"Lift your heads up, you fucking chickens. If you want to work for me, then stop wasting time and clean this place up. Make sure it's spotless by dawn," Zean said dismissively.
I have to show them that ass-kissing will only earn them a scolding. Though I have to admit, I'm surprised by how spineless these so-called kings are. Makes me wonder why the hell didn't James Lee disable them like he did the five kings when he ended the 1st gen. Zean thought, resolving to give James Lee a thorough beating someday.
Just as the three kings and their men began cleaning the battlefield, a car Zean recognized from the original Lookism story approached the scene, heading straight for him.
The car stopped right in front of Zean, which the people around didn't care about.
This man had just beaten up 8 kings and is not even sweating, who could possibly be a threat to him? They all thought.
The front passenger door opened to reveal a hulking, bald giant in a suit, confirming Zean's suspicions.
"EVERYONE, STOP WHATEVER THE FUCK YOU'RE DOING AND LEAVE!" Zean shouted.
His men, who had been making light conversation, and the kings and their lackeys, who were cleaning, immediately scattered in every direction. Jung Hwan led the kings of Boseong, Gwangyang, and Goheung and their men to different areas to continue cleaning while staying far away.
The moment everyone except Zean disappeared, the hulking bald man gave a satisfied, acknowledging nod before turning to open the backseat door.
If I'm guessing correctly, that man must be Baekho Kwon, Jerry's father and that man's sword... That means that the person about to step out is none other than...
Just as Zean was thinking, the man stepped out.
A fat, old man with a wrinkled face, wearing an expensive-looking black-and-white striped suit and a white hat.
(FIRST PERSON POV)
The moment he stepped out of the car, I felt it—for the first time since coming to this world, I understood what it truly meant to feel the "pressure"of someone far stronger than yourself.
But this was different. This was a presence only he could project. The unparalleled, fiery aura of the "legend."
I watched him step forward, take off his hat, and look me up and down as if seizing me up.
However much of a pathetic father this guy was in the story, I'd always admired him and was a big fan of his style. No sophisticated martial arts, no crazy hax, no ultra-high battle IQ, and no plot armour genes to save him. The manliest man of all, Gapryong Kim himself, was seizing me up.
I couldn't help but smile unknowingly. How could I not? One of my favorite characters was here, and it was clear he was here for me.
I saw him raise an eyebrow, and that's when I realized I was smiling.
"Sorry, it's just... strange and exciting to see someone you've only heard about in stories and saw on TV, right here in person," I said, trying to sound friendly before taking a step closer.
The instant my foot moved, Baekho Kwon appeared right in front of me. I could feel it—his fist was already slamming toward my skull before he even lifted it.
I immediately pushed my body to the limit, moving out of the way faster than I thought possible. The moment I was out of his range, an unimaginable pain wracked my entire body.
I knew then that without my Blackbone cheat, which keeps me in a constant state of adrenaline rush, I would have lost consciousness several times over in those few seconds and the bones in my legs would've turned into jelly.
It was at that moment I realized both the greatness and the danger of Infinite Potential. I had gotten much faster, but I felt every muscle in my legs tear apart. If I hadn't paired it with the Perfect Body and Blackbone cheats, that surge would have caused permanent damage, maybe even paralysis.
I unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief as my body calmed and my aching muscles began to heal. This was the greatest perk of the perfect body cheat.
"Sorry about that," Gapryong Kim's voice cut through the tense air as he stepped forward. "My guard here... he doesn't like people getting too close. Makes him feel on edge."
"I heard someone with reverse eyes appeared in Gwangju and started taking over regions in the south," he said, stepping closer until he stood right in front of me. "You don't look like someone from the Yamazaki clan... Who are you and what are you doing here?" His tone instantly put me on edge.
"I'm not a Yamazaki. My eyes are different from theirs," I explained quickly. "The Yamazaki patriarch, Shingen, had the 'Oni' eyes—he could unleash the oni but lose all control. My eyes..." I said, activating my UI, "...are the eyes of the 'Machine'." I kept it vague, not wanting to give too much away. Revealing the existence of another UI was already a dangerous gamble in itself.
"Machine...?" he repeated, intrigued.
"Interesting. So you're not related to the Yamazaki clan?" he asked, noting my reluctance to say more.
"No, sir. My name is Zean Seok, and I'm Korean."
I felt an invisible weight lift from my shoulders as the air grew lighter.
"Alright then. I won't meddle in your business anymore. Congrats on becoming the king of Jeollanam-do," he said, smiling lightly.
"Thank you, sir. I've always wanted to meet you. You don't know how much it means to hear that from you," I replied.
I might have used cheats and future knowledge, but I still had to plan, manage, and fight to get here.
He gave me a simple nod and turned to leave.
"Sir!" I called out before he could go.
"Hmm?" He turned back.
"I... I want to ask you for something," I said, my voice trembling, half from excitement, half from fear.
He raised an eyebrow, gesturing for me to continue.
"I want you to punch me, sir."
An intrigued look flashed across his face. "You want me to punch you?" he repeated.
"Sir, I am strong. Strong enough to defeat kings like they're children. But I'm still far too weak." I took a breath. "In the future, I plan to get married, have kids, build a family, and have friends. But I'm afraid I won't be able to protect them if a 'great evil' like the one from your generation appears again."
"I want to get stronger. I want the power to protect everyone and everything I hold dear." I cringed a bit at my own words but felt some truth in them. In my previous life, all I wanted was to protect my family and ensure they lived comfortably. That desire was still here—a flame I couldn't extinguish and although it wasn't burning as fiercely as before, it was there, it was the reason I keep going.
"I conquered Gwangju, Suncheon, and Mokpo. They were all in a shitty state, run by shitty people who made ordinary people's lives miserable. I want to help those people—the ones who never had a choice but to live by the rules of tyrants."
I meant every word. I could feel my heart pounding, my teeth gritting as I thought about those in power who abuse it mindlessly, not caring about the people's lives and thinking that the lives they ruined to get what they want were simply collateral damage. I hated those kinds of people with every fiber of my being.
Mr. Gapryong looked me up and down once more. "You have good eyes, kid... and an even better heart," he said, stepping closer. "If it's a punch you want, then I'll humor you. But know this—if you die, that's on you." His tone was deadly serious as he took a stance.
"If I die here today, then that's all I was ever worth." I replied.
He smiled at my words as I took a defensive stance. I knew in my heart that if I survived this, my durability would reach a whole new level.
And I didn't have to think about how much stronger I would get once I copy his conviction.
I prepared myself mentally and gave him a nod.
The moment his arm bent back, I felt an immense pressure crush my shoulders. Before I even saw his arm spring forward, his fist had already connected with my arms guarding my guts.
I felt bones crack as I was launched backward, slamming into a wall at least fifteen feet away.
To think this man can damage bones harder than the Yamazaki clan's Blackbone... Just how much of a monster was he in his prime?
I tried to push myself up, but my legs gave out, and I collapsed. It was then I realized I couldn't breathe.
"To think you took my attack head-on... I used 'Conviction', too, but I held back on purpose." he said, stepping closer. "I have to say, you've exceeded my expectations."
He helped me sit up, noticing my panic. "Your body's in shock. Try to calm down and relax" he said, pressing a hand to my chest.
After a few long moments, air finally rushed back into my lungs, and I began breathing frantically.
"If fate allows it, I'd like to meet you again." Those were his last words before he stood up, turned and left.
I watched his car disappear, still gasping for air. Inwardly, I smiled. I knew that once my body fully recovers, I'd become much, much stronger than I am.