When a meteor crashes into Hyunjin's life, it doesn't just leave a crater-it changes everything.
Embedded within it was an ancient relic, a forgotten piece of a lost civilization, that fused with his very being, granting him superhuman abilities fa...
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The fluorescent lights of the school hallway buzzed faintly overhead as Hyunjin trudged through the throng of students, the chatter around him a dull hum in his ears. His head throbbed with every step, each footfall sending sharp spikes of pain through his temples. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the haze of exhaustion that clung to him like a heavy blanket. The world felt dim, the colors around him muted, the voices of his classmates blurred and distant.
He barely noticed the people around him—students laughing, lockers slamming shut, conversations overlapping in a constant, chaotic melody. The scent of fresh paper and cleaning solution hung in the air, familiar and yet somehow suffocating in its normalcy. Every sound, every movement felt like too much, like it was pressing in on him, squeezing his already pounding head.
Hyunjin forced himself to keep walking, even though his body screamed for rest. His limbs felt leaden, each step a struggle. He could still feel the lingering ache from last night, the strain of pushing his powers to their limits. The memory of it was vivid in his mind—the cold air whipping past him as he soared over the city, the blinding lights of the bridge as it crumbled beneath the weight of the overloaded trucks, the screams of the terrified people below. The Han River had glittered ominously in the darkness, its black waters ready to swallow anyone who fell.
He shook his head, trying to dispel the images. He didn't have the energy to relive it right now. Not when he could barely keep his eyes open.
As he approached his classroom, the noise level dropped slightly, the din of the hallway fading as students filtered into their respective rooms. Hyunjin slipped inside, heading straight for his seat at the back of the class. He slumped down heavily in his chair, the cool surface of the desk a welcome relief against his fevered skin. He let out a low sigh, willing the headache to ease, even just a little.
"Hyunjin!"
He blinked, lifting his head slightly to see Jisung and Felix grinning at him from the next desks over. Their faces were bright, eyes shining with excitement. Hyunjin could barely muster a smile in return, the effort too much for his tired mind.
"Did you hear about what happened last night?" Jisung asked, his voice bubbling with enthusiasm. "Strike saved the Hangang Bridge! Hundreds of people could've died if he hadn't shown up!"
Felix nodded eagerly, leaning in closer. "Yeah, he was incredible! They said he held up the entire bridge with his bare hands while they evacuated everyone. Can you believe that?"
Hyunjin managed a weak nod, his mind barely registering their words. He rested his head on his folded arms, closing his eyes. The room around him seemed to spin, the voices of his friends blending into the background noise. He could feel their excitement, their admiration for Strike, but he was too exhausted to share in it. Instead, all he could think about was how much he wanted to sleep, how much he needed to shut out the world and forget about everything, if only for a little while.
