Sixteen years ago, Mark Kwon was born into tragedy. His mother, Mizuki Yamazaki, a bastard child of the powerful Yamazaki clan, perished moments after his birth. It wasn't illness or natural causes that claimed her life, but the ruthless politics of a family that valued power over blood.
The infant Mark was smuggled out of Japan by his loyal nanny, escaping the clutches of the clan that sought to erase his existence. They fled to Korea, to the quiet and unassuming city of Chuncheon.
By the time he could walk, Mark's mind was already far sharper than any child's. His system had blessed him with god-level IQ, instant comprehension of languages, and the ability to master any skill or knowledge with ease. By the age of eleven, Chuncheon's underworld belonged to him.
The city was a refuge for outcasts and criminals, but Mark turned its chaos into his kingdom. Factions that once ruled the streets now bowed to the boy with crimson eyes and unparalleled strength. He wasn't just a king—he was a legend in the making.
Yet, despite his dominance, Mark's heart burned for something greater: vengeance. The Yakuza clans had taken his mother, and he would make them pay.
At thirteen, Mark left Korea for the first time. His destination: Japan, the land of his mother's killers. The Yakuza clans, still powerful but fractured by internal strife, remained unaware of the storm heading their way.
Mark infiltrated their territories with precision, using the skills and knowledge he had gained over the years. He uncovered the truth: Mizuki's death was orchestrated by not one, but several allied clans, each vying to suppress her bloodline and strengthen their own positions.
One by one, Mark dismantled them. The first clan never saw him coming; their compound was left in ruins, their leaders executed in silence. The second clan attempted resistance, but Mark's body—enhanced beyond human limits—rendered their efforts futile.
By the time he reached the Yakuza main house, his name had become a whispered terror. The elders, trembling, begged for mercy, offering riches and alliances to spare their lives.
Mark's answer was swift and merciless.
"Your gold cannot buy back my mother's life."
The Yakuza legacy was erased that night, their estates left in flames as Mark walked away without looking back.
Satisfied with his vengeance, Mark turned his sights to the world. He sought out the strongest opponents, testing his limits and building a force of loyal allies. In Brazil, he defeated an underground champion known as The Titan. In Russia, he dismantled an elite assassin squad, their techniques falling short against his perfection.
Mark wasn't just collecting victories—he was gathering an army. Fighters, strategists, and visionaries flocked to his banner, drawn by his charisma and unmatched power.
At sixteen, Mark returned to Chuncheon. His reputation had grown tenfold, and his empire was stronger than ever. Yet, his mind wasn't on his city; it was on his family.
For years, Mark had kept his distance, watching from the shadows as his father, Micheal Kwon , built a legacy of his own. But that legacy had ended ten years ago when Mark's father met Anna Jin. The union had brought two siblings into Mark's life: Seth, now ten years old, and Mia, a bright seven-year-old who had become the heart of the family.
Mark stood outside the family home, his crimson eyes scanning the quiet surroundings. He had returned not as the broken boy who fled with his nanny but as a conqueror.
Inside, Anna Jin greeted him with a mix of surprise and relief. But there was something else—sorrow.
"He's gone," Anna said quietly, her voice heavy with emotion.
Mark tilted his head, his expression unreadable.
"Micheal?"
Anna nodded. "Three months ago. A fight he couldn't win."
Mark's reaction was cold, almost indifferent.
"The dead are beyond my concern," he said flatly.
Anna's eyes flashed with anger. "He was your father."
Mark didn't flinch. "He was a shadow in my life, nothing more. I have my own battles to fight."
The tension was broken by a small voice. "Is that my big brother?"
Mia Kwon, just seven years old, bounced into the room with a smile that could melt the hardest of hearts. She didn't seem afraid of the man everyone whispered about. Instead, she approached him with wide eyes and curiosity.
"You're the scary brother everyone talks about," she said with a giggle.
Mark knelt to her level, his crimson eyes softening for the first time. "Do I look scary to you?"
Mia shook her head. "Nope!" She hugged him tightly, her tiny arms barely reaching around his broad shoulders.
Mark chuckled—a sound so rare it caught Anna off guard.
Mia grinned up at him. "You're gonna stay, right?"
Mark's gaze shifted to Anna, who watched him carefully. "Yes," he said softly. "I'll stay."
Later that evening, Mark stepped outside and found Seth in the courtyard. The three-year-old was practicing basic sparring movements, his small fists moving with surprising precision.
Mark watched in silence, his system analyzing every movement. It didn't take long for him to realize the truth: Seth was holding back.
"He's hiding his strength," Mark thought, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Interesting."
As the night fell, Mark stood on the balcony, overlooking Chuncheon's glowing skyline. He had conquered nations, defeated the strongest fighters, and avenged his mother. But here, in this quiet city, he had found something far more important: a family worth protecting.
For the first time in years, Mark allowed himself to feel a flicker of peace.
"This time," he thought, I'll protect what's mine"