It was already dark outside.
The classroom lights were off, and the hallways were empty. Everyone had gone home. But Jin Haru was still sitting in his chair, staring at his hand.
The fight earlier kept replaying in his head.
He had controlled Combat Mode.
He had felt the power inside him this time. The glowing blue eyes didn't scare him. Not anymore.
But… why was it there?
Why him?
His heart was heavy. Too many things were happening too fast. He had wanted a peaceful life, but now people were watching him—fighting him—fearing him.
---
[Inside the Mind System]
> "Haru," REI's voice spoke softly. "There's something I need to show you."
Jin Haru blinked. He was inside the white void of his inner system space, standing in front of a tall screen. REI appeared in her usual blue glow.
> "What is it?" he asked.
> "A locked memory file. I've been trying to unlock it since the first Combat Mode activation."
REI raised her hand. A glowing folder appeared. The screen flashed with red letters:
[CLEARANCE GRANTED – VESSEL ID CONFIRMED]
Jin Haru stepped closer.
His heart beat faster.
The folder opened.
Inside, there was only one thing.
A photo.
---
It was a photo of a boy, maybe 17 or 18 years old.
The boy's face was pale and sad. He had a shaved head, tubes connected to his arms. He was lying in a hospital bed, wearing a patient gown.
But what shocked Haru was… the face.
It was his.
But no—not exactly.
The boy in the photo looked almost the same as him… but thinner, weaker… like a failed copy.
Haru's hands shook.
> "Who is this…?" he whispered.
> REI's voice turned quiet. "His name was Project Zero. He was the first test subject. The first vessel you created… before you used the serum on yourself."
> "What do you mean?"
> "You made him in secret. He was supposed to be the perfect body. But his mind collapsed. His body rejected the enhancements. He died before the project was complete."
Jin Haru took a step back.
He remembered now.
Flashes of metal rooms, wires, and tubes. The boy screaming. The boy crying.
He had erased those memories on purpose.
Because he didn't want to remember… the first life he ruined.
---
> "Why are you showing me this now?"
> "Because he's not dead," REI said. "The last signal from his body came only five days ago. Somewhere in Seoul."
> "That's impossible…!"
> "He's alive, Haru. And his data shows strange energy patterns. Similar to your Combat Mode."
Haru's eyes widened.
> "Is he like me…?"
> "No," REI replied. "He might be stronger."
The room turned silent.
Then, the screen glitched. For a moment, a shadowy image flashed—a figure with glowing blue eyes, standing in a dark alley.
Jin Haru clenched his fists.
> "What have I done…?"
---
[Back in the Real World]
Jin Haru opened his eyes. He was sitting in his dark room now, the photo still floating in front of him. Outside, the night wind blew gently.
A knock came at the window.
He turned quickly.
It was Baek Jinho.
> "Yo," Jinho said, climbing in. "You okay? You kinda disappeared after the fight."
Haru nodded slowly. "Yeah… just thinking."
Jinho sat down beside him. "You know, I used to think being strong meant everything. But now… I think having people you trust is more important."
Haru looked at him.
> "Thanks, Jinho."
They sat there quietly for a while.
Then, REI's voice returned in Haru's head.
> "The first Vessel is moving. He will find you soon."
---
[Elsewhere – Unknown Location]
In a dark, dirty basement, a boy was sitting on the floor.
His eyes were glowing bright blue.
Scars covered his body.
His voice was cold, sharp.
> "Jin Haru… Creator… I finally found you."
He stood up, cracking his neck.
> "Now it's your turn to suffer."