Nagasaki, Japan – Five Years Later
The dawn sea glittered under a pale sky, its waves lapping at the hull of Taro's fishing boat. Jiwon Seo—Hiro Yamamoto to all but his own heart—stood at the bow, his now-lean 13-year-old frame steady despite the rocking.
His cream-colored hair, longer and tied back, whipped in the salt-soaked breeze, his amber eyes sharp as he hauled in a net heavy with mackerel.
His movements were precise, muscles honed by years of secret training, though he kept his kinetic powers tightly leashed around Taro.
"Nice haul, Hiro," Taro grunted, his weathered hands deftly sorting the catch. The fisherman's gruff tone hid a quiet pride, and Jiwon flashed a grin, fluent Japanese rolling off his tongue.
"Thanks, Dad. Think we'll beat last week's load?" He'd called Taro "Dad" for years now, the word natural yet bittersweet.
Taro snorted, tossing a fish into a crate. "Keep dreaming, kid. But you're getting better at this."
Jiwon laughed, the sound bright against the sea's murmur. Five years in Nagasaki had changed him. At 13, he was taller, stronger, his 8-year-old frailty a distant memory.
But beneath his easy smile lay a transmigrator's resolve, shaped by Eleceed's story and his vow to protect Jiwoo's destiny.
'Four more years' Jiwon thought, his gaze drifting toward the horizon.
'Then I'll go to Seoul as an exchange student, just when the plot kicks off. I'll watch over you, Jiwoo'
Back home, the Yamamoto house buzzed with morning routine. Hana, her gray-streaked hair now in a neat bun, hummed as she set out breakfast—miso soup, rice, and grilled fish. Jiwon helped, wiping down the low wooden table, his hands quick but careful.
"Hiro, you'll be late for school," Hana teased, her maternal warmth unchanged despite the years. She handed him a bento wrapped in a blue cloth, her eyes soft. "Study hard, okay? You're our star."
"I will, Mom," Jiwon promised, the word "Mom" still tugging at his heart. He owed Hana and Taro everything, their kindness a lifeline he'd never repay. But he kept his secrets—his powers, his past, the SYSTEM—locked tight, protecting them from the Awakened world.
Neko, now a sleek gray cat with a slight limp, wove between his legs, meowing for scraps. Jiwon crouched, scratching her ears. "Greedy as ever," he murmured, slipping her a bit of fish. Neko purred, and Jiwon's smiled.
At school, Jiwon was a model student, his desk piled with perfect test scores and teacher commendations. He aced every subject—math, Japanese literature, even kendo, where his speed (carefully restrained) drew gasps from classmates. Being top student wasn't just pride; it was strategy.
At 17, he'd apply for an exchange program to Seoul, timing his return to coincide with Eleceed's main plot. He'd blend in, a foreign student with no ties to Jiwoo Seo, watching from afar as his brother became a hero.
'I won't interfere yet' he vowed, scribbling notes in class. 'But I'll be there if you need me.'
But Jiwon's true growth happened in the dark, far from Nagasaki's lights. Every night, he slipped out, running using his Super Speed to a secluded cove framed by jagged cliffs, where the sea drowned out his training.
The SYSTEM, his transmigration cheat, had become his guide. Over five years, he'd unraveled its functions—missions, stat boosts, skill upgrades—turning its game-like interface into a tool for mastery. The blue screen, invisible to others, was as familiar as Neko's purrs.
His kinetic powers, once wild and painful, were now a controlled storm. The SYSTEM's Character Sheet reflected his progress:
[World]Eleceed
[Character Info]
〔Name〕Seo Ji-Won
〔Age〕13
〔Level〕9「Exp」■■■■■□□□□□
『HP 700/700』
『MP 500/500』
"Stats"
『ATK』13 (+8)
『DEF』10 (+7)
『DEX』19 (+9)
『INT』13 (+6)
「Extra Points」25
"Abilities"
●Super Speed - lvl.12
●Kinetic Absorption/Release - lvl.10
●Force Control (Unique) - lvl.5
The Syncing five years ago had been agony, but it unlocked his potential. Assimilating his kinetic force into his core, as the SYSTEM demanded, stabilized his powers, earning him +5 stat points he'd split across ATK, DEF, DEX, and INT.
But the real surprise was Force Control, a unique ability only for him born accidentally during assimilation.
Jiwon had struggled to tame the rampant energy, instinctively shaping it into precise bursts rather than raw explosions.
The SYSTEM rewarded him with another +5 stat points and a notification:
"NEW ABILITY CREATED: FORCE CONTROL. REWARD: +5 STAT POINTS"
His force control let him manipulate kinetic energy with finesse—redirecting impacts, softening his landings, or channeling force into pinpoint strikes.
A sprint no longer cracked pebbles; a punch could dent steel without shattering his bones.
Tonight, at the cove, Jiwon tested his limits. The SYSTEM prompted:
"MISSION: EXECUTE 100 CONTROLLED KINETIC STRIKES. REWARD: +1 DEX"
He grinned, his sneakers crunching on wet sand. 'Let's do this.'
He blurred into motion, his body a streak under the moon, each punch a glowing pulse of energy. The cliffs echoed with soft thuds, not thunder, his Force Control keeping the force tight. He leaped, absorbing the fall's energy, redirecting it into a spinning kick that carved a shallow groove in a boulder.
No nosebleeds, no aching muscles—just a steady hum in his core, the SYSTEM's approval.
"Hiro? You awake?" Hana's voice echoed in his memory, a reminder to be cautious. He'd nearly been caught once, sneaking back with sand on his yukata, but he'd lied about stargazing.
The Yamamotos trusted him, and that trust was a weight he carried alongside his guilt over Jiwoo.
Jiwon paused, breathing hard, the sea's salt stinging his lips. The SYSTEM's screen glowed: "MISSION COMPLETE. DEX +1"
His DEX was now 20, his speed and precision now superhuman. 'Not bad for a 13-year-old' he thought, smirking. 'I could probably, go toe to toe with the Klein brothers now, I think?'
But his amusement faded as Jiwoo's face surfaced in his mind—those amber eyes, that selfless heart. 'Are you stronger now, Jiwoo? Are you safe? Five years without contact felt like a lifetime' but Jiwon clung to his future knowledge: Jiwoo's story hadn't started yet. At 17, when the plot began, Jiwon would be there.
Back home, he slipped into his room, Neko greeting him with a sleepy meow. He showered off the sand, changed into a clean yukata, and sat at his desk, textbooks open but ignored.
His gaze drifted to the wooden boat Taro had carved years ago, now polished from his restless fingers.
'Hana, Taro, Neko… they're my family now' he admitted, the thought both comforting and painful.
The SYSTEM flickered, unbidden:
"NEW MISSION: MAINTAIN TOP ACADEMIC RANK. REWARD: +2 INT"
Jiwon chuckled, the sound soft in the quiet room. 'Even my cheat's pushing me to study.'
He accepted, his resolve hardening. He'd be Hiro Yamamoto, top student, fisherman's son, cat dad. But beneath it, he was Seo Ji-Won, transmigrator, brother, protector.
In four years, he'd return to Seoul, not to change Jiwoo's story, but to ensure it shone as brightly as he knew it could.
========================
The Nagasaki sky had darkened by evening, heavy clouds swallowing the stars. Jiwon sat at the low table in the Yamamoto house, helping Hana fold laundry, the scent of cedar and sea salt filling the room.
Neko sprawled nearby, batting at a stray sock, her purrs a soft hum. But Jiwon's amber eyes kept drifting to the window, where the harbor churned under a restless wind.
"Dad's late," Jiwon said, his voice steady but tight. Taro had gone fishing alone that afternoon, promising to return by dusk. It was past seven now, the sea growing wilder.
Hana paused, her hands stilling on a towel. "He's probably just waiting out the weather," she said, but her smile didn't reach her eyes. "You know how stubborn he is."
Jiwon nodded, forcing a grin, but his gut twisted. The radio on the counter crackled with storm warnings—gale-force winds, rogue waves hitting the coast. Taro was skilled, his boat sturdy, but Nagasaki's seas could turn merciless.
'Five years, and he's never been this late' Jiwon thought, his fingers clenching the fabric.
As the clock ticked toward eight, rain lashed the windows, and Hana's calm cracked.
"Hiro, I'm calling the coast guard," she said, reaching for the phone, her voice trembling. "Something's wrong."
Jiwon's heart pounded, his kinetic core humming faintly. He couldn't wait for the coast guard—not with Taro out there, not when he had powers they didn't. "I'll check the pier," he said, grabbing his jacket. "Maybe he's docked already."
"Hiro, it's dangerous!" Hana protested, but Jiwon was already at the door, his sneakers on.
"I'll be quick, Mom. Promise." He flashed a reassuring smile, hating the lie, and slipped into the storm.
The wind howled, rain stinging his face as he sprinted to the harbor. The pier was empty, boats bobbing violently, no sign of Taro's fishing boat. Jiwon's breath hitched, fear clawing his chest.
'He's out there, in that' His instincts screamed of danger—Awakened or not, nature didn't care. He scanned the churning sea, his enhanced DEX sharpening his vision, but saw only waves and darkness.
He'd trained for years, run across water in calm conditions, his Super Speed and Force Control making it effortless. But a storm? He'd never tested his powers in chaos.
'I don't have a choice' he thought, tears mixing with rain. 'Dad needs me.'
Jiwon kicked off his sneakers, his bare feet gripping the pier's wet boards. He sprinted, his kinetic energy surging, and leaped onto the sea.
His Force Control shaped the energy beneath his soles, each step a burst of force that kept him skimming the surface. Water sprayed around him, the storm's roar deafening, but he ran, a blur against the waves.
The storm fought him. Waves crashed, threatening to swallow him, the wind a wall against his speed. His core burned, his MP 500 draining as he redirected kinetic force to stabilize each step.
'This is nothing' he told himself, gritting his teeth. But his muscles screamed, his lungs heaving. He was fast, precise, but the storm was chaos, and he'd never faced anything like it.
Miles out, he spotted wreckage—splintered wood, a torn net, Taro's boat floating like a broken toy.
"Dad!" Jiwon shouted, his voice lost in the gale. He skidded across the water, nearly slipping as a wave slammed him.
Diving into the debris, he searched, his enhanced senses straining. Then he saw him—Taro, unconscious, clinging to a plank, his face pale, blood trickling from a gash on his forehead.
"Dad!" Jiwon's voice broke, tears streaming as he swam to him, the cold biting his skin. He grabbed Taro, hauling him onto a larger piece of wreckage, his arms trembling.
Taro's pulse was weak, his breathing shallow.
'He's dying' Jiwon thought, his heart shattering. 'I was too slow.'
Using Super Speed, Jiwon ran back to shore, cradling Taro, each step a battle against the storm.
'I can't lose him. Not him, too' Jiwoo's face flashed in his mind, the brother he'd left behind, and now Taro—his second father—slipping away.
At the shore, Jiwon collapsed on the sand, Taro limp in his arms. The rain pounded, the coast guard's lights flashing in the distance, drawn by Hana's call.
But they were too far, too slow. Jiwon's tears fell, hot against the cold. "Dad, please," he sobbed, his voice raw. "Don't leave us."
"System! Can't you do anything to save dad?!"
The SYSTEM glowed:
"NO HEALING FUNCTIONS AVAILABLE. HOST CANNOT SAVE TARGET"
Jiwon's breath hitched, rage and despair surging. "Useless!" he screamed, slamming his fist into the sand, kinetic energy cracking the ground. 'Five years of training, and I can't save him?'
But he couldn't give up. Taro's face, gruff but kind, filled his mind—carving that wooden boat, teaching him to fish, calling him son. Jiwon pressed his hands to Taro's chest, his core pulsing wildly.
'Wait... awakened people have a natural self recovering ability because of their core, albeit not as strong and effective as Kartein's, they still recover faster than normal people...'
Suddenly, a stroke of idea suddenly flashed in his mind. ' what if i use my core, and transfer its energy to dad...maybe it'll work...'
He channelled his core's energy, not as a weapon but as life, pouring it into Taro. His MP plummeted, his HP 700 dipping to 500, then 400, his body screaming as he pushed past his limits. 'Please, work. Please!'
Taro's breathing hitched, a faint shudder. Jiwon's tears streamed, his voice a broken whisper. "Come back, Dad. Mom needs you. I need you." He thought of Jiwoo, of losing another piece of his heart.
'I can't fail again.'
The SYSTEM flashed, its tone neutral:
"WARNING: CORE ENERGY TRANSFER EXCEEDS LIMIT. NEW SKILL CREATED: HEALING TOUCH"
Jiwon barely registered it, his focus on Taro. A soft glow spread from his hands, his newfound energy weaving into Taro's wounds, knitting the gash, steadying his heart. Taro gasped, his eyes fluttering open, confused but alive.
"Hiro…?" Taro rasped, his voice weak.
Jiwon sobbed, relief crashing through him. "You're okay," he choked, hugging Taro tightly. "You're okay."
The coast guard arrived, their shouts cutting through the storm. Jiwon pulled back, wiping his face, his HP at 300, his body trembling. He'd saved Taro, but the SYSTEM's warning lingered—he'd nearly killed himself.
Healing Touch was new, untested, born from desperation, but it wasn't enough. The storm, Taro's near-death, exposed his weakness. 'I still need to get stronger...more faster'
===========================
Back home, Taro rested, Hana by his side. Jiwon sat in his room, Neko in his lap, the SYSTEM's screen open. Healing Touch joined his abilities, a skill that could save lives.
He clenched his fists, resolve hardening. I need to be stronger. Not just stats—real strength. Battle experience. The cove wasn't enough; he needed challenges, risks, even if it meant seeking minor Awakened in Japan's underbelly.
'Four years until Seoul. I'll be ready—for Dad, for Mom, for Jiwoo.'
'Status' he called out the system.
[World]Eleceed
[Character Info]
〔Name〕Seo Ji-Won
〔Age〕13
〔Level〕10「Exp」■■□□□□□□□□
『HP 400/800(+100)』
『MP 368/600(+100)』
"Stats"
『ATK』13
『DEF』11 (+1)
『DEX』22 (+2)
『INT』14 (+1)
「Extra Points」25
[Abilities]
●Super Speed - lvl.13
●Kinetic Absorption/Release - lvl.11
●Force Control (Unique) - lvl.6
●Healing Touch - lvl.1 (Rare) (New Addition!)
'Oh, I leveled up! Nice! Even my stats and abilities were raised.'
"SYSTEM: LEVEL 10 REACHED! REWARD GRANTED TO HOST"
"SYSTEM: OPEN REWARD FOR REACHING LEVEL 10? Y/N"
'There's a reward? Now that's what I'm talking about baby!!' Jiwon happily chose to open the reward right away.
"LEVEL 10 REWARD GRANTED: NEW FUNCTION UNLOCKED – MARKET"
"ADDITIONAL REWARD: 100 MARKET POINTS"
"MARKET: A SYSTEM EXCHANGE WHERE HOST CAN SPEND POINTS TO PURCHASE ABILITIES, POWERS, ITEMS, AND MORE. EARN POINTS THROUGH MISSIONS, LEVEL-UPS, OR SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS. CURRENT BALANCE: 100 POINTS"
Jiwon's breath caught, his heart racing. A Market? He leaned forward, Neko grumbling as she resettled. This was isekai gold—a shop for powers and items?
His mind flashed to Eleceed's early villains, the Klein Brothers, their fire-based powers scorching opponents with relentless heat. With my stats - 'I could take them out easy now' he thought, a wry smirk forming.
Their flames were deadly, but his Super Speed could outmaneuver their attacks, and Kinetic Absorption/Release could turn their heat into amplified strikes.
'I'm stronger than them… but not strong enough.'
With his new ability, Healing Touch, he gently grabbed Neko from his lap and hovered his palm on his friends limp. 'Is this how you do it?'
He redirected his energy formed by consuming some of his HP to Neko's limp, which resulted in his hand glowing a bright blue, the energy fixing the feline's limp.
『HP 250(-50)/800』
The cat let out a soft purr, before jumping off from his lap, ran around the room and jumping on his things, seemingly overjoyed.
"There you go buddy!" Jiwon exclaimed as he happily grabbed Neko for a hug, the feline happily reciprocated his action by nudging her head on Jiwon's chest. "Thank you for always being there for me Neko-chan"
'Okay, time to open this new market function'
Before he could tap the Market, the SYSTEM flickered, unbidden:
"NEW ABILITY DETECTED: ANIMAL SYNERGY (RARE)"
Jiwon froze, his eyes widening. 'What?'
The screen detailed:
"ANIMAL SYNERGY: HOST'S BOND WITH FELINE COMPANION (NEKO) HAS AWAKENED A NATURAL ABILITY. ENHANCES BODY CHARACTERISTICS IN SYNC WITH ANIMAL TRAITS; ALLOWS EMOTIONAL COMMUNION WITH ANIMALS. LVL.1"
Jiwon's gaze dropped to Neko, a warmth swelling in his chest. 'You did this, girl?'
Over five years, Neko had been his anchor. "HAHAHAHAHA! You're the best, Neko-chan!"
'Four years until Seoul' he thought, his eyes fierce. 'I'll be ready—for Dad, Mom, Jiwoo.'
'Now, let's look what the market has to offer.'
He tapped the Market, its menu blooming: Abilities, Powers, Items, Enhancements. Prices glowed beside each entry:
[Market]
Abilities:
-Aura Suppression (40 points): Conceals Awakened aura from detection.
-Enhanced Senses (30 points): Heightens vision, hearing, and reflexes.
-Energy Shield (50 points): Projects a kinetic barrier to block attacks.
Powers:
-Electric Pulse (60 points): Emits weak electric shocks.
-Telekinetic Push (45 points): Moves small objects with force.
Items:
-Recovery Elixir (20 points): Restores 200 HP instantly.
-Training Weights (15 points): Enhances physical stat growth during training.
-Awakened Compass (25 points): Detects nearby Awakened auras.
Enhancements:
-Core Efficiency (45 points): Reduces MP cost for abilities by 10%.
-Stat Boost (30 points): +2 to any stat, permanent.
CURRENT BALANCE: 100 POINTS
'This is it?' Jiwon sighed, disappointed at the lack of choices.
"ADDITIONAL OPTIONS WILL BE ADDED WHEN REACHING A SPECIFIC LEVEL"
'What level should I reach for the additional options?'
"..."
'Fuck you.'
'wait...' an idea suddenly struck Jiwon's mind.
'These abilities... could i maybe just develop it on my own?' Looking at his Abilities in his System panel. 'Force Control, Healing Touch....these abilities just developed naturally without the system's help.'
'So maybe...' Jiwon glanced at the Market panel, a huge grin plastered on his face.
'Yeh, lets try it later! For now, i need to buy something that i can't create naturally or easily'
'I know with my kinetic control, I can achieve a power similar to that of the Electric Pulse, emitting weak electric shocks.... but that would need a large amount of kinetic energy and stamina just to have the same result'
'So...If what I'm thinking is correct, Buying the Electric Pulse would boost my Electric shock power when paired with the kinetic energy that my super speed produces...right?'
"..."
"Fuck it" Jiwon pressed and bought the Electric Pulse.
"PURCHASE COMPLETE! 'ELECTRIC PULSE' WAS ADDED TO HOST'S LISTS OF ABILITIES"