lookism: Apostle

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The school trip was over, and no one knew the truth about who had beaten Zeus.

In the school, the teacher announced, "Today, a transfer student will be joining us." The students erupted into chatter, speculating whether the new student would be a girl or a boy, and if he or she would be attractive. Conversations filled the room as imaginations ran wild.

Then, a small, plump girl entered the classroom, causing all the students to look down in disappointment. Their initial excitement fizzled out as they quietly exchanged glances, silently judging the new arrival.

Michael wasn't particularly interested in the new transfer student, but when he heard the name "Crystal," he immediately turned to look at the girl. However, upon seeing her, he realized she wasn't the Crystal he knew. With a faint frown of disappointment, he turned away, directing his gaze outside the window, his mind wandering elsewhere.

Crystal introduced herself to the class, her voice trembling slightly under the weight of so many stares. She noticed the other students were staring at her with expressions as if they had seen something out of this world. The room felt suffocating under their judgmental gaze. Suddenly, her eyes landed on a familiar figure—it was Michael, who was still looking out the window, seemingly detached from everything around him. Just then, a handsome boy approached her and introduced himself with a bright smile, clearly trying to make a good impression.

But Crystal didn't appreciate this attention, as it made her life more complicated. The boy's interaction with her in front of other students made her uneasy, so she quickly took her seat next to Michael, hoping to escape the scrutiny.

As classes began, Michael whispered to Crystal, "Do you know another girl named Crystal? Your name is the same as hers." His voice was low, almost hesitant, as if he didn't want anyone else to overhear.

Crystal was confused about how to respond, so she told him that she was her older sister. Her expression was calm, but inside, she felt uneasy. Michael nodded in response, accepting her explanation without probing further. He didn't want to attract attention to them, especially with so many prying eyes in the room.

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After school, as Michael was walking down the street, he heard barking coming from a corner. When he looked over, he saw a group of students from the vocal department throwing rocks at a dog. Crystal was trying to protect the dog by shielding it with her body. Her small frame trembled, but she stood firm, even as the boys continued throwing rocks. Eventually, one of the rocks hit Crystal, making her wince in pain.

She closed her eyes, bracing for another impact, but it never came. When she opened her eyes, she saw Michael holding the rock in his hand, his grip so tight that veins bulged in his arm. With an effortless motion, he crushed the rock into powder.

Michael said, "You don't want to see my bad side." His voice was calm, but there was an edge of menace that made the boys hesitate.

Vin Jin, one of the boys, was angry at Michael's words and tried to attack him, but a blonde girl stopped him. Her sharp tone and unwavering gaze were enough to make him back off. Vin Jin then walked away with his friends, muttering curses under his breath, clearly humiliated.

Turning to Crystal, Michael said, "You're just like your sister—careless. Let me walk with you to your house." His tone softened, and for a moment, there was a hint of concern in his usually stoic demeanor. Crystal, still shaken but grateful for Michael's protection, nodded in agreement.

As they neared her building, Crystal said, "Don't try to meet my sister for a few days because her bodyguard will be taking her to meetings." Michael nodded, understanding the unspoken message. Without another word, he turned and headed home, his steps quiet but deliberate.

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A few days passed with nothing interesting happening, except for him taking care of the dog, Inu. Michael's routine was uneventful, but there was a calmness to it that he didn't mind.

One day, when he was leaving the school with Daniel and Zack, a person approached Daniel and offered him to be his model. The man was wearing rugged clothes, exuding unconfident. "I will pay $87 a day," he said, his tone expectant.

Then another person came out of a luxurious car, giving off an air of authority. He handed Daniel his business card and said, "Be a model for me. I will give you $87 an hour." The contrast between the two offers was stark, and the second man's confidence left a lasting impression.

After making their offers, the men provided the shoot location to Daniel and left.

Daniel then asked Michael to come with him and help the poor person. "I'll need someone to keep things under control," Daniel said with a grin.

Michael agreed. He had nothing to do at weekends except roaming around.

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On the day of the shoot, Daniel and Michael were looking more handsome in shoot clothes. The tailored outfits accentuated their features, making them stand out even among professionals.

After the photoshoot, Michael didn't accept the money and instead told the client to buy a meal for them. His simple request caught the photographer off guard but earned him admiration from the staff.

After that day, their photos were printed in magazines. Seeing these photos, Crystal said to Michael, "You look more handsome in these photos. Maybe you should try modeling." Michael then said, "Maybe." His nonchalant response masked the slight embarrassment he felt.

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A few days passed.

In school, students were talking about an app named *Toto*, which supposedly helped people make easy money. Michael didn't believe it. Making easy money was like a dream, far from reality in his eyes.

After school was over, he received a message on his phone. It was information about the Big Deal leader, Jake Kim, along with his photo. The Big Deal was his first target.

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Two days later, Michael was in his apartment. He couldn't go out because it was raining. He was reviewing the information about the Big Deal when he suddenly received a call. It was Crystal. She told him to meet her at the grocery store. Michael didn't agree at first because it was raining, but after a while, he decided to go.

He wore a black hoodie, black pants, a black mask, and black shoes. Then, holding an umbrella, Michael made his way toward the grocery store.

When he reached there, he saw many familiar faces from his class and a kid with purple hair.

When he heard what had happened, Michael immediately excused himself and left the grocery store. Crystal tried to stop him, but he didn't turn back.

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Then, after walking for miles, Michael reached his destination. He stood under the shadow of a dim streetlamp, rain dripping from the edges of his umbrella. Ahead, he saw Jake Kim standing tall, his imposing figure framed by the broken bodies of Vasco and Jace. Vasco lay beaten, his face swollen and bruised, while Jace knelt beside him, his hands trembling as he tried to support his friend.

Michael approached slowly, his movements calm but deliberate, his face hidden beneath the black hood and mask. His presence seemed to distort the air around him, and the sound of the rain faded into the background. Jake's sharp eyes locked onto the mysterious figure.

"Are you Jake Kim, the leader of Big Deal?" Michael asked, his voice even but cold, carrying an authority that cut through the tension.

Jake, unfazed by the question, straightened his posture and replied, "Yeah, that's me. Who's asking?"

Michael's eyes narrowed beneath the mask, though Jake couldn't see it. "Well, this day will be your unluckiest day," Michael said, his tone dripping with confidence.

Jake scoffed, his fists clenching as he prepared for a fight. Without waiting for another word, Jake lunged forward, throwing a punch aimed directly at Michael's face. But Michael dodged it effortlessly, his movements almost too fast to follow.

In response, Michael threw a punch toward Jake's midsection, his fist cutting through the air like a bullet. Jake managed to block it with his arm, but the force behind the punch sent a shockwave through his body, numbing his arm. Jake staggered back slightly, his expression shifting to one of mild disbelief.

Michael tilted his head slightly. "Oh, you blocked my weakest punch. Well, you deserve better, I guess," he said, his voice laced with mockery. Then, in a flash, Michael launched another punch at Jake. This time, Jake narrowly dodged it, but as Michael's fist hit the ground, the concrete beneath them cracked, sending shards flying.

Jake launched a counterattack, a powerful sidekick aimed at Michael's ribs. But Michael caught Jake's leg mid-air, his grip firm and unyielding. With a swift motion, Michael flipped Jake over and slammed him to the ground. Jake groaned as pain shot through his body, but he quickly rolled to his feet, refusing to back down.

Fueled by frustration, Jake unleashed a flurry of punches at Michael. His fists moved so quickly they blurred, and for a moment, it seemed like he was landing every strike. But when he paused to catch his breath, he realized something unsettling—Michael stood there, completely unscathed. Not a single bruise or scratch marred his skin.

Michael's voice cut through the silence. "You thought you were landing hits, didn't you?" he said, a smirk hidden beneath his mask. "I deflected every single one. You're fast, but you're not fast enough."

Jake's chest heaved as exhaustion began to set in. Sensing an opening, Michael moved with blinding speed. In the blink of an eye, he landed an uppercut to Jake's chin, sending him flying into the air. Jake's body arced backward, and before he could even hit the ground, Michael followed him, landing several devastating punches mid-air. The final blow was a powerful kick to Jake's chest, the impact breaking several of his ribs and sending him crashing to the ground.

The sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the rain. Michael turned to see members of Big Deal rushing toward the scene, their faces twisted in anger and fear. Jake, now barely conscious, tried to signal them to stay back, but they ignored him, determined to protect their leader.

Michael's lips curled into a grin beneath his mask. A red light flashed in his eyes for a split second, a warning of the chaos about to unfold. Before the Big Deal members could react, Michael disappeared from their sight.

In an instant, he reappeared in the middle of the group, moving like a shadow. Two of the members lunged at him, but Michael dodged their attacks effortlessly. With a flick of his wrist, he pulled a knife from his pocket and slashed at their backs. They crumpled to the ground, crying out in pain.

The remaining members hesitated, fear flickering in their eyes. But they steeled themselves, emboldened by their numbers. What they didn't realize was that their numbers were meaningless against Michael.

With knives in both hands, held in twisted grips, Michael moved like a whirlwind. He vanished and reappeared between them, slashing with surgical precision. Blood splattered across the rain-soaked pavement as the group fell one by one, their cries drowned out by the sound of the downpour. The scene was pure carnage—a massacre.

When the chaos subsided, a man in a black lounge coat stepped forward, holding an umbrella that shielded him from the rain. His presence was calm yet commanding as he walked toward the pile of bodies, blood pooling around them like a crimson river.

Jake, now barely clinging to consciousness, opened his eyes and surveyed the aftermath. His breath hitched when he saw the lifeless bodies of his men strewn across the ground, blood flowing freely from their wounds. The sight was surreal—a nightmare brought to life.

Jake's gaze shifted to the man in the lounge coat, the only one left standing. The man's expression was unreadable as he approached Jake.

"You're out, Jake Kim," the man said, his voice firm but devoid of emotion.

Jake's anger flared despite his weakened state. "No... I'm not done yet!" he growled, forcing himself to his feet. But before he could make a move, the man's words stopped him in his tracks.

"You know the rules, Jake. You were not supposed to earn money through illegal business. That disqualifies you from being my disciple." His tone was cold and final.

Jake's defiance crumbled as the man delivered a brutal beating, ensuring Jake wouldn't forget this lesson. When he was done, he reached down and took something from Jake—his teeth.

From the shadows, Michael watched the entire scene unfold. His blood-soaked clothes clung to his skin, but the rain slowly washed away the crimson stains. He whispered to himself, a quiet revelation: *he created the Big 4.*

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A few days later, Michael was sitting at the back of the classroom with small Crystal, ignoring the teacher's lecture. His mind wandered as he thought, *The Big Deal is finished now. Who will be next? I can do nothing except just wait.*

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The end . PTJ next chapter