The Trial Begins
Song stepped into the simulation chamber with trembling hands, his heart hammering against his ribs like a caged bird desperate to escape. The reinforced walls seemed to close in around him, and the energy field beneath his feet hummed with an ominous vibration that made his teeth ache.
What am I doing here? Who am I supposed to fight? I don't even know how to throw a proper punch.
The questions swirled through his mind like a tornado of doubt. Unlike Black, who had trained for fourteen years, Song had never been in a real fight. His only experience with violence was being on the receiving end of it—watching helplessly as his family was murdered, running in terror from Crimson Army soldiers.
"What will I do here?" Song muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the chamber's mechanical hum. "Who will I face? This challenge... maybe it will help me discover the secrets of my people's power."
The technician's voice crackled through the intercom: "Subject analysis complete. Interesting readings—significant potential power, but zero combat experience." There was a pause, followed by the sound of fingers tapping on a keyboard. "I'll set you up with a medium-difficulty opponent. Should be manageable for a beginner."
Song's stomach dropped. Medium difficulty? I struggle to tie my shoes when I'm nervous.
"Activate Chang Scorpion simulation. Medium difficulty level."
The air in front of Song shimmered like heat waves rising from summer asphalt. Slowly, a holographic figure materialized—a man dressed in sleek black tactical gear, weapons strapped across his torso and limbs. His armor was segmented like an exoskeleton, giving him an unsettling resemblance to the deadly arachnid he was named after.
Chang Scorpion looked Song up and down with glowing red eyes, a predatory smile spreading across his scarred face. "Hah? What category are you even from, kid? Doesn't matter—I'm going to crush you and grind your bones to dust."
The Beating Begins
Without warning, Chang launched himself forward, his fists cutting through the air with precision that spoke of countless hours of training. Each punch created a sharp crack as it broke the sound barrier, and when his strikes missed Song and hit the walls, they left spider-web fractures in the reinforced material.
Song's world became a blur of desperate movement. He threw himself sideways, stumbled backward, rolled across the floor—anything to avoid those devastating fists. His breath came in ragged gasps, and sweat poured down his face like a waterfall.
The ground feels like it's shaking beneath me. I don't know what to do. I don't know how to fight!
Through the observation window, Song could see faces pressed against the glass. Dozens of resistance members watched with intense focus, their eyes burning with hope and expectation. They wanted to see their chosen heir, the one who would destroy the Crimson Army, finally reveal his true power.
In the front row, Black stood with his arms crossed, his dark eyes never leaving the combat. Beside him, the twins Lapis and Lazuli observed with the calculating precision of living computers.
"He's never faced a challenge like this before," Black muttered, his scarred hands gripping the viewing rail. "But I trust he'll pull through."
Lazuli's pale eyes tracked Song's frantic movements with mechanical accuracy. "According to my research, Konota royal blood should contain inherited combat memories. But he won't be able to access them until he understands the secret of his power."
"Yes, that's correct," Lapis agreed, his voice carrying the same emotionless tone as his sister's. Then, for just a moment, genuine emotion cracked through her cybernetic composure. "I'm afraid he won't be able to handle this. The fear and tension are obvious on his face. His hands and feet are shaking." Her fists clenched against the glass. "Come on, Song! You can do this!"
Overwhelmed
Back in the chamber, Song felt his world collapsing around him. Chang's relentless assault was driving him into a corner, both literally and metaphorically.
"What is this? He's... he's so much stronger than me. I've never fought anyone before." Song's internal voice cracked with despair. "I'm afraid I... I rushed into this decision to join the resistance."
Chang's laugh echoed through the chamber like grinding metal. "Time to end this pathetic display!"
"Tropical Scorpion Bomb!"
The air filled with the whistle of incoming projectiles. Small explosives arced through the air from Chang's weapon systems, each one trailing smoke like miniature comets. They detonated in rapid succession—BOOM-BOOM-BOOM—filling the chamber with smoke, flame, and deadly shrapnel.
Song twisted and ducked, his untrained reflexes somehow keeping him alive by inches. But he couldn't avoid everything. Sharp fragments tore through his clothing, leaving burning lines of pain across his arms and legs. Blood began to seep through his shirt.
Aaaah... oh God... this was such a stupid decision. No... power isn't in the body, it's in the mind. Aaaah... no time for this foolish philosophy. I need to act!
But before Song could formulate any kind of plan, Chang was on him. Moving with inhuman speed, the hologram's fist connected with Song's chest, launching him across the chamber. He hit the wall with a bone-jarring impact and crumpled to the floor.
Chang was already moving, his form blurring as he closed the distance.
"SCORP RUSH!"
The assault that followed was beyond brutal. Chang's fists moved faster than the human eye could track, each impact sending shockwaves through Song's body. Left hook to the ribs—CRACK. Right cross to the jaw—THUD. Uppercut to the stomach—WHOOSH as all the air left Song's lungs.
Song could only curl up and try to protect his vital organs as the beating continued. Pain exploded through every nerve ending, and his vision began to blur at the edges.
I'm sorry, family. I'm sorry, Park. I tried to do something for you, but... I failed everyone instead.
The Turning Point
Through the haze of pain and approaching unconsciousness, something began to change. Each of Chang's punches, instead of just causing agony, started to trigger something deeper. Flashes of memory burst through Song's mind like lightning.
Park's laughter as she chased butterflies in their old garden.
His father's strong hands taught him to ride a bicycle.
His mother was humming softly as she cooked their favorite meal.
But not just the past—the present too. Teacher Ji-hoon's kind eyes when he revealed Song's heritage. Black's fierce loyalty despite knowing him for only hours. The twins' desperate hope that maybe, finally, someone could help them remember who they really were.
The legend of Konota's royal blood. The chosen one. The heir who would restore what was lost.
Hah? I think I finally know the secret....
Outside the chamber, the audience watched in growing horror. Taking deep breaths, their hearts beat fast, and the sound of them pounding inside them echoes as if they will explode and come out of their chests.
"The chosen one doesn't know how to activate his power," someone whispered. "This is a disaster."
Tension filled the observation deck like a physical presence. Fear began to creep into hearts that had dared to hope.
Black's scarred hands gripped the rail so tightly his knuckles went white. "No... no, this can't be happening."
Lapis pressed his palm against the glass, his cybernetic components flickering with stress. "If he doesn't act now, he'll die for sure."
"And if he dies..." Lazuli's voice was hollow with dread.
"The Crimson Army will crush us and rule forever!" Lapis's composure finally cracked completely. "No... please don't let that happen. Please!"
Awakening🔥🔥
But something was stirring in the depths of Song's battered consciousness. As Chang raised his fist for what would surely be a killing blow, Song's eyes suddenly blazed with white light.
"NO!" The word erupted from his throat like a battle cry that shook the chamber walls. "I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED!"
Song's clenched fists pushed against Chang's chest with impossible force, sending the holographic assassin flying backward. The same brilliant white aura that had appeared during his fight with the Crimson Army soldiers now exploded around Song's body, turning him into a figure of pure radiance.
I–WILL–NOT–BE—DFEAAAATEEED! His scream that rang out in all directions
What happened next was like watching a master martial artist who had been possessed by the spirit of war itself.
Song moved with fluid precision, each strike perfectly placed and devastatingly powerful. His fists connected with Chang's armor, and the reinforced plating cracked like eggshells. CRASH-CRASH-CRASH—every punch sent shockwaves through the chamber.
HA! HA! HA! Hae-won screams with every punch
Then.. AAAAAH!
Hae-Won kicks his stomach, sending him into the wall and breaking the wall behind him.
Chang tried to mount a counterattack, but Song was no longer the terrified teenager who had entered the simulation. He caught Chang's wrist mid-strike, lifted the entire hologram above his head, then leaped twenty feet into the air and slammed his opponent into the floor with enough force to crater the reinforced surface.
But Song wasn't finished. The beating continued with methodical brutality, each strike accompanied by the sound of breaking armor and simulated bone. Chang couldn't even mount a defense—he was completely overwhelmed.
"This is impossible!" Chang gasped, his voice distorting as his holographic form began to destabilize.
Energy gathered in Song's right hand, causing his entire arm to glow like a miniature sun. The light was so intense that everyone in the observation deck had to shield their eyes.
"I'LL END THIS NOW!" Song roared.
The final strike was less a punch and more an explosion of pure force. It tore through Chang's body completely, reducing the holographic assassin to scattered pixels and simulated blood that splattered across every surface of the chamber.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!
When the light finally faded, Song stood alone in the wreckage, breathing heavily. His clothes were torn, his body was covered in cuts and bruises, and blood dripped from a dozen wounds. But he was standing. He was alive.
And he had won.
Victory✌️
The observation deck erupted in cheers that echoed through the entire mountain base. Resistance members who had been holding their breath suddenly found themselves screaming with joy, clapping until their hands hurt, embracing strangers with tears of relief streaming down their faces.
Black's fierce grin could have lit up the chamber by itself. "He did it! The heir actually did it! I knew he would figure it out—he just needed to understand how to activate his power."
The twins stood side by side, their pale faces showing the first genuine smiles either had worn in years.
Even Commander Bond, watching from the command center above, felt something he hadn't experienced in decades: hope. Pure, overwhelming, unshakeable hope.
"I told you, father," he whispered to the empty air, his eyes never leaving Song's triumphant figure. "You will fall someday. The heir has finally appeared."
In the chamber below, Song swayed on his feet, exhaustion finally catching up with him. But even as his vision blurred and his legs threatened to give out, he managed to look up at the observation window and raise one bloodied fist in victory.
The chosen one had awakened at last.
Fierce Scorpion Base - Akom City
The underground bunker reeked of oil and gunpowder. Gang leader Kim Sang-jong sat behind a steel desk covered in weapons and tactical displays. His scarred face twisted into a scowl as the Crimson Army messenger finished his report.
"New powers crushed your soldiers in minutes?" Kim's voice cut through the room like a blade. "You're telling me some high school kid made your entire patrol run away?"
The messenger's red visor flickered. "Affirmative. Subject displayed abilities consistent with Konota royal bloodline."
"Dammit." Kim slammed his fist on the desk. "I thought we wiped out all those royal insects."
Heavy footsteps echoed through the base as gang members gathered around their leader. Chang Scorpion emerged from the shadows—the real one, not that holographic copy that Song Faced. He looked slightly different. His segmented armor gleamed under the harsh lights, and his weapons hummed with deadly energy.
"Boss, what's the situation?" Chang's voice carried the confidence of someone who'd never lost a fight.
"We've got problems." Kim activated a holographic display showing three faces. "Crimson Army intel flagged these targets. Kim Min-jun. Park Jae-wook. And the main suspect—Song Hae-won."
The gang members studied the images. Weapons clicked and whirred as they checked their gear.
"Orders, boss?" asked a woman with cybernetic arms.
Kim's grin showed too many metal teeth. "Find them. Kill them. Make it messy."
Mount Konkur Base - New Arrivals
The mountain base buzzed with activity as three familiar figures stepped through the main entrance. Kim Min-jun looked around nervously, his eyes wide at the advanced technology surrounding them. Park Jae-wook walked with quiet determination, while Lee So-young took mental notes of everything he saw.
"Welcome," Teacher Ji-hoon said, approaching the group with obvious relief. "I'm glad you made it safely."
"This place is incredible," So-young whispered, watching resistance members work at holographic displays.
Ji-hoon led them through the corridors to the main gathering area. Song sat in a corner, white bandages covering his arms and a medical patch on his forehead. His eyes held something they hadn't seen before—confidence.
Black lounged nearby, his scarred hands behind his head. "You killed it, heir. Keep fighting like that."
Lapis studied Song with those pale, calculating eyes. "You were amazing. You need to find the secret of your power. That's the only thing you'll need in our fight against the army."
Song said nothing.
Lazuli pulled out an old tablet, her fingers moving across its cracked screen. "I have some old documents about Konota secrets and royal power. Ancient files about King Wong and royal training methods. I'll research them, Song. I'll find the secret and tell you everything."
The three newcomers approached slowly. Kim stared at Song in amazement.
"You look completely different. Your face, the way you talk—everything changed since school."
"Yeah," Lee agreed. "What's the secret, Hae-won?"
"You really changed," Park added quietly.
Song looked up at his former classmates. "I woke up my power."
Kim's eyes widened. "You mean... the one you used to fight the army for the first time?"
Black grinned. "Of course, guys. Song was incredible. He fought like a professional. A style beyond description. How did you do it, heir?"
Song closed his eyes, remembering. "I don't know. I remembered everything. Then rage burned inside my body. Energy gathered inside me suddenly."
Lee leaned forward. "So your power source is... rage?"
Lazuli's cybernetic components flickered as she processed this information. "Logical analysis. I'll search for it in my database. The army implanted an electronic device in my arm, but I control everything now."
Teacher Ji-hoon looked up from his computer workstation. The screen displayed familiar text:
WELCOME TO KONSOFT AGI SYSTEM VER. 2.04
"Song, look. This is the Artificial General Intelligence that Konota possessed."
Song glanced at the screen. "Hmm."
Lee squinted at the display. "Does it work like those AI chat apps on phones?"
Ji-hoon shook his head. "Something much more powerful. It's a complete artificial human consciousness. Not just a machine."
"But we need six chips to fully activate it. I don't know how we'll get those chips."
Lazuli suddenly straightened. "Oh. Chips. My brother and I have two." She opened her backpack and pulled out two metallic devices that glowed with inner light.
Lapis nodded. "We collected them when we escaped from the army."
Ji-hoon examined the chips closely, then carefully inserted them into the computer system. The screen changed:
3 CHIPS ACTIVATED! AGI AWARENESS ACTIVATED!
The display shifted dramatically. Two eyes appeared on the screen—not graphics, but something that seemed genuinely alive. They moved independently, scanning each person in the room with unsettling intelligence.
AGI: "The heir?! What's your name?"
Song hesitated for a moment. "It's... Song Hae-won."
AGI: "Song Hae-won. Bloodline confirmed. Royal DNA authenticated." The eyes focused directly on him. "I am the collective consciousness of seventeen Konota kings. We have waited seventy-three years for your awakening."
"Seventeen kings?" Song's voice cracked slightly.
AGI: "Your great-grandfather Chang Hae-won was among us. He left specific instructions for his descendants." The eyes seemed to smile somehow. "Your power source is not rage, young heir. Rage is merely the key that unlocks what already exists within you."
Lee stepped closer to the screen. "Then what is it really?"
AGI: "Connection. The Konota neural network flows through royal blood. When Song felt rage, he unconsciously connected to the collective strength of his ancestors. But this is crude, uncontrolled access."
"How do I control it?" Song asked.
The AI's expression grew serious. "You need training from someone who understands the old ways. There is one who still lives—a master who served the royal court before the fall."
"Who?" Ji-hoon leaned forward.
AGI: "Sage Hang. He dwells in the Whispering Valley, three days' journey from here. He is the last keeper of the royal combat traditions. If anyone can teach you to master your true power, it is him."
Black crossed his arms. "Sounds dangerous."
AGI: "Danger is inevitable. The Fierce Scorpion gang already hunts for Song. The Crimson Army mobilizes their full strength. Time grows short." The eyes turned back to Song. "But Sage Hang can show you how to access the network without losing yourself to rage. He can teach you to fight with the combined skill of seventeen kings."
Song looked around at the faces watching him—his classmates from school, the resistance fighters who'd become his new family, the twins who carried their own mysterious past.
"Then we go to Whispering Valley," he said quietly.
AGI: "Be warned, young heir. Sage Hang will not train someone who seeks only vengeance. He will test your heart before he teaches your hands. Are you prepared for that trial?"
Song thought of Park's laughter, his parents' love, and the hope burning in the eyes of everyone around him.
"I'm ready."