---
(1st POV)
Training is harder than it looks.
I mean, I thought martial arts was all about flashy moves and cool fight scenes, but when it's me—Seo Kwan, five-year-old kid—trying to stretch like a rubber band, it's more like a disaster in slow motion. My legs barely reach past my knees, and every time I try to do a split, I'm pretty sure I hear my body crying out for mercy.
But hey, I've gotta admit, there's something strangely satisfying about the System's constant reminders.
[Task 1: 10% complete. Keep going!]
I sigh. At least the system doesn't give up on me, even if I'm clearly a disaster in motion.
"Alright, alright. I'll keep going," I mutter, shaking out my sore legs. I try a few more kicks and punches, trying to get the rhythm right. Slowly, the moves start to feel less awkward.
[Task 1: 25% complete. Great progress, Seo Kwan!]
Great progress, huh? Sure, it doesn't feel like much, but the fact that I'm not falling flat on my face every five seconds is an improvement.
Suddenly, a voice interrupts my thoughts.
"Seo, you're getting better at this, aren't you?"
I look up, startled. My mom's standing in the doorway, watching me with a raised eyebrow. I didn't even notice her come in.
"Uh, yeah," I reply, scratching the back of my head awkwardly. "Just, uh, practicing."
"Hmm." She eyes me curiously, her gaze softening. "I don't know where you got the energy for all this, but I'm glad you're keeping yourself busy. Just be careful, okay?"
I nod quickly. She's not wrong—there's a part of me that still feels like a kid. But the system's promises of power... it makes it hard to ignore the potential. Even if I have to start by kicking air for hours.
Just then, I feel a weird sensation, like something's watching me again. I freeze, scanning the room. It's not like I'm new to the feeling, but it's growing stronger.
"System," I think to myself, "What's going on?"
[Warning: Unidentified Presence Detected.]
Wait—what?
[You are being observed by an unknown entity. Caution advised.]
My heart skips a beat. An unknown entity? What the heck does that mean?
I don't get a chance to ask more questions because, just then, a loud crash from outside makes me jump. My mom reacts just as quickly, rushing to the door.
"Stay inside!" she orders, her voice sharp.
I can hear some shouting and the sound of something crashing against the ground outside. My pulse quickens. What is going on?
Without thinking, I dart toward the window, peeking out carefully.
I can see a few people—strangers, I think—standing in the middle of the street. They're all wearing some sort of... combat gear? And one of them is holding a huge sword that looks like it came out of a fantasy novel.
My breath catches in my throat. What the heck is this?
"Mom..." I whisper, my voice shaky. "Who are those people?"
Mom's face is tight with worry, and she doesn't answer at first. Then, her expression shifts, and she seems to make a decision.
"Seo, stay here. Do not move."
Before I can protest, she runs outside. I'm left alone, staring out the window with growing dread.
[Warning: Unknown Presence Detected. The system cannot identify this entity.]
The system's voice is unusually urgent this time, and I can feel the tension mounting. Something's wrong.
But I'm not about to just stand here and do nothing. There's a strange urge in me to get involved, even though I know I should probably stay hidden.
As I watch, the strangers start to move, and one of them—someone tall, with silver hair—steps forward, making his way toward my house. My heart stops for a second. I've seen people like him in stories. Dangerous. Powerful.
Before I can react, the door bursts open, and I spin around to find my mom standing there again, this time with a serious look on her face.
"Seo, get your things. We need to leave. Now."
I don't ask questions. I just nod and rush to grab my backpack. But my mind is racing—what the heck is going on? And why are these people here?
[New Task Detected: Survive the Encounter.]
I can feel the system's presence more clearly now, and it seems almost... worried?
I don't know what's happening, but I have a feeling my life is about to change in a way I never expected.
---