The city's artificial sun rose with a hum.
In Sector 3, the training compound buzzed with morning energy. Dozens of trainees sprinted across the field, practicing techniques, shouting commands, and adjusting their combat gear.
Inside one of the isolated chambers—a fireproof, glass-reinforced dome—stood a single figure.
Han Ji Won.
His breath fogged in the heat. Sweat dripped down his jawline. His black combat jacket was half unzipped, revealing burns on his arms that were already healing. The floor beneath him was scorched—deep clawed streaks melted into the surface.
[System: Flame Core – Active]
Current Emotion: Rage – 84%
Ignition Level: Tier III – Unstable]
A burning spear spun in his grip, its flame alive like a wild animal.
The target dummies didn't stand a chance.
With a sharp shout, Ji Won slammed his foot forward. The ground erupted beneath him, launching a pillar of fire toward the center dummy. It exploded instantly, the flames crackling violently.
Someone whistled from the doorway.
"Still angry at the world, I see."
Ji Won turned his head slowly, frown deepening. "What do you want, Ha Neul?"
Ha Neul strolled in, hands in pockets, that usual lazy grin on his face. Ji Han trailed behind him, silent as always.
Ji Won's eyes flicked toward Ji Han, pausing just a little longer.
"I heard about the Rift in Zone 6," Ji Won muttered. "They say it was handled by two trainees. One emotionless. One unpredictable."
Ha Neul smirked. "News travels fast."
"Especially when you blow up half a back alley."
Ji Han stayed quiet, his gaze distant. Ji Won noticed.
He always noticed.
They moved to the observation platform after Ji Won cooled down. Or rather, when the flame around him faded from deadly to just hot.
"You've changed," Ji Won said bluntly, staring at Ji Han.
Ji Han blinked. "How?"
"You used to feel… nothing. Now you feel too much. It's leaking off you."
Ha Neul raised a brow. "You can sense that?"
"I don't need a fancy system to see it." Ji Won crossed his arms. "But yeah. Mine reacts to strong emotions around me. Yours... stings."
Ji Han looked away.
[Ji Han's System: Emotion Absorption]
His system pulls in emotions nearby, intentionally or not. The more intense the emotion, the more energy it fuels into him.
But those feelings don't always go away. Some linger. Some stay.
Ha Neul caught Ji Won's expression.
"You're worried."
"I'm not," Ji Won snapped. Then paused. "...Maybe I am."
There was a silence. Heavy. But not uncomfortable.
Ji Won's voice softened. "You shouldn't bottle it up, Ji Han. People like us—we don't explode right away. But when we do... we burn everything."
Ha Neul looked between the two of them, thoughtful.
As the sun dipped lower, the trio sat on the training rooftop, watching the clouds drift across the synthetic sky.
It was the first time in a long while Ji Han felt... not alone.
Not completely, anyway.
And in that stillness, something inside him shifted.
[Emotion Absorbed: Han Ji Won – Concern | Type: Rare Positive Emotion]
+10% Emotional Resistance | +5% System Stability]
He didn't say anything.
But for once—he didn't feel the need to.
---
Time: Late evening.
Location: Transit Station 7, Sector 3, lower levels.
The trio had just wrapped up their training and were halfway through a convenience store cup ramen when the emergency alert came through.
[Emergency Rift Fluctuation Detected – Rank: D+]
Location: Underground Level B3, Transit Station 7
Nearest Registered Responders: Ji Han, Kang Ha Neul, Han Ji Won
[Confirm Deployment?Y/N]
Ji Won wiped soup off his mouth. "You've got to be kidding me."
Ha Neul tapped [Y] with zero hesitation. "Come on, hothead. Let's burn some monsters."
Ji Han stood up quietly, eyes already distant. He could feel it—a shift in the air. Pressure. Residual fear. Someone down there was scared.
Really scared.
Level B3 – Underground Tunnel Zone
The place was dim. Abandoned train tracks stretched in both directions, lined with flickering lights. Something had slipped through the crack of an unstable Rift and left residue behind—corrupted energy that mutated the space.
They could feel it the moment they stepped in.
[Ji Han: Emotional Field Detected]
Fear – Multiple sources | Rage – One source nearby | Pain – Echoed imprint]
Ji Han flinched.
Ji Won noticed immediately. "What is it?"
"Someone was here. Not long ago. Afraid. Hurt."
"Survivors?" Ha Neul asked, drawing out a short blade glowing with blue energy. "Or just residue?"
"Not sure. But something's waiting."
Just as Ji Han said that, a sharp skittering echoed in the dark. From the ceiling, a creature dropped—mutated, long-limbed, shrieking.
[Corrupted Wraith: Class D+]
"Mine," Ji Won growled, stepping forward.
[System: Flame Core – Ignite]
Fire bloomed from his arms as he launched himself forward, slamming into the wraith. But something was off—his flames flickered too violently.
[Warning: Rage Level 97% – Instability Risk High]
Ji Han could feel it, even before the system warned them. Ji Won's emotions were spiking, and his system was feeding off it recklessly.
"Ji Won!" he shouted. "Pull back—your core's unstable!"
"I got it!" Ji Won snapped—but his voice cracked.
Ha Neul moved quickly, copying Ji Won's motion and summoning a weaker version of his flame to shield Ji Han.
[System Mirror: Temporary Copy – Flame Core (Tier I)]
"Cover him," Ha Neul said, calmly stepping in.
Ji Han nodded, his own system pulsing.
[Emotion Absorbed: Ji Won – Desperation | Type: Unstable Emotion]
Stability Boost Activated – Temporary Sync]
Suddenly, Ji Han's mind sharpened. The heat calmed around him. He stepped forward and reached out—not physically, but emotionally.
He let Ji Won's rage flood through him—and then took it.
[Absorbing: Emotional Overload]
Redirecting to System Core... Stabilizing Ji Won's Flame Core]
Ji Won gasped, stumbling back. The wild fire around him dimmed slightly.
"What—what did you do?" he muttered.
Ji Han didn't answer immediately. His hand trembled, lips pressed tightly.
"I took some of it," he said quietly. "Not all. Just enough."
The wraith screeched again, charging. This time, it didn't stand a chance. Ji Han moved first—silent and focused, guided by the pain he absorbed. Ha Neul followed with a strike to the leg. Ji Won, with flames back under control, delivered the final blow.
[Target Eliminated – Rift Residue Cleansed]
Later, outside the tunnel
Ji Won sat against the wall, rubbing his temples.
"You're a weird one, Ji Han."
"I know."
"You're also reckless."
"I know that too."
Ha Neul threw his jacket over Ji Han's shoulders. "But you're also... strong. In a scary way."
Ji Han didn't respond.
But for once, he didn't feel like running from what he was.