Jin Seo leaned against the cold wall of his apartment, his body trembling uncontrollably. Every inch of him ached. He could feel his muscles screaming for rest, his lungs burning as if he'd run a marathon. The trials had pushed him to the brink, and though his body protested, his mind refused to acknowledge the weakness.
"I'm fine," he muttered to himself, though the words rang hollow. His legs threatened to buckle beneath him, but he managed to stagger to his bed, collapsing onto it with a pained groan.
As he lay there, the familiar system notification flickered into view, glowing softly in the dim room:
[Ascension Trials Completed.]
[Reward Credited: 30,000,000 won.]
[Skill Unlocked: Predator's Instinct Lv1.]
[Passive Ability Enhanced: Endurance Lv3.]
[Ascension Progress: 18%.]
Jin exhaled sharply, his vision blurring. His body felt heavy, but his mind raced. The words "Predator's Instinct" lingered in his thoughts, though he was too exhausted to consider their meaning fully.
Just as he was about to drift off, his phone buzzed on the nightstand. Groaning, he reached over and unlocked it.
[Bank Notification]
[Your account has been credited with 30,000,000 won.]
[Current Balance: 50,003,000 won.]
Jin blinked at the number, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "Fifty million won…" he whispered, the weight of the amount sinking in.
With every trial completed, his account was mysteriously credited with massive sums of money. He couldn't ignore the pattern anymore. The question of who or what was depositing the money still lingered, but a part of him didn't want to question it.
"Whatever this is… I'll take it," he muttered, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Later that evening, a knock at Jin Seo's door jolted him out of his thoughts. He opened it cautiously, only to find his landlord, the old man who had rented him the apartment, standing there with a kind smile.
"Jin, my boy!" the landlord said, his weathered face lighting up. "I was just about to have dinner with my wife and daughter. Why don't you join us? It's been a while since we've had company."
Jin hesitated, his grip tightening on the doorframe. The idea of sitting around a table with strangers felt alien to him. He'd spent so long on his own, avoiding people, that the thought of mingling made him uneasy.
"I don't think—" Jin started, but the old man cut him off.
"Come on now. You're always cooped up in here. A little food and conversation won't hurt you."
Jin sighed. He knew it would be rude to refuse, and besides, his landlord had been nothing but kind to him. But there was another reason for his hesitation—his face and body had changed since he began his trials. He didn't look like the same Jin Seo who had been falsely accused and executed. What if someone recognized him?
Still, the old man's warm smile was impossible to resist. "Alright," Jin said reluctantly.
The landlord's apartment was modest but filled with warmth. The smell of home-cooked food wafted through the air, and the sound of laughter echoed from the dining table.
"Come in, come in," the old man said, guiding Jin to the table where his wife and daughter were already seated.
"Welcome!" the landlord's wife greeted him with a wide smile. "Sit down, dear. You're just in time."
The daughter, who looked to be in her early twenties, glanced at Jin curiously but said nothing.
Jin felt out of place at first, sitting stiffly at the table as the family chatted and passed dishes around. But as the meal went on, he found himself relaxing. The landlord's wife piled his plate high with food, and the old man told stories of his youth, his booming laughter filling the room.
At one point, the landlord's daughter accidentally knocked over a glass, and before anyone could react, Jin's hand shot out, catching it mid-air without even looking.
The room fell silent for a moment as everyone stared at him.
"Wow," the daughter said, blinking. "That was… fast."
Jin shrugged, trying to play it off. "Lucky reflexes, I guess."
The landlord chuckled. "Lucky, my foot! That was impressive, son."
The evening continued with more laughter and lighthearted conversation. For the first time in a long time, Jin felt a sense of normalcy—a fleeting moment of warmth in an otherwise chaotic life.
After dinner, the landlord and Jin sat on the balcony, sipping tea as the cool night breeze rustled the trees outside. The stars were faint but visible, scattered across the dark sky like tiny diamonds.
"You've been through a lot, haven't you?" the landlord said, breaking the silence.
Jin stiffened, glancing at the older man. "Why do you say that?"
The landlord chuckled softly. "I may be old, but I'm not blind. You carry yourself like someone who's seen too much. Someone who's trying to figure out where he belongs."
Jin didn't respond, staring down at his tea.
"Let me tell you something," the landlord continued, his voice gentle. "Life has a way of knocking us down. Sometimes, it feels like the world is against us, and all we can do is survive. But surviving isn't the same as living."
Jin looked up, his eyes meeting the landlord's.
"I don't know what you're going through, Jin," the old man said, "but I do know this: strength doesn't come from power or money or fame. True strength comes from within. It's about how you treat others, how you face your fears, and how you pick yourself up after every fall."
The landlord placed a hand on Jin's shoulder, his grip firm yet comforting. "You've got potential, son. I can see it. Don't waste it chasing after things that don't matter. Find your purpose, and hold onto it with everything you've got."
For a moment, Jin didn't know what to say. The landlord's words struck a chord deep within him, resonating with feelings he'd buried long ago.
"Thank you," Jin said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.
The landlord smiled. "Anytime, my boy. Anytime."
Later that night, Jin lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. The landlord's words replayed in his mind, mingling with his own thoughts and doubts.
He clenched his fists. "I'll find my purpose," he said softly. "And I'll become strong enough to protect it."
The system notification flickered into view, as if acknowledging his resolve:
[Predator's Instinct Enhanced.]
[Ascension Progress: 20%.]
A faint smile crossed Jin's lips. For the first time in a long time, he felt a flicker of hope.