Overgeared: Babylon

One week had passed since Shin Youngwoo returned home from the hospital, and while the world around him remained largely the same, subtle changes had begun to ripple through his daily life. The most noticeable of these changes was his newfound commitment to self-improvement—a stark contrast to the habits that had defined him for so long.

In the past, Youngwoo had been the kind of person who rarely left his room unless absolutely necessary. His days were spent by playing games, either through streams, forums, or the occasional part-time job that required him to step outside. He was a homebody, content to live in the shadows of a bustling world, his only connection to the outside being the flickering glow of his computer screen.

But now, things were different.

Every morning, Youngwoo would rise with the sun, lace up his running shoes, and head out the door. The first few days had been rough—his body protesting the unfamiliar exertion, his lungs burning as he struggled to find a rhythm. But he pushed through the discomfort, driven by a quiet determination to be better, to be stronger, hoping that, although he did it first because of compulsion, maybe after do it everyday he will became to enjoy the process. So the morning runs became a ritual, a way to clear his mind and prepare for the challenges ahead.

After his run, he would visit the nearby gym, a modest facility tucked away in a quiet corner of the neighborhood. It wasn't much—just a few treadmills, some weights, and a handful of machines—but it was enough. Youngwoo started slow, focusing on building his strength and endurance, his movements deliberate and measured. The other gym-goers, mostly regulars who had been coming for years, eyed him with curiosity but said nothing. To them, he was just another newcomer, another face in the crowd.

But to Youngwoo, it was more than just exercise. It was a statement, a declaration that he was no longer content to sit on the sidelines. He had been given a second chance, a new life, and he was determined to make the most of it. The physical changes were gradual—his muscles ached, his stamina improved, and his posture straightened—but the mental shift was profound. With each passing day, he felt more in control, more confident, more like the person he was meant to be.

***

KRINGGGKKK!!!! KRINGGGKKKKK!!!

The blaring alarm shattered the quiet of the early morning, its insistent beeping cutting through the remnants of Youngwoo's dreams. He groaned, his face scrunching up in annoyance as he blindly reached out to silence the noise. "Ehmmeeeehhh..." he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep as he stretched his arms above his head, feeling the familiar ache in his muscles from the previous day's workout.

Reluctantly, he dragged himself out of bed, his body moving on autopilot as he shuffled toward the bathroom. The cool tiles beneath his feet sent a shiver up his spine, jolting him slightly more awake. He grabbed his toothbrush, squeezed a dollop of toothpaste onto it, and began brushing his teeth, his mind still foggy with sleep.

As he stood there, half-awake and staring at his reflection in the mirror, something caught his eye. He leaned closer, squinting at his reflection. His hair... it looked different. At first, he thought it might just be the lighting, but as he tilted his head, the change became unmistakable. The roots of his hair, once a deep, dark brown, were now a shade lighter—almost blonde.

"Oh... ohhh," he mumbled, his mouth still full of toothpaste foam. He spat into the sink, rinsing his mouth quickly before leaning in closer to inspect his hair. "What the...fuck?"

He ran a hand through his hair, pulling at the strands to get a better look. The change was subtle but undeniable. The roots were definitely lighter, a golden blonde that contrasted sharply with the rest of his dark hair. It wasn't a drastic transformation—yet—but it was enough to make him pause.

"Is this... because of the reincarnation?" he muttered to himself, his mind racing. He thought back to the higher being's words, the promise of a gift that would activate when he logged into Satisfy. Could this be part of it? A physical change to match his new role as the anchor of the world?

'But how? Satisfy will not be released yet until more than 1 month from now. '

He frowned, his reflection mirroring his confusion. "Great. Just what I needed—another mystery to figure out."

As he continued to stare at his reflection, a strange mix of emotions washed over him. On one hand, the change was unsettling, a reminder that his life was no longer his own. On the other hand, it was oddly fitting. The blonde hair, even in its early stages, felt like a symbol of transformation, a visual representation of the fusion between Gil Clinton and Shin Youngwoo.

"Well," he said with a resigned sigh, "at least it's not something more obvious. Imagine if I started glowing or something."

He chuckled at the thought, the sound echoing softly in the small bathroom. Despite the strangeness of the situation, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of curiosity. What other changes would he experience as he embraced his new role? And how far would they go?

***

Later that same morning, as Youngwoo sat down for breakfast, Sehee noticed the change almost immediately.

"Oppa," she said, her eyes narrowing as she studied him, "did you... dye your hair?"

Youngwoo froze, a piece of toast halfway to his mouth. "Uh... no? Why?" he asked, playing dumb. He quickly slicked his hair back with his fingers, trying to appear nonchalant. "I mean, it's just hair, right? Maybe it's the lighting or something."

Sehee leaned closer, her eyes narrowing as she studied him with the precision of a detective inspecting a crime scene. "Oppa, your roots are blonde. Like, really blonde. Are you seriously trying to tell me you didn't notice?" She reached out, tugging at a strand of his hair and eyeing the root of his hair as if to prove her point.

Youngwoo swatted her hand away, feigning annoyance. "Hey, hands off! Maybe it's... I don't know, stress or something. Or maybe I'm just special. Ever think of that?"

Sehee snorted, crossing her arms over her chest. "Special, huh? More like 'special project.' Did you forget to tell us you're going through a midlife crisis or something? Because if Mom finds out you dyed your hair without telling her, she's going to castrate you. And trust me, I'll be holding the scissors."

Youngwoo winced at the mental image. "Okay, first of all, that's a terrifying visual. Second, I didn't dye my hair! I don't even know how this happened. Maybe it's... a side effect of the lightning strike or something. You know, like how people's hair turns white after a traumatic experience."

Sehee raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Uh-huh. Sure. Because getting struck by lightning definitely turns your hair blonde. That makes perfect sense." She paused, tilting her head as if considering the possibility. "Wait, is that a thing? Can lightning even do that?"

Youngwoo shrugged, taking a bite of his toast to buy himself some time. "I don't know, Sehee. I'm not a scientist. But if anyone's hair is going to turn blonde because of a lightning strike, it's mine. I'm basically a walking science experiment at this point."

Sehee rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Well, if you start glowing or shooting lightning bolts out of your hands, you'd better warn me first. I don't want to be collateral damage when you finally embrace your superhero destiny."

Youngwoo chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't worry, Sehee. If I turn into a superhero, you'll be the first to know. But until then, can we just... keep this between us? I don't need Mom freaking out and dragging me to the hospital again."

Sehee smirked, leaning back in her chair. "Fine. But this means you owe me. Big time. Like, 'buy me a new phone' levels of owing me."

Youngwoo groaned, knowing full well he wasn't going to win this argument. "Deal. But if you tell Mom, I'm denying everything and blaming you."

Sehee laughed, the sound bright and carefree. "Oh, please. Like she'd believe you over me. I'm the favorite, remember?"

Youngwoo rolled his eyes, but there was no real annoyance in the gesture. "Yeah, yeah. Rub it in, why don't you?"

Sehee's mischievous grin lingered as she sat back down at the table, picking up her chopsticks to resume eating. Youngwoo, still shaking his head at her antics, couldn't help but chuckle under his breath. The tension from their earlier conversation melted away, replaced by the easy camaraderie that had always defined their relationship.

"You know," Sehee said between bites of her kimchi, "if your hair keeps changing like this, you might actually start looking cool. Like one of those edgy anime protagonists."

Youngwoo raised an eyebrow, his mouth full of rice. "Edgy anime protagonist? Really?" he mumbled, swallowing before continuing. "I think you've been watching too many dramas."

Sehee shrugged, her grin widening. "Maybe. But admit it, Oppa. You now have got blonde hair by some almighty lightning, and all you need is a tragic backstory and a sword, and you're set."

Youngwoo snorted, nearly choking on his soup. "A sword? Where am I supposed to get a sword? The local convenience store?"

"It's also an option, but maybe you can also summon some sword out of thin air?"

Youngwoo groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Why do I even bother?"

Sehee laughed again, the sound filling the small kitchen and bringing a smile to Youngwoo's face despite himself. For a moment, everything felt normal—just two siblings sharing a meal and teasing each other like they always did. It was a rare moment of peace in the midst of the chaos that had become his life, and Youngwoo found himself savoring it.