Getting A System In A Modern World

"Wow. Everything ended just like that?" A tall woman with delicate features and piercing eyes murmured.

Seol Hwa gazed out of her floor-to-wall window, the neon lights of the sprawling city reflected in her thoughtful expression.

Her apartment, perched on the upper levels of a luxurious high-rise, offered a bird's-eye view of the bustling world below, but her mind was elsewhere.

"It did," replied Soo-jin, her voice tinged with both awe and disbelief. She lounged on the plush sofa, the soft glow of the TV illuminating her face.

A newscaster's voice filled the room, detailing Silas Kurt's ruthless victory over the remnants of the Black Hand.

"With the way things were going at the beginning, I thought he had some reservations about killing people. But his actions proved me wrong. He was as bloody as he wanted to be."

Seol Hwa turned from the window, her brow furrowed. "He ended everything in six months," she said, her voice quiet but carrying an undertone of admiration.

"From exposing their corruption to fighting them and even taking on the world government. And he won. Completely."

Her voice dropped slightly as she added, "He's so powerful. I can't help but wonder how he did it. What's his secret? How was he able to achieve so much in just two years?

At first, we thought he was stronger than most of us Phenomenals. But now... he's not just stronger. He's different. He's beyond us."

Her words hung in the air like a challenge to the universe itself.

Soo-jin, still seated on the sofa, couldn't help but smirk. "You sound more than just curious about his strength," she teased, her tone light and mischievous.

She tilted her head to look at Seol Hwa, her lips curling into a knowing smile. "Don't tell me you're already falling for him, even without meeting him or having any interactions."

Seol Hwa rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the faint blush that crept up her cheeks.

"What do you mean, fall for him? Like you said, I haven't met him or even spoken to him. How could I fall for someone I don't know? My heart isn't that fickle."

"Mm-hmm," Soo-jin replied, her grin widening. "You're no fun, you know that? You need to loosen up. Seriously, when was the last time you even thought about dating?

You're going to let your 'v card' gather dust until you die." Her tone shifted, turning sly. "I'm telling you, the feeling is heavenly."

Seol Hwa shook her head, a faint laugh escaping her lips. "Soo-jin, if someone overheard you right now, they'd think you're some kind of expert. But let's be honest—you're just like me. An untouched flower."

Soo-jin gasped in mock indignation, clutching her chest. "How dare you expose me like that? Can't a girl dream?" She leaned forward, biting her lip playfully.

"Besides, it's not my fault I'm still... untouched. I have a perfectly valid excuse, unlike you."

"And what excuse is that?" Seol Hwa asked, arching a brow as she poured herself a drink and settled on the sofa beside her friend.

Soo-jin's smile faltered slightly. She looked down at her hands, her playful demeanor fading.

"You know how my power works," she said softly. "I'm practically a succubus. One touch, and I can drain someone's energy and vitality. Just a simple touch, Hwa."

Her voice grew quieter, tinged with frustration and sadness.

"I want to experience what other people feel. I want to be close to someone without worrying about hurting them. But I can't. My own power makes it impossible. I'm really going to die a virgin."

Seol Hwa's heart ached at her friend's words. She had always known Soo-jin carried this burden, but hearing her voice it out loud made the weight of it more real. While they both had unique powers, Soo-jin's ability came with far heavier restrictions.

For a moment, Seol Hwa didn't know what to say. She stared at her drink, the ice cubes clinking softly against the glass as she swirled it absentmindedly.

Finally, she spoke. "You're right," she said. "It's not fair. None of this is. The only thing given fairly to everyone is an unfair reality."

Soo-jin let out a bitter laugh. "You're preaching to the choir. Sometimes, I wish I could give it all up.

The powers, the attention, the responsibilities... I'd trade it all just to feel normal for once. To be free."

Seol Hwa leaned back against the sofa, staring at the ceiling. "Do you think he ever feels the same way?" she asked after a long silence.

"Who? Silas?" Soo-jin replied, glancing over.

"Yes," Seol Hwa said, her voice thoughtful. "He's achieved so much, but at what cost? He's not just powerful—he's untouchable, in a way. No one can truly stand beside him, can they? It must be lonely at the top."

Soo-jin shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe he doesn't care. Some people are just built differently. For all we know, Silas could be enjoying every second of his reign."

"Maybe," Seol Hwa admitted. But deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Silas Kurt than the world understood.

His actions had been brutal, yes, but also precise. Calculated. He hadn't sought chaos for chaos's sake—everything he had done served a purpose.

"What if he's like us?" Seol Hwa asked quietly. "What if his power comes with a price, too?"

The room fell into a contemplative silence. Outside, the city buzzed with life, but in the apartment, the weight of their shared reality pressed down on them.

Being Phenomenals—a rare subset of humanity gifted (or cursed) with extraordinary abilities—was not the blessing the world thought it to be.

For Soo-jin, her powers made intimacy impossible, turning even the simplest human touch into a dangerous act.

For Seol Hwa, her own abilities—while not as destructive—set her apart from others, isolating her in ways she couldn't always put into words.

"It's ironic, isn't it?" Soo-jin said, breaking the silence. "People see us and think we're special. They envy us, admire us, some even fear us. But the truth is, we're just as trapped as they are. Maybe even more so."

Seol Hwa nodded. "We're walking contradictions. We have so much power, yet so little control over our own lives."

Soo-jin sighed, her earlier playfulness completely gone. "Do you ever wonder what it would be like to be normal? To wake up one day and not have to think about powers or responsibilities or any of this?"

"Every day," Seol Hwa admitted. "But that's not the life we were given."

Soo-jin stretched out on the sofa, staring at the ceiling. "Maybe Silas has it all figured out. Maybe that's why he's so different. He's not like us, Hwa. He doesn't let the burden crush him. He embraces it."

"Or maybe," Seol Hwa said, "he just hides it better than we do."

Soo-jin laughed softly, though it was tinged with sadness. "Either way, he's out there changing the world, while we're here sulking in an apartment. Makes you think."

Seol Hwa smiled faintly. "Maybe we're not meant to change the world. Maybe we're just meant to survive it."

Soo-jin raised her glass. "To survival, then."

Seol Hwa clinked her glass against Soo-jin's, the sound echoing softly in the quiet room. Despite everything—their powers, their struggles, their fears—they still had each other. And for now, that was enough.