Rise of outcast king

Morning

Joon woke up to the harsh blare of his alarm clock. He groggily reached out from under the thin, worn blanket, rubbing his eyes as he glanced around the cramped room. The place was small, a dingy apartment on the outskirts of the city, far removed from the glitz of the more affluent neighborhoods. It wasn't much, but it was his—a place where he could plan and live quietly, away from prying eyes.

The apartment wasn't fancy by any means. The walls were cracked and faded from years of neglect, and the floor had scuff marks where the furniture had been dragged too many times. But it had one thing Joon needed: privacy.

He walked over to a small desk where his wristwatch lay. The sleek, black watch still pulsed with energy. It was his key to everything, the tool that would change his life. He'd been using it sparingly over the past few days, focusing on summoning and controlling his new fighters. The more he summoned, the more he understood how the system worked—and how much influence it required to make the summons stronger.

Joon glanced at the screen on the watch.

"Influence: 2%

Energy: 85%

Summon Options: 2 (Common/Advanced)"

He'd summoned Kim Seung-woo and Baek Seung-hwan already, and his influence was slowly growing. He knew he needed more power, but that wasn't the only thing that mattered. His influence was tied to his actions, and he needed to play the long game.

Daily Routine

Joon didn't just sit around waiting for summons to complete. He was far from a recluse. While the summons helped him in battles and strategies, the groundwork had to be laid in the real world.

He dressed in a plain shirt and jeans, the kind of outfit that wouldn't draw attention. His goal was to blend in. He didn't need the limelight—he needed power. His school life, while unremarkable, served as a cover for his deeper ambitions. He still had his classes to attend, his interactions to maintain, but these were secondary to his true purpose.

Today, like every other day, he would go through the motions: attend class, keep to himself, and subtly gain more ground in the underground world of Seoul.

Base of Operations

After a long day of pretending to be a regular student, Joon returned to his apartment as the evening drew in. He tossed his backpack onto the couch and glanced around. It was modest, but it served its purpose. The base of operations was hidden in plain sight. Few knew about it, and fewer still would ever think of looking here.

In the corner of the apartment, an old table was covered with maps, notebooks, and a stack of business cards he'd been collecting. Some were from people who owed him favors, others from those he was starting to manipulate. Joon had already begun laying the foundation for his influence. The first step was making small connections—people who would be valuable down the line.

His laptop flickered on as he logged in to a secure system he'd set up. It was his method of gathering intelligence on the criminal factions, especially Charles Choi's network. Joon had learned that Choi's operations were massive, but they weren't invulnerable. Every empire had cracks, and Joon was going to exploit them.

Night: The Summoning

Joon sat at his desk, staring at the glowing wristwatch. He had made enough progress in his influence, and he felt it was time for his next move. His fighters were growing in power, and he could feel the system urging him to take a more aggressive stance.

"Summon: Ahn Jae-hyun (The Shadowed Assassin)."

The room darkened as the summoning portal swirled into existence. Out of the void stepped a tall figure, clad in dark clothing, his face hidden behind a mask. Ahn Jae-hyun was a notorious assassin, known for his unmatched stealth and deadly efficiency. He was the perfect asset for infiltrating high-profile targets—like Charles Choi's inner circle.

Joon wasn't sure if Ahn Jae-hyun was going to like him. The assassin was used to operating alone, but this was business. Joon wasn't going to waste time with pleasantries.

"I need your help," Joon said, his voice unwavering. "I'm going after Charles Choi. I need to infiltrate his organization."

Ahn Jae-hyun didn't say a word. He simply nodded, stepping forward and vanishing as swiftly as he'd arrived, the air still thick with his silent presence.

"Summon Complete: Ahn Jae-hyun. Task: Infiltrate and Gather Intelligence."

The Challenge Begins

With Ahn Jae-hyun now at his side, Joon felt ready to take on the next phase of his plan. His summons were starting to complement each other. Seung-woo would help him manipulate people from the shadows, Seung-hwan would provide muscle when things got physical, and now Ahn Jae-hyun would be his eyes in the shadows—his key to unlocking Choi's secrets.

Joon's thoughts turned to Charles Choi. The man was an enigma, a beast in the underground world with unparalleled control over his empire. But Joon wasn't afraid. He was methodical, calculating, and he had something that Charles didn't: a way to shape his own destiny.

With his base of operations secure and his fighters summoned, it was only a matter of time before Joon made his move. The pieces were in place.

The real battle for control was just beginning.

End of Chapter 3