Min-ho tried to regulate his breathing as he headed downstairs. Every step felt strange, like he was wearing a suit of lead that had suddenly turned into a feather-weight costume. His muscles were buzzing with a restless, frantic energy that made him want to punch a hole through the wall just to vent the pressure.
As he entered the kitchen, the scent of the beef stew hit him like a physical blow. It didn't just smell good; it smelled like fuel.
'I'm starving,' he thought, his stomach letting out a growl so loud it sounded like a dying engine. 'It feels like I haven't eaten in a week.'
"Finally! The sloth has descended," Min-ah chirped. She was already seated, levitating a small metal spoon with a faint flicker of blue mana. It was a classic "prodigy" flex, showing off her fine motor control over her awakened energy.
"Sit, Min-ho," his mother said, smiling as she set a bowl in front of him. "You look pale. Did you have a nightmare?"
"Something like that," Min-ho muttered.
He picked up his spoon, trying to be careful. After what happened to his desk, he was terrified he'd snap the cutlery in half. He took a bite, and the moment the calories hit his tongue, his brain screamed for more.
Before the rest of the family had even finished their prayers, Min-ho's bowl was empty.
"Whoa," his father laughed, pausing with his own spoon halfway to his mouth. "Slow down, son. Did you run a marathon in your sleep?"
'You have no idea,' Min-ho thought. He reached for the pot in the center of the table. "Can I have more? A lot more?"
"Help yourself, but leave some for your sister," his mother replied, her eyes widening as Min-ho ladled a mountain of beef and potatoes into his bowl.
Min-ah rolled her eyes, making the spoon dance faster in the air. "Honestly, if you put half as much effort into training as you do into eating, maybe you'd actually awaken a Rank E ability. Look at this."
She focused her gaze on a glass of water across the table. With a sharp flick of her finger, a tiny bolt of electricity shot out, clicking against the glass and making the water ripple. "My instructor says I'll be Rank B by the time I graduate. The Association is already talking about a scholarship."
"That's amazing, honey," his father beamed. "The new generation really is something else. Min-ho, you should listen to your sister. A little spark is better than no spark at all, right?"
Min-ho didn't look up. He was too busy shoveling food into his mouth, trying to keep his movements sluggish and "lazy" to avoid suspicion. Under the table, he accidentally tapped the metal leg of his chair with his toe.
Cling.
The heavy iron leg bent inward like a piece of tin foil. Min-ho froze, his heart leaping into his throat.
'Shit. Stay calm,' he told himself. He shifted his foot quickly to hide the dent. 'If they see what I can do now, the Association will be at the door in ten minutes. I'm not ready for that.'
"What was that noise?" Min-ah asked, squinting at him.
"Just my shoe hitting the chair," Min-ho said, his voice muffled by a massive piece of beef. "Congrats on the scholarship. It sounds... flashy."
Min-ah huffed, annoyed that her "useless" brother wasn't more impressed. "Flashy? It's life-changing! But I guess someone who spends eighteen hours a day dreaming wouldn't understand the weight of real-world power."
Min-ho finished his fourth bowl and stood up, feeling the calories finally starting to stabilize the fire in his veins. He felt dense, powerful, and incredibly sharp.
"I'm going back to bed," he said simply.
"Again?!" his father groaned. "You just woke up!"
Min-ho didn't answer. He just gave a small wave as he headed back upstairs. He had a secret he couldn't share yet. While his sister was proud of her tiny sparks, he was carrying the strength of a millennium in his bones.
He closed his bedroom door and looked at his bed.
'She's right about one thing,' he thought, his eyes glancing at the notification screen that flickered briefly in his vision. 'The weight of my power is something no one in this world understands. And I need more.'
He lay down, closed his eyes, and waited for the darkness to take him back to the black sands.
[Notice: Fatigue detected. Energy levels optimized for 110x training.]
[Re-entering Slumber Realm...]