Jiwon's POV - Earlier That Day
Jiwon, was in his dorm, Neko purring beside him, when his phone buzzed.
Subin's name flashed, her voice blasting through. "Hiro, get to Shinhwa HQ, now! I'm about to crush this Wooin kid!"
Jiwon's mind clicked—'Subin's still on her Wooin obsession.' He grinned.
"Shinhwa? Big stage, Subin. I'm in." As he hung up, a familiar ping echoed in his mind, the SYSTEM's blue panel glowing:
"NEW MISSION: Go to Shinhwa Headquarters and meet the chairman. REWARD +1 INT"
Jiwon's brow twitched. '+1 INT? That's it?'
His INT 30 was already sharp, but Shinhwa's chairman—likely Jiyoung Yoo—was a key Eleceed player. 'Might as well.' He accepted the mission, grabbing his jacket.
On the subway to Yeouido, he opened his character status, eyes scanning the glowing panel:
[World]Eleceed
[Character Info]
〔Name〕Seo Ji-Won
〔Age〕17
〔Level〕25「Exp」■■■■■■■□□□
『HP 2000/2000』
『MP 1400/1400』
"Stats"
『ATK』28
『DEF』20
『DEX』40
『INT』30
「Extra Points」75
「Market Points」500
[Abilities]
●Super Speed - lvl.27
●Kinetic Absorption/Release - lvl.22
●Force Control (Unique) - lvl.23
●Healing Control (Rare) - lvl.17
●Animal Synergy (Rare) - lvl.19
●Electric Control (Rare) - lvl.26
●Aura Suppression (Rare) - lvl.20
●Energy Shield (Uncommon) - lvl.11
●Enhanced Senses (Uncommon) - lvl.17
●Protected Mind (Rare) - lvl.12
●Telekinetic Control (Rare) - lvl.9
At Shinhwa's gates, Subin met him, her aura buzzing. "Hiro, you're late! Let's go!"
Jiwon's grin was playful. "Chill, Subin. You'll freeze Wooin solid." She dragged him inside.
In the training hall, Subin introduced him: "This is Hiro Yamamoto, my sparring buddy and total prodigy!" She skipped his powers, and Jiwon's Protected Mind caught curious stares.
Inhyuk Goo approached, bowing slightly. "Welcome, Hiro. I'm Inhyuk Goo." His eyes flicked between Jiwon and Jiwoo, a mental note forming: 'Woah...he looks like Jiwoo'.
Jiwoo stood nearby, sparks humming faintly, his gaze soft but curious.
Kayden, the obese white-and-orange tabby on Jiwoo's chest, stared, eyes sharp.
Animal Synergy caught the cat's intrigue. 'Kayden's sniffing me out.'
Jiwon bowed, playful. "Nice place. Thanks for the invite."
Jisuk, munching popcorn, grinned. "Yo, twin guy! Ready for the show?" Jiwon chuckled.
The arena was set—padded walls, humming with Awakened energy.
Subin faced Wooin, ice aura crackling, unaware of his telekinesis. Wooin's force aura was cold, steady.
Jiwon leaned against a wall, analyzing. 'Subin doesn't know Wooin's power. She'll charge in blind.'
Jiyoung Yoo stood at the edge, aura a silent storm. Seongha Park watched, aura heavy. Inhyuk signaled the start, and Subin lunged, fists raised, no ice yet.
Classic Subin, Jiwon thought.
Wooin's aura pulsed, and an invisible force slammed her chest, skidding her across the floor.
Jisuk howled, popcorn flying. "Hah! Ice girl's down already!"
Subin's face reddened, ice aura exploding, frost creeping up the walls. "You jerk!" she roared, charging again, now serious.
Jiwon's Enhanced Senses tracked her—'She's sharper now than her manhwa counterpart, thanks to our training.'
Subin summoned ice shards, hurling them at Wooin. Wooin's telekinesis deflected them, aura rippling, sending a force wave that cracked the arena's floor.
'He's not holding back' Jiwon noted.
Subin dodged, ice spikes erupting, her control tighter than before. 'She's pushing her limits.'
The clash intensified—ice shards shattered against telekinetic barriers, the arena trembling.
"Yo, Subin, you're getting smoked!" Subin's ice aura wavered, her glare snapping to Jisuk. "Shut it, blondie!"
That split-second distraction was enough. Wooin's aura surged, a massive telekinetic blast hurtling toward her.
Jiwon's INT screamed—'She can't dodge that, she'llget seriously injured'. Instinct kicked in. Super Speed activated, deliberately slowed to look amateur, sparks trailing. He scooped Subin aside, skidding to a stop.
Gasps rippled through the hall.
Subin blinked, stunned, then shoved him off, ice aura flaring. "Hiro, what the hell?! I had that!"
Jiwon's Hiro act softened, an apologetic chuckle escaping. "Sorry, Subin. Couldn't let you get flattened."
Jiyoung's aura pulsed, eyes narrowing. Inhyuk's gaze sharpened, reassessing Jiwon. Jiwoo's sparks flared faintly, wide-eyed.
Jisuk dropped his popcorn, muttering, "Whoa, spark guy's fast." also noting how his power is similar to Jiwoo's.
Seongha's aura shifted, intrigued.
Kayden's tabby eyes locked on Jiwon, tail still. 'That spark… like Jiwoo's. His twin brother talk wasn't nonsense.'
Kayden's weakened instincts buzzed—'This kid's no rookie.'
Jiwon bowed to the arena, Hiro act playful but firm. "Sorry, everyone. Got worried for my sparring buddy."
Subin huffed, ice aura simmering, muttering, "Tch, don't baby me, spark plug."
Subin's ice aura simmered beside him, her grumbling barely audible over the arena's tension.
Enhanced Senses caught Inhyuk Goo's shocked whisper to Seongha Park. "Where'd you find that kid, Seongha? His speed's unreal."
Seongha's aura shifted, voice low. "Not ours. Hiro's not Union-affiliated. Awakened late, still adjusting."
Inhyuk's eyes widened, flicking between Jiwon and Jiwoo, who stood nervously nearby, sparks humming faintly. 'Another super rookie? And their powers… so similar. Could they be related?'
Jiwoo's gaze lingered on Jiwon, his heart tugging. 'Hiro's sparks… they're like mine. Is he really my brother?'. His mother's words—"Your twin's gone, Jiwoo"—clashed with the boy before him, so alike yet sharper.
Jiyoung Yoo's aura pulsed at the arena's edge, her eyes narrowing on Jiwon. 'This boy's no ordinary prodigy' she thought, her quiet storm of an aura signaling interest.
She stepped forward, voice cutting through. "Enough. The spar's over. Wrap it up." Her command was final, Shinhwa's authority undeniable.
Jiwon bowed again, his act softening. "Im really really sorry for jumping in, everyone. Didn't want Subin hurt."
Subin huffed, ice aura flaring. "Tch, I wasn't gonna lose, spark plug!" Jiwon chuckled.
As they were about to leave the training hall, Jisuk Yoo, popcorn forgotten, strode forward, wind aura buzzing with excitement. "Yo, spark guy!" Jisuk grinned, pointing at Jiwon. "That was slick. Spar me, right now!"
'Jisuk? Now?' A SYSTEM ping interrupted, the blue panel glowing:
"NEW MISSION! OBJECTIVE: Defeat Jisuk Yoo in a spar. REWARD +1 ATK"
Jiwon's lips twitched. '+1 ATK? Better than the last one.' Jisuk's wind aura was strong, but Jiwon's Super Speed and Electric Control outclassed him. 'But I'll keep it low-key.'
He accepted the mission, his grin playful. "Sure, Jisuk. Let's dance."
The crowd stirred—Subin's ice aura spiked with glee, Jiwoo's aura flickered nervously, and Kayden's obese, white-and-orange tabby form tensed, eyes locked on Jiwon. 'Let's see what this kid's got' Kayden thought, instincts buzzing despite his weakened state.
The arena reset, padded walls humming. Inhyuk signaled the start, and Jisuk lunged, wind aura erupting in slashing gusts.
Jiwon dodged effortlessly, Super Speed making him a blur, sparks trailing.
Jisuk growled, wind blades sharpening, slicing the air. Jiwon weaved, untouchable, landing a light lightning jab.
Jiwoo's eyes widened, sparks humming. 'His lightning… it's like Kayden's!'
Kayden's tail flicked, impressed. 'That control's no rookie move. Like my style.'
The fight escalated—Jisuk's wind aura roared, tearing cracks in the arena floor, while Jiwon's lightning cracked, sparks dancing.
Jisuk's blows were fierce, but Jiwon countered with devastating precision, his "amateur" lightning masking his true power.
Jisuk's grin faded, his prodigy pride cracking. 'All my life, I've been the best. Now this guy's toying with me?'
Humiliation burned, and Jisuk flared his wind aura to its peak, a berserk storm swirling. "You're done!" he roared, prepping a massive wind blast.
Jiwon's INT read the move. 'Impressive, but not as strong as Aiko's. It's now or never.'
He surged, Super Speed focusing into one strike, lightning coiling around his fist.
The punch slammed Jisuk's stomach, a flash of sparks mirroring Jiwoo's manhwa strike—a single, devastating blow.
Jisuk flew, crashing into the training hall's wall, dust billowing. The arena fell silent.
Jisuk coughed, wind aura fading, eyes wide with shock. 'I… lost?'
Gasps erupted. Subin's ice aura froze, jaw dropped. "Hiro?!"
Jiwoo's sparks flared, heart racing. 'That move… it's like mine!'
Jiyoung's aura pulsed, reassessing Jiwon. Inhyuk muttered, "Unbelievable." Seongha's eyes narrowed, intrigued.
Kayden's tabby gaze burned. 'That strike… Jiwoo's twin isn't dead. This kid's the real deal.'
Jiwon panted, Hiro act wavering but intact, a sheepish grin. "Whoops, got carried away. You okay, Jisuk?" He offered a hand.
Jisuk swatted it away, wind aura weak but pride intact. "Tch, I'm fine, spark jerk." He stood, humiliated but grudgingly respectful.
The SYSTEM pinged:
"MISSION COMPLETED! OBJECTIVE: Defeat Jisuk Yoo in a spar. REWARD +1 ATK"
『ATK - 28 -> 29』
'Nice!'
===============================
Jiwon, now leaned back in the plush seat of Seongha Park's sleek black sedan, the hum of Seoul's evening traffic filling the silence.
Subin sat beside him, arms crossed, her ice aura simmering low, unusually subdued. Seongha's heavy aura filled the driver's seat, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror.
Seongha's voice broke the quiet, low and firm. "Subin, what were you thinking, challenging Wooin like that?"
Subin's ice aura flickered, her scowl deepening. "Tch, I just wanted to test him, Uncle. He's dodging the Union!"
Seongha's aura pulsed, a wave of authority. "You didn't know his past. Wooin was captured by the Klein Brothers—tortured. He's barely recovered, and you pushed him into a fight."
Subin's ice aura dimmed, her eyes widening, then dropping to her lap. "I… didn't know," she muttered, voice small.
Jiwon's Enhanced Senses caught her guilt, her fingers twisting. 'She's reckless, but she cares.'
Seongha's gaze softened, but his tone stayed stern. "You need to think before you act, Subin. You're Union's heir."
He paused, eyes shifting to Jiwon in the mirror. "Hiro, thank you for stepping in. That telekinetic hit could've seriously hurt her. Your speed, your lightning—impressive for a late Awakened."
Jiwon's Hiro act kicked in, a sheepish grin. "Just got lucky, sir. Didn't want my sparring buddy iced out."
Subin's ice aura spiked, a jealous huff escaping. "Tch, late Awakened my foot. You're catching up to me, spark plug!"
Her tone was sharp, but Animal Synergy caught a flicker of pride in her aura. 'She's jealous, but she's got my back.'
Jiwon chuckled, steering the conversation. "It's just training, Subin. I'm always at it—sparring, planning strategies, tweaking my lightning. Keeps me sharp."
Seongha's aura eased, a rare nod of approval. "Discipline like that's rare, Hiro. You'd be a strong addition to the Union. Have you reconsidered joining us?"
'The Union's too controlling. I need freedom to protect Jiwoo.'
"I'll think about it, sir. Still figuring out this Awakened life." Seongha's eyes lingered, but he didn't push, focusing on the road.
The sedan pulled up to Jiwon's modest Gangnam apartment, neon signs casting a glow.
Subin's ice aura was quieter now, her guilt lingering. "Don't get cocky, spark plug," she muttered, but her glance was softer.
Jiwon's grin widened. "Wouldn't dream of it, ice queen."
Seongha nodded. "Rest well, Hiro. You've earned it."
Jiwon bowed lightly, masking his fatigue. "Thanks for the ride, sir. Night, Subin." He stepped out, the car's taillights fading into Seoul's pulse.
Inside his apartment, Jiwon collapsed onto his bed, Neko curling beside him.
His memories replayed Jiwoo's sparks, so like his own. '...He's starting to wonder.'
Exhaustion pulled at him, but a faint smile lingered. 'Rest first. Then back to the plan.'
The SYSTEM's glow was absent, but Jiwon's resolve wasn't. 'What a fun day'
===============================
Jiwoo Seo's POV - That Same Night
Jiwoo knelt on the floor of his house, the soft glow of a lamp casting shadows.
A chorus of meows filled the air as three cats—tabby, black, calico—swarmed around bowls of kibble he'd scattered.
His cream-colored hair fell into his eyes, and a faint spark hummed beneath his skin, unnoticed. Kayden, sprawled nearby in his obese white-and-orange tabby form, flicked his tail, one eye half-open.
The day's chaos at Shinhwa HQ—Subin's ice shards, Wooin's telekinesis, Jisuk's crumpled defeat—played in Jiwoo's mind.
"Kayden," Jiwoo started, voice soft as he scratched a tabby's ears, "today was crazy, huh?"
Kayden snorted, his gruff tone cutting through. "Crazy? You mean that ice brat Subin picking fights and that wind idiot Jisuk getting smoked? Sounds like your usual mess, kid."
Jiwoo smiled, sparks flickering faintly in his palms. "Yeah, but… Subin was so intense with Wooin. And then Jisuk challenged Hiro out of nowhere." His voice wavered, Hiro's lightning strike flashing in his memory—so like his own, so like Kayden's.
Kayden's ears twitched, his tabby gaze sharpening. "That Hiro kid… he's no ordinary rookie." He rolled onto his back, belly jiggling, but his tone grew serious. "Jiwoo, I think he's your twin."
Jiwoo froze, sparks flaring briefly, startling a calico who meowed in protest. "M-My twin?" His heart raced.
He shook his head, eyes wide. "But… Hiro said he's from Japan. How could he be my brother? I mean, we look alike, but…"
Kayden's tail lashed, cutting him off. "Look, kid, I thought you were overthinking when you first brought it up. But today, seeing him—those sparks, that energy—it's like yours. Too close to be a coincidence."
Jiwoo's sparks hummed, his mind spinning.
Kayden's voice softened, rare for the gruff cat. "Maybe he's got amnesia, like you. Or he was estranged, sent away after whatever trauma messed you up. I'm not a hundred percent sure, but it's no random lookalike."
Jiwoo hugged his knees, a black cat nuzzling his hand. "Amnesia… like me?" His childhood blanks—before age 9, when his mom started running—stung.
He bit his lip, sparks flickering. "His lightning, Kayden… it's not just like mine. It's like yours."
Kayden's eyes narrowed, a low hum in his throat. "Yeah, I noticed. Kid's got control, power—too much for a late Awakened. Reminds me of my old tricks." His tail flicked, a spark of intrigue.
Kayden rolled to his paws, obese frame wobbling. "Enough moping, kid. Whether he's your twin or not, you've got bigger problems. Now that you're officially part of the Awakened world, You need to get stronger—faster, sharper." His voice hardened, but his eyes held a glint of care.
Jiwoo nodded, sparks calming, a fire kindling in his chest. "You're right, Kayden. I'll train harder. I… I want to be ready, for whatever's coming."
His kindness shone, but a new resolve hardened his gaze. 'If Hiro's my brother, I'll find out. And I'll protect him.'
Kayden flopped back, muttering, "Good. Now feed these furballs and let me nap." But his mind churned, tail still.
'Hiro… what's your deal? If you're Jiwoo's twin, why hide?' Kayden's weakened instincts buzzed, plotting his next move. 'I'll figure you out, kid.'
Jiwoo smiled, pouring more kibble, the cats purring around him. His sparks hummed softly, mirroring the hope in his heart.