Crack.
Crack.
The sound of splitting wood echoed through the forest. Near the source lay several neatly cut blocks, each carved into tidy fragments. A stone platform stood beside them, weathered and rough, and upon it rested a round, straight log—offered like a sacrifice to an executioner's blade.
Swoosh.
An axe came down, cleaving the wood cleanly in two—symmetrical, perfect.
The man holding the axe let it drop from his hands, the weapon landing on the ground with a soft thud. Using his other hand, he wiped sweat from his brow. Discomfort didn't usually bother him, but the stinging near his eyes was annoying enough to address out of habit.
"Right, I should cut around twenty more before I'm done for the day," he thought.
Scrunch.
Scrunch.
His ears perked up. Something—or someone—was moving fast through the woods.
He turned toward the sound, raising an eyebrow. Could it be a boar? he wondered. But no—the cadence was off. Too rhythmic. Too precise. It sounds like... two legs?
A human.
Seonji Yuk remained still, relaxed, letting the runner approach. Seconds passed before the bushes parted, revealing a young man in a black sweater.
Seonji's sharp eyes studied him curiously. The stranger's slicked-back hair framed a chiseled jawline. Muscles bulged beneath the sweater's sleeves, and black denim hugged athletic legs. His shoes—black with a strange little tick on them—stood out oddly in the wilderness.
Then Seonji saw the man's eyes.
Black. That was the first thought that came to him.
Eyes dark as the night sky... each glimmering with a single, distant star.
.
.
.
Apollo stared at the man before him. His wild, natural wolf-cut hair shadowed sharp features and equally sharp eyes. Dressed in a simple black top, he looked exactly like his manhwa counterpart.
Apollo stepped forward and extended a hand.
"Seonji?"
The man raised a brow. "You know me?" he asked, confused—but still shook his hand.
"Yeah... a lot. I've heard a lot about you."
Apollo had a thousand questions—but first, he needed answers.
.
.
.
"So you're scared?" Apollo said, unbothered by the tension building in Seonji's eyes.
"No... I just don't think I'm ready to face them yet."
It had only been about five minutes since their conversation started—five minutes with the future King of Cheonliang.
Apollo hadn't held anything back. He told him everything—about Vin Jin, about the situation in the village.
He had always wondered: Why hadn't Seonji acted sooner?
He was strong enough, clearly capable of wiping out the threat. And yet he had waited—waited until they directly targeted his disciple.
But now Apollo understood.
Seonji Yuk was scared.
He had faced horror—real horror. And though he had grown stronger since then, his soul was still scarred.
Apollo could feel it in him. Seonji Yuk was powerful—maybe even on par with himself.
He took a step forward, face-to-face with the man.
"You say you're not ready, but don't try to fool me. I can see the strength in your veins." Apollo leaned in. "You're still afraid of what they did to you. But you're not doing anything for the people going through the same."
Seonji shook his head, pain flashing in his eyes. His legs tensed. "You don't understand..." His voice cracked. "If I face them... If I see the villagers' eyes again... I'll destroy everything."
Apollo scoffed. "Understand what? That they tortured you as a child? That they stole your sense of self?" He pointed a finger at Seonji, his voice softening. "That they made you feel worthless... not human?"
He wasn't angry at Seonji Yuk. No. He respected the man's kindness—his quiet strength. Very few people could ever reach the level Seonji had, in heart or in fists.
What Apollo was angry at… was fate.
He knew what it felt like to think of yourself as a failure. No, he hadn't been tortured. But he had lived longer. He had been broken before.
It was like seeing a phoenix trapped in a cage.
He remembered how furious he had been reading Seonji's arc—when the man chose suicide over confrontation.
"I don't know everything," Apollo whispered, hugging the man—who was two inches taller than him—"but I do know how you feel."
"All I'm asking is for you to bring the strength to face it. Don't let what happened to you happen to someone else."
Seonji Yuk stood there, stiff at first. But… he accepted it. Somehow, impossibly, the stranger he had just met seemed to know exactly what he felt.
Maybe… just maybe… it was time.
How long will I keep hiding?
How long will I let them haunt me?
A flicker of resolve burned behind Seonji's eyes.
He took a step back from Apollo and gave him a long, evaluating look.
Friend.
After a brief silence, he nodded. "Alright… I'll go."
Apollo smiled, walking alongside the King of Cheonliang. Mission accomplished.
He told himself not to set any red flags—but he couldn't help it.
That was… surprisingly easy.
The two walked side by side until they reached the edge of the village. The treeline broke, revealing rooftops in the distance.
Apollo paused.
Maybe I should let him deal with the Kojima brothers. Let him get closure.
But when he noticed Seonji had stopped, he turned around.
"Mhm?"
The man stood frozen, eyes glazed over.
Apollo walked back. "You good, buddy?"
Seonji didn't answer.
Instead, two strong hands grabbed Apollo by the torso.
What?
.......
Guys, I just got a new fanfic Idea for lookism, if anyone wants to do it they can.
So a guy transmigrates into lookism, That too, near the end of the first generation, let's say child Gun time, But drum roll!, he has the body of a normal earth human...That means no mastery, no superpowers. And what does he become? A therapist, Remember how Shingen was depressed, so let's say he helps him, cuz tbh, Shingen honestly seems more hero material to me than Gapryong, bro at times gives me evil vibes. Plus he could also help him with politics while making him a better man( Like bro cheats on his woman, Thats so fucking low-life stuff).
So when some random villain tries to attack him, Shingen and Gap stand behind him , protecting him.
Plus he makes a multi-billion dollar business, Opens a tournament where the second and first generation can duke it out( Like god of high school )
Charles Choi can be the main villain I guess?
.......
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