Reality Quest: Lookism

As I walked toward the exit, the air felt lighter. I'd handled most of the mobs, earned enough credits to make some solid progress, and even boosted my stats. All that was left was heading home and crashing in my bed.

But, of course, things couldn't be that easy.

Heavy footsteps echoed from the lower floor. I stopped mid-step as a towering figure climbed the stairs. His red work shirt was drenched with sweat, his face a mixture of irritation and authority. Yook Man Ok, the older brother of Chun, stood before me.

He wasn't just big, he was massive, his muscles straining against his shirt as his eyes bore down on me.

"You've caused a lot of trouble here, kid." he said, his deep voice rumbling through the hallway. His expression wasn't playful or taunting like Chun's, it was cold, professional, and dangerous.

Before I could respond, a system panel appeared in my vision:

[Quest: Defeat the Boss Monster

Objective: Defeat Yook Man Ok.

Reward: 300 Credits + Hidden Reward.]

I smirked as I read the panel. "Boss monster, huh?" I muttered under my breath, glancing up at the towering figure. "Guess I'm not done yet."

Ok's eyes narrowed. "You think this is a game?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I leaped forward, channeling mana into my first strike. My leg glowed faintly blue as I spun mid-air and unleashed a powerful **Blind Spot Strike**, aiming for his head.

[Blind Spot Strike Activated: -20 MP]

Ok's eyes widened as my kick blurred toward him, but he raised his arm just in time to block the hit. The impact forced him to grit his teeth, his arm shaking slightly, but he didn't move.

"You've got some strength." he growled, his other hand shooting forward like a piston.

I couldn't react fast enough. His fist slammed into my abdomen, the force sending me skidding across the floor. Smoke rose from where his punch landed, the heat searing through my shirt.

I staggered to my feet, brushing off the burn. The pain was there, but it was dull compared to what I'd felt before. My improved stats were already paying off.

"Not bad." I said, smirking as I stretched my arms. "But if that's all you've got, this'll be over quick."

Ok wasn't amused. He charged forward, his massive frame moving with surprising speed as his fist shot toward my head.

I ducked, narrowly avoiding the strike, and countered with a quick series of punches to his ribs. Each blow landed cleanly, but his thick muscles absorbed the hits like I was punching a wall.

"Tough bastard." I muttered, leaping back to create some distance.

Ok didn't let up. He swung his arm in a wide arc, forcing me to dodge again, and then closed the gap with a shoulder charge. I barely managed to sidestep, but his sheer momentum left cracks in the wall where he hit.

'Alright, no holding back.' I thought, activating Blind Spot Strike again.

[Blind Spot Strike Activated: -20 MP]

I darted to his side, stepping into his blind spot and delivering a sharp kick to his temple. This time, the blow made him stumble, his head snapping to the side.

"You little shit!" he roared, swinging wildly as he tried to catch me.

I ducked under another punch, using the opening to land a solid strike to his knee. Ok grunted, his movements slowing slightly as he steadied himself.

I could feel my MP draining with every skill use, but I wasn't about to let up.

[Blind Spot Strike Activated: -20 MP]

I aimed for his ribs again, this time with a glowing punch. The blow finally made him stagger back, his breathing heavier as he glared at me.

"You think you're tough because of some tricks?" he spat, his voice filled with disdain. "Let's see how long you last!"

Ok charged again, and I met him head-on. Our blows collided, fist against fist, kick against kick. The hallway echoed with the sound of impacts as we traded strikes, each of us refusing to back down.

He landed a heavy punch to my shoulder, forcing me to spin and absorb the blow, but I retaliated with a sweeping kick that caught him off-balance.

My HP ticked down steadily, each hit taking its toll.

[HP: 890/1600]

[HP: 750/1600]

But his breathing was labored now, his movements slower and less precise. He was wearing down.

I smirked, taking a step back to catch my breath. "What's wrong, big guy?" I taunted. "Running out of steam already?"

Ok growled, his fists clenched as he charged one final time.

I activated Blind Spot Strike again, pouring the last bit of mana I could afford into the skill.

[Blind Spot Strike Activated: -20 MP]

My leg glowed faintly as I spun, delivering a high kick aimed directly at his chin. The blow connected with a sickening crack, sending his head snapping back.

Blood sprayed from his mouth as he staggered, his massive frame teetering for a moment before collapsing onto the ground with a heavy thud.

The system panel flickered into view:

[Quest Complete: Defeat the Boss Monster

Rewards Earned: 300 Credits + Hidden Reward]

I stood over his unconscious body, panting heavily as the adrenaline began to fade. Sweat dripped from my face, and my bruised body screamed in protest, but I couldn't help the grin that spread across my lips.

[HP: 630/1600]

[MP: 50/330]

"Guess I won." I muttered, rolling my shoulders as I walked past him toward the exit.

....

As Jin walked away, the hallway was eerily silent, save for the muffled groans of unconscious thugs scattered across the floor. Dowan, Jihan, Siyeon, and the two girls stood frozen, their eyes lingering on the aftermath of the fight. Jin's confident strides echoed faintly as he headed toward the exit.

"Jin!" Dowan's voice broke the silence.

Jin stopped, turning his head slightly with a raised brow, his sharp black eyes glinting under the dim light.

Dowan hurried over, his steps uneven from his earlier injuries. "Thank you." he said, bowing slightly, his voice earnest. "For helping me… for standing up against Jaemin, Chun and his brother."

Jihan followed closely, wringing his hands nervously. "Me too." he said softly. "Thank you for… freeing me from Jaemin. I've been stuck under him for so long…"

Jin looked at the two of them, his messy black hair falling slightly into his face as he observed them like a teacher scolding lazy students.

"Stop being pussies." Jin said bluntly, his tone cold but not unkind. "Take matters into your own hands. If your loved ones were in danger, would you call me to save them?"

Both Dowan and Jihan hesitated, glancing at each other with uncertain expressions.

"No!" Jin continued, his voice sharp enough to make them flinch. "You wouldn't. So stop waiting for someone else to fix your problems. Learn to stand on your own."

The words hit harder than any punch. Dowan and Jihan lowered their heads, their brows furrowed in deep thought.

Satisfied that his message got through, Jin turned and walked away without another word, completely ignoring Siyeon and the two other girls standing nearby.

Once Jin disappeared from view, the two girls flanking Siyeon broke the silence.

"That was so cooll" one of them said, her voice filled with admiration. "He's changed, hasn't he? He looksa bit taller now… and kind of more handsome, don't you think?"

The other girl nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! I didn't even notice him before, but now? Wow."

Siyeon ignored their chatter, her sharp eyes fixed on where Jin had disappeared. After a moment, she walked over to Dowan, who was still staring at the ground in thought.

"Dowan." Siyeon said simply, her tone calm but probing. "Jin is in your school, right?"

Dowan blinked, startled by the question. He glanced at her nervously and nodded. "Y-yeah. He is."

Siyeon's gaze lingered on Dowan for a moment before she nodded, as if filing the information away for later. Without another word, she turned and walked out of the building, her confident strides leaving no room for hesitation.

The two girls scrambled to follow her, their admiration for Jin still evident in their excited whispers.

But Siyeon remained silent, her thoughts hidden behind her calm, unreadable expression.

----

1379 words

Hehe, it's time to show the Lookism part of the system :)

Drop stones eh!