Lookism: Unchained Fate

The screams echoed across the open field. Thousands of sect followers shouted passionately, their voices merging into a single chant that they repeated over and over again.

"EXECUTION! EXECUTION! EXECUTION!"

At the center of the rough wooden stage, the frail body of a woman hung on a massive cross. The flickering torchlight revealed her pale, battered face. Her breathing was ragged, but no scream escaped her lips. Her eyes were empty, staring up at the dark sky as if pleading for a miracle that would never come.

Nearby, Mi-jin sat trembling, her hands bound, her entire body shaking. She couldn't tear her gaze away from the crucified woman—Yohan's mother. Her body was covered in wounds, her clothes torn, blood dripping from her wrists that were nailed to the wood.

Mi-jin bit her lip, trying to suppress the fear crawling up her spine. But as she looked at the faces around her, that fear morphed into something even worse—betrayal. She knew these people.

The ones now shouting with feverish excitement… were the same faces she had seen in church as a child. They were ordinary people who used to smile at her after sermons, people who came to pray, seeking peace. But now, their eyes were filled with madness. Pastor had taken them. Over the years, little by little, he had stolen their faith, brainwashed them, and turned them into obedient puppets.

"…This was all planned from the beginning," Mi-jin murmured, her voice trembling.

Then, a low chuckle came from behind her. The Pastor.

A cold shiver ran down her spine as the Pastor approached. His gaze stripped her bare, violating her before he had even touched her.

With a twisted smirk, he leaned in close, whispering right into Mi-jin's ear.

"I will read the holy scriptures to you personally."

His cold hand gripped her wrist tightly. She struggled, but his strength was overwhelming. He yanked her up, dragging her away from the crowd and into the darkness waiting behind the door of his chamber.

The cries of "EXECUTION!" still echoed in the air as the heavy wooden door shut, trapping Mi-jin in her personal hell.

Joon-hyuk stood frozen.

The chants of "EXECUTION!" pounded in his ears, repeating over and over like a demonic echo that refused to stop tormenting him. His breathing was heavy, as if the air around him had turned into molten iron, crushing his lungs. His chest rose and fell rapidly, but he couldn't stop his hands from shaking.

Rage.

Fear.

Hatred.

All of it swirled inside him, clashing violently until it formed a storm ready to explode at any moment. His eyes locked onto the frail body of Yohan's mother, hanging on the cross—her hands and feet nailed, blood streaming from her wounds, yet her lips remained sealed. She did not cry. She did not beg for mercy. She simply remained silent, as if she had accepted the fate given to her.

But this wasn't fate. This was torture. This was murder.

Joon-hyuk clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. He could feel his skin breaking, warm blood seeping from his wounds, but it was nothing compared to the pain ripping through his soul.

He wanted to move.

He wanted to stop this.

He wanted to kill them all.

Yet, his body felt bound by invisible chains. His eyes scanned the surroundings, staring at the people shouting with their deranged fanaticism. Idiots. They didn't realize they were nothing more than puppets manipulated by a monstrous puppeteer.

Then, he saw him. The Pastor.

That disgusting smile, those filthy hands pulling Mi-jin away into the darkness.

Something inside Joon-hyuk snapped.

A mental scream shattered the thin barrier between sanity and madness. Suddenly, his breathing steadied—not because he had accepted the situation, but because something else had taken over.

The world slowed down.

The noise disappeared.

Joon-hyuk looked down at his trembling hands, now slowly growing still. His jet-black hair fell over his eyes, hiding his expression.

It felt like waking up from a long sleep.

Joon-hyuk—the kind one—had fallen asleep.

And now, his demon had awakened.

As soon as Joon-hyuk's demon emerged, the world around him seemed to slow down. Every sound—screams, barking dogs, the sect's chanting—faded, replaced by the sound of his deep, heavy breathing. His golden eyes darkened into a void of endless blackness, like darkness born from the pits of hell.

Blood surged through his veins. His muscles tensed, and a hunger for violence consumed him.

Before Joon-hyuk turned into a demon…

As the Pastor dragged Mi-jin into his chamber, Lee Zin froze in place. His eyes widened, breath quickening, and his chest felt as if it had been struck by a sledgehammer.

"MI-JIN!!" Lee Zin's voice exploded through the crowd.

He tried to move, but two sect followers immediately grabbed his arms.

"ARGH!" "ARGH!"

Zin struggled, slamming his head against the follower in front of him before kicking the one behind him.

But it was all in vain. In the end, he was overpowered and pinned down by several cultists.

Meanwhile, Yohan could only remain silent.

Then, one of the sect followers shouted, "Throw the stones! Punish her!"

Rocks began flying toward his mother's body.

Yohan still couldn't believe this was real.

'Is this a dream? Is this reality? Mom is unconscious. The Pastor deceived me. He deceived me… Zin, too. And Mi-jin… He deceived everyone.'

Yohan's hands clenched as tears rolled down his cheeks. He thought:

'This… is all… Mom's fault. I hate Mom. Just die already.'

But as the first stone struck his mother's forehead, a weak smile formed on her lips. With tears streaming down her face, she whispered,

"I'm sorry."

Yohan's eyes widened. His breath caught in his throat. He looked again at the stones flying toward his mother.

Then, in his mind, he remembered the sound of his mother's laughter...

"Papapapapapak!"

Zin was stunned.

One of the cult followers stammered, "S-Stop! Wait!"

Someone was standing in front of Yohan's mother, blocking all the stones. That person was Yohan himself.

Zin muttered, "That crazy kid... he's using my stance..."

The follower who had ordered the stoning was in shock. "He... he broke free from his restraints by force... without anyone's help... and all the stones flying at him... he blocked them?!"

Yohan's true potential had always been held back because he never wanted to cause trouble for his mother by fighting. But now, he had finally decided to unleash his fighting potential—to save his mother from being stoned to death.

Even when he was little, Zin had once shown him a boxing technique, and Yohan had been able to mimic it after just one look.

Zin clenched his fists in frustration. Damn... I thought this time, I'd be the one to turn things around. I worked so hard... but Yohan copied everything effortlessly.

"I can't win..." Zin muttered as he watched Yohan continue to block the stones being thrown at his mother.