Chapter 1: A Second chance

I wake up gasping, my heart pounding against my ribs like it's trying to escape. The cold concrete beneath me is a stark contrast to the warmth I remember... the warmth of my own blood pooling around me.

"What... where am I?" I mutter, my voice hoarse and unfamiliar.

As I push myself up, a flood of memories crashes over me. The alley. Yong-Soo's face, twisted with contempt. The glint of the knife. The searing pain. Then... nothing.

I died. I know I died. So how am I here?

I look down at my hands, expecting to see the calloused palms of an 18-year-old.

Instead, I find the smaller, softer hands of a child. Panic rises in my throat as I stumble to my feet, nearly losing my balance. My body feels wrong, too small, too weak.

A reflective shop window catches my eye, and I freeze. Staring back at me is a face I haven't seen in years – my 10-year-old self, wide-eyed and confused.

"This is impossible," I whisper, touching my cheek. The reflection mimics my movement.

Suddenly, a translucent blue screen appears before me, floating in mid-air. I blink hard, but it doesn't disappear.

[Taekwondo System Activated]

[Host: Lee Jae-Hoon]

[Age: 10]

[Stats:

Speed: 12

Endurance: 10

Flexibility: 10

Spiritual Energy: 10]

[Skills: None]

[Main Mission: Reach Elite 8 Status]

[Side Mission: None]

"Taekwondo System?" I read aloud, my mind reeling. "What is this? A game?"

But as I look around the familiar streets of my childhood neighborhood, I know this is no game. Somehow, I've been given a second chance at life, thrown back in time with... whatever this system is.

A bitter laugh escapes me. "Elite 8? I couldn't even make it past the local tournaments last time."

The memory of my failures stings, but not as much as the betrayal that ended my life.

Yong-Soo's words echo in my mind: "You don't deserve to stand among the elite. Know your place, orphan."

My fists clench at my sides. This time will be different. This time, I have knowledge of the future, a mysterious system, and a burning determination to prove Yong-Soo wrong.

"Alright, 'Taekwondo System'," I say, a fierce grin spreading across my face. "Let's see what you can do."

I take a deep breath, centering myself like I learned in my past life. My small body moves through the basic forms, muscle memory kicking in despite my youth. As I complete a roundhouse kick, the screen flashes again.

[Skill Acquired: Basic Roundhouse Kick - Level 1]

My eyes widen. "It's really working..."

Excitement bubbles up inside me, replacing the fear and confusion. I may be back at the beginning, but this time, I'm not alone. I have a power that can help me achieve my dreams.

As I continue practicing, my mind races with possibilities. The Elite 8, where the best of the best highschoolers rein that once seemed so far out of reach, now feels like a real goal.

But more than that, I have a chance to rewrite my story, to form new bonds, to become stronger not just in body, but in spirit.

"Watch out, world," I mutter, throwing another kick with all the strength my small body can muster. "Jae-Hoon is back, and this time, I'm going all the way to the top."

The sun begins to set, casting long shadows across the empty lot where I've been practicing. I know I should head to the orphanage soon, but for now, I revel in the joy of movement, of being alive again.

This is just the beginning. My journey to the Elite 8 starts now, one kick at a time.