A Naked Muscle Giant Emerges
A naked muscle man on TV? …………… America. Once called the world's superpower, this continent is now divided and ruled by seven megacorporations. Microgenerics, Nikola, Feastagram, and the like—the so-called Seven Techno-Feudal Nations. Each boasts tens of millions of people and its own military, functioning as de facto independent states. The CEO of each corporation is lord, monarch, and king.
Among them, Microgenerics dominates in pharmaceuticals and human augmentation. Its CEO is Will Bates. Opinions on him are wildly polarized. Outside America, he's known as a philanthropist who saved hundreds of millions through vaccine ventures. Inside America—well. No one talks about what goes on inside America.
One thing's certain: Microgenerics' drugs command a huge market share even among Awakeners. Mental enhancer Microderal, physical booster Microid, and more. Impressive names, flawless clinical data, glowing user reviews from Awakeners who've tried them. Side effects? According to Microgenerics' official statement, none reported so far.
The problem is the whispers from unofficial channels tell a different story. Rumors of remote control over users, drugs that turn people into puppets. Of course, no proof. If there were, it'd be a scandal already. So, in the end, just rumors.
Seoul. A certain apartment in Guro-gu. B-rank mental Awakener and freelancer Jang Bung-ik glared at the silver pen-shaped syringe on his desk like he wanted to devour it.
Jang Bung-ik's ability is summoning. He gives form to beings he imagines in his mind, pulling them into the real world—a fairly rare mental power. He's made decent money with it. But the human brain can't endlessly create something from nothing. Overusing his ability came back to bite him with horrific mental illness.
So Jang Bung-ik popped antipsychotics. Luckily, the hallucinations stopped, and his sleep improved—but his Awakening power started slipping away like sand through his fingers. The entities he could summon got smaller. Sustain times shortened. His last gig was four months ago.
B-rank mental Awakener Jang Bung-ik. Soon to be plain old civilian Jang Bung-ik.
〘Jang-sap.〙
Familiar voice.
〘Jang-sap. Hesitating again?〙
He turned. There stood the hulking figure. Roughly 190 cm tall, muscles ready to burst, skin like polished olive oil gleaming bronze. Jawline sharp enough for a protractor, smile infectiously cheerful to the point of scary.
Mega Chad. Maybe the trigger for Jang Bung-ik's Awakening—his imaginary friend of over a decade.
Jang Bung-ik knows no one else can see him. But even with antipsychotics wiping out most of his power, Mega Chad alone stuck around.
〘Jang-sap. You gonna use that or not?〙
Mega Chad nodded at the pen-syringe on the desk. Microgenerics logo etched on the side, but no product name or ingredients. Not from official channels.
Effects unverified. Side effects unknown. The dealer swore it passed phase 3 trials and was safe, but ghosted when asked for data. That's why it just sat there, stared at.
〘Hey, Jang-sap.〙
Mega Chad clapped a hand on Jang Bung-ik's shoulder. Imaginary touch, yet the palm's weight felt real. Heavy case, for sure.
〘Jang-sap, if it's the you I know, you can do it.〙
"Mega Chad, but..."
〘Scared of some drug side effects? You're Jang Bung-ik! B-rank Awakener with a rare power!〙
"That's old news."
〘It's not! It's still in you. Just suppressed by the meds!〙
Blazing sincerity in his gaze, Mega Chad stared Jang Bung-ik down. Illusion. Brain-made phantom. This guy's words were just what Jang Bung-ik wanted to hear from himself.
Still. Over a decade of chats like this—doesn't that make them friends?
"...Apartment loan."
〘Yeah.〙
"Over three billion."
〘I know.〙
"Lose my power like this, no way to pay it back."
〘Right.〙
"End up on the streets."
〘Exactly.〙
Mega Chad gripped his shoulder tight.
〘Gonna fold here? Earn more, snag that foreign luxury ride! Matte black full-option EX-class. Your dream car's waiting!〙
The booming pep talk lit the fuse. Jang Bung-ik squeezed his eyes shut and jammed the pen-syringe into his neck.
Tsssh.
Compressed gas hissed, cold fluid racing straight to his brain via bloodstream.
First 0.3 seconds: nothing.
Next 0.3: world went white.
"Guhk!"
Brain like it was in a microwave. Something dripped from his nose. Wipe with hand—red. Nosebleed. A gusher.
Then his eyes. Blue rectangle over his pupils. Anyone who's used a computer knows it.
Blue screen.
"Gr, aaaah—"
Scorching agony like every neuron frying. But piercing that hell, the overwhelming sensations blanketing his body slowly ebbed.
And then.
He felt it. Something unlocking in his mind. Like the antipsychotics' lid had blown off from internal pressure.
Power restored. Imagination denser, higher resolution. Stronger than ever, incomparable.
"O, oooh, ooooo...! It's real! Microgenerics' drug is the real deal!"
Omnipotence, like he could manifest anything he dreamed. Loan payoff, matte black EX-class—within reach.
"At this level—at this level, even S-rank's possible! No, not just S-rank. Masked Warrior Red level—"
His cheers cut short, neck snapping back. Overloaded by the drug's output, he passed out.
But his brain didn't stop. Consciousness out, but ability active. Without reason's filter, the subconscious dredged up what lay buried.
Mental waves rippled from his limp body. Air warped. First outline, then color, then mass. Imagination piercing reality's shell took under five seconds.
Mega Chad, ever at Jang Bung-ik's side rain or shine, was speechless for the first time in his life.
Because what Jang Bung-ik summoned into reality was just too big. Too beautiful.
…………… My room's gotten pretty cozy. Used to be an isolation cell, but I'd smash every lock they added. Now anyone can come in, so not really isolation anymore.
I pretend to sleep under the covers here chatting with the thoughts, snack here, watch TV here. Right now, sprawled on the fluffy bed. My two favorite snack providers flank me.
Rustle.
Yi Gyu-rin pulled a Three Run ball from the bag and popped it in my mouth. I munched obediently, flipping a manga page.
Crunch.
So good. As I chewed crumbs everywhere, Yi Gyu-rin wiped my mouth with a wet wipe, dusted the blanket.
Then grabbed the last one for herself.
This one's quick to adapt. First met, her reason seemed blown—but now she picks snacks and manga for me.
Meanwhile, Han Min-seo across from her had quite the face.
"G-Gyu-rin sunbae... aren't you scared?"
"Of what? Kids spill when they eat."
"N-No, not that, and 'kid'..."
Han Min-seo shot Yi Gyu-rin an incredulous look but kept peeking nervously at me.
Recent discovery: Han Min-seo's a guy. No joke, actually male. Thought she was a girl at first, obviously. Her features are even daintier than Yi Gyu-rin's. Long lashes, slim jaw, slender neck. The glasses thought insisted he was male, led to an argument. Followed him to the changing room to prove I was right.
I was wrong. But not my fault. Han Min-seo made me think that.
Crunch.
Munching, back to manga. Yi Gyu-rin's gift—pretty intriguing. Cute middle-schooler with stunning looks contracts a 2D adorable critter, forced to transform into a magical girl to fight. Love that costume. Frilly miniskirt, knee-high socks, ribbons galore.
Heroine's mortified to become a magical girl but fights villains anyway. Meanwhile, frets over girlfriend finding out—but girlfriend knows, stalks her secretly snapping magical girl pics.
Hmm, fun.
[A magical girl.]
In the mental world, glasses thought scribbled in some observation log he'd fetched, intrigued.
[Outfit's super unique. But he's a guy, even if pretty. Does he have to transform like that to use his power?]
Per the manga, looks matter more than gender.
[Exceptional appearance is an asset in itself. Best to leverage it fully. Ah, perhaps—]
I followed glasses thought's gaze. To Han Min-seo.
Stare—
Han Min-seo's shoulder twitched. Startled by my sudden look.
"Uh, u-um?"
Anxious voice. As always, no reply—just bored into his face.
Awakeners make bank, high status. From eavesdropping and TV, they're celebs and top earners here.
This snack guy's sadly not one. Doesn't seem rich. Overheard him and Yi Gyu-rin—he packs lunch, skips cafeteria.
But pretty. Pretty looks are assets. As glasses thought said, versatile.
Manga. Magical girl. Han Min-seo.
Idea sparked.
Hehehe.
My glee must've shown—Han Min-seo scooted away.
Why? Should be thrilled.
Then.
Urgent ticker scrolled on the wall-mounted OLED TV. Background noise channel usually. Wouldn't normally care, 'cept a few thoughts—but today's seemed extra serious.
Screen switched. Helicopter aerial. Dead center—
The naked giant.