Kang Chan, lying on the ground, opened his eyes to the vast night sky stretching above him. The sound of crackling fire reached his ears, but it didn't distract him.
'At least I did it.'
His thoughts drifted back to his fight against Gun. It had been one-sided, but he had still managed to complete the task.
'Stats.' He called out in his mind.
=============
(Level 2: Kang Chan)
Strength: 24
Speed: 38
Endurance: 26
Intelligence: 15
Luck: 15
Thresholds: None
Talents: Imperfect Copy, Creator
Techniques: Low and High Kick (24.6%), Flow Disruption (1%)
Passive Skills: Flexible Joints, Accelerated Cell Repair (5% Cell Increase)
=============
-Title: "Unyielding Machine"
Title Effect: Training Progress +20%, Pain Tolerance +20%
-Title: "Madman"
Title Effect: Even with broken bones or critical injuries, the user keeps moving as long as they remain conscious.
=============
Points Available: 50
=============
'Nothing much changed.' Kang Chan observed his stats. His physical attributes hadn't increased at all, which was a disappointment. But it made sense, he lacked the talent to grow mid-fight. However, there were new additions worth noting.
First, his talents. One was Imperfect Copy, the other was Creator.
He hadn't expected to gain something like Imperfect Copy, a weaker version of the true copy talent. It must have manifested when he nearly replicated Gun's Aikido technique. The title itself almost felt like an insult, but he couldn't deny it, his attempt had been a poor imitation. Still, mastering the true copy should be possible in the future.
As for Creator, Kang Chan could only link it to the newly added technique, Flow Disruption. He had created a technique while in a certain state.
He vividly recalled the sensation of that state, his body and mind felt weightless, almost as if floating. His body was completely relaxed, like water, seamlessly blending with nature. His mind was distant, yet completely free, unburdened by distractions or hesitation. He moved without doubt, without worry, only with absolute confidence.
It was an indescribable feeling, something that could only be understood through experience. But if he had to put it into one word, it would be:
'Free.'
In that moment, he had been unshackled, both in body and mind. Completely free.
Thanks to that, he had created the Flow Disruption technique.
'System, can you show me the description of the technique?' He asked in his mind.
[Technique: Flow Disruption]
[Description: Flow Disruption is a close-combat technique that manipulates the natural momentum of an opponent's attack by making micro-adjustments in real time, causing their force to stagnate, recoil, or misfire. Rather than blocking, dodging, or deflecting, the user subtly redirects the kinetic chain of their opponent's strike before it fully develops, throwing off their balance and creating openings for counterattacks.]
Unlike traditional defensive techniques, this method didn't rely on blocking, parrying, or dodging. Instead, Kang Chan used micro-movements and precise shifts in his stance to interrupt the natural flow of his opponent's attacks before they fully developed.
When Gun's attacks reached their 'point of no return', where adjustments were no longer possible, Kang Chan would make subtle shifts in his footing or center of gravity, causing the force to misfire, stagnate, or recoil. This momentarily disrupted his opponent's balance, creating the perfect opening for a counterattack.
It was highly efficient, requiring minimal movement and allowing him to conserve energy in prolonged battles. However, its success depended entirely on timing and instinct. A single hesitation or miscalculation could mean taking a clean hit instead of neutralizing an attack.
This technique reduced combat to its purest form, allowing Kang Chan to rewrite the flow of battle in real time, turning an opponent's strength against them.
'Though, I was only able to use it in that state.' Kang Chan thought. Back then, he had performed it as if he had trained it to mastery, but only because his mind, body and senses had been heightened to another level. Now, he needed to train it properly, refine both his technique and his body. His mind was already honed and would continue to be sharpened.
'Now for this…'
Kang Chan's focus shifted to the newly added title, Madman. Its effect was simple, he could keep moving even with broken bones or critical injuries, as long as he remained conscious.
He pictured himself walking toward a group of Yakuza, his body pierced by ten different katanas, riddled with bullet holes, yet moving as if it were nothing, as if the wounds were mere scratches.
Now that would be a nightmare.
'It's like that guy, but better.' His mind drifted to Olly Wang, the one who couldn't feel pain. That guy was unstoppable because his pain receptors didn't function. Most people needed immense mental strength to endure pain, but Olly was completely free from it.
However, that advantage came with a critical weakness. Not feeling pain meant not knowing the severity of injuries until the body shut down completely. That kind of ignorance was a death sentence in combat.
Kang Chan, on the other hand, was different. He would still feel pain, but he had the will, the mental strength, and the body to withstand it. Pain had never been an issue for him. The only thing that had held him back before was his body's natural limitations. But now, with this title, those limitations were gone.
His body would act as the title dictated, a dead man walking. Unlike Olly, he wasn't immune to pain, but he would endure it which is in his favor.
Still, this ability had its limits. If he suffered truly critical damage or completely ran out of stamina, the title's effect wouldn't keep him standing. To fully unlock its potential, he needed to attain the Endurance Threshold.
'I'm basically unchained for now.'
Before, he had been shackled by disadvantages, bound by the natural limits of a human body. But now, those shackles no longer existed.
He was completely, truly unchained.
"You're awake."
A voice rang in Kang Chan's ears, making his head snap to the left. He saw Gun sitting on a barrel, shades covering his eyes. In his right hand, he held a small knife, and in his other hand, a small wooden log that he was slowly carving into a statue of some sort. Below him, small wood shavings littered the ground.
"How long was I out?" Kang Chan asked, keeping his eyes on Gun, who remained focused on his work. Even though it had felt like an instant to him, it clearly wasn't.
"Two hours." Gun replied, his voice calm and indifferent as he continued carving.
"You recovered sooner than I expected." He added, expressionless, though internally, he was surprised. He had anticipated the kid would be out cold until the next day, planning to leave him there once his work was done.
'Just what kind of resilience is this?' Gun thought, giving Kang Chan a side glance. The kid's endurance was something else entirely. If he had a naturally strong body, Gun wouldn't have been surprised. But from their fight, he could tell the kid's body was anything but strong. And yet, despite that, he had taken all those hits, endured them without flinching or giving in to pain, almost as if he didn't feel it. But Gun knew he did.
It made him evaluate Kang Chan's mental strength as being far beyond not just his age group, but even adults, and even some strong fighters. The fact that he had barely been able to stand at one point, only to be on his feet the next second as if nothing had happened, further proved that. And now, instead of staying unconscious for a whole day, he had woken up in just two hours, despite the damage his weak body had taken. It defied logic.
And then, there were those last two hits the kid landed, that were etched in his mind, an anomaly of some kind.
First, the kid had overpowered him, albeit briefly. Even though Gun had controlled his strength to a minimum, Kang Chan shouldn't have been able to push him back. That burst of strength should've been impossible. Even if the kid were physically stronger than he currently was, it still shouldn't have happened. Yet, it did. That alone set him apart from others his age, at least the ones Gun knew of, those that had yet to achieve that.
Then, there was that unnatural state he had tapped into, making Gun feel a slight pressure.
The kid had moved fluidly, as if one with the air itself. Gun analyzed that it was a heightened state that temporarily enhanced his senses, allowing him to dodge attacks with ease. More impressively, he had created a technique in that state.
Creating a technique was different from learning one.
Creating a technique required more than just understanding the basics. While learning a technique involved following established principles and refining movements through practice, creating one meant forging something entirely new. It demanded experimentation, awareness, and the ability to push past known limits. There were no guidelines, only trial and error, adjusting and refining until it became something usable.
The kid hadn't just mastered an ability, he had built one from nothing while in that heightened state, proving his instincts, adaptability, and raw talent were beyond ordinary, a level on his own.
No matter how much Gun thought about it, he couldn't wrap his head around it. This kid was simply beyond common understanding. To make sense of him, one had to assume the impossible was possible.
But one thing Gun couldn't deny, Kang Chan had the potential to become a Legend of his Generation.
Kang Chan remained silent, focusing on his stats panel. His attention fell on one thing in particular.
'It increased again.'
He observed his Accelerated Cell Repair skill. Previously, his cells healed 3% faster than the average person. Now, after his fight with Gun, it had increased to 5%, a significant jump. That likely explained why he recovered so in that period of time, just as Gun had noted.
Then, he recalled something labeled as achievements. Specifically, the "Iron Will" achievement he unlocked, though it wasn't on visible on his panel for some reason, it had rewarded him with something crucial, something directly tied to those last two hits he had landed on Gun.
[Critical Hit: Overdrive]
[Effect: Upon activation, grants the user a 0.1% chance to land a Critical Hit, ignoring all defense points for 10 seconds. This card is consumed after use and cannot be reactivated.]
This was his reward for completing the achievement, a one-time-use ability.
At first glance, the card seemed almost useless. The chance of landing a Critical Hit was abysmal, just 0.1% within a 10-second window. The odds were nearly impossible. However, what initially seemed worthless turned into an opportunity because of one thing.
His Luck stat.
At first, Kang Chan hadn't understood what Luck affected in the system. He had planned to test it later, but he ended up making the connection between it and the achievement reward.
Initially, he had dismissed the card, deeming it useless. He hadn't considered his Luck stat at the time. But at the last second, he figured he should use everything at his disposal. When he saw the 0.1% chance, a single word popped into his mind, 'Luck.'
And that's when it clicked.
He remembered that Luck was right there on his stats panel. So what was left, was the most obvious thing to try. If he needed Luck to trigger the Critical Hit, he had to increase it. But instead of raising it before activating the card, he did so afterward. His reasoning was simple, increasing Luck right after activating the card would create a fresh link between the two, strengthening the transmission.
And it worked.
He had delivered two consecutive Critical Hits, overpowering Gun and pushing him back.
Even so, those Critical Hits had done no real damage to Gun, making Kang Chan realize just how strong the man's body was. But before he could dwell on it further, Gun suddenly stood up.
"Later."
With just that one word, he turned and started walking away, leaving Kang Chan lying on the ground.
"Wait." Kang Chan spoke.
Gun halted his steps, turning his head slightly to glance back at him.
"I want to ask you something." Seeing that Gun had stopped to listen, Kang Chan continued.
"Say." Gun fully turned to face him, waiting.
"Can you help me train?" Kang Chan asked.
This was an opportunity. He needed guidance in training. His previous methods had been inefficient, he had been doing things blindly, without proper direction. But Gun had the ability to turn even the weakest into monsters.
So why not take this chance and ask him for training?
Gun frowned at the kid's request, his expression hardening. "You want me to train you after everything I put you through?" He had expected the kid to hate him, or at least resent him, for breaking his arm and giving him that brutal beating. But instead, here he was, asking for training.
"Why do you think I can train you?" Gun questioned, genuinely curious as to why the kid believed he was a capable teacher.
Kang Chan frowned at the question but answered anyway. "Isn't it obvious? You're strong, so you know how someone should train." Of course, he wasn't going to say, Because you're the nurturing genius. He'd play along like any normal guy.
"Then no." Gun refused bluntly. His response wasn't because of Kang Chan's reasoning, but because he wanted to test if the kid had a keen eye. Turns out, he was just normal in that aspect. Besides, there was no real reason for Gun to train him, even if he acknowledged his potential. And there was another, more specific reason he didn't want to train him...
"Okay." Kang Chan accepted the refusal without argument. He wasn't the type to push an issue, too bothersome. Begging? Not his style. Instead, he simply rested his head back on the ground, gazing up at the night sky.
Gun turned to leave but hesitated as a thought crossed his mind, an idea.
"I changed my mind. I'll train you." He smirked before facing Kang Chan again.
"You will?" Kang Chan's brows furrowed as the change was too fast. He was immediately skeptical. Gun changing his mind so suddenly meant there was a reason, and he couldn't figure out what it was.
"But you should know." Gun continued, his smirk deepening. "Nothing comes for free."
"What do you want?" Kang Chan's suspicion grew. He knew now, Gun wasn't doing this out of kindness. There was a catch.
"That comes after the training." Gun added to the mystery.
"Then I also need something." Kang Chan didn't react outwardly but decided to use this opportunity to his advantage.
"What is it?" Gun frowned at the unexpected demand. Wasn't he the one in control here?
"Help me get to my place." Kang Chan said.
"Ha?" Gun's irritation was instant. Did the kid expect him to babysit him now?
"Why are you the one annoyed?" Kang Chan said as he propped himself up with his right hand, sitting upright and staring at Gun with a deadpan look. "I'm the one who should be. Right now, I feel like shit."
He looked at his injured arm. "My left arm and left shoulder are completely broken because of you." Then his gaze shifted to his leg. "My right leg is broken too." His eyes met Gun's annoyed expression. "My body's in no condition to move, and I'm not hopping on one leg for twenty minutes to get home. Either carry me there, or the deal's off."
Gun clicked his tongue, mulling over the demand. The kid clearly wasn't desperate for training, but Gun had already thought of an idea, and he wasn't about to waste it.
"Ugh, fine." After a moment of deliberation, he agreed.
"Though, I didn't completely break your arm." Gun approached as he remarked. He crouched beside Kang Chan and grabbed his limp left arm. In the next second-
Crack! Crack!
The sound of bones repositioning themselves echoed in the night air.
"I can move it again." Kang Chan flexed his fingers experimentally, but a sharp pain flared up as he tested it further.
"Don't move it too much, idiot. You'll just make it worse." Gun stood up and lifted Kang Chan in his arms.
"What are you doing?" Kang Chan asked, his focus shifting from his arm to Gun.
"Carrying you, like you asked."
"You can't carry me like this! It's illegal, I'm a guy, not a woman, old man." Kang Chan protested, struggling to break free from Gun's grip. But no matter how much he resisted, he remained cradled like a princess, an indignity that bruised his pride as a man.
"Then how should I carry you?" Gun retorted, irritation creeping into his tone. He had never done anything like this before, and the kid's incessant whining nearly made him consider tossing him straight into the firepit.
"Carry me on your shoulder, and don't forget my bag." Kang Chan said, exasperated. This guy was completely oblivious to how humiliating it was to be carried like that. One day, he'd make sure to repay this debt.
A tick mark formed on Gun's forehead at the demand, but he calmed himself. Since when has he, Shiro Oni, the grandmaster, ever been reduced to babysitting a kid? Probably never. Yet, here he was.
Without another word, he slung Kang Chan over his right shoulder and grabbed the kid's bag with his left hand. Before leaving, he casually kicked the air infront of the campfire, extinguishing it instantly.
Twenty minutes later
Gun stood in front of an apartment door, Kang Chan still slung over his shoulder. Without warning, he dropped the kid onto the floor.
"Thanks." Kang Chan landed on his good leg and exhaled. Surprisingly, he was actually grateful that Gun had followed through to carry him up to his apartment.
Gun simply nodded and turned to leave, but before he could.
"Give me your number. I'll contact you about my training schedule. School break is happening soon." Kang Chan held out his phone with his right hand.
Gun didn't say anything, just took the phone, typed his number, and handed it back before walking away.
"Later." Kang Chan called out.
Gun raised his right arm in response, waving him off without looking back.
Kang Chan dug his keys from his bag and entered his apartment.
"Phew. What a day." He muttered as he collapsed onto his bed. Today had been one hell of a day. Meeting Gun, fighting him, it had taken a toll on him both physically and mentally. He needed sleep. Unfortunately, there was something he had to do, and that is to shower first, but...
"But first..." He sat up straight. "System, what rewards did I get from the task?"
A system prompt immediately appeared before him.
[Task Rewards: 1 Bronze Key, 1 Silver Key, 20 Points]
Hmm. So it seems leveling up gave me 30 points. Kang Chan noted. It looks like leveling up happens based on the number of completed tasks. That was the only explanation that made sense.
"Give me the keys."
In the next second, two keys, one bronze and one silver, materialized in his right hand.
Without hesitation, he started with the bronze key. As soon as he inserted it into an appearing bronze chest, a faint glow emitted from the keyhole. The chest radiated a bright light that gradually dimmed, revealing three bronze cards hovering in the air, their contents written in glowing letters.
"Let's see what I got. "Kang Chan muttered.
'First one is normal.' Kang Chan thought as he examined the first card.
[Jab]
[Description: A swift and precise straight punch, used to control distance, interrupt opponents, and set up attacks.]
A standard jab, fast and effective. But in Kang Chan's hands, it would be refined into something more, a strike so quick and imperceptible that it would become an invisible attack.
'Next one… useful.' He turned his attention to the second card.
[High Leap]
[Description: A technique that enhances the user's ability to jump higher through proper force exertion and biomechanics. While not supernatural, it optimizes leg strength and explosiveness.]
Kang Chan saw potential in this. If incorporated into his kicks, he could develop high-leap striking maneuvers, adding a dangerous aerial component to his combat style.
'And the third… this one is necessary.' His gaze sharpened as he examined the last bronze-tier card.
[Basic Boxing Footwork]
[Description: Fundamental boxing movement techniques that emphasize balance, agility, and energy conservation. Allows smoother transitions between offense and defense while minimizing unnecessary movement.]
Speed was already one of Kang Chan's advantages, but without proper footwork, he lacked the precision to maximize it. This technique would refine his movement, making him faster, more fluid, and infinitely deadlier in combat.
"Now for the silver key." He muttered, gripping the key as it glowed faintly. A silver chest materialized before him, opening with a faint shimmer. Unlike the bronze chest, this one promised greater rewards, and Kang Chan was eager to see just how significant the difference was.
Three silver-tier cards appeared, hovering before him. He examined each one carefully.
'This technique…' His eyes narrowed as he looked at the first card.
[The Spear]
[Description: A devastating tackling technique where the user sprints toward their opponent, lowers their shoulder, and drives their full body weight into the target's midsection. The sheer force of impact can knock opponents off their feet, flipping or slamming them into the ground. However, this technique is not limited to just charging attacks. If executed within one step of the opponent, with the correct footing and explosive leg power, the user can generate a point-blank impact that increases the force behind the tackle, delivering greater knockback and blunt force damage. This close-range variation, known as Impact Spear, allows the user to maximize damage even without a running start.]
'An explosive technique at that…' Kang Chan noted. This wasn't just a simple charge; it was a technique capable of rearranging an opponent's insides. If executed properly, his opponent wouldn't even see it coming. Just one step away and, boom, an Impact Spear would send them reeling, unable to react in time. The sheer force would leave them coughing up blood for days.
'Next one…' His eyes shifted to the second card.
[Glide Deflection]
[Description: A fluid defensive technique that redirects incoming attacks by allowing them to glide across the user's arms and body, dispersing force rather than absorbing it head-on. By angling their limbs correctly and maintaining a relaxed yet responsive stance, the user can deflect punches, kicks, and even weapon strikes with minimal effort, reducing the impact taken.]
"Whoa… this suits me perfectly." Kang Chan muttered. This was the kind of technique that made opponents feel utterly powerless. No matter how hard they attacked, their strikes would be deflected like they were nothing.
Two figures appeared in his mind from his previous life, though they were fictional. Bang from One Punch Man and Tokita Ohma from Kengan Ashura. Both used similar defensive methods, albeit within their own unique martial arts. If Kang Chan honed this technique to an extreme level, who could possibly stop him?
The Spear and Glide Deflection. These were the two techniques he intended to master completely.
'And the last one…' He turned to the third card, and as he read the description, his eyes widened slightly.
[RKO]
[Description: A sudden and explosive finishing maneuver. The user leaps into the air, securing the opponent's head before forcefully driving them face-first into the ground. Highly effective when used unexpectedly. Can be executed from nearly any position, making it difficult to counter.]
'Isn't this… the Outta Nowhere move?'
Kang Chan immediately recognized the technique. It was the signature move of a professional wrestler from his previous life, Randy Orton, the Viper himself.
'No way…' The thought of pulling off an RKO in an actual fight was almost hilarious. In professional wrestling, it was all for show, but in real combat? He doesn't know if it will actually work, but now that with the system, if executed correctly, it could result in instant knockouts. He could already imagine the reaction of anyone witnessing such an alien like move in a real fight.
With the system's support, even the most absurd techniques might just become viable.
Now, Kang Chan wondered what kind of rewards he would obtain from superior-tier chests. If silver was already this powerful, the higher tiers must contain techniques or abilities that were outright broken.
'That's it for the day, now for a shower.' Kang Chan stood up on his left leg and hopped his way to the bathroom to take a nice warm shower.
-----------------
Seoul, under the night sky.
Gun walked down the quiet streets, a phone pressed against his ear.
"Chairman, I called you at this hour because there is something I need to discuss with you." Gun spoke calmly.
(A discussion? That isn't like you, Gun.)
A voice came through the phone that seemed to belong to a middle aged man.
"I know. But to be more precise, this discussion concerns something crucial for the development of our future plans."
(Hmm? If that's the case, I understand. Meet me tomorrow.)
"Understood." Gun heard the call disconnect, slipping his phone back into his pocket.
"I hope you don't make it hard for me, kid." His eyes narrowed slightly as he muttered to himself.
Without another word, he continued walking, his destination set.