Shadow Sovereigns : A New Beginning

The morning sunlight streamed through the hospital window, casting a warm glow on the sterile room. Sung Jin-Woo stood before the mirror, gazing at his reflection. The man staring back at him looked nothing like the frail, timid Hunter he had inherited this body from. His broad shoulders, sharpened jawline, and lean, defined frame gave him a presence he hadn't had before.

He ran a hand through his dark hair, smirking. "Guess the System doesn't just build strength—it builds confidence too."

He grabbed the fresh clothes he'd brought earlier—a white shirt and black pants. It felt good to wear normal clothes again, free of the hospital gown that clung to him like a reminder of weakness. As he pulled the shirt over his head, the door swung open without warning.

"Oh!" A startled squeak broke the silence. A nurse stood frozen in the doorway, her eyes widening as they locked onto Jin-Woo's shirtless frame. Her face flushed bright red, and she fumbled with the clipboard in her hands.

Jin-Woo blinked at her, momentarily caught off guard, before raising an eyebrow. "You know, knocking is free."

"I-I'm so sorry!" she stammered, her voice high-pitched as she turned her gaze away. "I thought you were still asleep!"

"Well, as you can see," he said, gesturing to himself with a smirk, "I'm very much awake. But hey, don't worry about it. Happens to the best of us."

She remained rooted to the spot, her face burning as she avoided looking at him. "I just came to check your vitals and give you your discharge paperwork. You're, uh… free to leave today."

"Good," he said, buttoning up his shirt. "Not that this place isn't cozy, but I've had enough of the hospital life."

The nurse hesitated, glancing at him shyly. "You've really recovered well. You, uh… look very healthy."

"Push-ups and squats," he replied with a grin, slipping into his jacket. "They work wonders."

There was a brief silence before she thrust a small piece of paper toward him. "Here!"

He took the paper, blinking down at the hastily scribbled phone number. "What's this?"

"My… my phone number," she mumbled, looking anywhere but at him. "In case you need… help adjusting after leaving the hospital!"

Jin-Woo chuckled, tucking the paper into his pocket. "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."

Before he could say anything else, she fled the room, leaving him alone. Shaking his head, he grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder.

"Well," he said to himself, "looks like charisma wasn't part of the stat sheet, but I'll take it."

The walk home felt surreal. The crisp morning air, the bustling streets, the chatter of everyday life—it all felt so ordinary, yet entirely new. He wasn't the same person who had entered the hospital. The world itself hadn't changed, but his perspective had.

When he reached the small, modest apartment he shared with Jin-Ah, a wave of warmth washed over him. It wasn't much, but it was home. And for the first time in a long time, he felt like he had a purpose here.

The door swung open before he could knock, and Jin-Ah's cheerful voice rang out. "Oppa! You're back!"

She threw her arms around him, her bright smile lighting up the room. He patted her head, chuckling. "Hey, Jin-Ah. Miss me?"

"You've only been gone a few days," she said, rolling her eyes. "But yeah, it's weird not having you around."

"Well, I'm back now," he said, stepping inside and dropping his bag by the door. "And I've got questions."

"Questions?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Yeah," he said, sitting down on the couch. "School. Friends. Boys. Let's hear it."

She groaned, flopping onto the couch beside him. "Why do you always ask about boys? It's so embarrassing!"

"Because I'm your big brother," he said, grinning. "It's my job to be overprotective. Now spill. How's school? Are your grades good? Any trouble I need to know about?"

"School's fine," she said, crossing her arms. "My grades are good, no one's bullying me, and no, I don't have a boyfriend."

"Good," he said, leaning back with a satisfied nod. "But if anyone gives you trouble—"

"I'll tell you," she interrupted, rolling her eyes. "I know, Oppa. You don't have to keep saying it."

He looked at her for a moment, his playful grin softening. "I mean it, Jin-Ah. If anything ever happens, you come to me. I'll always be here for you. No matter what."

Her expression softened, and she smiled. "I know, Oppa. You've always been there for me. Even when things were… hard."

He reached over and ruffled her hair, earning a laugh. "That's what big brothers are for."

After spending the morning catching up with Jin-Ah, Jin-Woo found himself at another destination—the hospital where his body's mother lay in a coma. He had avoided this visit long enough, but he couldn't put it off forever.

The room was quiet, save for the soft beeping of the machines keeping her alive. She looked fragile, her face pale against the white pillow, but there was still a faint warmth in her presence.

He pulled up a chair beside the bed and sat down, staring at her for a long moment.

"I don't know if you can hear me," he began, his voice steady but heavy with guilt. "But I wanted to say… I'm sorry. For taking over your son's life."

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I don't know why this happened. I don't know how. But I promise you this: I'll take care of them. Jin-Ah, you—this family. I'll protect them like they're my own. You have my word."

His voice faltered, but he continued. "You've been through so much. And I don't know if I deserve this chance, but I'll make sure it's worth it. I'll come back to visit. I'll find a way to make things better. For you. For Jin-Ah. For everyone."

The room remained silent, but he felt a sense of peace settle over him. Adjusting the blanket around her, he stood up, his resolve hardening.

"I'll be back," he said softly. "And when I come back, I'll be strong enough to make a difference."

As he walked out of the hospital, the weight on his shoulders felt lighter. The life he had inherited wasn't his, but the responsibilities it carried were now his to bear. He wasn't going to waste this second chance.

The faint hum of the System in his mind reminded him of what lay ahead. His first dungeon awaited, and with it, his first real test. But for now, he let himself breathe, the faces of Jin-Ah and her mother anchoring him.

"Alright," he muttered to himself. "Time to get to work."