his clones' martial arts moves the previous day, and now, he was eager to see if he really did master everything.

And, how the replicas would perform under real pressure.

He allowed a smirk to curl his lips as he strode towards the men holding Jiwon down, his steps steady, each one a silent promise of what was to come.

The man studied Seung, his smirk wavering for just a moment. 'This punk seems more confident than last time,' he thought, but his own confidence remained unshaken. He had the Hardening ability, able to turn his body into metal, and he was a solid D-ranker. Judging by Seung's speed last time, he was probably an E-ranker at best. The man had the upper hand.

A flicker of movement caught his attention, complimenting his initial thought—one of his clones, materializing just beyond the group's line of sight. It crept closer, silent and deliberate.

As Seung approached, the man with the rod smirked back at him. "What are you gonna do, punk? Wanna help her?"

Seung's eyes flashed with determination. "I'm the one you're after, so why don't you let her go?"

The man chuckled, incredulous. This kid was actually trying to negotiate? Out of sheer frustration, he swung the rod at Seung's head, intending to teach him a lesson.

Whack, press!

The rod struck home—only to be caught mid-air by Seung's palm. The force of the blow reverberated through his arm, but he didn't flinch. The man tried to free his weapon, surprise flickering in his eyes as he realized his mistake. Without anyone noticing, the clone matched Seung's moves, quietly circling around them.

"Yee!!" Jiwon gasped, her eyes darting between Seung and the figure beside him. She had counted five men before, but now there was a sixth, and she hadn't even noticed him appear. Panic gnawed at her thoughts, but she couldn't deny the unfamiliar thrill at Seung's unexpected prowess.

Seung seized the moment. He yanked the rod from the man's grasp and, with a swift motion, brought it down on his leg. The man crumpled, pain contorting his features as he hit the ground.

Seung discarded the rod, letting it clatter against the pavement. Simultaneously, his clone sprang into action, delivering a precise strike to one of the other men holding Jiwon.

"Argh! My leg! My leg!" The thug's cry of pain echoed, causing the others to release Jiwon in a panicked scramble.

They lunged at Seung, fists raised, but their attacks were effortlessly blocked. Within seconds, they too were sent sprawling. The clone's movements were fluid, seamlessly syncing with Seung's own, as if they shared one mind.

Jiwon's mouth hung open in disbelief. Had Seung really just taken down three grown men in less than thirty seconds? And with such ease?

'Did he just…get stronger?' Her thoughts raced, the astonishment clear on her face.

"Go and hide somewhere. I'll let you know when I'm done," Seung said, his voice calm, almost reassuring.

"Ehh… I can't just leave you..."

"Didn't you see what I just did?" Seung cut in, his tone bold. "I'll be fine. They can't lay a finger on me. Not when my friend is around."

Jiwon hesitated, then reluctantly nodded. "That's true…" she mumbled, before darting to the shelter of a nearby tree, still trembling with fear.

Seung's gaze hardened as he turned back to the boss. Something about this man felt off. A nagging thought in the back of Seung's mind told him that this man's connections went deeper than he'd first assumed—getting bail in under a month when the charge should've kept him locked up for half a year? That wasn't normal.

The prudent course of action would've been to avoid conflict with someone like that, but Seung had never been one for caution. Monsters, psycho hunters, near-death experiences—he'd faced them all, and they had forged him into someone far more dangerous than his young appearance suggested.

The clone now stood beside him, mirroring his stance, their synchronized movements making them appear almost as one. Seung's mind raced.

'I've changed… My experiences have hardened me… I'm drawing closer to hell with every step I take. But so what? I'm crazy enough to face creatures who hunger for human flesh. My body may be young, but my soul isn't.'

At that moment, the screen shimmered to life before his eyes.

"Uhh...?"

[Side Quest Unlocked: Advanced Reward Available.]

[View Reward: New Skill Unlocked.]

[Skill: Dread Strike. Damage: 10% | Cooldown: 10 seconds]

Seung clenched his fists, feeling a surge of power. His clone, sensing the shift, seemed to radiate confidence, its presence amplifying Seung's strength. He wasn't just fighting alone—he was fighting with a part of himself that was constantly growing, learning, and adapting.

The three thugs, now back on their feet, charged at him once more, fueled by rage. The D-rank man suddenly tore off his shirt, revealing skin that morphed into solid silver. His flesh was now like polished metal, gleaming under the dim light of the alley.

"You might've taken down my men, but it's impossible when I'm in the fight! No one's ever survived my Hardening ability!" he roared, his voice filled with a savage pride.

Seung flinched. 'What the heck is this?!'

But there was no time to think. He had the Dread Strike in his arsenal now, and his clone mirrored his anticipation.

"Yah!" A sudden yell from behind caught Seung off guard. He somersaulted over the charging figure, narrowly avoiding the outstretched hands that sought to grab him. The clone followed suit, their movements in perfect harmony.

One of the men rushed at Seung, but before he could react, the clone intercepted, swinging the rod with brutal precision. The thug's head snapped back, and he crumpled to the ground, blood spraying from his mouth.

The last thug, desperation in his eyes, lunged at Seung with a knife. But before the blade could find its mark, the clone struck him in the chest with a heavy blow, sending him sprawling.

Seung didn't waste a moment. He stepped over the fallen man, his clone shadowing his every move. The boss, flexing his metallic muscles, charged toward Seung with a fist raised high. Seung dodged, and the ground where he'd been standing shattered into jagged pieces under the force of the man's punch. The clone, ever vigilant, stayed by Seung's side, ready to counter.

Shatter, shatter!!

Seung's breath caught in his throat. Had he been a second slower, that punch would've pulverized him.

'Being made of metal is something else…'

But in his moment of hesitation, the boss struck with his other hand, catching Seung in the abdomen. Pain exploded through his body as he was sent flying backward, crashing into the factory wall. The clone intercepted in a heartbeat, moving to shield Seung.

Jiwon's heart skipped a beat as she watched Seung slam into the wall. The faint hope she had clung to was slipping away. Desperation gnawed at her, and she fumbled for her phone, dialing the emergency number.

'I should call the police…' she thought, her hands shaking. But before she could press send, a hand snatched the phone away.

Was it one of the gangsters?!

"The police can't control people like them. You'd better wait until they dissolve each other."

Jiwon turned, startled to see a woman standing there, a man by her side. None other than the B-rankers putting a tail on Seung.

"Who…who are you people?" Jiwon stammered, stepping back in fear.

The man responded, his tone laced with sarcasm. "How do we describe ourselves? Loyal dogs, maybe? Or those who've got nothing better to do than keep watch over a mere magg..."

"Aye, look at this fool," the woman interrupted, scoffing. "What better thing do you do all day than stuff your face with sandwiches?"

The man's expression darkened. "Why do you always have to pick on me?" he snapped, his frustration palpable.

"Tsk, tsk, look at this fool..."

"Stop calling me a fool!"

Meanwhile, Seung slowly rose to his feet, the pain still radiating from the man's punch. It was only because he'd let his guard down that the man had managed to land a blow. His clone stood before him, fists raised in a tight guard.

'Activate Light Speed!'

[Light Speed Activated]

A bluish aura enveloped Seung as he flashed toward the man, picking up the rod that had slipped off his clone's grip. Probably when it hurried to his aid. And Seung returned to his original position.

'This is the first thing my clones did—staying put.'

For a moment, neither Seung nor the man moved. The tension was thick, the air heavy with anticipation. But impatience got the better of the boss, and he charged at Seung once more. This time, Seung was ready. He dodged the blow and, in total unison with his clone, flashed to the man's back. They struck him with the rod and a perfect punch simultaneously.

Wham, wham!

"Argh!" the man cried out.

Lee Seung and his clone retreated to their original position.

[Damage made: 10%]

[Wait for the skill to be accessible again before making the next attack.]

'Oh, I forgot. I can't use the skill twice since it has a cooldown.'