Chapter 3
Jinsol had been patrolling the city for hours, but tonight, something felt off.
She was used to dealing with criminals—the smugglers, the gangsters, the corrupt businessmen. The city was full of them. Some were more violent than others, but at the end of the day, they were just people with guns, knives, and bad intentions.
But this?
This was something else.
Something worse.
For the past week, she had been hearing whispers about a new power in the city. Not just a new gang rising up or a crime lord making moves. Something supernatural. At first, she thought it was just paranoia—street rumors spreading among low-level thugs who always found ways to exaggerate their encounters.
But then the incidents started.
A warehouse down by the docks had been found frozen solid overnight, its interior coated in layers of ice so thick that it shattered steel beams. The entire building was so cold that when the authorities stepped inside, their breath froze midair.
Another night, an underground fight club—one Specter had been keeping an eye on—was wiped out. But this wasn’t just some gang rivalry. The fighters were found thrown against the walls, some unconscious, others with severe burns—not from fire, but from something else. Something unnatural.
And then came the armored truck attack.
Jinsol had seen the wreckage herself. An armored transport carrying millions had been hit while crossing the bridge. But there were no explosives, no gunfire. The entire side of the vehicle had been sliced open like a hot knife through butter.
The air around the scene had still crackled when she arrived, pulsing with a strange, static energy she had never felt before.
This wasn’t just strength.
This wasn’t just technology.
This was power.
And it meant one thing.
Jinsol wasn’t the only one in this city anymore.
She clenched her fists as she crouched on a rooftop, watching the streets below.
Until now, she had been able to handle everything the city threw at her. No matter how bad things got, she had always been stronger, faster, smarter.
But this time?
She had no idea what she was dealing with.
And that meant she needed to find out.
Before it was too late.
The night had been eerily quiet before this.
Jinsol had been tracking down the mysterious new power in the city for days, following leads that only left more questions than answers. But now? She didn’t need rumors or crime scene evidence anymore.
Because she had found him.
Or rather—he had finally made himself known.
The wailing alarm of the bank echoed through the empty streets, the shattered glass and smoke painting a picture of chaos. Specter perched on a nearby rooftop, observing before making her move. People were running, screaming, desperate to get away.
But he?
He was completely calm.
Jinsol narrowed her eyes as she caught sight of him through the broken windows—a tall man dressed in sleek, black combat gear that looked custom-made. Unlike the usual criminals she dealt with, he wasn’t just some brute in a ski mask.
And then, there was the real problem.
His hands.
They were glowing.
A deep, ominous red, like embers burning through the darkness, crackling with energy so violent that it sent faint pulses through the air.
She had seen something similar before—energy-based abilities, raw strength enhancers. But this? This was different. The way the power snaked around his fingertips, the way the very ground under him seemed to hum with an unnatural force—this was dangerous.
She watched as he stood in front of the massive vault, fingers twitching, energy surging—
And then, with one hand, he ripped the door off.
The solid steel, nearly a foot thick, crumpled like paper in his grasp. He tossed it aside with a loud CRASH, the sheer force sending dust and debris flying.
Jinsol clenched her fists.
This wasn’t normal.
And that meant she couldn’t treat him like a normal opponent.
But that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to stop him.
She exhaled once, rolled her shoulders, then jumped.
Landing gracefully inside the ruined entrance, she took her time stepping forward, letting the echo of her boots cut through the chaos.
The man barely reacted—just turned his head slightly, those eerie, glowing red eyes locking onto her.
Jinsol tilted her head, arms crossing over her chest.
“Wow,” she said casually. “For someone with actual powers, you’re pretty unoriginal.”
A beat of silence.
Then, the man chuckled. Low, amused, unbothered.
“You’re bold.”
“Thanks,” she replied. “I get that a lot.”
He studied her, his gaze trailing over her figure, clearly sizing her up. But she wasn’t just standing there doing nothing—she was analyzing him, too.
The way he held himself—relaxed, confident. He wasn’t worried about being caught, which meant either he thought he could win or… he didn’t see her as a threat.
She’d change that real fast.
The red glow around his hands pulsed slightly.
Jinsol barely had time to react before the floor beneath her shattered.
Shit—
She flipped back, narrowly avoiding the explosion of jagged marble that shot upward like spikes. The air was thick with debris, chunks of flooring crashing down around her as she landed smoothly on top of an overturned desk.
She barely had a moment to recover before he moved—fast.
One second, he was standing near the vault—
The next, he was right in front of her.
Jinsol barely managed to twist away as his fist came crashing down, his power-infused strike turning the desk she had been standing on into a pile of splinters.
Holy shit.
She didn’t even let herself breathe—just used her momentum to spring off the nearest wall, flipping gracefully to create distance between them.
He slowly straightened, cracking his neck, completely unfazed.
“Not bad,” he mused. “Most people would’ve been crushed.”
Jinsol smirked, even as she caught her breath. “Yeah, well—” she clenched her fists, muscles coiling as she prepared to go on the offensive “—I’m not most people.”
The man exhaled through his nose, as if mildly entertained. “I know.”
Then, his fingers flexed—
And the entire room exploded with red energy.
Jinsol moved.
This is bad.
Jinsol had fought plenty of opponents before—some with insane strength, others with speed that rivaled hers. She had taken down men twice her size, dodged bullets, and gone up against criminals armed with the best black-market tech.
But this?
This was on a completely different level.
The moment his hands crackled with that eerie red glow, the air shifted.
Heat.
It slammed into her first, a wave of scorching air that instantly made her sweat. The marble floor beneath her cracked and melted, glowing with molten streaks as the temperature in the room skyrocketed.
Jinsol cursed and moved fast, flipping away just before the ground she had been standing on turned into a pool of lava.
What the hell is this guy?
She barely had time to process it before he switched again.
The red glow flickered—then turned blue.
Instantly, the heat vanished. The molten floor froze solid, steam hissing as the temperature in the room plummeted.
Jinsol’s breath came out in a sharp, white mist as ice spread across the walls, creeping toward her feet. She leaped onto an overturned metal beam, avoiding the frost just in time.
Her mind raced.
He could control elements.
Not just fire. Not just ice. Everything.
That explained the frozen warehouse. The scorched fight club. The destroyed armored truck.
He wasn’t just strong—he was versatile.
And that made him a problem.
The man smirked slightly as he watched her adjust, as if testing how she reacted to each shift in power.
“Struggling?” he taunted.
Jinsol forced herself to smirk back. “Please. You’re just getting started, aren’t you?”
He chuckled, clearly amused. “Smart girl.”
Then, without warning, he swiped his hand through the air—
And a wall of water erupted from nowhere, crashing toward her like a tidal wave.
Jinsol barely had a second to react.
She launched herself upward, twisting in midair as the wave slammed into the wreckage below, sweeping away anything in its path.
The second she landed on the hanging remains of a chandelier, she felt it—
The shift.
From water to wind.
The air howled as a violent gust ripped through the bank, shattering whatever glass remained. The sheer force of it nearly knocked Jinsol off balance, but she tightened her grip, bracing herself.
Shit. This isn’t just random attacks—he’s controlling the battlefield.
This wasn’t like any fight she’d ever had before. She couldn’t just outpunch him, couldn’t rely on pure strength alone. He had too many options, too many ways to counter.
But Jinsol was nothing if not adaptable.
She narrowed her eyes.
She just had to figure out one thing.
How fast can he switch powers?
Because if she could time it—catch him mid-transition—then maybe, just maybe, she had a chance.
She grinned.
“Alright,” she muttered to herself. “Let’s see how quick you really are.”
And then, she attacked.
Jinsol pushed herself harder than she had in a long time.
Every move she made, every strike she threw, had to be precise—because this wasn’t like fighting some street-level thug. This was a battle against someone who could change the battlefield in an instant.
One second, she was dodging a stream of fire, rolling away as the ground beneath her scorched black.
The next, she was slipping on ice, barely catching herself before a jagged spike nearly impaled her.
She lunged at him, throwing a powerful kick aimed at his ribs. He sidestepped, the red glow around his hands shifting to a deep brown as the floor beneath them suddenly rose, forming a wall of solid stone that forced Jinsol to retreat.
He’s toying with me.
He had the advantage—too many options, too many ways to keep her on the defensive. She was fast, but every time she thought she had an opening, he’d switch elements and counter effortlessly.
Jinsol gritted her teeth. I need to break his rhythm.
She darted forward, feinting left before twisting mid-air, aiming a punch straight for his jaw. He raised an arm, energy crackling as wind blasted forward, throwing her back.
But this time, she was ready.
She twisted midair, using the momentum to grab onto a fallen beam, swinging herself forward—right at him.
His eyes widened—just for a split second. Got you.
Jinsol’s fist connected.
It wasn’t a perfect hit, but it was enough—her knuckles crashed into his shoulder, sending him staggering back. The red glow around him flickered as his control wavered for the first time.
Now’s my chance—
Suddenly, the distant sound of sirens cut through the chaos.
Jinsol barely had a second to react before the man stepped back, his expression unreadable.
And then—he disappeared.
No dramatic exit, no fight to the end. One moment he was there, the next—gone.
Jinsol cursed under her breath, scanning the area. How the hell did he vanish so fast?
The police cars screeched to a stop outside, officers rushing in with guns raised—too late.
Jinsol exhaled sharply, rolling her shoulders as she took a step back into the shadows. She couldn’t stay here, not with the cops swarming the place.
But as she made her escape, one thought kept repeating in her mind.
This isn’t over.
Whoever he was, wherever he ran—
She’d find him again.
Yoona had always wanted to see Specter in action.
She had spent months collecting information, reading every article, replaying blurry footage online. She had built an image of Specter in her mind—someone untouchable, someone who moved through the night like a shadow, someone who never faltered.
But seeing her in person—fighting for her life—was something else entirely.
And Yoona hadn’t even meant to be there.
It was supposed to be a quiet walk, something to clear her mind after a long day. She had stopped by a convenience store, gotten herself a drink, and was scrolling through her phone when she noticed something off.
The street ahead was too quiet.
Then she heard it—the shouts, the sudden explosion of ice, the distant wail of police sirens.
She turned the corner, and there she was.
Specter.
Fighting a man who shouldn’t have existed.
Yoona barely had time to process what she was seeing before a blast of fire shot across the pavement, barely missing Specter as she flipped out of the way.
Yoona gasped, stumbling back behind the safety of a car.
The fight was intense.
Specter moved fast—dodging, countering, always staying on the move. But the man she was fighting was something else entirely. He controlled the elements like they were an extension of his body.
One moment, the air turned blistering hot, flames twisting around his arms.
The next, the street was covered in ice, the ground cracking beneath their feet as he shifted his power seamlessly.
Yoona couldn’t look away.
She had read about Specter’s fights before, but this was different.
This was real.
And dangerous.
Every time Specter got too close, the man would switch—fire to ice, ice to wind, wind to stone—always keeping her on edge, never letting her land a solid hit.
For the first time, Yoona saw something she never expected.
Specter was struggling.
Yoona’s heart pounded as she watched Specter barely dodge an ice spear that could have impaled her. She landed a kick to his ribs, but it didn’t slow him down for long—he retaliated fast, sending a wave of fire that she just barely rolled away from.
Yoona flinched. That was too close.
She had always imagined Specter as someone who could handle anything, but now—
She’s not invincible.
That thought terrified her.
Because no matter how strong Specter was, no matter how many fights she had won before, this one was different.
And then—it happened.
A burst of fire erupted between them, and for the first time, Specter didn’t move in time.
Yoona saw it all in slow motion—the way the flames barely grazed her side, the way she twisted to avoid a direct hit but still took damage.
Specter stumbled.
Yoona’s breath caught in her throat.
She wanted to run to her. To do something. To scream, to tell her to be careful, to—
But she was frozen.
Helpless.
She clenched her fists as Specter gritted her teeth and pushed through the pain. Even injured, she refused to slow down. She kept fighting. Kept pushing forward.
Yoona had never admired her more.
But she had also never been this scared.
Just when it seemed like Specter was getting the upper hand, the sound of police sirens echoed through the streets.
And the man—just vanished.
Like he was never there to begin with.
Yoona stood there, her body tense, waiting for Specter to chase after him.
But she didn’t.
Instead, she took a deep breath, barely standing upright, her hand brushing over her injured side for just a second before she forced herself to disappear into the shadows.
Leaving Yoona standing there, heart racing, her mind spinning.
She had come here as an admirer—someone fascinated by the legend of Specter.
But now?
Now she wasn’t just curious.
She was worried.
Because Specter wasn’t a myth.
She wasn’t some invincible hero.
She was real. She was human. She was hurting.
And Yoona didn’t know what scared her more—the fact that Specter had almost lost tonight…
Or the fact that she had no one to take care of her when she did.
The moment she stepped into her apartment, Jinsol felt the exhaustion crash into her. The fight had been relentless—every second a desperate calculation, every movement a gamble between dodging and countering. She was fast, but that man…
He was something else.
She had never fought someone who could change their abilities on the spot like that. Fire, ice, wind, earth—he had total control, shifting between them like it was second nature. There was no hesitation, no struggle.
He knew exactly what he was doing.
Jinsol locked her door and made her way to her room, pulling off her gloves as she went. Her hands trembled slightly, but not from fear. It was the aftermath—the adrenaline still lingering in her veins, the comedown from being in fight mode for so long.
She had been so close.
If the police hadn’t shown up when they did, maybe she could have landed a real hit. Maybe she could have figured out more about who he was.
Instead, he had vanished.
Jinsol sighed, shaking her head as she reached for the zipper of her suit.
The second she pulled it down, a sharp sting flared through her ribs.
She inhaled sharply, her body tensing. What the—
She peeled the suit further down, her fingers brushing against something hot, raw.
Her breath hitched when she saw it.
A burn mark.
It spread across her left side, just below her ribs—angry and red, the edges still tinged with a faint, unnatural glow. The second she touched it, a deep throb shot through her skin, making her wince.
Shit.
She hadn’t even realized she had been hit.
Jinsol pressed her lips together, staring at the mark. She replayed the fight in her head, trying to figure out when it happened. There had been so many fire attacks—had one grazed her? She remembered the heat, the way the air had seared around her, but she had been too focused on dodging to notice an actual hit.
That was dangerous.
If she had taken a direct hit instead of just a graze…
Jinsol exhaled through her nose, shaking her head as she grabbed the first-aid kit from under her bed. She sat on the floor, pulling out a bottle of antiseptic.
The burn was deep but not devastating. It wouldn’t scar if she took care of it properly. But what did concern her was the fact that it took this long to notice.
She had never gotten burned before.
Bruises, yes. A few cuts, some broken ribs here and there. But a burn?
This was new.
She dabbed at it with a cool antiseptic wipe, hissing as the sting sharpened. The pain grounded her, but it also made her angry.
That guy—whoever he was—he had gotten away. She hadn’t even seen which direction he ran. It was like he had disappeared the second she lost focus.
Who the hell is he?
And more importantly—what does he want?
People with abilities like his didn’t just rob banks for fun. If he was testing his power, then this was only the beginning.
Jinsol let out a slow breath, rolling her shoulders.
She knew one thing for sure.
He left a mark on her tonight.
But next time?
She’d leave a mark on him.
The moment Yoona got home, she didn’t even bother changing out of her clothes. She tossed her bag onto the desk, grabbed her laptop, and started writing.
Her fingers moved fast over the keyboard, her mind racing to capture everything she had just seen.
The villain.
He was different from the small-time criminals Specter usually dealt with. This wasn’t just some gang leader with a gun or a desperate thief trying to escape the police.
He had powers.
Elemental manipulation.
Fire, ice, wind, earth. It wasn’t random—it was controlled. It was like he was switching elements strategically, adapting to Specter’s moves in real time.
That meant two things.
1. He wasn’t just powerful. He was experienced.
2. He had a reason for robbing that bank beyond just money.
Yoona leaned back in her chair, staring at the half-written notes on her screen.
Her hands were still shaking. Not from fear—from adrenaline.
She had seen Specter fight in front of her eyes.
She had watched her get hurt.
Yoona exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair.
She wasn’t just an admirer anymore. This wasn’t just about documenting Specter.
She needed to help.
Yoona had spent months researching Specter—tracking her movements, gathering details, learning her patterns. But she had never thought about doing the same for a villain.
Until now.
Her eyes flickered back to the screen, to the notes she had already typed:
Male, mid-20s to early 30s.
Controls multiple elements.
Shifts between them seamlessly.
Robbed a bank, but left before taking anything.
Yoona frowned. That last part bothered her.
Why rob a bank if you weren’t going to take the money? Was it just a test run? A distraction for something bigger?
She needed more information.
She opened a new tab, searching for similar crimes. Anything involving fire, ice, or other elemental attacks in the past few months. If this guy had been around before tonight, then there had to be a pattern.
And if there was a pattern—she would find it.
Because the more she knew about him, the better chance Specter had at beating him next time.
But then…
That meant she would need to talk to Specter again.
Yoona froze, her hands hovering over the keyboard.
She had never expected to meet her before. Watching her fight had always been enough. Admiring her from a distance, writing about her in secret, knowing she was out there—it had been enough.
But now?
Now she had to see her again.
She had to give her this information.
But how? Specter wasn’t exactly easy to track. She didn’t just show up whenever someone wanted her to.
Unless—
Yoona’s lips parted slightly as an idea formed in her mind.
Unless she made herself a target.
If Specter always appeared when people were in danger… then Yoona just had to put herself somewhere dangerous enough to draw her out.
The thought sent a shiver down her spine.
It was reckless. It was stupid.
But it might be the only way.
She looked at her notes again, gripping the edge of her desk.
If Specter was going to fight him again…
Then this time, Yoona wouldn’t just be watching.
This time, she was going to help.
Jinsol shut her laptop with a quiet click, stretching her arms above her head. “Finally done,” she muttered, rolling her shoulders to loosen up. Hours of staring at the screen had left her feeling stiff, but at least they had finished the assignment.
Across the table, Yoona was still tidying up, her movements quiet, precise, as she saved their work and packed up her notes. The two of them had stayed behind long after Haewon and Kyujin had left, both wanting to make sure everything was in order before submitting it.
It had been… oddly silent between them.
Not tense, not awkward—just different.
Jinsol had noticed it all day. The way Yoona seemed preoccupied, like her mind was somewhere far away. The way she barely spoke unless it was about the assignment. The way she kept checking her phone when she thought Jinsol wasn’t looking.
It wasn’t like they talked much outside of group work, but still… something felt off.
Jinsol watched as Yoona closed her notebook, gathering the last of her things.
Before she could think twice about it, Jinsol spoke up.
“Hey.”
Yoona glanced up. “Hm?”
Jinsol hesitated for only a second before offering a small smile. “Wanna grab dinner?”
For a moment, Yoona froze.
It was quick—so quick that if Jinsol hadn’t been watching her closely, she might have missed it. A slight tension in Yoona’s shoulders, the faintest flicker of hesitation in her eyes.
Then, just as fast, Yoona shook her head. “I can’t.”
Jinsol blinked. “Oh.”
Yoona must have noticed the brief surprise on her face because she quickly added, “I just—have something to do.” She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
Jinsol studied her for a moment.
Yoona wasn’t lying. But she also wasn’t telling the whole truth.
It wasn’t just a simple “I’m busy” kind of excuse—it felt intentional. As if Yoona was turning her down not just because she had plans, but because… she didn’t want to say what they were.
Something about that made Jinsol’s chest tighten in a way she didn’t understand.
But she forced herself to nod, keeping her tone light. “That’s fine. Another time, then.”
Yoona gave a small nod in return. “Yeah. Another time.”
But she didn’t meet Jinsol’s eyes when she said it.
And then she was gone, her footsteps fading down the hall, leaving Jinsol sitting alone at the table.
She stared at the empty space Yoona had just been in, tapping her fingers idly against the surface.
Something wasn’t right.
Jinsol had seen Yoona turn down plenty of people before. She had even watched her reject someone right in front of her once, cool and detached, as if it was nothing.
But this?
This wasn’t just polite disinterest.
This felt… personal.
Like Yoona was avoiding her.
And for the first time, Jinsol found herself wanting to know why.
Yoona’s hands were steady as she tightened the straps of her bag over her shoulder.
Her heart, however, was not.
She exhaled slowly, stepping onto the dimly lit street. The city at night had a different energy—quieter, but not safer. Shadows stretched along the pavement, the neon signs flickered, and in the distance, sirens wailed.
She knew this was stupid.
She had always been careful, always avoided trouble. But tonight, for the first time in her life—she was looking for it.
She didn’t know exactly where to go. Specter didn’t have a predictable route, and it wasn’t like she could just call her. But she had spent enough time observing to know the patterns.
Specter always showed up where she was needed most.
So all Yoona had to do… was make herself someone who needed saving.
Her fingers curled into fists as she walked further into the less crowded streets. She had read enough news stories, seen enough reports to know where criminals lurked. Back alleys, empty parking lots, streets just a little too far from the main roads.
And sure enough, it didn’t take long before she felt it.
Someone was watching her.
Her breath hitched, but she didn’t stop walking.
Footsteps behind her. Two, maybe three people.
Her stomach twisted, but she forced herself to keep going.
This was the whole point. This was what she wanted.
She turned a corner, finding herself in a narrow, poorly lit alleyway. The perfect place for something to go wrong.
And then—
“Hey.”
A voice. Low, rough.
Yoona swallowed and slowly turned around.
Three men. Dressed in dark hoodies, hands in their pockets. The kind of people she wouldn’t normally make eye contact with, let alone let herself get cornered by.
She knew she should be afraid. Maybe she was. But all she could think about was—
Specter.
Would she come? Would she save her?
The tallest of the three men stepped closer. “You lost, sweetheart?”
Yoona kept her expression calm. “No.”
The man grinned. “That’s too bad. ‘Cause you look like you need some company.”
She took a step back. “I don’t.”
The second man clicked his tongue. “C’mon, don’t be like that.”
The third one moved to block her other exit.
Her pulse pounded. This was it.
Come on, Specter.
But nothing happened.
Where is she?
Yoona’s heart was racing now. Had she miscalculated? Had she just made the dumbest mistake of her life?
One of the men reached for her wrist—
And then the lights above them shattered.
A shadow dropped from the rooftop.
And suddenly, the alley wasn’t so quiet anymore.
Yoona barely had time to register the movement before Specter was in front of her, her figure dark against the dim glow of the streetlights.
The men barely had time to react before Specter moved.
It was brutal.
Fast. Precise. Efficient.
A kick to the ribs sent one of them crashing into the wall. Another lunged at her, but Specter twisted, dodging easily before slamming her elbow into his jaw. The third tried to run—Specter caught him by the collar and threw him onto the pavement.
It was over in seconds.
The men groaned in pain, scrambling to get away. One of them managed to stumble to his feet, clutching his side. “Crazy bitch,” he spat before limping off. The others followed, disappearing into the night.
And just like that, the alley was quiet again.
Yoona exhaled shakily, finally able to breathe.
Specter turned to face her, and for the first time, Yoona felt the weight of her gaze.
“You okay?”
Yoona swallowed, trying to find her voice. “Y-Yeah.”
Specter studied her for a moment. “You shouldn’t be here.”
Yoona almost laughed. That’s the whole point.
Instead, she just met Specter’s eyes and whispered, “I wanted to see you.”
For a split second, she thought she saw Specter tense.
But before she could say anything else, Specter took a step back. “Go home, Yoona.”
She blurted out by accident. Yoona's name.
Her name.
Specter knew her name.
It rang in her head over and over, louder than the retreating footsteps of the men who had just tried to corner her, louder than the distant hum of the city streets.
She hadn't introduced herself. Hadn’t said a single word before this moment. And yet—Specter knew exactly who she was.
Yoona's fingers curled into fists at her sides, her breath shaky as she stared at the masked vigilante standing before her.
“You—” her voice wavered slightly, but she steadied it. “You know my name.”
Specter didn’t respond immediately.
Yoona couldn’t see her face, couldn’t read her expression through the dark mask, but something about her body language—the slight tilt of her head, the brief pause—told her this wasn’t something Specter had meant to reveal.
Then, finally, Specter spoke.
“I pay attention.”
Yoona’s pulse skipped.
She didn’t know why those three words sent a strange flutter through her chest, but they did.
She stared at Specter, searching for something—anything—that might explain the sudden tightness in her throat.
“I didn’t think you cared about things like that,” she said, testing the waters.
Specter’s reply was immediate this time. “I don’t.”
But Yoona caught it—that tiny shift, the slightest hesitation before the words left her mouth.
She was lying.
And now Yoona was more determined than ever to figure out why.
She took a step closer, her gaze locked on Specter’s. “Then why do you know me?”
Another pause.
Then—
“I’ve seen you around,” Specter said. “On campus. In articles. You write about me.”
Yoona inhaled sharply.
Of course. Of course she would know that. She had spent so much time researching Specter, writing theories about her in her blog, tracking her movements to try and understand her. It was only natural that Specter had noticed.
But… was that really all?
Was Specter aware of everyone who wrote about her? Or just her?
Before she could ask, Specter turned away slightly. “You shouldn’t be out here alone,” she said, voice firm but not unkind. “Go home.”
That should have been the end of it.
Specter had saved her, had told her to leave, had done exactly what Yoona had wanted when she purposely put herself in danger tonight.
But suddenly, leaving wasn’t an option.
Not when questions swirled in her mind like a storm.
Not when this moment—standing so close to Specter, hearing her say her name, feeling that strange, unshakable familiarity—felt too important to let slip away.
Before she could second-guess herself, Yoona moved.
She reached out and grabbed Specter’s wrist.
A bold move. A reckless one.
Specter froze.
For the first time, she didn’t move like a shadow in the night. She didn’t disappear, didn’t pull away. She just stood there, letting Yoona’s fingers wrap around her wrist.
And in that instant, Yoona felt it.
The warmth of her skin beneath the suit, the subtle tension in her muscles—like she was fighting the urge to react.
Like she was fighting something inside herself.
A realization crept into Yoona’s mind, slow but inevitable.
Specter wasn’t just any hero.
Whoever she was beneath the mask…
She wasn’t a stranger at all.
And Yoona was going to find out exactly who she was.
Morning light poured into the lecture hall, students trickling in at their own pace. The air buzzed with casual conversations, the clicking of pens, and the occasional rustling of papers. But Yoona didn’t hear any of it.
Her mind was elsewhere.
Her fingers tapped against her notebook, eyes scanning the classroom with a quiet intensity. Specter was here. Somewhere.
It wasn’t a question anymore—it was a fact. And if Specter knew her name, that meant she knew Specter, too.
Yoona had always been observant, always had an eye for details. It was how she managed to write such thorough pieces about Specter in the first place. But now, for the first time, she wasn’t just studying a hero. She was studying the people around her—her classmates, her friends.
Her suspects.
She started with the most obvious options.
Kyujin and Haewon.
They were her closest friends, the ones she spent the most time with. If Specter had been aware of her for a while, wouldn’t it make sense for them to be the ones keeping an eye on her?
She turned her head slightly, watching as the two of them chatted in hushed tones a few seats away.
Kyujin was intelligent, quick-witted. Haewon was athletic, always energetic. At a glance, they could have potential.
But then Yoona frowned.
Kyujin was too short. Specter had at least a few centimeters on her. And Haewon… Haewon had always been a little too clumsy. Could she really move like Specter did?
No.
Yoona exhaled softly. They weren’t Specter.
Which meant she needed to look elsewhere.
She let her gaze drift across the classroom.
Most of the students were regular people—some slouched over their desks, some whispering to their friends, some scrolling through their phones.
But then, the door opened—
And Jinsol walked in.
Yoona felt her stomach tighten.
Jinsol moved differently.
She wasn’t trying to draw attention to herself, wasn’t making a show of anything, but there was something about the way she walked. Something calculated, effortless.
Every step was light but sure, like she always knew exactly where she was going.
Yoona’s pen hovered over her notebook, her mind racing.
Think logically.
Specter was tall. Jinsol was tall.
Specter was strong, toned.
Yoona had seen Jinsol in crop tops before—had caught glimpses of her abs, the faint outline of muscle definition. She had seen the way veins ran across her hands when she lifted things, the same kind of detail she had felt when she grabbed Specter’s wrist the night before.
And there was something else.
Specter fought with precision. With experience.
Jinsol had once casually mentioned that she exercised often, but Yoona had never thought much of it. What kind of training did she do?
Could it be—?
Jinsol sat down at her usual seat, flipping open her notebook without a word.
Yoona tore her gaze away before their eyes could meet, her heart beating faster than it should.
She couldn’t be certain yet.
But she was going to find out.
And for the rest of the day, she kept her eyes on Bae Jinsol.
The lecture had just ended, and students were already packing up their things, chatting in small groups as they made their way out of the classroom.
Jinsol was in no rush. She leaned back slightly, stretching her arms before casually gathering her belongings. The day had barely begun, and she was already thinking about how she’d spend her night as Specter.
But just as she reached for her bag, a shadow loomed over her desk.
She looked up—
And saw Yoona.
Jinsol froze for a fraction of a second.
It wasn’t unusual for them to talk these days. Ever since they got grouped for the assignment, they’d spent more time together. But something about the way Yoona was standing—close, deliberate, looking at her in a way that felt… searching—made Jinsol pause.
“Need something?” Jinsol asked, expecting her to bring up the assignment.
Yoona didn’t answer right away.
Then—without warning—she grabbed Jinsol’s wrist.
Jinsol’s breath hitched.
Her entire body went rigid.
It was instinct. Years of heightened reflexes, of being on guard, of knowing that the moment someone touched her, it could be a fight.
Her muscles coiled like she was ready to move—to counter, to evade—before her brain caught up and reminded her that this wasn’t a battle.
This was Yoona.
Her grip wasn’t aggressive, wasn’t demanding. It was firm but controlled.
Still, Jinsol wasn’t used to being touched so casually. She didn’t think Yoona was the type either.
Before she could process it further, Yoona spoke.
“Let’s have lunch.”
Jinsol blinked.
“…What?”
Yoona tilted her head slightly, her lips curling into something that wasn’t quite a smirk but wasn’t just a smile either. It was mischievous, knowing.
“Lunch,” she repeated. “You know, the thing people eat in the afternoon?”
Jinsol narrowed her eyes. “I know what lunch is.”
“Good,” Yoona said, nodding. “Then let’s go.”
And just like that, she started pulling Jinsol out of her seat.
Jinsol almost dug her heels in out of sheer confusion.
Since when did Yoona take the lead like this? Since when did she—physically drag people places?
More importantly—
Why did this feel like a test?
Yoona had never gone out of her way to invite her anywhere before. Their relationship so far had been academic, polite, surface-level. But this—this was different. Purposeful.
Jinsol could feel it.
Yoona wasn’t just inviting her to lunch.
She was observing.
Testing.
Suspecting.
And that realization made something tighten in Jinsol’s chest.
She let herself be pulled along, keeping her expression neutral. She needed to play this carefully. Yoona was up to something.
And Jinsol needed to find out what.
The moment her fingers wrapped around Jinsol’s wrist, she knew.
It was the same.
The exact same feeling from last night.
Jinsol’s wrist wasn’t just slim and smooth—it carried a quiet but undeniable strength. Beneath the skin, she could feel the firm tension of muscle, the slight flex of her tendons, the steady rhythm of her pulse.
She had felt this before.
When Specter caught her before she fell. When Specter grabbed her hand to steady her.
The same warmth. The same subtle power.
Jinsol was Specter.
But knowing wasn’t enough.
Yoona wanted proof.
She wanted to see it with her own eyes, to catch her in a moment she couldn’t deny. Because if Jinsol was truly Specter, that meant she had been hiding it this whole time.
And Yoona wanted to know why.
She could feel Jinsol stiffen for a split second—just a fraction of hesitation, like she wasn’t used to people touching her so suddenly. But then she followed without protest, keeping her expression carefully neutral.
But Yoona had seen that tiny flicker of instinct.
A trained instinct.
A fighter’s instinct.
No ordinary university student had that kind of reaction. But a vigilante who spent her nights fighting criminals?
That made sense.
As they walked, Yoona kept her grip light but observant. She noticed the way Jinsol moved—not stiffly, not carelessly, but with a sort of effortless awareness. Like she was always prepared.
Even now, Jinsol didn’t ask why Yoona had suddenly invited her out. Didn’t question her motives. She just let herself be led, watching Yoona with a look that was neither annoyed nor particularly amused.
It was careful.
Yoona suppressed a smirk.
Jinsol was hiding something.
And Yoona was going to uncover every piece of it.
Jinsol had been in the spotlight before.
As an athlete, as someone well-known across campus, she was used to people whispering about her. Used to feeling eyes on her whenever she walked through the halls.
But this?
This was different.
This wasn’t just people glancing at her in admiration. This was full-on staring.
Because right now, Seol Yoona—the untouchable campus beauty—was holding onto her wrist and pulling her through the crowd like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Jinsol could already hear the murmurs starting.
“Wait… are they dating?”
“I thought Yoona didn’t like anyone?”
“Jinsol never dates either, right? But look at them!”
“Why is Yoona holding her wrist like that?”
“Are they close? Since when?”
Jinsol exhaled slowly, forcing herself to keep her expression neutral.
This was fine. She had been in weirder situations. She had fought actual superpowered criminals.
So why did this—a simple lunch invitation—feel more nerve-wracking than a night patrol as Specter?
Maybe because Yoona wasn’t letting go.
If anything, her grip had tightened slightly.
Jinsol snuck a glance at her, expecting to see some hint of discomfort—some kind of reaction to the fact that they were causing a scene.
But Yoona looked completely calm.
Unbothered.
As if she hadn’t just single-handedly started a new campus rumor by dragging one of the most well-known students through the hallway.
Jinsol cleared her throat.
“…You know people are staring, right?” she muttered under her breath, keeping her voice low enough that only Yoona could hear.
Yoona barely reacted.
Instead, she tilted her head slightly—like she had only just noticed—and then, with a small, knowing smile, she said—
“Let them.”
Jinsol’s steps faltered.
For half a second, she actually stumbled.
It wasn’t like her. She had perfect control over her movements, always aware of her footing. But that one response—so simple, so bold—completely threw her off balance.
She looked at Yoona, studying her face for any sign of teasing.
Was she joking? Trying to mess with her?
But Yoona’s expression was composed, confident. Like she truly didn’t care.
Or rather—like she had done this on purpose.
Jinsol narrowed her eyes slightly.
There was something else going on here.
This wasn’t just about lunch.
She could feel it—the weight of Yoona’s gaze, the quiet, careful observation.
Jinsol was used to being watched. But this was different. This wasn’t admiration. This was curiosity.
And that made her uneasy.
Yoona knew something. Or at least, she suspected something.
Jinsol had to be careful.
She let out a small sigh, forcing herself to relax. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” she muttered.
Yoona smirked.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Jinsol scoffed. “Right.”
But she knew.
And she had a feeling that whatever game Yoona was playing—
It was only just beginning.
Jinsol sat across from Yoona, arms casually resting on the table, eyes scanning the cafeteria. She needed to stay relaxed.
Because she could already tell—Yoona was up to something.
The way she sat, the way she leaned slightly forward, her expression calm but too focused—it wasn’t just a casual lunch.
It was an interrogation.
A subtle one. A careful, well-thought-out strategy.
And Jinsol knew exactly who the subject was.
“So,” Yoona began, stirring her drink lazily with her straw. “Have you ever been in a fight?”
Jinsol blinked.
That was… unexpected.
She shrugged. “I do martial arts. I compete sometimes.”
Yoona hummed, nodding as if she already expected that answer.
“But have you ever fought, like… outside of competition?”
Jinsol raised an eyebrow. That was too specific.
“What kind of question is that?”
Yoona smiled. “Just curious.”
Jinsol took a sip of her drink, thinking. She had two choices. She could either brush it off or play along and see where Yoona was going with this.
“…Not really,” she answered carefully. “Unless you count stopping drunk guys from fighting each other at parties.”
Yoona’s lips curled slightly. “You seem strong enough to do more than that.”
Jinsol chuckled. “Are you saying I should go pick fights?”
Yoona tilted her head. “I’m saying… I wouldn’t be surprised if you could take down an opponent twice your size.”
Jinsol froze for half a second.
Yoona was fishing.
She was throwing out bait, seeing how Jinsol would react.
This wasn’t just some playful conversation—this was a test.
Jinsol forced herself to smirk. “What, do you think I’m secretly a street fighter or something?”
Yoona just smiled. “I think you’re more capable than you let on.”
Jinsol kept her expression relaxed, but internally, she was tense.
Yoona wasn’t the type to ask random questions.
She suspected something.
Jinsol needed to turn the conversation around. Fast.
She leaned back, arms crossed. “You seem really interested in fights. What about you? Have you ever been in one?”
Yoona didn’t even hesitate. “Nope.”
“…Not even slapped someone?”
“Surprisingly, no.”
Jinsol smirked. “Disappointing.”
Yoona chuckled, shaking her head. “But I’ve seen fights before. Some up close.” She stirred her drink again. “I even saw Specter fight the other night.”
Jinsol’s grip on her glass tightened just slightly.
“Yeah?” she said, keeping her voice neutral. “That must’ve been cool.”
Yoona’s gaze flickered up to her.
“It was,” she said slowly. “It was… fascinating, actually. Specter was fast, strong… the way she moved was so familiar.”
Jinsol exhaled through her nose, keeping her expression casual. “Well, she’s probably trained. A lot of people move the same way when they fight.”
Yoona hummed again. “Maybe.”
Jinsol took another sip of her drink, pretending she wasn’t analyzing every word coming out of Yoona’s mouth.
She wasn’t just talking about Specter.
She was talking about her.
Yoona was watching her. Comparing. Testing her reactions.
Jinsol needed to be careful.
She forced herself to smirk. “You sound like a fan.”
Yoona raised an eyebrow. “Maybe I am.”
Jinsol chuckled. “Then what, are you gonna write about her?”
A small, knowing smile crossed Yoona’s lips.
“Maybe I already am.”
Jinsol froze for one second too long.
And Yoona caught it.
Her eyes sharpened just slightly, her smile deepening like she had just confirmed something.
Jinsol forced a laugh, shaking her head. “You’re seriously obsessed.”
Yoona leaned forward slightly, her gaze piercing.
“You think so?”
Jinsol met her eyes. Did she know?
No. If she knew for sure, she would have confronted her directly.
She was still testing.
Jinsol smiled lazily, leaning back in her chair. “Yeah. But hey, can’t blame you. She’s cool.”
Yoona held her gaze for a few more seconds—too long.
Then, finally, she leaned back as well. “She is.”
Jinsol took a slow breath, calming herself.
She needed to be more careful.
Because Yoona wasn’t going to stop digging anytime soon.
Jinsol walked home at a steady pace, the familiar rhythm of the city filling the air around her. The chatter of students, the honking of cars, the distant hum of life—it was all background noise to her as she replayed today’s events in her head.
Lunch with Yoona had been too suspicious.
Jinsol had always known Yoona was sharp, but today was different. The way she had asked those questions, the way she studied her reactions—it was clear she was testing her. And the way Yoona had smirked when she caught her hesitation? That was dangerous.
Jinsol couldn’t slip up again.
She sighed, rubbing the back of her neck as she turned onto a quieter street. It was always around this part of the walk when she let herself relax a little. Fewer people, fewer distractions. Just a few more blocks, and she’d be home.
What she didn’t realize was that Yoona was following her.
A few paces behind, Yoona moved carefully, keeping her steps light. She wasn’t an expert at tailing people, but she was careful, observant, and determined.
And Jinsol was her target.
Ever since that night, when Specter had called her name with too much familiarity, Yoona had felt it—a nagging suspicion that wouldn’t leave her alone. It wasn’t just that Specter knew her name. It was the way she said it.
Like she wasn’t just a civilian in trouble.
Like she was someone important.
And then there was today—Jinsol’s hesitation. That split second where her mask had slipped when Yoona hinted at writing about Specter.
Yoona had seen it.
She had been watching closely, analyzing every little detail. And now, as she followed Jinsol through the dimly lit streets, she felt closer than ever to uncovering the truth.
Jinsol turned down another street, and Yoona slowed her pace, keeping her distance. She had to be careful. If Jinsol was Specter, then she wasn’t just some ordinary student. She was fast, strong, trained. If she noticed she was being followed, she might try to shake her off.
Yoona couldn’t let that happen.
She stayed back, using the occasional group of people and parked cars as cover. Every movement, every turn, every glance Jinsol made—Yoona watched it all.
Then, without warning—Jinsol stopped.
Yoona froze.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Jinsol stood still in the middle of the sidewalk, her posture relaxed, but something about it felt… off.
Slowly, she turned her head.
Yoona’s breath caught.
For a second, it felt like Jinsol was looking directly at her.
Yoona ducked lower, her heart pounding. Had she been caught? No—Jinsol wasn’t making any moves to run. She wasn’t calling her out.
Instead, after a brief pause, she sighed and kept walking.
Yoona waited a few more seconds before slowly stepping back into the shadows. She had to be more careful.
This was enough for today.
But she wasn’t giving up.
She was so close.
And soon, she would have her answer.