Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Normal Student
Pain shot through me, sharp and immediate, dragging me out of unconsciousness. My ribs felt like they were on fire, and a dull ache spread across my back.
Another kick landed, harder this time, slamming into my side. My body jerked involuntarily, trembling on the cold floor of what looked like a classroom.
"Should've brought the money today, you pathetic piece of trash." sneered a voice from above me.
I coughed, the metallic taste of blood in my mouth. My vision blurred, but I could make out the white-haired bastard standing over me, his expression twisted with smug superiority.
'What the hell is happening?' I thought, the pain making it hard to focus. My memories felt scrambled, fragments of something important floating just out of reach.
Then it hit me. The pills. The ROB. The reincarnation. Everything clicked into place.
I blinked hard, forcing my vision to clear as I looked up. Standing there, in the flesh, was someone I never expected to see outside of a screen.
Cheolwoo Min.
My mind reeled. This wasn't just any bully; this was the first loser Ha Do-wan had obliterated in *Reality Quest* with the Multi-Strike Destruction skill.
'How the fuck is this guy still alive?' I thought, glaring up at him. 'He got clapped so hard in the manhwa, it's a miracle his pixels didn't dissolve. And that was against max stats. What's going to happen in this reality?'
Before I could finish the thought, a boot drove into my abdomen, knocking the wind out of me. My body rolled across the floor, coming to an abrupt stop when my back hit the wall.
I groaned, coughing violently as I tried to gather myself. The pain was unbearable, but something else burned brighter within me, curiosity.
'System.' I thought, the word forming instinctively in my mind.
A translucent panel flickered into view, hovering in my line of sight.
_________________________________
CHARACTER INFORMATION
Name: ???
Class: Normal Student
CURRENT STATS
HP: 320/1000
MP: 100/100
Attack Power: 1
Defense: 1
Agility: 1
Mentality: 1
_________________________________
I clenched my jaw. '320 HP left? These assholes already knocked out nearly 70% of my health. If this keeps up, I'm done.'
Cheolwoo strode toward me, crouching down until his face was just inches from mine. His hand shot out, grabbing a fistful of my hair, yanking my head up to force me to meet his glare.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you." he growled, his voice low and menacing.
But I didn't flinch. His attempt to intimidate me was almost laughable. I stared back, unbothered, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of my mouth.
'This mf really needs a reality check.' I thought, barely suppressing a chuckle.
[Mentality increased by 10.]
The notification popped up in the corner of my vision, crisp and clear. My smirk grew. 'Looks like the system agrees with me. Now, let's see how far I can push this.'
[Memory Unlock Initiated.]
The notification appeared in my vision, and before I could react, a rush of memories hit me like a tidal wave.
My name. My life. Who I was. It all came flooding back.
I was Jin Lee, just an average high school student. My parents weren't billionaires, but they were better off than most, my father worked long hours as a manager, and my mom was a nurse pulling double shifts at the hospital. We weren't rich, but we were comfortable.
And then… the day that changed everything. I had saved up some money and bought myself a cool pair of sneakers I'd been eyeing for months. It wasn't meant to show off, I just thought they looked good.
But the white-haired bastard, Cheolwoo Min, saw it differently. His jealousy lit a fire under him, and he started "testing" me. Small things at first, like borrowing lunch money or making me carry his bag. When he realized I didn't fight back, he got bolder.
Soon, I became his personal wallet, his punching bag, his entertainment. Every day was a living hell, but the old me, no.. the original Jin was weak, submissive, scared, never stood up to him.
I saw my now house, my bedroom, my routine life. I saw my father coming home late, exhausted, and my mother leaving for another long shift. They had no idea what I was going through.
When the memories stopped, I found myself lying on the floor of the classroom. My body ached everywhere, and the taste of blood lingered in my mouth. Groaning, I shifted my head and caught sight of Cheolwoo walking away with his goons, laughing and chatting like nothing had happened.
"Man, Dowan better have that sword ready." Cheolwoo said, his tone dripping with arrogance.
Another of his lackeys laughed. "Yeah, that nerd's probably shitting himself trying to find it."
I coughed, spitting blood onto the floor as I tried to push myself up. Pain coursed through my body, but I gritted my teeth and forced myself to stand.
[HP: 93/1000]
The panel in my vision mocked me with the reminder of just how close I was to death. But I ignored it. My blood boiled, my chest burned, and something deep inside me screamed to take control.
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and glared at the retreating bullies. My lips curled into a grin as I spat more blood onto the floor.
"Motherfucker." I called out, my voice hoarse but loud enough to stop them in their tracks. "We're not done here."
Cheolwoo and his crew turned, their faces painted with shock.
"What the hell did he just say?" one of the goons stammered, his voice laced with disbelief.
"Didn't he pass out?" another whispered, clearly unsettled.
Cheolwoo's eyes narrowed as he locked onto me, his lips curling into an amused smirk. "Well, well, well." he said, taking a step closer. "Looks like the little wallet's grown a spine."
I took a shaky step forward, my body screaming in protest, but I refused to back down. "You better enjoy this moment." I said, my grin widening. "Because it's not going to last."
....
And then I woke up.
My eyes fluttered open to the sterile white ceiling of the infirmary. The smell of antiseptic filled my nostrils, and I realized my body felt like it had been trampled by a herd of elephants.
I shifted slightly, wincing as the pain shot through my ribs. Bandages wrapped tightly around my torso, holding me together like I was about to fall apart.
The sound of rustling paper made me glance to the side. The school nurse sat at her desk, completely unfazed, her face buried in a stack of documents. When she noticed me stir, she glanced up, gave a small nod of acknowledgment, then went right back to her paperwork without a word.
I sighed, lifting a hand to my face. The memories of Cheolwoo Min and his lackeys came rushing back like an uninvited guest. That white-haired bastard had beaten me senseless, and for what? A few kicks, some ego stroking, and a show for his lackeys.
I rubbed my temples, frustration bubbling inside me.
'What could I have done?' I thought bitterly. My body was already broken, and my stats… well, they were pathetic. There was no winning that fight.
I stared at my trembling hand, fingers curling into a weak fist. I would have won with plot in a manhwa, but this… this was real life.
"This is real life." I whispered to myself, the words sinking in like stones.
I wasn't Ha Do-wan. I didn't have max stats, here, I had to figure things out with what I had.
A grin came.
And this is how i want it, fuck the plot!
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1289 words.
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