Reality Quest: Lookism

Yapping allert (Does not take word count):

I want to make clear that i will update the chapters the moment i write and revise them, so the updates will be irregular, the more popular the story is, the more i post, but keep in mind that i write for fun.

But if you have any suggestions for some plot or interesting skills applications let me know.

I also want to let yall know that i just finished binge reading Reality quest, but many thing did not remain on my mind, so i will seach online and read the comments for some details.

What i want to say is that I'm not perfect so feel free to give suggestions.

I use ai to proof read and for technical explanations so read the chapter to see if you like it or not as to mot waste your time.

No smut here, don't ask.

Romance, or one night stands yes, but i will not give details.

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The soft glow of my phone lit up my dark room as I lay sprawled on my bed, scrolling through the latest chapter of Reality Quest. The blanket twisted awkwardly around my legs, but I couldn't be bothered to fix it. I was too absorbed in the action unfolding on my screen.

Ha Do-wan had just narrowly escaped another absurd scenario by the skin of his teeth, courtesy of the system's ever-convenient skills. With a flick of my thumb, I reached the last panel, the dreaded words staring back at me: "To be continued."

Great. I'd caught up again.

I let out a frustrated sigh and tossed the phone onto my chest. Why do I even do this to myself? Glancing at the clock on the wall, I groaned. It was nearly 2 a.m., and I had work tomorrow.

Sliding out of bed, I grabbed my toothbrush and shuffled toward the bathroom. My mind wasn't done, though.

'Why is Do-wan so dumb? Like, come on, he has a whole system helping him, and this guy still manages to fumble half the time.' The thought annoyed me more the longer I dwelled on it.

I paused mid-step. 'Weapon Mastery Passive Skill. That one really pisses me off. It activates only when he's fighting someone with a weapon. Suddenly, this guy who can't hold a stick properly turns into a sword-wielding pro? And that's with just a "slight" boost to his ability? Slight!? What does "majorly" boosted even look like?'

I shoved the toothbrush under running water, scrubbing my teeth aggressively. The toothpaste foam matched my bubbling irritation.

'And what's with him never thinking ahead? Like, has it never occurred to him to train without the system's help? He could practice swordsmanship on his own, then use the skill in combat to amplify whatever foundation he built. Would the increase stack? Would he become better than the skill could make him on its own?'

I spat into the sink, staring at my reflection. 'These are basic questions. How has Do-wan not asked this stuff?'

I rinsed my mouth, shaking my head as another thought crept in. 'And don't get me started on how hopeless he is with women. The white-haired girl practically threw herself at him, and what does he do? Nothing. Not a damn thing.'

The memory of her bold, confident moves against Do-wan's awkward flinching made me cringe on his behalf. 'How is he so dense? She's literally laying it on thick, and he's just standing there, acting like some embarrassed schoolboy. What a disgrace.'

With a sigh, I turned off the bathroom light and headed back to bed, flopping down and pulling the blanket over me. 'If I were him, I'd have figured this stuff out already. But no, this guy has a system, an insanely loyal girl chasing him, and he still messes it all up.'

As sleep began to pull me under, one last thought crossed my mind: 'If I had his system, I'd show him how it's done.'

....

The sensation of weightlessness tugged me awake. My eyes fluttered open, and I found myself standing in an endless dark expanse. The void stretched in every direction, silent and oppressive, but oddly calm.

I looked around, taking in the nothingness, before muttering to myself, "Yep, I've died."

Shaking my head, I exhaled a long sigh. Whatever had happened, it was over now. There was no use worrying about it.

"You are correct." a voice echoed from everywhere and nowhere at once.

I spun around, searching for its source, but there was no one in sight. The voice was disembodied yet resonant, like it carried an undeniable authority.

"You've died." it continued, "in a zombie apocalypse, no less. You were eaten by your infected little brother while he was still on the castle bed."

My mouth fell open as the words sank in. "What…?" The memory hit like a freight train. My little brother, pale and motionless on the bed we'd turned into a barricaded stronghold. The way his eyes had snapped open, red and feral. The blur of motion. Teeth. Pain.

I crossed my arms and nodded slowly. "Yeah… that makes sense."

The voice paused. It almost felt surprised by my reaction. "You… are not panicking." it finally said. "Unlike billions of other humans currently experiencing death, despair, and chaos, you are remarkably calm. Why?"

I shrugged and countered with a question of my own. "If I panic right now, will that change anything?"

There was silence for a long moment, the void itself seeming to hold its breath.

Finally, the voice answered, "No. These are facts."

"Exactly." I nodded. "So what's the point of wasting my energy?"

The voice hummed, a sound of agreement, maybe even respect. "You are… different, but not rare."

"Obviously, only weak willed people can't keep calm in tense situations." I replied. "But enough about me. Who are you?"

There was another pause before the voice replied, "I am a ROB, (Random Omnipotent Being) who happened to notice your incessant complaints."

My brow furrowed. "Complaints? What complaints? There are many things that irritate me."

"About how one Ha Do-wan misuses his system." the voice replied dryly. "Your rants were rather… persistent."

I blinked. "Wait… you're telling me you're here because I complained about a fictional character?"

"Precisely." The voice sounded almost amused. "And now, I've decided to grant you an opportunity. Let's see if you can do better."

I stared into the void, trying to process the absurdity of the situation. "You're serious?"

"Entirely." the ROB answered. "Do you accept?"

A slow grin spread across my face. "Oh, I'm so ready for this."

The voice chuckled softly. "Good," it said, its tone now tinged with amusement. With a flicker of light in the void, two pills materialized before me, one glowing a vibrant red and the other a calming blue.

"The red pill," the ROB began, "grants you a Lookism system. A system focused on Lookism skills, abilities and talents."

"And the blue one?" I asked, eyeing it.

"The blue pill will grant you a system akin to Ha Do-wan's, but with significant improvements. No penalties, no administrator interference. Pure progression and freedom to wield it as you see fit."

I stroked my chin, leaning closer to inspect both pills. After a moment, I straightened and asked, "So… can I just take both?"

The void seemed to freeze.

"Both?" the ROB echoed, its voice low and disbelieving.

"Yeah," I said, warming to the idea. "Think about it. Ultra instinct and a system that lets me fight with literally any weapon? I could be unstoppable!"

The ROB's silence was deafening. Then, with a tone dripping in exasperation, it scolded, "Greedy mortal! You stand here in the presence of omnipotence, and your first instinct is to demand everything?"

I raised my hands defensively, taking a small step back. "Hey, I'm just saying… it never hurts to ask."

The ROB sighed deeply, the sound reverberating through the void. "You mortals truly test my patience. I have better things to do. Choose one. Now."

I smirked, folding my arms. "Aren't you omnipotent? You can be everywhere at once, right? What's the rush?"

The sigh this time was even heavier, almost as if the entire expanse were sagging under the weight of it. "You.." the ROB said slowly, "..are insufferable." A swirling portal of light erupted into existence beside me, casting an eerie glow against the darkness.

"You have thirty seconds to decide and jump into the portal," the ROB warned, its tone sharper now. "Or I'll simply erase your soul and move on."

I gave an exaggerated nod, pretending to consider the stakes. "Fair, fair."

The pills hovered before me, and I weighed my options carefully. Both were good. But was there really a need to choose?

I extended my hands slowly toward each pill, my movements deliberate, before snatching both at once. "Why not both?" I grinned, shoving them into my mouth.

"BASTARD!" the ROB roared as I was sucked into the portal.

The pills dissolved instantly, their energy surging through me in an overwhelming rush. My body felt like it was splitting apart and being reforged all at once as the portal's pull intensified, dragging me toward whatever awaited on the other side.

The last thing I heard was the ROB's voice, filled with irritation and disbelief. "I hope you choke on your greed."

....

The vast void trembled slightly as the ROB, now visibly flustered, paced back and forth. His normally composed demeanor was shattered as he waved his hands frantically in the air.

"No, no, no!" the being muttered, his glowing form flickering with unease. "I screwed up! I really screwed up! He's gonna be so mad!"

A ripple cut through the darkness, and a figure began to emerge, a childlike silhouette with an aura far more commanding than his size suggested. His small, glowing form walked toward the quickly closing portal, his steps hurried.

"No, no! I can still fix this!" the child muttered, reaching out a tiny hand as if to pull the portal back open.

But it was too late. The portal vanished in a flash of light just as the child reached it. He froze, staring at the empty space where it had been, his expression twisting in frustration.

"Ugh!" He stamped his foot before lifting both hands in a feeble attempt to reopen the portal. Energy crackled around him, arcs of light forming the beginnings of another tear in space.

Before he could finish, a deep, resonant voice echoed across the void.

"Son, what are you doing?"

The child froze instantly. His glowing figure dimmed as he turned around, wide-eyed. "F-Fuck!"

A taller, much more imposing figure stepped forward, his aura radiating authority and control. The father of the child ROB surveyed the scene, his piercing gaze narrowing on his son. "Explain."

The child stammered, his hands fidgeting. "It's not what it looks like! I was just..well...I kinda...uh…"

The father's voice grew sharper. "Did you… take my prized placebo pills and give them to a mortal?"

The child winced, looking away. "Maybe…?"

The father groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose as though he had flesh and bone. "Unbelievable. You know those pills are only for special creations, not careless experiments with mortal souls!"

The child tried to defend himself. "It was just for fun! He was ranting about a system and-"

"No excuses." The father's tone was final. "As punishment, you will oversee another reality. Something tedious." He waved his hand, and a shimmering portal opened behind the child.

"But-!"

"No buts."

Tears welled up in the child's glowing eyes as he trudged toward the portal. "This isn't fair…" he muttered, his voice breaking into pitiful sobs. The portal swallowed him whole, leaving only silence in its wake.

The father turned back to the mortal soul that now drifted through the void, headed toward an alternative universe of Reality Quest. He observed it for a moment with an unreadable expression.

"Well." he muttered, "this is the soul's luck. Let's see what he makes of it."

With a resigned shrug, he turned away. "I can always create more placebo pills." His deep chuckle echoed across the void as he vanished, leaving the mortal soul to its destiny.

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1882 words.

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