Pain detonated through my body the moment consciousness returned.
Sharp, immediate, unforgiving.
My ribs felt like they were on fire, each breath scraping against broken pieces inside me. A dull ache pulsed across my back like someone had beaten me with a metal bat.
Another kick slammed into my side—hard. My body jerked on instinct, trembling on the cold classroom floor.
"Should've brought the money today, you pathetic piece of trash," a voice sneered above me.
I coughed, the metallic taste of blood coating my tongue. My vision blurred, but I could still make out the white-haired bastard towering over me. His expression twisted with smug satisfaction.
What… the hell is happening?
My thoughts were disjointed, floating in and out like broken radio signals. Something important—something huge—was missing.
Then it hit me.
The wishes.
The ROB.
The reincarnation.
Everything snapped back into place like a puzzle completing itself.
My vision sharpened, and I forced myself to look up. Standing there in the flesh was someone I never expected to see outside of a screen.
A bully.
My bully.
Before I could finish the thought, another boot drove into my abdomen. The impact stole the air from my lungs and sent me rolling across the floor until my back collided with the wall.
I groaned, hacking up blood as I tried to gather myself. The pain was unbearable… yet beneath it, an unsettling calm rose inside me.
And curiosity.
System, I thought.
A translucent panel blinked into existence.
NAME: Kim Ji-woo
CLASS: Reincarnator
LEVEL: 100
CURRENT STATS: [LOCKED]
HP: 300 / 1000
MP: 100 / 100
ATTACK: 10
DEFENSE: 10
AGILITY: 10
WILLPOWER: 10
--------------------------------------------------
I grit my teeth.
300 HP left? These assholes already knocked out 70% of my health… If this keeps up, I'm dead.
The bully approached, crouching until his face hovered inches from mine. His hand shot forward, grabbing a fistful of my hair and yanking my head up.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you," he growled.
But I didn't flinch.
His attempt at intimidation was almost laughable. I stared back, unbothered, a faint smirk tugging at my lips.
Someone needs to give this mf a reality check.
Then the world drowned in memories.
My life.
My name.
Who I was.
I wasn't born in this world.
The original Kim Ji-woo was.
An average high school student.
An orphan living with his grandmother.
Weak, quiet, submissive.
The perfect target.
All because he—no, I—stole the attention of a girl Jaemin was eyeing.
His jealousy lit a fuse, and the bullying escalated quickly.
Lunch money.
Carrying his bag.
Standing still while he hit me.
The original me never fought back.
He lived in fear.
He suffered in silence.
He broke quietly.
And no one ever noticed.
The memories faded.
I was back on the classroom floor, my body a wreck and the taste of blood heavy in my mouth. Jaemin and his lackeys were walking out, laughing like they hadn't just beaten someone half to death.
"Man, I'm so hungry," Jaemin yawned arrogantly.
"Yeah, me too," one of his goons replied.
I coughed violently, forcing myself upright despite the agony tearing through me.
[HP: 100 / 1000]
I ignored the warning.
My blood boiled. My chest burned. Something primal inside me stirred awake.
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and glared at their retreating figures.
A slow grin crept onto my face.
"Motherfucker," I called out.
They froze.
My voice was hoarse, barely more than a growl, yet it sliced through the classroom like a blade.
"We're not done here."
The group turned back, shock written across their faces. Jaemin's eyes narrowed before curling into an amused smirk.
"Well, well, well…" He stepped forward. "Looks like the little pretty boy finally grew a spine."
I pushed myself to my feet, body screaming in protest, but I didn't back down.
"You better enjoy this moment," I said, grin widening.
"Because it's not going to last."
And then everything went black.
My eyes snapped open to a sterile white ceiling. The smell of antiseptic stung my nose.
The infirmary.
I shifted slightly and felt pain explode through my ribs. Tight bandages hugged my torso like they were holding me together.
The school nurse glanced up from her paperwork, gave a brief nod, then immediately returned to ignoring my existence.
Typical.
I exhaled shakily. Memories of Jaemin smashing me into the floor replayed like a bad movie.
All of that… just because he could.
Then—
DING!
A new notification popped up.
NEW QUEST: DEFEAT THE BULLY AND HIS CREW.
REWARD: Gold Key
PENALTY: None
A slow, dangerous smile pulled at my lips.
"Oh… you're screwed now."