Episode 78 Beyond Myself
White space.
In Jinwoo’s hand was a bow.
An old wooden bow.
But strangely familiar.
The moment he held it,
his body reacted first.
Foot position.
Angle of the waist.
Breath.
Where to place his gaze.
He knew it all.
Jinwoo looked down at the bow, surprised.
“This…
what is this.”
The other Jinwoo spoke.
“Memory.”
“Memories that could have been yours.”
Jinwoo did not understand.
But his body did.
Suddenly,
dozens of targets appeared.
Across the white space.
Near.
Far.
Moving.
Still.
Countless marks.
The other Jinwoo.
“Shoot.”
Jinwoo drew the bowstring.
Awkward.
Yet familiar.
Whish.
The arrow flew.
And missed.
If Darin were here,
she would have laughed.
But now,
no one was there.
The other Jinwoo remained calm.
“Why did you miss?”
Jinwoo answered with irritation.
“It’s my first time.”
The other.
“No.”
“You’re still focused only on the result.”
Jinwoo frowned.
The words were familiar.
During hoop rolling.
During string figures.
Always the same.
The other continued.
“You want to hit the target.”
“You don’t want to fail.”
“You don’t want to be wrong.”
“And that’s why you tremble.”
Jinwoo’s hand froze.
It was true.
Far away, Hanul’s voice echoed.
“Damn it!”
Thud.
Something fell.
The other Hanul.
“Still trying to solve everything with strength?”
Hanul.
“Shut up!”
Another space.
Darin.
“Can’t I laugh?”
The other Darin.
“You laugh because you’re afraid.”
Darin’s smile vanished.
Another space.
Soyeon.
Standing quietly.
The other Soyeon.
“How long will you carry it alone?”
Soyeon lowered her head.
Each battle.
Each wall.
Each growth.
Back to Jinwoo.
The other slowly raised his hand.
The scenery shifted.
War.
Burning space.
Exploding ships.
Collapsing defenses.
Jinwoo held his breath.
Earth.
Reality.
The other asked.
“Why do they fight?”
Jinwoo.
“To protect.”
The other.
“To win?”
Jinwoo paused.
No.
They knew victory was impossible.
Yet they fought.
Why?
At that moment,
the last ship from the lunar base charged forward.
No retreat.
No escape.
Jinwoo whispered softly.
“…Because they didn’t give up.”
The other Jinwoo smiled for the first time.
“Good.
Now you understand.”
Suddenly,
Jinwoo’s hand steadied.
His breath calmed.
His gaze no longer wavered.
Target.
Wind.
Distance.
Everything became clear.
He drew the bowstring again.
And released.
Snap.
The arrow flew.
Straight.
Unshaken.
Striking the center.
Dead center.
[Archery Sync Rate: 61%]
Blue light enveloped Jinwoo.
The other Jinwoo’s figure began to fade.
“Good.
Now.
The real beginning.”
The white space trembled once more.
And Jinwoo realized.
It was not martial arts entering his mind.
It was something he had always known.
Something he was finally accepting.