Rise of outcast king

Seong Joon had always been invisible. A student whose name barely made a dent in the school's social structure, Joon had learned early on to avoid attention. He was neither the smartest nor the strongest, and he certainly wasn't one of the popular kids. Instead, he spent most of his high school days getting by unnoticed, taking the smallest paths to avoid bullies and cliques.

But that all changed one rainy evening when he stumbled upon a mysterious wristwatch.

The watch wasn't flashy. It wasn't sparkling in the rain or glowing like something out of a fantasy. It was just lying there on the side of the road, half-buried in the dirt. Joon, being the curious type, bent down and picked it up. The instant his fingers made contact, a sudden jolt ran through his body, and his vision blurred as a voice echoed in his mind.

"Chrono System Online. Summoner Mode Activated. Host detected."

"What the hell…?" Joon muttered, his heart racing. His body trembled from the strange energy coursing through him. It felt like something inside him was awakening—something powerful.

"Objective: Summon Fighters from Alternate Universes. Build Influence. Gain Strength. Compete with Powers."

Joon's mind raced, struggling to grasp what was happening. His hands gripped the watch as he tried to steady himself. The system wasn't just a voice in his head; it was real.

The voice spoke again.

"Gift: Beginner's Pack. One-time use. Unlock Summon Portal."

The air around Joon seemed to crackle as a shimmering portal opened in front of him. The watch began to glow, and a soft hum filled the air, like the pulse of an ancient mechanism coming to life. The system wasn't just telling him what to do; it was offering him a chance to summon someone who could help him get stronger.

"Summon: Choose your first fighter."

Joon blinked, unsure of what was happening. Was this some kind of joke? But as the portal in front of him pulsed again, he realized this was no hallucination—this was a real opportunity. He could summon anyone, from any universe. His mind flashed back to the world of Lookism, to the dangerous factions that ruled the streets. If he was going to make it in this world, he needed strength. He needed fighters.

But how did it work?

The system responded to his unspoken question.

"Summoning Rules:

1. Summons are drawn from alternate universes within the timeline of Korean manga.

2. Each summon requires energy: The more powerful the fighter, the more energy it takes to summon them.

3. Summon quality is dependent on the host's influence: As the host grows stronger and builds influence, more powerful fighters can be summoned.

4. Summon requires a specific focus: Choose wisely—the fighter you summon will be tied to your journey."

Joon's head spun with this new information. So, the better he got, the stronger his summons would be. This was a game he could play, and he was going to win it.

He narrowed his eyes and focused on his first summon. He needed someone who could help him start building his power—a fighter with raw strength and a battle-hardened mindset.

"Summon: Baek Seung-hwan (The Guardian of Power)."

The portal flared with light, and the ground beneath him rumbled. The figure that appeared before him was none other than Baek Seung-hwan, a martial artist from a Korean manga world known for his overwhelming combat skills and cold, unshakable resolve. He was a fighter that others feared—a warrior whose mere presence commanded respect.

Seung-hwan's eyes locked onto Joon, scrutinizing him with a look that seemed to pierce through him. "You summoned me?" The fighter's voice was low and gravelly, carrying an air of authority. His muscular frame was imposing, with a cold aura that seemed to freeze the air around him.

Joon nodded, feeling a rush of excitement. "I need power. I want to rise above the factions, build my own strength, and eventually challenge the top of this world."

Seung-hwan studied him for a moment, then gave a single, grim nod. "Then prove it. You want power? Show me you're worthy of it."

Before Joon could say anything else, Seung-hwan vanished, leaving only a lingering presence in the air. Joon stood in the same spot, feeling the immense pressure of the summoned fighter's aura still lingering around him.

"Summon Complete. Fighter: Baek Seung-hwan. Task: Begin Ascension."

The system's voice came again, and Joon felt the weight of the task ahead of him. He didn't have a crew, no connections, and he wasn't looking for friends. His goal was simple—power. He would take down the strongest factions, eliminate those who stood in his way, and rise to the top, all on his own terms.

But he knew this was only the beginning. Baek Seung-hwan was a fighter, but Joon would need more than one fighter to take on the criminal underworld and challenge people like Charles Choi. He would need to summon more.

"Gift: Beginner's Pack unlocked."

A window appeared in his vision, displaying several summoning options:

• Common Fighter Summon

• Advanced Fighter Summon

• Special Fighter Summon (locked)

Joon's heart pounded. The system was giving him options, but the advanced and special summons were out of reach for now. His first summon was Baek Seung-hwan, and he couldn't afford to waste energy on something he wasn't ready for.

The "Common Fighter Summon" was his best bet for now. As Joon selected the option, he could feel the portal begin to form again. The choices were endless, but he knew each summon would come with its own challenges. His influence and power would grow with each fighter he summoned.

But the ultimate goal was clear: Challenge Charles Choi. The powerful factions in this world would need to be toppled, and to do that, he needed to build his influence. With his summoning system, Joon would rewrite the rules of the game.

End of Chapter 1