NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6: Chapter 5.
Jin-Woo's gaze remained locked on Spider-Man, his mind racing through potential scenarios. This wasn't just a simple meeting—it was a crucial turning point. First impressions mattered, and Jin-Woo knew that every word, every gesture, would shape how Spider-Man perceived him. The hero stood with a relaxed posture, his hands resting casually on his hips, but Jin-Woo wasn't fooled. Underneath that playful attitude was a fighter. The way Spider-Man moved, the way his muscles tensed ever so slightly, ready to react—it was instinctive. A sign of experience.
Jin-Woo had seen it before. Predators recognizing each other.
But he wasn't the same man he had been before the accident. No. Now, he was something much more.
Spider-Man tilted his head, his white lenses narrowing slightly as he studied Jin-Woo. "So, are we doing the whole 'mysterious silent guy' thing? Because I gotta say, it's not really fair when I'm the only one talking here." He crossed his arms, tapping his fingers against his suit. "Also, cool ninja skills. But, uh… breaking people's arms? Bit much, don't you think?"
Jin-Woo didn't respond immediately. Instead, he studied Peter. He was testing him, probing for weaknesses, for tells. Spider-Man's voice was light, almost teasing, but Jin-Woo could sense the underlying tension. The hero was assessing him, trying to figure out if he was a threat.
"…They deserved it," Jin-Woo finally said, his voice calm but firm. "They were preying on the weak."
Spider-Man sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, yeah, I get that. But still, we usually go for the 'web 'em up, leave 'em for the cops' approach. Not the 'crack their bones like breadsticks' route."
Jin-Woo smirked slightly. "I don't play by your rules."
Spider-Man went still for half a second.
It was subtle, but Jin-Woo caught it. A flicker of caution. A spark of curiosity.
Then—"Ooooh, edgy. Got it. So you're, what, a dark anti-hero? 'Cause, heads up, we kinda have a lot of those running around already. Batman called—he wants his whole vibe back."
Jin-Woo had to fight the urge to chuckle. Even here, in another world, Spider-Man was the same. The quips, the humor—it was a mask, a way to deflect and disarm. But Jin-Woo wasn't so easily swayed.
Instead, he turned away. "I don't have time for this."
Spider-Man raised a hand. "Whoa, whoa, hold up, dude. You literally came outta nowhere, dropped in on a bunch of thugs, and now you're just gonna peace out? Not even a name?"
Jin-Woo stopped. He could feel Peter's sharp gaze on his back. The way he was analyzing him. Assessing.
Smart. He would've done the same.
After a pause, he glanced over his shoulder. "Call me… Shadow."
Spider-Man's mask lenses widened slightly. "Shadow, huh? Cool. Very mysterious."
Jin-Woo turned away again, stepping toward the alley's exit. He could feel the eyes of the System watching him, as if awaiting his next move.
[System Synchronization: 30%]
Something was still changing within him.
Spider-Man's voice called out again. "Hey, Shadow."
Jin-Woo stopped, but didn't turn.
"…If you ever need a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, I'm around."
Jin-Woo smirked, but didn't answer. Instead, he disappeared into the shadows of the city.
His new life had begun. And this world had no idea what was coming.
---
### The Phantom of New York
Jin-Woo moved through the darkened streets of New York like a phantom. The city was alive with sound—car horns blaring, distant sirens wailing, the chatter of pedestrians filling the air—but he felt separate from it all. This wasn't his world. Not yet.
[System Synchronization: 35%]
The number had been rising ever since he arrived, and though he didn't fully understand what it meant, he could feel the effects. His body was adapting, growing sharper. His senses were expanding, his instincts more refined. Every step he took felt more controlled, more purposeful.
And yet, a storm brewed inside him.
He had been weak once—too weak to protect the people he cared about. The Jin-Woo of the past had struggled to survive in dungeons where death lurked in every shadow. He had watched his teammates fall, one by one, their screams echoing in his ears as he stood helpless, unable to do anything but run.
But that version of him was dead.
He had been reborn.
His thoughts drifted back to Spider-Man. A hero. Someone who fought for justice, who always saved the innocent. He respected that. But Jin-Woo had seen firsthand what happened when heroes hesitated. When they showed mercy to monsters.
The weak died.
And Jin-Woo would never be weak again.
---
### The Hunter's Trial
He stopped atop a skyscraper, staring out over the glittering city. The lights of New York stretched endlessly, a sprawling labyrinth of steel and glass. Somewhere in that maze, his next target waited.
The System's voice echoed in his mind.
[New Quest Available.]
—
Quest: The Hunter's Trial
Objective: Hunt and eliminate a notable target.
Suggested Target: Wilson Fisk (Kingpin).
Rewards:
System Synchronization (50%)
First Unique Skill
??? (Hidden Reward)
—
Jin-Woo's lips curled into a smirk.
The first hunt had begun.
---
### The Kingpin
Wilson Fisk, also known as the Kingpin, was a name that carried weight in the underworld of New York. A man of immense power and influence, he ruled the city's criminal empire with an iron fist. To most, he was untouchable. A shadowy figure who operated from the safety of his penthouse, surrounded by layers of security and loyal enforcers.
But to Jin-Woo, he was prey.
The System had provided him with the information he needed—Fisk's location, his routines, his weaknesses. It was as if the System itself was guiding him, pushing him toward this target.
Jin-Woo didn't question it. He didn't need to.
He moved through the city like a shadow, his presence undetected as he made his way to Fisk's penthouse. The building was a fortress, its security state-of-the-art. But Jin-Woo wasn't concerned. He had faced far worse in the dungeons.
He slipped past the guards with ease, his movements silent and precise. The cameras didn't catch him. The alarms didn't sound. He was a ghost, a phantom that no system could detect.
When he reached Fisk's penthouse, he paused. The door was reinforced steel, designed to withstand even the most determined intruders. But Jin-Woo didn't need to break it down.
He simply stepped through the shadows.
---
### The Confrontation
The penthouse was opulent, a testament to Fisk's wealth and power. The walls were lined with expensive art, the floors covered in plush carpets. A grand piano sat in the corner, its polished surface reflecting the soft glow of the chandelier.
Fisk was seated at his desk, his massive frame hunched over a stack of documents. He didn't notice Jin-Woo at first. But then, slowly, he looked up.
His eyes narrowed as he saw the figure standing in the shadows.
"Who are you?" Fisk's voice was deep, commanding. But Jin-Woo could hear the faintest hint of unease.
"I'm the one who's going to end you," Jin-Woo said, his voice calm and steady.
Fisk stood, his towering frame casting a long shadow across the room. "You're either very brave or very stupid. Do you have any idea who you're dealing with?"
Jin-Woo stepped into the light, his eyes locking onto Fisk's. "I know exactly who I'm dealing with. And you're not as untouchable as you think."
Fisk's lips curled into a sneer. "We'll see about that."
He pressed a button on his desk, and the room was suddenly filled with the sound of alarms. Moments later, a dozen armed men burst into the room, their weapons trained on Jin-Woo.
But Jin-Woo didn't flinch.
He moved.
The first man fell before he could even pull the trigger, his neck snapping with a sickening crack. The second was disarmed and thrown into the third, sending both crashing to the ground. Jin-Woo moved like a whirlwind, his movements too fast to follow. The men didn't stand a chance.
Fisk watched in stunned silence as his men were taken down one by one. When the last man fell, Jin-Woo turned to face him.
"Your turn," Jin-Woo said, his voice cold.
Fisk's eyes widened, but he didn't back down. Instead, he charged, his massive frame barreling toward Jin-Woo like a freight train.
But Jin-Woo was ready.
He sidestepped Fisk's charge, delivering a precise strike to the back of his knee. Fisk stumbled, but didn't fall. He swung a massive fist at Jin-Woo, but Jin-Woo ducked under it, countering with a blow to Fisk's ribs.
The fight was brutal and one-sided. Fisk was strong, but he was no match for Jin-Woo's speed and skill. Within minutes, he was on the ground, bloodied and broken.
Jin-Woo stood over him, his expression unreadable.
"Any last words?" he asked.
Fisk glared up at him, his eyes filled with hatred. "You think this changes anything? You're just one man. The city will eat you alive."
Jin-Woo's lips curled into a smirk. "We'll see."
With that, he delivered the final blow.
---
### The Aftermath
As Fisk's body slumped to the ground, the System's voice echoed in Jin-Woo's mind.
[Quest Complete.]
[System Synchronization: 50%]
[First Unique Skill Unlocked: Shadow Extraction.]
Jin-Woo felt a surge of power as the new skill activated. Shadows began to swirl around him, coalescing into familiar forms. The men he had defeated, Fisk himself—they rose from the ground, their eyes glowing with an eerie light.
They were his now. His shadows.
Jin-Woo smirked.
The game had just gotten more interesting .