Chapter Text
An explosion rocked the city, causing passers-by to stumble and gasp, looking for the source of the commotion. Four blocks down, smoke began rising over the buildings. Seeing the threat was not immediate, many people simply continued on their way. Some tourists scrambled for cover, running away from the direction of the smoke. The citizens of Seoul had largely gotten used to the constant attacks by villains and the fights that broke out between them and the heroes who defended them on what seemed to be a daily basis. With a big city came a big risk of crime and the villains who perpetrated it… but in response, a Heroes Association had risen to fight against it, and South Korea’s was notorious for having some of the strongest heroes in all of Asia.
One particular young man looked up from his coffee at the noise. He was sitting in a cafe not a few blocks from whatever incident was currently underway. He stood and grabbed his bag, running toward the smoke. He wove through the sea of people moving in the opposing direction, undeterred when another explosion rocked the ground. Many people parted, seeing this young man so clearly in his prime, with a strong physique and determined expression, assuming that he must be a hero, on his way to help.
But Wonho was no hero, though it was not for lack of trying.
He had powers… much of the planet did, in fact. Estimates put the average at around forty percent of the general world population possessing some kind of inhuman ability, great or small. It was said that people often had powers that were complemented or even amplified by their soulmate, the person they were spiritually linked to, the person they were meant to spend their life with.
Wonho wondered if his power would improve once he met the love of his life, or if perhaps he would just end up being a disappointment to them, too.
His powers were actually quite impressive… for the limited amount of time he could use them. He was capable of feats of great strength and speed; lifting cars, clearing a small building with a single jump, even landing powerful punches that could incapacitate a strong villain. The problem was that his body didn’t seem capable of storing enough energy to utilize his powers for long. He could only use his abilities a few times in a day before becoming utterly exhausted… and when he pushed himself, he would often faint from exertion.
He had tried everything… training intensively, martial arts, every mix of cardio known to man, diet changes… nothing had worked. He was in the best shape of his life, muscular and broad with defined abs and strong legs, but it didn’t matter… because once he pushed himself past those human limits and tapped into his powers, it was like a he was being drained of all his energy. He couldn’t last an hour, most days. And it was because of this that he only casually assisted other citizens, or even heroes with their fights, when he was in the area. He knew he could never pass the rigorous tests the Heroes Association put all its applicants through, so becoming the hero he dreamed of being when he was a small boy had remained just that: a dream, constantly out of reach.
After weaving through the screaming thralls of citizens trying to run away from the area, Wonho finally came across the source of the commotion. A villain he did not recognize, whose entire body was clad in silvery armor. The pieces on the forearm extended out like shields, too wide to be practical for any other purpose. He was standing atop the wreckage of a small shop, pounding his fists together like he was begging for a fight.
Just then, the air around him shifted. He felt a gust of wind blow past him, carrying with it a streak of black and neon blue. The figure halted in front of the villain, standing tall with his arms crossed.
It was Rush, the South Korea Heroes Association’s second-ranked hero.
Wonho felt the breath leave his lungs, and he was momentarily starstruck. Rush was his favorite hero. He’d studied him for years… he was so dedicated to his work as a crime-fighter that it was said there was never more than a four-hour gap between his deeds of heroism, even in the middle of the night. He had become one with his hero persona, due to his apparent dedication to it, and was one of the few heroes whose civilian identity was not a secret. He was known to the world also as Chae Hyungwon, a singer and model. He used his hero-fame to boost his personal popularity and had built a large fanbase from it. It was for that reason that he was ranked as the most popular hero among the people, even if he was not the most powerful.
“Steele, haven’t you learned your lesson from our last battle?” Rush asked, grimacing boredly. The people around them cheered his name. His cocky attitude was not at all off-putting to them; they seemed to live for it.
“Oh, perfect. I was hoping it would be you who came for me! I have a surprise just for you, Rush!” The villain grinned, his sharp teeth gleaming with malice. “I owe you, after all… for last time!”
“I don’t know how you escaped lock-up, but I’ll put you back there just the same as before.” Rush told him, sinking into the stance he always did just before running. Wonho recognized it immediately.
The villain seemed to as well, sliding into a position with more solid footing. “Bring it on!”
Rush ran.
His form was like a blur. He was nearly impossible to see when he moved at those speeds, and this wasn’t even his maximum. The Association had claimed to have clocked him going close to mach two once, which Wonho couldn’t even begin to comprehend. How could anyone move nearly twice the speed of sound? It was inconceivable, even in a world where people could spit fire from their fingertips and raze buildings to the ground with a punch.
Rush seemed to appear in front of the villain, but he was ready. He launched up away from the attack, pulling his arms up from the ground as if he were activating some magnetic pull. From underneath the rubble of the shop, a large sheet of metal paneling emerged behind the hero.
Rush pivoted, letting out a growl of frustration and surprise, but he could not react quickly enough. The sheet’s panels bent at the seams, folding around him like a box and trapping him inside before slamming back onto the ground with a massive thud.
“What… what is this?!” Rush shouted, his fist vibrating with energy as he punched it. Nothing happened… the metal didn’t even dent. His whole body began vibrating, then, as he touched his limbs to each of the side walls and tried to compromise the molecular bonds of the metal with friction. Still, nothing.
“It’s a special alloy that absorbs shock… so no matter how much strength you put into breaking it, you won’t succeed!” The villain bellowed, cackling. He knocked his fist against the side of it mockingly.
“You bastard!” Hyungwon snarled, punching and pounding uselessly at the box from within.
This wasn’t good. There weren’t any other heroes that he could see in the area, and there likely wouldn’t be anyone else coming if Rush had responded. He was known for taking care of problem villains in seconds flat. Unless he called in reinforcements or someone went to get them, they wouldn’t be coming.
Wonho willed himself to move.
Pushing energy into his legs, he bolted toward the villain with a burst of speed and a shout of anger. The villain turned just in time for Wonho to slam into him with a hard punch as he directed more of his energy into his right arm. It connected with the villain and he went sprawling several yards, hitting a pile of debris which then collapsed on top of him.
Wonho panted, feeling the fatigue already setting in. Not yet, he willed his body, just a little more… he still needed to free Rush.
Wonho turned, shoved his fingers into the seam running down the center of the steel prison and gripped at it, hard. The metal crumpled under the raw strength in his hands and he wrenched the panels apart, tossing them aside.
Hyungwon sneered and braced himself against the metal walls, ready to blow past whoever was there, assuming it was the same villain, or perhaps another preparing to try to take advantage of his presumed vulnerability. But when he looked up, he saw a beautiful stranger. He wasn’t wearing hero garb; just a black shirt that was far too tight against his muscular frame and dark jeans. His hair was jet black, falling in front of his face a little as he reached out his arm.
“Rush!” He called, his expression earnest and concerned. “Take my hand!”
The hero pushed back his shock, just like his training told him to, and reached out, locking his hand around the other man’s forearm.
Just then, something happened.
It felt like a torrent of electricity shooting through his arm. The stranger in front of him lurched, but not in pain… goosebumps broke out all over his skin, yet his grip tightened. Hyungwon felt the energy in his body ebb… the constant thrum under his skin vanished. His heart-rate dropped. For the briefest moment he felt… normal. There was still so much power flowing through him, but for a split second it seemed to have fallen to a more managed level, just like he felt after a typical battle.
The man before him shook his head, eyelids fluttering. “Wh-what was that?”
“I don’t know.” Hyungwon responded, letting the man pull him out of the wreckage of the prison. He spotted the villain over the stranger’s shoulder and let him go. “Look out!”
But Wonho did not run. His fatigue was gone, now. He turned, shifted into a more rooted stance and raised one arm. The villain slammed into him full-force, but he wouldn’t be budged. His sneakers sunk into the concrete several inches from the blow, but he did not appear fazed. The villain, confused, lifted his head above his metal-shielded arms, investigating this new foe.
Wonho didn’t give him time to react. He hauled off with his other arm and punched him square in the face. The villain flew back easily a hundred yards from the force, tumbling across the cement before lodging into the wall of a parking complex, the concrete crumbling in around him. When Wonho moved to stand up straight again and dropped his arm, his hand was actually billowing steam. He blinked and stared down at it, not understanding. He didn’t feel exhausted. He wasn’t tired at all, in fact.
“Man, you… really went all in on him, huh?” Rush said, sounding impressed.
Wonho’s heart raced. “I… I’ve never been able to do anything like that before. That amount of power...”
Rush looked at him then, and he could see in his eyes that the hero understood. “I… think… we may share a connection.”
“A… connection.” Wonho’s blood was thrumming.
“Hey, Rush! Is everything all right here, sir?” A male voice shouted. The police had arrived, assessing the damage.
“Yes, thank you. We have Steele ready for transport back to lock up.” Rush said, pointing to the pile of debris.
The men worked at getting him out of there, but it was clear they were struggling. Eventually, Wonho walked over.
“Here, let me.” He leaned down and pushed his arm through the rubble, wrapping his hand around the villain’s armored front. It crumpled in his grip and he used the newly made hand-hold to hoist the unconscious man out of the debris. He dropped him in front of the policeman. “There you go, officer. Sorry about the mess.”
“It’s… no problem, sir. Uh. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you around before.” The officer stammered, his men quickly putting restraints on the villain and carting him off.
“Oh, I’m not… a hero...” Wonho murmured, scratching the back of his neck.
“Well, with strength like that, you should be.” The man said before saluting him and taking his leave.
Wonho’s stomach did flips. That dream which had felt so impossible seemed to now be right in front of him. And all because of…
“He’s right, you know.” Rush said, causing Wonho to turn to face him. “You clearly have a lot of power, and your heart is obviously in the right place.”
Wonho looked down at his hands. “It’s just… that I’ve never… been able to do that before. Not with the kind of strength you saw. Not until… I touched you.”
“You said that.” Rush replied, squinting. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Hoseok, but everyone calls me Wonho.” He told him. “I know you’re… Chae Hyungwon, AKA Rush, number two ranked hero of the South Korea Heroes Association by power. First by popularity.”
Hyungwon snorted. “Please don’t tell me you’re a fanboy.”
Wonho turned beet red. “S-sorry, I, uh. I just admire… your work. You’re the most dedicated hero of all. There were rumors that you didn’t even sleep! You’ve been seen stopping crimes at all hours of the day and night since before you joined the Association.”
Hyungwon sighed. “Yeah, about that. Actually… I have an idea. Come with me? They’ll take it from here.”
Wonho nodded, walking after the hero as he left the area, heading into the heart of downtown. People oohed and ahhed as they passed, some even snapping photos.
“Ugh, hang on a second.” In a blur, he disappeared, heading into some shop. When he came back out exactly eight seconds later, he was wearing civilian clothes. “I’m less likely to be recognized out of costume. Come on.”
He tossed his head in the direction they’d been walking, and they continued on.
“Where exactly… are we going?” Wonho asked.
“I want to try something.” Hyungwon responded, not stopping. Eventually, they made their way into a massive building… one of the tallest in all downtown. The doorman smiled and nodded at the hero and let them both pass. In a quiet area of the lobby, he paused.
Wonho’s eyes narrowed. “Where are we? Why… are we here?”
“Listen, Wonho. I’m going to tell you something about my powers that most people don’t know. I’m not just fast and strong, okay? My body is constantly absorbing energy from the world around me. It’s not something I can turn off. Electric, kinetic, thermal… my body just takes it all in, converts it to raw power and stores it. But eventually, it gets to be too much. Since I can’t turn it off, I have to keep moving or it’ll start to take a toll on me. I can’t rest for more than three hours before I can start feeling it. Pain, horrendous pain, like it’s going to burst right out of me. So, I move. I run. I fight. But… I’m so tired.” Hyungwon sounded vulnerable, then, his look of desperation speaking to Wonho’s very soul. “I haven’t slept, really slept, since puberty, when my power manifested. I never stop moving. But when you touched me… I felt it go away. The constant… buzz of energy under my skin. For a moment it just… stopped.”
Wonho thought for a brief second, looking down at his own hands. “So… you believe that I can… siphon off that extra energy, and use it to fuel my own abilities?”
“You said yourself that before today, you couldn’t use your powers for more than a few hits before nearly fainting.” Hyungwon reasoned. “But even after the battle, you feel fine. When you touched me, I felt the energy leave my body. Not enough that it fatigued me, just enough that I felt… normal.”
“So, does that mean… we’re soulmates?” Wonho asked quietly.
Hyungwon grimaced. “We’re clearly… compatible.”
That was enough for Wonho, and he beamed. Hyungwon tried to ignore the way it made his heart lurch.
“So… Wonho. This… is probably incredibly forward, but I promise it’s not what you think. This is my apartment building, and I would just… really like it if you came home with me tonight.” Hyungwon said flatly.
Wonho turned bright red again. “Wh-what? But you… didn’t seem to think that we were, uh...”
“It’s got nothing to do with that. It’s… I’ll explain in a moment.” Hyungwon begged. “Just… please. Come upstairs with me?”
Wonho had absolutely no intention of arguing.
***
Hyungwon’s apartment was luxurious… paid for by his Heroes Association salary, and the revenue all his public appearances made him. It was a penthouse suite in one of the tallest buildings in the city, centrally located. He could get anywhere he needed to within Seoul in record time. Plus, he had a stellar view.
Hyungwon toed off his shoes, and Wonho did the same before following him into the greater area of the apartment. His kitchen was massive, but the living room was even moreso. He could see the bedroom just behind them, the French doors which led into it left wide open. The bed was made, and the place was also immaculately spotless.
The hero sighed, turning to him.
“I want you to take my energy, like you did before. But take more this time. A lot of it.” Hyungwon told him, holding out his arm.
“But… what if I hurt you?” Wonho asked softly.
“You won’t. I have a ludicrous amount of energy inside me, and remember, I’m always accruing more.” Hyungwon explained. “Please, I just want a good night’s sleep. A solid eight hours. I would literally owe you a debt I’m not sure could ever be repaid.”
Wonho stared at the hero for a long moment. His face was flawless, true, but he looked tired. His eyes spoke to the endless nights of little rest and fighting countless crimes. He seemed so… desperate. Finally, he let out the breath he was holding and slid his arm over to grip Hyungwon’s.
“Wait.” The hero said, letting go of him. “You should stay the night here, in case I wake up early. And in the morning, I’ll bring you to the Heroes Association, on recommendation from me. Deal?”
Wonho frowned. He was a little embarrassed by the idea, but nodded. “All right, I… guess. If it will help you.”
“I’m praying that you can.” Hyungwon murmured, then took hold of his arm again.
Wonho reached out and felt for the energy Hyungwon had inside his body. It was roaring under his skin with the intensity of the sun. He willed his own body to drink it in. He saw the veins in his own arm surge as the rush of it hit him, flowing like a torrent of fire and electricity into his own body. It didn’t stop. He wasn’t taking, anymore… but Hyungwon was giving, willing all that he could into him, but no matter how much he gave, his own light couldn’t be extinguished, and Wonho’s body did not protest.
Finally, Hyungwon lurched, letting go. There was still so much energy within him, but he had finally reached the point where his body’s fatigue was able to catch up with him. His eyes drooped and he let out a soft little sound before crumpling to the ground.
Wonho caught him, scooping him up effortlessly. He was concerned, at first, horrified that he had taken too much, that the hero had forced himself too far… but when he looked down at him, he was wearing a peaceful expression, no indication that he was distressed at all, or in any pain.
Wonho sighed and carried Hyungwon into his bedroom, setting him on the mattress before tucking him in. It felt a little weird to him, being in the bedroom of a man he’d just met… even if he did know him so well, just from his research and passion for the Heroes Association. After agonizing with himself for several long moments, he climbed into the bed next to him, giving him plenty of space and staying over the sheets. He leaned up against the headboard and watched the hero’s peaceful countenance as the dozed on, finding himself wondering if he was dreaming.
***
Hyungwon slept for eight solid hours, and it may as well have been an eternity, because when he finally awoke the next morning, he felt like he could have cried. He felt so refreshed. He’d forgotten what real sleep felt like; he’d been living on glorified naps for nearly a decade.
He groaned when he sat up in bed, stretching and yawning like a normal person. Usually when he awoke, he was already darting around the room trying to expend energy, the feeling of it thrumming inside him like it wanted to burst out of his skin any second.
“Good morning.” Said a voice that was only vaguely familiar. His eyes lighted upon the man sitting in his bed, leaned up against the headboard. Wonho, his mind supplied. Beautiful, blessed Wonho, who gave him the gift of sleep. He was prepared to accept the man was his soulmate, now. A good night’s rest could apparently do that to a person.
“It’s a glorious morning.” Hyungwon practically moaned, writhing around a little under the duvet and stretching some more. “I can’t remember the last time I slept that long. Maybe when I was twelve. Oh my god. I’m gonna order breakfast, and drink some coffee and actually do normal morning things.”
“What do you… usually do?” Wonho asked, cocking his head with an amused look.
“Run around the neighborhood, look for crimes to stop. Honestly it’s been nearly dry for years; people are learning to stop bothering. Apartments within a ten-block radius of my building skyrocketed in price because the neighborhoods are so safe.” Hyungwon explained, grabbing his phone. He actually downloaded an app to order the food, because he usually would have just gone and gotten it himself, eating it on the go. “Do you want anything?”
“Whatever’s good.” Wonho replied with a shrug. The hero placed the order and set down his phone before the other continued. “You’re sure you’re all right? With the… energy thing? I felt as though you gave me… a lot, last night. You practically fainted.”
“No, it’s fine, I’m fine. Honestly, it feels like it’s already built up again. It’s not painful yet, but it’s there, under my skin. Buzzing.” Hyungwon shivered, like he could feel it roll down his spine.
Wonho pressed his lips together, then reached out and wrapped his hand around Hyungwon’s wrist. He willed some of the energy into his body… not a lot, not nearly as much as last night, but just a bit. “How’s that?”
Hyungwon’s mouth had popped open a little, eyes falling closed. After a second, he came to his senses again and cleared his throat. “Yes, sorry, that’s… wonderful. Wow. Can I keep you?”
Wonho’s cheeks turned pink when he laughed nervously, pulling his hand back, but his smile was the most lovely thing Hyungwon had ever seen. “I have a feeling… that’s kind of the idea?”
They ate breakfast together, with Hyungwon sipping at his coffee like he was really trying to savor it. Wonho ate, too, but he was surprised to find he wasn’t as voracious as he usually was after exerting himself. He wondered if, this whole time, his body was trying to make up for the lack of energy he should have been receiving from Hyungwon’s powers by substituting a common human fuel. No wonder it had only ever been marginally affected.
“So, you’re not feeling weird at all?” Hyungwon asked around a bite of his pastry. “Like, the energy I gave you, it’s not trying to burst out of you, or anything?”
Wonho pressed his lips together, shaking his head. “No, it… just feels like I’m really well-rested, even though I didn’t sleep last night.”
“So all this time, you had powers you couldn’t use because you couldn’t possibly store the energy needed… while I’ve been stuck with powers I couldn’t stop using because I had nowhere to send that energy? Wild. What if I’d never found you?” Hyungwon huffed. “What if I’d found you ten years ago? That would have been glorious. Think of all the sleep I could have gotten.”
Wonho snorted. “You’re really hung up on sleep, huh?”
“I haven’t been able to get more than a few hours in, in something like ten years. So yeah. I am looking forward to sleeping through the night like a normal person for the rest of my life.” Hyungwon said, as though he hadn’t just suggested something as heavy as he had.
Wonho blinked. “Um. Well, I live across town, but… I don’t mind coming to… see you, and, helping you… uh.”
“Wonho, you said yourself, we’re soulmates. Usually when people realize that, they move in together.” Hyungwon said flatly. “Just… give me your address, I’ll have your things moved in.”
Wonho choked on his food. “Yesterday you wouldn’t even utter the word. Now you want to accept it and follow all the usual traditions?”
“Yesterday, I hadn’t slept well in ten years. I’m not giving that up.” Hyungwon looked at him, his eyes desperate and pleading again, like they’d been last night. “I don’t care if we end up hating each other, or you’re secretly a serial killer, or if you snore, or if you’re actually straight. I will literally do anything I have to just to make you stay. So, name your price, state your conditions, I don’t care. But I really need you here.”
Wonho stared at him. It was… a lot to take in, and so fast. But people had done crazier things after meeting the person the universe assigned as their soulmate. Got married the same day, moved out of the country together, immediately tried to start families… so this? This wasn’t so unusual. And this was Chae Hyungwon… a man he had admired for years. The universe could not have plucked a more ideal candidate from his mind if it had tried. So if there was hesitation, it was rooted in his own misgivings.
“I don’t… have any conditions.” Wonho said, finally. “You only have to ask.”
“Please.” Hyungwon responded, his voice quieter, now. “Will you… stay with me?”
Wonho nodded. It was the only answer he could have possibly given.
***
After breakfast, Hyungwon kept his promise to bring Wonho to the South Korea Heroes Association. The building was massive, an impenetrable fortress and symbol of power and hope for all of South Korea. There were quite a few heroes he recognized milling around the training areas. It was a little surreal to be here, knowing he was being recommended to join them.
Hyungwon checked in at the front desk, letting the secretary know what he was here for. She explained it would take a little time to prepare the council members, but to have a look around in the meantime. He gave Wonho a tour around the facility, showing him the relevant areas but not bothering to point out heroes, since he seemed to know them all.
“Normally, the Association holds mass-trials a few times a year. There won’t be another for some months.” Hyungwon explained. “However—”
“The Association will hold a private test for anyone brought in on the recommendation of a highly-ranked hero.” Wonho murmured. “I know… a lot about the Association.”
“Fanboy.” Hyungwon teased, huffing a laugh and shaking his head.
Suddenly, a figure materialized in front of them in a rush of black-and-red smoke. He was wearing a uniform similar to what Hyungwon wore when he was crime-fighting, though his was designed less with aerodynamics in mind, and it was black with silver and white accents.
“Hey, Rush.” He smiled, looking from his friend to the other man. “And… company.”
“O-oh my god, you’re Trespass, the SKHA’s highest-ranking hero. Wow. It’s… it’s an honor, t-to meet you, uh, sir.” Wonho stammered. Several other heroes walked up, each one the newcomer recognized.
The hero chuckled, looking a little overwhelmed himself from the attention. “Really, you don’t need to call me sir. Shownu is fine. We’re not formal here at all. It’s kind of like a big family, honestly. We love each other, we hate each other, we get on each other’s nerves...”
“Speaking of getting on each other’s nerves, why exactly are you all here?” Hyungwon grumbled, narrowing his eyes at them.
“Okay… full disclosure.” Shownu said. “We heard you were bringing someone in on recommendation and just had to see who it was.”
“You know, I would have bet money it was going to be that one cyborg guy who’s been running around making a name for himself, so color me surprised.” Another of the heroes piped up. Wonho recognized him as Interstellar, from the trademark constellation of stars across the side panels of his uniform. “I’m Jooheon, by the way, but you may know me as—”
“Interstellar.” Wonho murmured. “Yes, I know who all of you are. You’re all in the top ten here at the South Korea Heroes Association.”
“Well, in case you don’t know our real names… since we’re not all so public about it as Hyungwonnie here… I’m Changkyun.” The hero Wonho knew as Mirotic said.
“My name is Minhyuk .” Said the hero they called Newton.
“And I’m Kihyun.” Added the hero Wonho recognized as Gravity.
“I’m Hoseok, but everyone just calls me Wonho.” He told them, a mantra repeated since childhood.
“And you’re here on rec from Rush? You must be pretty impressive.” Jooheon said in a teasing voice that lilted in a way which almost seemed wheedling.
“He’s my soulmate.” Hyungwon stated flatly. Wonho choked.
“Wh-what? Your… soulmate? You’re sure?” Shownu asked, expression colored with shock.
“Absolutely. I can’t imagine a power more perfectly suited to my own.” Hyungwon side-glanced at Wonho, offering him a small smile. He noticed the secretary coming toward them. “But, you’ll just have to wait and see. Looks like he’s up for evaluation.”
They moved to one of the massive training rooms, where everyone had been cleared out and special equipment only used for testing was brought in. Across the room, up in the bleachers, a panel of council members sat, notebooks in front of them. Wonho felt the weight of it all, then. They were doing this just for him.
“We can start you over there whenever you’re ready.” The secretary told him, pointing to one of the machines.
Wonho nodded and stepped toward it.
“Forgetting something?” Hyungwon asked with a teasing little smirk, holding out his arm.
Wonho stammered a bit, turning red to his ears. “Right.”
He slid his arm into Hyungwon’s, and felt that familiar rush of energy. He took what he needed, but the hero kept giving… it was once more like siphoning the power from a tiny, raging sun. When he finally let go, he could feel it thrumming under his skin. Hyungwon gave him a nod, stepping back, and he approached the training area. The other heroes watched the interaction curiously, brows furrowed.
It felt like his abilities had gone from zero to sixty… his nerves were alight, crackling with energy the likes of which he’d never felt before. He felt like he could go for hours, days with nary a break. He breezed through every portion of the physical examination with ease. In fact, he even broke some of the machinery; the one used to calculate punching strength was completely annihilated and blown through the wall when he pushed all his energy into the attack. All the council members watching were scribbling so fast in their assessment logs that their hands were shaking. And the heroes… they were just as shocked, eyes wide and mouths open. Even Trespass, the current number one ranked hero, was clearly amazed. Wonho felt pride bloom in his chest.
After the testing, he completed a written questionnaire, and then the council met with him privately in a large meeting room.
“I’m sure it comes as no surprise to you that you quite obviously passed the examination.” The man on the far right said, actually sounding amused. “Not only were you in the top percentile of our physical tests, but you scored a hundred percent on the questionnaire. Truly extraordinary.”
“Tell us… why have you waited until another hero recommended you to apply for the Association?” The only woman on the panel queried, looking at him over her glasses.
“I, uh. Actually, my powers are rather… dependent on Rush. Er, Hyungwon.” Wonho explained. “He seems to be the catalyst for pushing myself beyond human limits and into the extraordinary.”
“Well, you are indeed extraordinary.” A third member agreed, nodding.
“Have you thought of a hero name to register with the Association? Many people name themselves, but some allow the public to give them a title.” The first councilman asked.
Wonho thought. He would have been lying if he said he hadn’t thought about it since his powers first manifested. He had built his hopes and dreams on believing he would one day build that strength and endurance up enough to become a hero worth something. But his dreams had been dashed so long ago. He had given up hope that he would achieve his goal. Every hero name he’d dreamed of donning from the time he was young now tasted like ash on his tongue. They were tainted. He couldn’t use any of them.
But Hyungwon’s—Rush’s—words were still echoing in his head. The first thing he’d said to him after he defeated the villain Steele. “Man, you… really went all in on him, huh?”
“All…In….” Wonho murmured, testing the name. It sounded right. It sounded powerful. He clenched his fist, looked up, and nodded. “You may register me as the hero, All-In.”
The councilman nodded. “Very well. Consider your application approved. Your rank will be determined in the coming weeks. Welcome to the Association.”
He stamped the file before handing Wonho his certificate… the official document that named him a hero.
His dream was finally a reality, and he was ready to prove himself worthy of the title of Hero.