Riku's eyes opened to a world that felt both familiar and foreign. It had only been two days since he arrived in this new realm, but already, everything was beginning to blur. Was he dreaming? Was he really here? Every step he took on the polished floors of J High felt like a dream, a fragile illusion waiting to collapse.
But one thing remained certain: he was no longer the boy who had been betrayed and broken in his old life. Here, in this strange new world, he had power. The Copy Eye.
He had tried it again last night, mimicking a street fight scene he had watched on his phone. At first, he thought it was just his mind playing tricks, but the strength in his body—the speed, the precision—it was real. It was like the fight scene had become part of him. His muscles, his reflexes, everything was sharper, more controlled.
Now, sitting in class, he could feel the weight of the power surging through his veins. He wasn't sure how it worked yet, but he knew this was his chance. His chance to never feel weak again.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the first class. Riku packed his things, slipping out of the room before the other students had a chance to surround him. He wasn't interested in talking to anyone just yet. Not after what had happened in his old life.
He moved through the hallways, his eyes darting from face to face. It was a normal school—normal students, normal gossip—but Riku couldn't shake the feeling that something was different. Something was off.
"Hey, you!" A voice called out, interrupting his thoughts.
Riku froze. He turned to find a tall boy with a broad smile walking toward him. It was Daniel Park.
"Uh, hey," Riku replied, a little unsure of what to do. He didn't know Daniel yet, but the warmth in his voice made him feel oddly at ease.
"Don't just wander around like a lost sheep, man," Daniel chuckled, patting him on the shoulder. "Come on, let me show you around. You've got to get the lay of the land."
Riku hesitated for a moment but then nodded. "Sure."
The two of them walked through the school together, with Daniel chatting about the different cliques, the fights that often broke out, and the way things worked here. Riku listened intently, trying to memorize every detail. He didn't know what his next move was, but understanding this world better would be a start.
Eventually, they found themselves in the school courtyard, where a group of students were gathered. Riku's eyes caught sight of some familiar faces—Vasco, Jay, and some others from the *Lookism* world. It was surreal, seeing them in person, not just through the pages of a webtoon.
Daniel noticed his gaze. "You know those guys?" he asked.
"Yeah, I've seen them around," Riku replied, his voice distant.
Daniel grinned. "Those are the guys you want to stay on the good side of. Trust me, you don't want to mess with them."
Riku nodded. It was strange—he felt drawn to these people, especially Vasco. There was something about them that felt... real, something deeper than just the characters in a story.
Suddenly, a commotion broke out near the edge of the courtyard. Riku's eyes snapped to the source. A group of students were surrounding someone. Riku couldn't see who it was, but the tension in the air was palpable.
"Stay back," Daniel muttered, grabbing Riku's arm. "It's better to avoid those kinds of things."
But Riku's curiosity got the better of him. He slipped free of Daniel's grip and walked toward the crowd. As he got closer, he could see a boy with messy hair in the center of the circle. The boy looked like he was trying to hold his own, but he was clearly outnumbered.
Riku's heart raced. He could see the fight unfolding, the movements—each punch, each dodge—it was like something deep inside him was telling him exactly what to do. Without thinking, he stepped forward.
The moment he entered the circle, he saw it—the exact moment the boy threw a punch, but his opponent dodged it easily, pushing him to the ground. Riku's eyes narrowed.
It was as if time slowed down. He saw the opponent's movements in perfect detail—the way he shifted his weight, the angle of his arm, the slight tilt of his head. Everything was clear to him.
Without thinking, Riku moved. His body responded instinctively. He mimicked the punch from earlier, the same angle, the same force. His fist collided with the opponent's face, sending him stumbling backward.
The crowd fell silent. Riku stood there, his hand still in the air, a look of shock on his face. He hadn't meant to do it. It just happened.
Daniel appeared behind him, his face a mixture of surprise and admiration. "Damn, man. That was… smooth."
Riku blinked, looking down at his hand. His heart was pounding in his chest. He had done it. He had copied the punch without even trying. The Copy Eye. He couldn't deny it anymore.
Before he could process what had happened, the boy he had helped—his name was Joo-hyuk, as Riku later learned—grinned up at him. "Thanks, man. I owe you one."
Riku nodded silently, still trying to wrap his head around everything. He had power. Real power. And this was just the beginning.
---
### **The Temptation of Power**
That night, Riku sat in his room, replaying the events of the day in his mind. He had copied the punch. It felt natural, effortless. His body had moved without hesitation. He had taken someone down, just like that.
But the question lingered in his mind: what else could he do?
His gaze drifted to the video on his phone—another fight scene. It called to him, that temptation to test his power further. He had to know how far it went.
For the first time in a long time, Riku felt alive. He wasn't the weak, broken boy who had been abandoned. He was strong. He was someone different.
And he was going to prove it.
---
End of Chapter 2