"The most profound journeys often begin with a single step, but it's the courage to continue that truly defines the depth of one's character."
– Lao Tzu.
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(Author's POV)
In a blank, white expanse, an individual sat before a computer screen, his face lit up with excitement as he clicked through a survey.
His name? Not really important, since he'll be reincarnated soon. So, let's skip the boring backstory.
Actually, never mind. I'll just sum it up. This young man was just killed by Truck-kun, yes, it's cliché, but I didn't feel like coming up with a more complex death scene that would be irrelevant to the main story. He was your typical Gen Z kid, a fan of anime, manga, manhwa, novels, and all that stuff. He died while reading Lookism on his phone, crossing the street without paying attention.
Boom. Hit by a truck.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a vast white space. Instead of some omnipotent god granting him wishes, a simple computer and chair materialized in front of him.
Of course, I created them, but he doesn't know that.
Let's fast forward. He's now picking his boons for his new life. He'll be reincarnated into an alternate Lookism universe as Daniel Park, starting on the day he receives his second body. And he only gets four boons. His choices?
Intelligence Boost
Memory Boost
Comprehension Boost
Parallel Thinking
Solid choices. Now, let's get to the fun part.
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(Daniel's POV)
When I opened my eyes, I was greeted by the sight of the shabby ceiling of the shack. Turning my fat head, I saw the other body lying beside me, my new, handsome self.
"So, I really reincarnated, huh?" I muttered, my mind racing with the endless possibilities.
There was no dramatic memory injection or system notification, just the knowledge I already possessed, thanks to the boosts I selected. Everything was clear and organized in my mind.
A surge of anger coursed through me, veins pulsing on my neck. Why was I pissed off, you ask? Well, yesterday Daniel had a run-in with Zack and Mira on the street after a haircut. Mira apologized, but Zack, jealous and insecure, beat the living hell out of Daniel. To make matters worse, bystanders filmed the whole thing and posted it online. Humiliation on top of physical pain.
And now I have to deal with this?
That's right, I have to deal with it. The Daniel who got beaten and humiliated is gone. He was weak, ungrateful, even yelled at his mother. A fool. Sure, in the original story, Daniel eventually becomes better, but let's face it, the guy was insufferable for hundreds of chapters. He wasted so much potential, especially with his second body.
{A/N: Despite everything, Daniel is my second favorite character. Watching him grow was amazing.}
But I'm not here to make the same mistakes. I'll unleash the full potential of this body, both bodies, actually. I'll train hard and make sure I get strong enough to confront Zack. No, I won't do it with the handsome body. I'll take Zack down with this fat body. The fun is in making him regret underestimating me.
And thanks to the Parallel Thinking boon, I can control both bodies at the same time. No one will suspect a thing. And you, Charles... better stay out of my way.
For now, it's morning. Tomorrow is my first day at J High. I have time, and I plan to use it wisely. Time to train.
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(Author's POV)
We see Daniel jogging around the block, his body drenched in sweat, every step a struggle. His fat wobbled with every movement, and it made for quite the humorous scene.
Yet, there was determination in his eyes. He kept running despite the discomfort, pushing himself to the limit. After an hour of running, his legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the pavement, gasping for breath. His clothes clung to him, soaked through with sweat.
"Hahh… hahh… Damn, this is hard," he muttered, staring up at the sky.
But he wasn't giving up. The laws of this world were different. If he trained to his limits, his strength would increase rapidly. That much he knew. After resting for a few minutes, he forced himself up and began another round of exercises, squats, push-ups, sit-ups, anything he could do until his muscles screamed for mercy.
Finding a stable bar nearby, Daniel attempted pull-ups. His arms shook with effort, and he barely managed a few before dropping back to the ground. After downing some water, he repeated the entire routine again and again until his body could no longer keep up.
He trained for two hours straight before finally passing out, exhausted.
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(Daniel's POV)
I woke up in my second body, the one that looked like a model. "This body is so weak," I complained, stretching.
Without wasting time, I rushed to the fat body, carrying it back to the shack. If I was going to school tomorrow, I needed clothes for the second body. It wouldn't do to show up half-naked.
Once the first body was well-rested, I transferred my consciousness back into it, took a quick shower, ate a hearty breakfast, and left the house. As I walked toward the shopping center, I noticed the looks people gave me, disgust, pity, contempt.
I glared at them, rage bubbling beneath the surface. "What the hell are you staring at!?" I shouted, my voice carrying over the street.
The onlookers, shocked by my sudden outburst, averted their eyes and hurried away. Cowards. In this world, if you showed weakness, you'd only get crushed.