Reality Quest: Lookism

Bonus chapter since you all are amazing fans! Thank you for answering to my question chapter! After this, slice of life chapters will come to chill a bit.

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The dense air of the boss area pressed down on Jin as he stepped deeper into the ominous jungle. The faint rays of light barely penetrated the thick canopy, leaving much of the surroundings in shadow. The ground felt damp beneath his feet, and the stillness of the area sent a chill down his spine.

A low, guttural growl echoed, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Jin stopped in his tracks, scanning the shadows. The growl grew louder, vibrating through the air as two dark red orbs appeared in the distance.

The predator stepped into the dim light, a massive black panther, its muscles rippling under a sleek coat that seemed to shimmer with an ethereal dark red aura. Its gaze bore into Jin with an intelligence that made his blood run cold.

The system chimed.

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[Apex Predator Detected: Shadowfang Panther]

Abilities: Blind Spot Strike, Wild Instincts.

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Jin's eyes widened, his grin faltering for a moment. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me. It knows my moves?"

The panther crouched low, its tail flicking as it prepared to strike. Jin raised his fists, his body tense. "Alright, kitty, let's see what you've got."

The panther lunged, a blur of speed. Jin barely had time to react, ducking just as the beast's claws swiped at his head. He countered with a punch, but the panther twisted mid-air, evading effortlessly.

It landed behind him and spun immediately, its paw glowing faintly. Jin's eyes widened as it struck with a Blind Spot Strike, the force sending him flying into a tree.

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[HP: 2671/2800]

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Jin groaned, pulling himself up. "So it's like that, huh?" He activated Wild Instincts, feeling the primal energy surge through him as a faint green aura surrounded his body.

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[Wild Instincts Activated: -20 MP per second]

[MP: 540/560]

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With instincts heightened, Jin darted forward, weaving through the jungle's thick vegetation. The panther met his charge head-on, their movements a blur as they clashed in a flurry of strikes. Jin's fists and feet connected with the beast's body, but its aura seemed to absorb some of the impact.

The panther retaliated with speed Jin struggled to keep up with, landing a powerful swipe to his ribs.

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[HP: 2436/2800]

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Jin gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain. He unleashed a Blind Spot Strike aimed at the panther's flank, pouring mana into the blow.

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[Blind Spot Strike Activated: -20 MP]

[MP: 440/560]

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The attack connected, the panther letting out a sharp growl as it staggered slightly. Jin smirked, but his victory was short-lived. The panther activated its own Wild Instincts, its dark red aura intensifying as it moved with even greater ferocity.

Their clash turned chaotic. The panther's speed and unpredictability pushed Jin to his limits, forcing him to rely on pure instinct to evade its attacks. Every strike he landed seemed to take a toll on his body as much as it did on the beast.

Jin leaped back, panting heavily. The panther crouched low, its glowing eyes locked on him. Blood trickled from multiple wounds on Jin's arms and torso, his vision beginning to blur from the exertion.

"Dammit." he muttered, wiping the blood from his lip. "You're tougher than I thought."

The panther lunged again, faster this time. Jin barely dodged, the beast's claws grazing his shoulder.

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[HP: 2104/2800]

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Jin activated another Blind Spot Strike, aiming for the panther's head.

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[Blind Spot Strike Activated: -20 MP]

[MP: 420/560]

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The panther dodged at the last second, its speed leaving Jin off balance. Taking advantage, it struck him with its glowing paw, sending him sprawling to the ground.

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[HP: 1189/2800]

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Jin coughed, blood splattering the dirt. "I-I'm n-not Done!." he rasped, pushing himself up. The panther rushed towards him and lunged.

Jin refused to lose so he clenched his fist.

"RAAAAAAGHHHHH."

He poured all his remaining mana into a new attempt at a Blind Spot Strike, focusing every ounce of his will. Suddenly, a surge of energy exploded within him, a power he hadn't felt before. His body burned as the skill evolved mid-attack.

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[Skill Evolved: Blind Spot Critical]

[Blind Spot Critical Activated: -200 MP, -500 HP]

[MP: 220/560]

[HP: 689/2800]

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Jin's kick blurred as it connected with the panther's side, sending it flying into a tree with a deafening crash. The sheer force of the attack left a deep gash in its side, dark red blood seeping onto the ground.

The beast roared, its aura flaring brighter than ever as it charged Jin again, its movements erratic and frenzied. Jin dodged and countered with another Blind Spot Critical, this time aiming for its jaw.

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[Blind Spot Critical Activated: -200 MP, -500 HP]

[MP: 20/560]

[HP: 189/2800]

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The attack landed, snapping the panther's head to the side. But the cost of the skill was beginning to show. Jin's body trembled, his muscles screaming in protest as fatigue set in.

The panther, bloodied but unrelenting, lunged one final time. Jin, running purely on adrenaline, met it head-on. His fists and feet moved with blinding speed, each strike finding its mark.

The two combatants clashed violently in the center of the boss area, their auras colliding in a brilliant display of blue and red energy.

[HP: 103/2800]

[HP: 1/2800]

Finally, Jin leaped into the air, twisting his body into a spinning kick. His foot connected with the panther's abdomen, lifting it off the ground.

As it hung mid-air, Jin roared, raising his leg high before bringing it down in a devastating axe kick to the beast's skull, but breaking his leg at the same time.

[Blind Spot Strike Activated: -20 MP]

The ground cracked under the force of the blow, the panther collapsing in a heap beneath him. Its aura flickered briefly before fading entirely.

Jin stood over its lifeless body, panting heavily. Blood dripped from his wounds, pooling beneath him. His vision blurred, and he fell to his knees, barely holding himself upright.

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[CHARACTER INFORMATION]

Name: Jin Lee

Class: Apex Predator

CURRENT STATS

HP: 1/2800

MP: 0/560

Attack Power: 80

Defense: 100

Agility: 100

Mentality: 150

Credits: 5670

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Jin let out a weak laugh, his head hanging low. "Damn… I'm really something, huh?" he muttered before collapsing beside the panther's corpse. Darkness enveloped him as his body gave out, but his smile remained.

....

Jin groaned as he woke up, the crisp mountain air filling his lungs. The familiar clearing stretched out before him, just as it had when he first arrived. He sat up slowly, brushing a hand over his face. His body felt… different.

Looking at himself, he noticed his modern clothes were intact, clean, and well-fitted. His hands, however, bore the marks of his brutal training, rougher knuckles, calloused palms. His body felt denser, stronger, and when he stood, he realized he might have grown slightly taller.

'Not much of a change outside.' he thought, stretching his arms, 'but I can feel it inside. I'm built differently now.'

He opened the System Notification Log, eager to see the results of his ordeal.

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[Quest Complete: Survive the Jungle for 30 Days]

Rewards Earned:

Passive Skill: Recovery

....

[System Notification: Apex Predator Defeated]

Shadowfang Panther slain.

Credits Earned: 400

New Skill Created: Blind Spot Critical

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Jin's eyes gleamed as he read the panel, his lips curling into a grin before inspecting the new skill.

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[Skill: Blind Spot Critical (Active)]

Description: A refined evolution of Blind Spot Strike, this skill unleashes an attack at blinding speed and devastating power, far surpassing the user's natural limits. The technique enhances the user's strength and speed to twice their current stats for a single strike, but at a significant cost.

Mana Cost: 200 MP per use.

Health Cost: 500 HP per use.

Mechanics: The skill pushes the user's muscles, blood vessels, and tissues to their absolute threshold, causing visible strain on the body. Veins bulge prominently, and the targeted limb radiates intense heat as the attack charges. This makes the skill visible to opponents, but the sheer force and speed make it nearly unavoidable.

Visual Effect: The charged limb glows faintly red due to the heat generated by the strain, creating a foreboding aura that signals impending devastation.

Limitations: Prolonged or repeated use of this skill can result in severe fatigue, internal injuries, or temporary incapacitation due to the strain on the user's body.

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"Not bad at all." he muttered. His gaze then moved to his credits balance.

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[Credits: 6070]

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"Now that's a number I can work with." he said, cracking his knuckles.

Satisfied, Jin stretched once more and looked around. The mountain seemed peaceful, the chirping birds and rustling leaves contrasting sharply with the chaos of his recent battles.

"Alright." he said, rolling his shoulders. "Time to head back. Let's see what the world has in store for me now."

Jin began his descent, the quiet resolve in his steps hinting at a man ready for his next plans.

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1494 words.