"I guess it's not bad…" Martin sat there in silence as the weight of Seunghoon's memories settled deep into his chest.
"Your ancestors would disown you if they knew that you can't even play this game."
Seunghoon was so bad at the game that he didn't even want to look back at his memories again.
He couldn't believe that a Korean—whose country was dominating the game—wasn't even that good at playing it.
[That is your chance, Host. A player who loved the game, despite having no talent for it.]
Martin exhaled.
"I guess I don't have any other choice."
[Ding!]
—
[Name: Lee Seunghoon "Red"]
[Age: 17]
Control: D
Awareness: D+
Decision Making: D-
Speed: D
—
[These are the stats of the former Lee Seunghoon.]
Seunghoon looked at the stats. He frowned, seeing how low they were.
"This guy started playing 3 years ago, and yet his stats are this low? Just what is he doing?" Red stared at the screen in disbelief.
"These are seriously his stats…" His eyes skimmed the panel again, almost expecting it to change. But after a few seconds, nothing happened.
"D minus in decision-making? How is he deciding things for the game? Is he brain dead?"
Red leaned back on the chair with a long sigh. He wasn't mocking the original owner of the body. Well, maybe just a little.
Honestly, though, with these stats, Red should not even dream of becoming a professional player.
"This guy really had a huge dream," Seunghoon muttered under his breath, shaking his head.
"But damn, no amount of dreaming is gonna fix this stats. What I need is actual
practice… and gaming."
[Host, would you like to view your own stats?]
The system's voice chimed again, it was still calm as ever.
"My own stats? Sure. Let's see what kind of player I am before I die."
Just like that, a new holographic panel slid open before his eyes.
—
[Name: Martin Hue]
[Age: 21]
Control: B (S+)
Awareness: B- (S+)
Decision Making: B+ (S+)
Speed: D (S+)
—
Red's breath caught in his throat as he stared at the panel.
These were his stats.
"What are those numbers inside the parentheses?"
[They were your stats at the peak of your career, Host. But since you haven't played for so long, your attributes decreased over time.]
'I see...'
"B+ in decision-making, B- in awareness… B in control… they used to be S+" he whispered, his eyes lingering on the faded glory of his peak at the side of it.
But his speed…
"D…" he murmured, voice barely audible.
"D for my speed…"
He understood why it was like that.
The reason came back, rushing to his brain as if reminding him why he was a failure.
The hand injury.
The one that ruined everything for him.
That sharp, twisting pain that began as a nuisance and ended his career.
Red clenched his fists at the memory. He was expecting that familiar tightness in his hand—that agonizing flare of pain in his wrist.
But there was nothing.
"Huh?"
He blinked.
'There was no pain?'
Cautiously, Seunghoon rotated his wrist.
Slowly. Then again, faster. He rolled his hand, stretched his fingers wide, balled them into a fist, then snapped them open again.
There was still nothing.
His other hand followed. The movement of his wrist was smooth, steady, and fluid.
A breath hitched in his throat.
"They're fine…" he said, almost not believing it. "They're actually fine…"
His body trembled slightly as he flexed both hands again, this time more confidently.
"I can now play… normally."
Seunghoon's vision blurred. Not from fatigue, but from tears behind his eyes.
It had been so long since he felt this way.
So long since he felt whole.
Finally…
Just finally…
[Host, your current body is free from the injuries sustained in your previous life.]
The system's calm voice returned to announce to him that he was really free from his injuries back then.
[As a result, one of your core attributes
[Previous: D → Updated: B]
A quiet gasp escaped his lips.
[As a gift, the System gives you two options, Host:]
Option 1: Retain Red's Base Stats
Option 2: Sync with your original Core Stats (Current Level)
Red snorted.
"Why would I keep Red's stats?" he muttered under his breath. It was a stupid choice.
And so, his hand moved without hesitation.
[You have selected option 2: Sync with your original Core Stats.]
"Thank goodness…" Red sighed.
He thought it would end there, but another notification rang from the System.
[Your stats are now just your current stats. In order to regain your peak stats, you must complete designated system missions.]
Red wiped his eyes quickly, forcing a shaky breath.
"So what, just grinding ranked all over again?"
[Yes, Host. Training daily will assist your growth. However, accomplishing missions will allow you to directly upgrade your attributes.]
"Alright then…" Red leaned forward, eyes locked on the glowing interface.
"Give me the first mission."