Rebirth of Legends : The Combat System

Ryun's heart raced as the cold, mechanical voice resonated in his mind, cutting through the chaos around him.

["System synchronization complete. Combat Codex online."]

The words froze him. He blinked, his breath catching as the world around him slowed unnaturally. Kwon's sneer lingered mid-motion, his arm pulling back for a devastating punch. Even the sweat beading down Ryun's brow seemed to hang in the air.

His heart raced faster than ever, pounding like a war drum against his ribs.

What the hell is this?

["Analyzing user... Neural pathways synchronized. "] 

The voice sounded impossibly calm, even as Ryun felt chaos tearing through his body. Every fiber of him burned, stretched thin under the weight of an unseen force. His knees wobbled, his fists trembling as he struggled to stay upright.

["Analysis complete. User classification: rookie. 

Basic skill unlocked: Combat Realm – Minor State."] 

Description: Activating this skill temporarily elevates the user's mental state to a higher realm of focus, increasing brain activity and cognitive processing. The user experiences heightened perception, enhanced reaction speed, and improved precision in movement. This state grants the ability to anticipate enemy attacks, exploit flaws, and control one's body with exceptional refinement.

Effect: Increases your Combat Realm by one Minor State for 60 seconds.

Maximum attainable state: Focus Realm, Peak State.

Enhances five senses and danger perception.

Provides advanced body control and refined combat instincts.

Side Effect: Causes mental strain after the duration ends.

Cooldown: 3 hours

The words carried no emotion, but Ryun felt the weight of them crash into him like a tidal wave. Rookie? he thought bitterly, teeth clenching against the insult, but there was no time to dwell on it. The voice continued.

["Introduction: The Focus Realm enhances brain activity, improving sensory perception, reaction speed, and precision of movement. Enables heightened awareness of enemy attacks, danger perception, and advanced control of body mechanics. "]

Before he could fully comprehend the explanation, another question followed.

["Activate skill?"]

Ryun's chest heaved. His body was battered, his mind screamed in protest, but instinct made the decision for him.

He forced the word out between clenched teeth. "Activate."

The world around him snapped into crystal-clear focus.

*60 seconds.*

Everything sharpened: the glint of sweat on Kwon's brow, the shifting patterns of his feet, the subtle rise and fall of his chest. Even the faintest rustle in the crowd felt as if it were happening inches from Ryun's ears.

For the first time, Kwon's movements seemed… predictable. His steps, his faint muscle twitches, the tension in his stance—it all became readable, like notes in a sheet of music.

Move!

He twisted out of the way, adrenaline surging as his senses sharpened unnaturally. The roar of the crowd sharpened into distinct voices, Kwon's grunt filled with frustration, even the rustle of fabric as his opponent shifted for his next strike.

Kwon didn't hesitate, his body a whirlwind of force and aggression. He spun into a roundhouse kick, his leg cutting through the air like a scythe. Ryun dropped to one knee, the kick narrowly missing his head. He felt the air shift as it passed, sharp as a blade.

"You're running, rookie," Kwon spat, his sneer dripping with contempt. "But you can't run forever."

Ryun's heart thudded louder, each beat marking the passage of a second.

The crowd roared, but to Ryun, their voices were distant echoes. Every second felt like an eternity.

So this is the Focus Realm…

For a brief moment, he felt invincible.

Ryun's heartbeat pounded in his ears, the rhythm impossibly fast against the slowed world. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. It wasn't fear—it was resolve, the primal drive to survive.

Ryun's breath hitched as his mind scrambled to understand the feeling coursing through him. His reflexes were sharper, his movements precise. It wasn't just faster—it was deliberate, calculated, as if his body were responding to an unseen rhythm.

Kwon launched a sweeping kick aimed at Ryun's ribs, his leg tearing through the air like a whip. Ryun leaned back, his feet adjusting instantly to keep his balance. The kick passed inches in front of him.

The crowd gasped, some chanting Kwon's name, others jeering at Ryun. But the noise was muted, as though the arena were a distant dream.

Ryun's mind raced, analyzing every moment, every details.

Kwon's left knee twitched ever so slightly as he lunged forward with a jab. Ryun ducked and sidestepped, barely evading the blow. But his hyper-focused senses picked up something—a faint limp, the smallest hesitation in Kwon's movements.

His knee… there's something off.

*30 seconds*

Ryun's gaze zeroed in on the flaw, but his chest tightened with the realization. He was running out of time.

Kwon growled, his strikes coming faster now, each one testing Ryun's reflexes to their limit. Ryun dodged by a hair's breadth, his body screaming in protest with each move. His thoughts swirled, fragmented between survival and strategy.

If I can exploit that knee, I might stand a chance. But I need to be sure.

Kwon launched another kick, his knee buckling slightly as his weight shifted. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but Ryun saw it clear as day.

*20 seconds*

The strain of the Focus Realm began to creep in, a dull ache building in the back of Ryun's head. His vision pulsed slightly at the edges, but he pushed the sensation aside.

Ryun's mind raced. One chance. That's all I'll get.

And then Kwon roared, launching himself forward like an unstoppable force.

Ryun's chest heaved as if his lungs were on fire. Every breath felt like dragging shards of glass through his ribs. The world around him slowed to a crawl, each second stretching into an eternity. Kwon surged forward, a force of nature wrapped in rage and raw power. 

This is it. One wrong move, and I'm done.

Kwon launched a devastating Overhand Right, the punch cutting through the air like a cannonball. Ryun's heart pounded in his ears, his mind racing as he calculated the punch's trajectory. 

*Thump-thump. Thump-thump.* 

At the last possible moment, Ryun twisted his body, letting the punch graze his cheek. The impact sent a shockwave through his skull, but he stayed upright, using the momentum to pivot away. Kwon stumbled slightly, his footing faltering. 

*15 seconds.*

Ryun's sharp eyes locked onto Kwon's left knee—the weak point. He'd seen it buckle before, and now it trembled again as Kwon recovered. 

That's my target.

"You're lucky I didn't finish this already," Kwon snarled, his voice dripping with mockery. He rolled his shoulders, feigning composure, but Ryun noticed the flicker of pain in his expression. 

*12 seconds.*

Ryun's fists tightened. His muscles screamed in protest, his body strained to its limit under the effects of the Mind Realm. The heightened state was tearing him apart, his mind fraying under the pressure, but he couldn't afford to give in. 

Kwon attacked again, a high kick streaking toward Ryun's temple like a guillotine blade. The strike came fast—too fast for most—but Ryun's enhanced senses kicked in. He ducked low, the kick missing him by a whisper, and stepped inside Kwon's range. 

Now.

*10 seconds.*

Ryun drove his elbow into Kwon's left knee with everything he had. The impact was brutal—a sickening crack echoed in the cage. Kwon roared in pain, stumbling backward. His balance wavered, his movements now clumsy and desperate. 

*8 seconds.*

The crowd erupted in shock, their shouts blurring into a chaotic roar. Ryun pressed forward. Kwon swung wildly, his punches fueled by anger and frustration. Ryun dodged each strike by a fraction of an inch, his focus narrowing to the injured knee. 

"You little—" Kwon snarled, planting his good leg to launch a desperate counterattack. 

*5 seconds.*

Ryun saw his chance. The hesitation in Kwon's stance left him wide open, a glaring vulnerability. 

It's now or never.

Summoning every ounce of strength he had left, Ryun surged forward. His knee shot upward in a perfect arc, connecting with Kwon's jaw in a crushing blow. 

*3 seconds.*

The impact reverberated through the arena, silencing the crowd for a single, heart-stopping moment. Kwon's head snapped back, and his body collapsed to the mat like a puppet with its strings cut. 

*1 second.*

Ryun landed awkwardly, his legs buckling beneath him. His vision blurred, the world spinning as the effects of the Mind Realm began to fade. 

*0 seconds.*

The strain hit him like a sledgehammer. His head throbbed, his body screamed in agony, and his knees shook. But Kwon wasn't moving. 

The referee rushed in, checking Kwon's limp form before raising Ryun's hand. "Winner by knockout: Mudo Ryun!" 

The crowd exploded into chaos—some cheering, others booing, all caught up in the spectacle. Ryun swayed on his feet, his body on the verge of collapse. 

He thought of his father. Of Ji-Eun. Of the countless battles ahead. 

And then, the exhaustion overtook him, gasping for air as the world faded to black.