Jin stood alone in the forest clearing, watching the fire consume the body.
The ropes were gone. The bruises were hidden. The last message Min Jae ever sent—typed from his own trembling hands under Jin's command—rested beside the scene.
> "I'm sorry. I couldn't take it anymore."
The perfect suicide.
The world would never know the truth.
Jin walked away from the flames, his green hair shifting in the cold wind, his steps calm. Inside, he felt the heat stir—not from guilt, but from power.
The moment Min Jae's heart stopped beating, a wave of energy had surged into Jin's body.
A system notification blinked behind his eyes.
> New Ability Acquired: fireball and burst fire combine and create a new abilities Flame Palm
Shoots a burst of fire from your hands. Range: 5 meters. Cooldown: 10 seconds.
He raised his hand.
Flick.
A stream of fire lit up his palm like a torch.
He smiled.
This was no longer just about survival.
It was evolution.
Rain fell the next morning.
The air around Daehan Superhuman Academy was heavy. Dark umbrellas opened like shadows as students walked silently through the front gates. No one laughed. No one smiled.
A large black notice board stood at the front gate.
> IN MEMORIAM: MIN JAE
We regret to inform you of the tragic death of student Min Jae.
The school offers its deepest condolences. Counseling will be available for those affected.
Jin stood among the crowd, green hair slightly damp, eyes filled with fake sorrow.
Students whispered all around him.
> "I can't believe he's gone…"
"They said it was suicide…"
"I thought he was doing fine. Why would he—?"
Someone sniffled beside him. A girl wiped her eyes.
Jin turned to her, voice gentle. "He was… troubled. I wish I noticed sooner."
She looked up. "Yeong-ho… you're always so kind. He was jealous of you, but you never even hated him back…"
Jin lowered his head.
Inside, he smiled.
> "No, I didn't hate him. I just buried him."
Later that day, during lunch, a small memorial was held in the gym. Teachers gave speeches. A picture of Min Jae smiled from a table lined with white flowers.
Jin walked up and placed a white rose on the table.
He stared at the picture for a long time.
> "Rest in peace," he whispered. "You were never strong enough to be my enemy."
As he turned away, his system quietly flashed behind his eyes:
> New ability synced successfully.
Current active powers:
Clone Body
Beast Sense
Camouflage Veil
Shadow Step
Flame Palm
The weak were gone. The strong remained.
And Jin?
He was just getting started.
And three days passed.
The classroom door slid open.
Everyone turned to look.
A graceful girl stepped in, her long black hair flowing behind her like a silk curtain. Her school uniform hugged her slender form perfectly. Sharp green eyes scanned the room with quiet control.
"I'm Chae Rin," she said softly. "Please take care of me."
The students gasped in recognition.
"Wait… that's Chae Rin? The A-rank from Silvermoon Academy?"
"Why would someone like her transfer here?"
"She's insanely rich… and strong…"
She smiled politely as the teacher pointed her toward an empty seat.
"Sit near Yeong-ho," the teacher said. "He's top of the class."
Jin didn't even glance up. He was resting his chin on one hand, staring out the window, half-bored.
But when Chae Rin saw his face—green hair, pale skin, sharp jaw—her eyes widened for just a second.
> It's him… The boy who saved me.
She quietly took the seat two rows behind him.
---
[FLASHBACK – Two Weeks Ago, C-Rank Dungeon, Level 2]
The screams were still echoing in her head.
She'd entered the dungeon alone to train. She never expected to be drugged. A senior from a rival academy had followed her. She remembered his smile. The rag pressed over her mouth. Darkness.
She woke up tied to a cave wall. A hand was pulling at her blouse. Her mouth was gagged.
She wanted to fight, to scream—but her limbs were weak.
> "Don't worry," the man whispered. "No one's here. I picked the perfect dungeon…"
Then—boom!
A fireball smashed into the man's chest, throwing him against the wall.
She barely saw the attacker. A young man in shadows, green hair, eyes glowing. He didn't say a word. Just walked forward and burned the predator with another blast of flame.
She passed out before she could speak.
---
[Back in the Classroom]
Now he sat in front of her. Calm. Silent. The same green hair. The same eyes.
> But he doesn't remember…
Chae Rin studied him.
He looked confident. Too confident. Like someone hiding something.
> I'm sure it was him. Even if he's pretending not to know me…
She clenched her hands under her desk.
> You saved me. I'll repay that kindness. And maybe… you'll remember me someday.
From the front of the class, Jin yawned, completely unaware.
> Strange girl, he thought. Why do I feel like she's staring holes into my back?
The bell rang for lunch.
Students rushed out, excited to gossip about the new transfer student. Jin remained seated, flipping through a textbook with a blank stare. He wasn't reading. His mind was on the next dungeon, the next ability.
"Yeong-ho!"
A familiar voice broke through the noise.
Jin turned slowly.
A girl ran up to him, her soft brown hair bouncing with each step. Her eyes sparkled like morning light, and her smile was warm—too warm.
"Oh, you didn't eat again, did you?" she said, holding out a neatly wrapped lunchbox.
"...Do I know you?" Jin asked, voice flat.
She blinked.
"It's me, So-mi," she said gently. "We were in the same homeroom since middle school. You helped me once, remember? When I scraped my knee during training…"
Jin searched his fake memories.
Of course, he remembered nothing. That was Yeong-ho's past.
But he forced a small smile. "Ah… right. Thanks."
She looked relieved.
So-mi, full name Baek So-mi, was one of the school's top healing users. Her B-rank healing ability let her close wounds in seconds. Her father was a major in the Guild Forces—a man feared and respected in the city.
But despite her power and status… she had always looked at Yeong-ho with soft, longing eyes.
And Min Jae had seen it.
That's why he hated Jin.
That's why he sent a spy.
That's why he died.
"Mind if I sit?" she asked.
Jin nodded once.
So-mi sat beside him, unwrapping her own lunch. She glanced at his face, then quickly looked down.
"You've changed, Yeong-ho," she said quietly. "Ever since that dungeon attack… You seem colder."
Jin kept his face still. "Almost dying will do that to a person."
She flinched at his tone, but nodded.
"I understand. Still… I'm glad you're safe."
A shadow passed behind her. It was Chae Rin, walking past, her expression unreadable.
She didn't even look at So-mi.
But she did glance once at Jin.
And in that brief moment, two girls with power and status silently locked eyes—both drawn to a boy who was no longer who he once was.