The summer air of Seoul carried a strange comfort — the kind that lingered between the scent of rain-soaked concrete and the faint sweetness of blooming mugunghwa.
Apollo wiped his forehead as he leaned on the railing above Cheonggyecheon, eyes tracing the stream that cut through the heart of the city. The sound of water calmed him, the gentle current whispering stories of rebirth.
He'd read once that Cheonggyecheon had been buried for decades — hidden under layers of asphalt, suffocating under the city's progress. But the people had brought it back, rebuilt it from the ground up, letting it breathe again.
"Buried and reborn," he murmured. "Kinda like me."
He crouched, watching the sunlight dance across the ripples. Somewhere behind him, the System flickered faintly in his peripheral vision.
> [Observation Recorded: "Cheonggyecheon – Symbol of Renewal"]
[Mental Fortitude +2%]
He smirked. "You're keeping score even for that, huh?"
[System Notification]
> Mission Generated: "Foundation Polishing – Phase II"
Objective: Improve at least two physical skills to D-tier before school begins.
Duration: 30 Days
Rewards: +1000 XP, Unlock Intermediate Growth Path, Minor Stat Amplifier (Speed or Reflex +1 tier potential).
Failure: Training efficiency reduced by 15% for 7 days.
He accepted without hesitation.
The days blurred into repetition.
Mornings were for endurance.
Afternoons for technique.
Evenings for control.
He started with push-ups, counting until his arms trembled. Then squats — steady, precise — each rep burning like fire beneath his skin.
At night, he shadowboxed in the courtyard, his father watching silently from the doorway. Each punch was raw but purposeful, his movements sharpening with every session.
> [Skill "Basic Boxing Fundamentals" proficiency +3%]
[Skill "Observation Step" improved through repetition.]
During rest days, he'd return to Cheonggyecheon, using the rhythm of the water to practice Breathing Regulation.
Inhale… two seconds.
Hold… one.
Exhale… three.
Repeat.
He began to feel his body instead of fighting against it.
Muscles no longer resisted — they responded.
Some nights, when the moonlight hit the tiles just right, he practiced his Observation Step — fluid footwork meant to adapt to any stance. He mimicked fighters he'd seen in memories of his old world — mixed martial artists, boxers, even anime-inspired forms from his imagination.
He'd move until his vision blurred, until his shirt clung to him like armor.
> [Breathing Regulation – Efficiency Increased]
[Reflex calibration improved by 0.5%]
And in the quiet hours after midnight, when the world slept, he'd sit cross-legged, eyes closed, hands resting on his knees. The faint hum of his aura pulsed weakly — gray and unstable, but there.
Still small. Still fragile.
But real.
His mother would sometimes peek in and smile quietly, leaving a towel by the door. His father said little, but once — just once — placed a hand on Apollo's shoulder.
"Don't rush strength," he said softly. "It grows when you respect it."
Apollo nodded. That sentence alone stayed with him
Days passed quietly. Training, jogging, eating, resting — the pattern had become his rhythm.
But on one particular afternoon, something — or rather, someone — broke that silence.
As he was cooling down after his jog, a soft voice came from the side of the yard.
"Hey, Apollo! You're at it again?"
He turned to see Yumi, the neighbour's daughter, leaning over the low fence that separated their houses. She had a towel draped around her neck and wore an oversized T-shirt with paint stains on the sleeves.
She was a little older — maybe two years — and had this easy confidence that came from not caring too much about appearances.
"Yeah," Apollo replied, catching his breath. "Just finished today's run."
Yumi smiled, resting her chin on her folded arms over the fence. "You've been running every day lately. My mom said you're turning into a little soldier."
He shrugged. "Just trying to get stronger."
"Strong, huh?" she said thoughtfully, watching him for a moment. "You don't look like a fighter."
That made him chuckle. "Guess that's a good thing."
She tilted her head. "You know, most kids your age spend summer vacation glued to their phones. You're out here every day. Kind of weird, honestly."
"Thanks," he said dryly.
Yumi laughed, the sound light and teasing. "Don't take it the wrong way. Weird's not bad."
She tossed him a cold bottle of water she'd been holding. He caught it reflexively, and the moment surprised him — his hand had moved without thought.
"Nice reflexes," she said, noticing.
Apollo blinked, a small smile tugging at his lips. System training's paying off, huh.
"Thanks," he muttered, opening the bottle. "Guess I'm improving."
Yumi grinned. "Don't get cocky, soldier boy. You still look like you'd lose to a strong breeze."
He laughed despite himself.
That became the start of an easy routine — not planned, not forced.
Sometimes, when he came home from his run, Yumi would be watering the plants in her small front yard, or sketching quietly on the steps.
Other times, she'd wave him over just to talk.
---
She had a habit of doodling random things — flowers, street corners, sometimes even him.
The first time he noticed, she was sketching him mid-pushup.
"...Are you drawing me?" he asked incredulously.
"Yup," she said without hesitation. "You move funny. Like a robot trying to learn yoga."
"Wow. Encouraging."
She laughed. "Don't worry, I'll make your arms look cooler. Artists' promise."
Apollo shook his head but couldn't help smiling. Her energy had this effortless warmth that balanced his quiet intensity.
Sometimes he thought about how strange it was — how normal it felt to have someone around who didn't expect anything from him. No judgment, no questions about who he used to be.
Just a neighbour. An ordinary, kind neighbour.
But deep down, he admitted something to himself.
To be honest… I didn't expect I'd have such a beautiful neighbour.
Not in a romantic way, but in the kind that made him notice how life could still surprise him — how someone's laughter, their presence, could cut through the loneliness of rebirth.
---
Training and Quiet Progress
The following weeks melted into discipline.
Apollo's mornings were the same — 5 a.m. jogs through Cheonggyecheon, breathing exercises by the stream, and push-ups until the ground felt like it was breathing with him.
Afternoons were technique — stance corrections, shadowboxing, rhythm control.
Evenings were reflection and calm — aura meditation and breathing regulation.
Yumi occasionally joined, mostly sitting nearby sketching or teasing him.
"You know," she said one day, "you're kind of scary when you focus like that."
"Scary?"
"Yeah. Like your eyes are somewhere else entirely."
He smiled faintly. "Maybe they are."
He didn't explain, but she didn't ask either. She just smiled, leaning back on her hands. "Well, just don't forget to blink, robot."
He rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the advice, coach."
---
Cheonggyecheon – Mid-Summer Reflection
By mid-August, the city heat was relentless. The stream's surface shimmered under sunlight, and Apollo used it as his cooldown spot.
Sometimes Yumi would tag along, carrying sketch paper and two cans of cold soda. They'd sit on the ledge overlooking the water, legs dangling.
"Hey," she said once, glancing at his hand wrapped in light bandages. "You overdid it again?"
"Maybe."
She sighed. "You're too serious for your age."
He chuckled softly. "Seriousness builds consistency."
"That sounds like something an old man would say."
He grinned. "Maybe I'm an old soul."
"Mm, or just weird."
He looked at her, pretending to be offended. "You've been calling me weird since the day we met."
She shrugged. "You keep proving me right."
They both laughed, and for a while, the only sound between them was the water's whisper.
For Apollo, those moments felt… grounding.
Between the silence of his training and the echo of System notifications, Yumi's voice reminded him that the world wasn't all numbers and progress bars.
It was laughter. It was air. It was the cool taste of soda under a bright blue sky.
For the next month, his world became a balance between sweat and stillness.
Every day, he felt his body responding — faster punches, lighter steps, sharper reactions.
Even Yumi noticed.
"You move differently," she said one afternoon, watching him practice footwork.
"Different how?"
"Like… you finally know what your body's supposed to do. It fits now."
He paused, looking at her curiously. "You really notice that?"
"Of course," she said, sketching idly. "Artists see change before anyone else."
He smiled faintly. "Then I guess I'm improving."
"You're more than that," she said, and then looked away quickly. "Don't let it get to your head though."
Parents and Quiet Bonds
His parents watched all of this quietly. His mother, sara, often prepared cold meals after his runs — kimchi fried rice, barley tea, and the occasional treat of rolled omelets.
"You're thinner," she said one evening, frowning slightly.
"More muscle," he replied with a small grin.
His father, tae-yun , just nodded approvingly. "Consistency. That's what matters."
Apollo noticed, though, that they spoke to him differently now — not as a child needing guidance, but as someone growing into himself. That small shift made his chest tighten with quiet pride.
[SYSTEM PANEL – USER: APOLLO YAMAZAKI]
Name: Apollo Yamazaki
Age: 12
Tier: E → D(Upgraded)
System Level: 1
Remaining XP: 3,423
Next Level Requirement: (1 / 10,000)
Bloodlines:
• Yamazaki – Active (31%)
• ??? – Dormant (Locked – Insufficient System Level)
Attributes:
Strength – D (850 / 10,000)
Speed – D -(2,000 / 10,000)
Reflex – D -(2,000 / 10,000)
Stamina – D+ (900 / 1000)
Focus – E+ (700 / 1000)
Aura – E (480 / 1000)
Instinct: Locked – Ultra Instinct (Unlocks at Tier A "Titanium")
Skills:
Basic Boxing Fundamentals – D (12%)
Foundation Guard – E (48%)
Observation Step – E (55%)
Street Kick Combo – D (7%)
Breathing Regulation – D (10%)
Talents & Abilities:
Observation (Prototype)
Talent Scan – View opponent's tier and potential
Experience Assimilation – Convert XP into stats or currency
Bloodline Resonance – Accelerates growth during stress/adrenaline
Passives:
Adaptive Growth
Muscle Growth [+10% Efficiency]
Observation (Prototype)
> [Physical stability achieved. Neural calibration in progress. Recommended focus: Emotional Regulation & Aura Reinforcement.]
Note:
[Basic Boxing Fundamentals – D (12%)
> His punches now have clean form, timing, and angle correction. Beginning to use torque from hips and shoulders instead of pure arm power. Can spar with older teens safely.]
[Foundation Guard – E (48%)
> Defensive fundamentals established but not optimized. Still reaction-based rather than predictive. Needs sharper guard transitions and foot positioning.]
[Observation Step – E (55%)
> Early-stage movement synchronization. Capable of light feints and controlled momentum shifts. Once upgraded to D-tier, this will become a dangerous evasive technique.]
[Street Kick Combo – D (7%)
> Raw, powerful, and direct — heavily influenced by improvised brawling and observation. Now refined into structured kick flow. Lacks speed chaining, but impact potential is real.]
[Breathing Regulation – D (10%)
> Crucial progress. His oxygen control allows prolonged exertion and reflex enhancement under pressure. This is what stabilizes his stamina and focus growth.]
★Synergy Rating:
Physical System: 8/10
Neural–Reflex System: 9/10
Aura Integration: 5/10
Emotional Stability: 8/10
[Overall Evaluation – Combat Rating:
> Combat Tier Estimate: Mid–High D-Class Fighter (Transitional Stage]
---
Apollo closed the System panel and leaned back, staring at the night sky.
Tomorrow was the start of the new semester at Cheongdam Middle School.
A faint sound came from outside his window — a familiar voice.
"Still awake?" Yumi asked, standing on her side of the fence.
He leaned out the window. "Yeah. You?"
"Couldn't sleep," she said. "You nervous about school?"
"Maybe a little."
"Don't overthink it," she said with a soft smile. "You're stronger than you were a month ago."
He chuckled. "You're not bad at pep talks."
"I'm older, remember? Comes with the job."
He smiled. "Thanks, Yumi."
She nodded, waving lazily before heading back inside. "Night, soldier boy."
"Night, artist girl."
The window light flickered off, leaving only the sound of distant cicadas.
Apollo lay back on his bed, eyes on the ceiling, the faint hum of the System echoing in his mind.
> [Mission Complete: "Foundation Polishing – Phase II"]
[Reward: +1000 XP Added]
The System flickered.
> [Progress recognized. Potential confirmed.]
He smiled faintly, whispering into the dark,
"Let's see how far we can go."
-----
Author's Note
This extended chapter bridges Apollo's foundation arc with emotional grounding. Through his neighbour Yumi — a slightly older, ordinary yet inspiring presence — Apollo reconnects with everyday life. Their bond mirrors what Cheonggyecheon represents: quiet renewal.
With his physical base established and his world expanding beyond the System, the next chapter will bring his entrance into Cheongdam Middle School — where competition, status, and aura truly begin to matter.
[ I decided to place him at Same generation as Daniel and others]
Next middle school plot [ comment if you have any ideas for it ]