Reality Quest: Lookism

As Jin walked leisurely down the street toward his home, his thoughts lingered on how easily he had dealt with Se Hoon. His lips curled into a small, self-satisfied grin.

"Guess all that brutal training to boost my speed paid off," he mused. The image of Se Hoon's baffled face as he failed to land a single blow replayed in his mind, amusing him further.

The memory of his intense training flashed vividly in Jin's mind. When he first arrived at the mountain, the serene beauty of the place was almost enough to make him forget why he was there. Tall trees surrounded him, their canopies swaying gently with the breeze, and the sound of birds chirping filled the air.

He had decided to train by chopping wood. Not for firewood, but to use the logs as weights for jumping exercises. Starting with moderately sized logs, Jin tied them to his back with thick rope. Each jump sent shockwaves through his legs, but the strain was what he needed to push himself further.

For two days, he repeated the same routine. Jump, strain, fall, recover, and jump again. As his body grew more accustomed to the weight, he cut larger logs and tied them to his back. His legs screamed in protest, his entire body aching, but Jin welcomed the pain.

What he didn't welcome, however, was the exhaustion that followed. After a particularly grueling session, Jin had flopped to the ground, his breathing ragged.

"Damn… this would be easier if I didn't feel like I'm dying every hour." he muttered. He decided to see if the system had something.

He opened the shop, scrolling through the sections until something new caught his attention.

[Passive Skills Section Updated]

Curious, Jin tapped on it, and a new list appeared:

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Critical Hit: 50 Credits

Recovery: 100 Credits

Circulation of Light: 300 Credits

Weapon Mastery: 500 Credits

The skill Recovery immediately caught his eye.

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Jin selected the skill, and an information panel appeared in front of him:

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[RECOVERY]

Passive Skill

Required Mana: None

During sleep, the body's recovery rate increases tremendously.

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Jin grinned. "This is it!" Without hesitation, he used his grey key to purchase it. The instant he did, the panel vanished, and a black-and-blue aura enveloped his body.

The energy coursing around him was like an electric current, making his skin tingle. Before he could fully grasp what was happening, the world around him changed.

....

Jin found himself standing in the middle of a dense jungle. The humidity clung to his skin, and the faint sound of rustling leaves and distant animal calls surrounded him. In front of him, a new panel materialized.

Jin stared at the quest panel hovering in front of him, rereading the details.

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[Quest: Unlock Recovery Skill]

Prove your worth to wield the power of recovery.

• Survive one month in the jungle.

• Find your own food and water.

• Successfully defeat the Apex Predator of the jungle.

Temporary Passive Skill: Recovery activated.

Reward: Recovery Skill

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His lips curled into a grin. "A whole month, huh? And I get to use Recovery in advance?" He cracked his knuckles. "This is gonna be fun."

....

The dense jungle was alive with sound. Birds cawed overhead, insects buzzed in the humid air, and the occasional rustle of leaves hinted at unseen creatures moving in the underbrush. Towering trees stretched high into the sky, their canopies forming a thick green ceiling that let only faint rays of sunlight filter through. Massive roots sprawled across the forest floor, weaving into natural obstacles.

Jin took in his surroundings. "Alright, jungle. Show me what you've got."

He began walking aimlessly, his boots crunching softly against the leaf-strewn ground. The heat was stifling, and beads of sweat quickly formed on his brow. After about an hour of exploring, he came across a towering tree, its trunk impossibly thick and its height easily over 30 meters.

Jin tilted his head back, squinting to see the top. "That's a tall one." he muttered, rubbing his chin. "If I can get up there, I'll have a good vantage point to scout the area."

Jin jumped and grabbed one of the lower branches, pulling himself up with ease. But as he went higher, the branches became sparser and the climb more challenging. The bark was rough, cutting into his hands as he struggled to find footholds.

Just as he reached about five meters, his grip slipped.

CRASH!

Jin landed flat on his back, staring up at the canopy above. "Ow.." he groaned, rubbing the back of his head. Then he laughed. "Guess I underestimated it."

He sat up and stretched his arms. "Alright, this'll be training then."

Determined, Jin got to work. He found vines hanging nearby and tied them into makeshift weights by attaching rocks and smaller logs. He fastened the weights to his wrists, testing their weight before nodding in approval.

"Now let's make this interesting." he said to himself.

This time, he attempted to climb the tree using only his grip strength, keeping his legs stiff and immobile. The added weight strained his arms, making each pull feel like lifting a boulder. His hands slipped frequently, causing him to fall again and again.

....

For three grueling days, Jin repeated the same process. Every time he fell, he would take a short nap, using the temporary Recovery skill to heal his injuries and restore his stamina. Cuts on his palms, bruised ribs, and aching muscles vanished during his brief rests, allowing him to continue without pause.

"Thanks, Recovery." Jin muttered as he stretched his fingers, no longer sore from his last fall.

On the second day, Jin managed to climb halfway up the tree before his arms gave out. His hands trembled violently, his grip slipping from the rough bark. He fell again, landing in the dirt with a loud thud.

But his frequent falls toughened his body so he didn't get hurt much.

"Dammit!" he shouted, slamming his fist into the ground. But instead of sulking, he smirked. "This is teaching me something."

The third day was a turning point. With the jungle sun high overhead, Jin made his final attempt. His body felt lighter, his muscles stronger from the constant strain. With the new weights still tied to his wrists, he hauled himself upward, branch by branch, inch by inch.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Jin's hand grasped the topmost branch. He pulled himself up and sat on the thick branch, panting heavily.

From his new vantage point, Jin could see the sprawling jungle stretching endlessly in every direction. The treetops rippled like an ocean of green, and in the distance, he spotted a glimmering river cutting through the forest.

"There's my water source." he muttered with a grin.

The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the jungle. Jin leaned back against the trunk, letting the breeze cool his sweat-soaked body. As he rested, his stomach growled loudly, reminding him of another necessity: food.

Reaching into his pocket, Jin pulled out a few mushrooms he had collected earlier from the jungle floor. He inspected them carefully. "The system didn't say they were poisonous, so…"

With a shrug, he popped one into his mouth and chewed. The taste was earthy and slightly bitter, but it was enough to stave off hunger.

....

As the sun set, Jin remained perched atop the tree, reflecting on his progress. The past three days had been brutal, but he felt a sense of accomplishment. His arms were stronger, his grip like iron, and his endurance increased.

"This jungle's no joke." he murmured, looking up at the stars beginning to peek through the canopy. "But neither am I."

With that, he closed his eyes, letting the Recovery skill work its magic as he prepared for the challenges yet to come.

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1300 words.

I loved this chapter ngl, do you want more of the jungle? Anyway we have a lot of chapters that will need to come before we even get to the half of the story, hahaha.