Lookism: Unchained Fate

Mi-jin was still trembling when Joon-hyuk pulled her out of the room where they had been held captive. Her hand remained in his grasp—warm and strong, as if assuring her that it was all over.

However, when they reached the cult's main hall, Joon-hyuk knew that this was far from finished.

Around them, dozens of cult followers had gathered. Their eyes burned with insane fanaticism, their faces covered in strange symbols drawn in blood. Some held weapons—wooden clubs, small knives, even iron chains.

On the other side of the room, Seong Yohan and Lee Zin had just arrived after breaking in. Yohan's eyes widened when he saw Mi-jin's condition—pale face, disheveled hair, and a small trace of blood at the corner of her lips.

"Mi-jin!" Yohan immediately ran toward her.

Joon-hyuk didn't look his way. He simply pulled Mi-jin forward slightly, then gently pushed her toward Yohan.

"Take care of her," he said briefly.

Yohan caught Mi-jin carefully. "What? Wait, Joon-hyuk, you're not—"

"Get out of here."

His tone left no room for argument.

Zin narrowed his eyes, scanning the growing number of cultists surrounding them. "Tch… You're really planning to fight them alone?"

Joon-hyuk smirked slightly. "I don't want to kill people in front of Mi-jin."

Mi-jin stared at him, eyes wide. "Joon-hyuk…"

He didn't answer. Instead, he turned his gaze to Yohan. "Go. Now."

Yohan clenched his fists, wanting to argue. But when he saw Joon-hyuk's expression—cold, calm, and unwavering—he knew there was no point in debating.

Finally, with gritted teeth, Yohan pulled Mi-jin away. Zin clicked his tongue in annoyance but still followed them.

"You better win, bastard," he muttered before turning away.

Joon-hyuk only gave a faint smile.

The moment they left the hall, the cult followers began to move.

A large man in a black robe stepped forward, holding a rusted knife. "You think you can get out of here alive, kid?"

Joon-hyuk slowly shook his head, then began to remove the handcuffs from his wrists.

"I never planned to run."

The cuffs fell to the floor with a sharp metallic clang.

Taking a deep breath, Joon-hyuk scanned the dozens of enemies before him. His muscles tensed, his body lowering into a combat stance.

Then, in a voice as cold as death, he asked:

"Who wants to die first?"

And in an instant, the battle began.

The hall that had been silent erupted into chaos.

Shouts of orders and rapid footsteps echoed off the stone walls. The cultists charged at Joon-hyuk with fanatic expressions, gripping knives, chains, and even shards of broken glass.

But they weren't facing an ordinary man.

Joon-hyuk lowered his stance, his dark eyes analyzing every movement around him. Suddenly, the world seemed to slow down in his vision.

The first attacker was a massive man swinging a wooden club straight at his head.

THUD!

Joon-hyuk ducked just in time. The club sliced through empty air as he sidestepped and drove his fist into the man's stomach.

THUMP!

The man's ribs shattered instantly. His eyes bulged before his body collapsed to the ground, foaming at the mouth.

The second enemy lunged with a raised knife, aiming for his back.

Joon-hyuk caught the weapon's reflection in his eyes.

Wrong move.

He jumped backward, driving his elbow directly into the attacker's jaw.

CRACK!

Teeth scattered across the floor. The man hadn't even had time to scream before Joon-hyuk grabbed his neck—and with a ruthless twist, he slammed the man's head into the floor.

BAM!

Blood splattered like spilled ink.

But there was no time to stop.

Three more cultists rushed forward together. One swung a chain at his legs, while another aimed a broken bottle at his side.

Joon-hyuk didn't dodge.

Instead, he advanced.

He caught the incoming chain and yanked it with terrifying strength!

CRACK!

The arm of the cultist holding the chain twisted at an unnatural angle, making him scream in agony.

Joon-hyuk didn't stop there.

Using the momentum of the pull, he spun and kicked the man with the broken bottle straight in the knee.

SNAP!

The man's leg bent in the wrong direction. He let out a shriek, but before he could fall, Joon-hyuk grabbed his head and drove his knee straight into his face.

THUD!

His nose shattered. His eyes rolled back as he collapsed, unconscious.

But one more cultist remained.

Joon-hyuk smirked as the last man took a frightened step back.

"Hah? Thinking of running?" His voice dripped with mockery.

But the cultist barely managed a retreat before—

WHOOSH!

Joon-hyuk moved.

In the blink of an eye, he was already in front of the man.

Before the cultist could react—

THUD!

A straight punch slammed into his stomach. Not too hard, but enough to make him stagger.

Then, with a cold expression, Joon-hyuk grabbed his head—

—and slammed it into the wall.

BANG!

The brick wall cracked. Blood splattered everywhere.

The man instantly blacked out, his body still embedded in the wall.

Silence filled the air.

The remaining cultists exchanged uneasy glances. Just moments ago, they had been a group of zealots, ready to fight to the death.

But now?

They had seen a monster.

Joon-hyuk stood in the middle of the hall, now filled with unconscious bodies. His clothes were stained with blood, yet his breathing remained steady.

He looked at them one by one.

Then, in a low but threatening voice, he said:

"Who's next?"

Instantly, they turned and ran for their lives.

Joon-hyuk simply smirked.

The battle was over.

…

The dark hall of the sect was now filled with lifeless bodies. Blood stained the floors and walls, while broken furniture bore witness to the brutal fight that had just taken place.

In the midst of the chaos, Joon-hyuk stood still.

His body was covered in wounds, his breathing was heavy, and his right hand was still dripping with blood. His pitch-black eyes, filled with hatred, gleamed in the dimly lit room.

He scanned his surroundings with an indifferent expression, making sure there were no survivors.

No resistance. No one left to rise again.

He had won.

Yet, just as the weight of victory settled in… something inside him began to waver.

Thud… Thud… Thud…

A strange pressure crept into his mind.

His dark eyes trembled. His breath grew heavier. His body felt cold.

"That's enough… Go home…"

A voice echoed in his head.

A voice he recognized. A voice that was gentle, full of serenity… his true self.

Joon-hyuk let out a low groan, pressing his fingers against his forehead.

His body swayed slightly, losing balance.

"This isn't me…"

His breath shortened.

"I'm not… a monster…"

His black eyes flickered, and slowly… their original color returned.

Gold.

The transformation didn't happen instantly. His body trembled slightly, as if he were resisting something that tried to pull him back into the darkness. But he held on.

And finally—

"Haaahh…!"

A deep breath escaped his lips.

When he opened his eyes again, warmth had returned to his gaze. The hatred was gone. The thirst for blood had vanished.

Only exhaustion remained.

Joon-hyuk reached for his wrist, searching for something—but his cuffs were nowhere to be found.

"Did I… fall asleep?"

He looked around, then at his own hands. Blood stained his fingers, and all around him was destruction.

He didn't remember everything that had happened.

But he knew one thing:

His darker self had taken over.

Joon-hyuk clenched his fists, biting his lip.

Again…

Before he could dwell on his thoughts any longer, a loud noise from outside brought him back to reality.

"NINO—NINO—NINO—"

Police sirens echoed in the air.

Red and blue lights swirled behind the shattered windows.

Joon-hyuk straightened his posture, taking a deep breath.

There was no time for regrets now.

He had to get out of here.

With slightly unsteady steps, he walked toward the exit, preparing himself for whatever was about to happen next.

Outside, the scene was already swarming with patrol cars lined up in formation. Dozens of officers stood with weapons in hand, ready to confront whatever emerged from the building.

A senior officer stood at the front, holding a megaphone.

"Whoever is inside, come out now! Drop your weapons and put your hands up!"

Tension hung thick in the air. All eyes were locked on the massive wooden doors, still shut.

CREEAAAKK…

The doors finally opened.

From within the shadows, a lone figure stepped out.

His once-white shirt was now stained with blood and dust, small cuts marked his arms, but his expression remained unreadable. His golden eyes glowed under the flashing police lights.

His hands were half-raised, but his posture showed no sign of fear.

Several officers immediately aimed their guns at him.

"Who are you?!" one of them shouted.

Joon-hyuk stopped just at the threshold. The police lights washed over his face, revealing his features clearly.

He looked at them one by one, then let out a quiet sigh.

"I'm just… someone making sure this place no longer harbors any demons," he said calmly.

Some officers exchanged confused glances.

But before anyone could respond, a policeman suddenly ran up to the senior officer, whispering something in his ear.

The officer frowned, then turned back to Joon-hyuk with a wary expression.

"So… you're the one who did this?"

Joon-hyuk simply smirked.

"Do they look fine to you?" he asked, glancing back inside, where dozens of cult members lay motionless.

The senior officer remained silent for a moment before speaking into his radio.

"Medical team, move in and check all victims for signs of life."

Several paramedics rushed inside.

Then, without warning—

"He needs to be detained for questioning!"

Rough hands grabbed his arms.

Joon-hyuk didn't resist as they cuffed him. He knew that if he fought back now, he'd only make things worse.

As they led him toward the police car, he glanced into the distance.

Deep in the shadows of a narrow alley, he spotted two small figures hiding—Zin and Yohan were watching.

Joon-hyuk's gaze met theirs.

A faint smile crossed his lips.

You're safe. That's all that matters.

Without struggle, he stepped into the police car, accepting whatever would come next.