Lookism: What If

(Monday, May 20, 2024 – 8:12 AM)

A full week had passed, and in that time, Daniel's webtoon had exploded in popularity beyond even his own expectations. What had started as an ambitious project, fueled by his mastery of anatomy, perspective, and martial arts knowledge, had now grown into something far bigger.

30 free chapters were now available, drawing in a massive global audience, while 20 locked chapters remained behind a paywall, steadily generating income. At first, he had been cautious about the long-term potential, but after watching the numbers skyrocket daily, any doubts vanished.

The webtoon wasn't just popular, it was a phenomenon.

Everywhere, people in the action, martial arts, and drama genres were talking about it. Some were drawn in by the fights, others by the brutal storytelling and emotional weight behind the protagonist's journey.

And the comments section? A warzone of passion, excitement, and absolute madness.

....

@BludKratz: "BROOOO 😭😭 This MC don't got plot armor, he just BUILT DIFFERENT. That counter in Chapter 28 was straight-up cold-blooded 😏🔥🔥."

@LonelyTraveller: "I swear, every time I think he's gonna lose, he adapts mid-fight. The way he calculates angles and body positioning?? Bruh, I'm taking notes 💀🙏."

@NoChillSensei: "This the first webtoon where I actually felt like I was getting stronger just by reading it 😩💪🏽 I was at the gym today thinking, 'What would MC do?' and suddenly I PR'd 30kg more. Crazy."

@ItsMeAgain: "THE ART. THE PERSPECTIVE. THE PANELING. I legit paused on Chapter 22 just to stare at the fight sequence. The movement is too clean 😂."

@WuxiaEnjoyer: "Y'all ever read something so good you start shadowboxing in your room? I caught myself ducking while reading Chapter 26 😭🥷🏿."

@Combat_Guru: "This webtoon's fight choreography is ACTUALLY ACCURATE. I teach real-world combat sports, and these movements? They're legit. No exaggerated anime flips, just pure technique and timing. Whoever made this KNOWS fighting."

....

It wasn't just casual readers hyping it up, even professionals were taking notice.

Several martial arts instructors and fighters had started posting breakdowns of the techniques shown in the fights, analyzing how the MC used precise weight shifting, counters, and body mechanics to defeat stronger opponents.

One popular self-defense YouTuber even made a video titled:

"REAL OR FAKE? The Most Realistic Webtoon Fights I've Ever Seen"

The video showcased multiple moments from the series, comparing them to actual fight footage from MMA, boxing, and street encounters. He slowed down the frames, explaining how the protagonist used joint locks, sweeps, and foot positioning to handle much larger opponents.

Daniel smiled when he saw the video. 'Good. People are noticing the details.'

But with every massive success, there would always be haters.

....

@HaterNumber1: "This webtoon is overrated as hell. Same 'weak MC gets strong' formula, nothing new. Mid asf."

@OpinionUnasked: "The art is good, but let's be real, NO ONE learns fighting this fast. It's pure fantasy, stop acting like it's revolutionary."

@KeyboardFighter88: "Lol, this is cringe. Ain't nobody dodging punches like that in real life. Author must be delusional 💀💀💀."

@AntiPaywallGang: "Why the hell are there 20 chapters locked?? Greedy author. I'm not paying 💀."

@WannabeCritic: "This webtoon peaked at Chapter 10. Everything after that is just power scaling nonsense."

....

Daniel wasn't bothered.

If anything, he found the hate useful.

The criticisms about unrealistic growth? That was intentional. He hadn't even scratched the surface of how real training worked, he was saving that for later in the story.

The ones complaining about dodging and reflexes? They clearly had never fought before. Reflexes weren't magic, it was all about reading movement cues and controlling distance.

And this world power level is obviously on the super humans scale.

And the ones whining about the paywall? He simply laughed.

'If they're mad, it means they actually want to read more.'

Closing his laptop, he stretched, feeling completely satisfied.

His webtoon had taken over the action genre and his walled is full.

'Hehehe..' Daniel laughed with saliva on his mouth. Causing some classmates to look at him weirdly, while Zack signed now used to his daydreaming.

(8:30 AM)

The past week had been more than just a webtoon success for Daniel, it had also been a period of intense physical and mental refinement.

Every single day, Lil Daniel trained relentlessly. His body was shedding the last remnants of excess fat while his muscles hardened with his endurance increasing at a frightening pace.

His fists, after continuous conditioning against iron plates, no longer ached when striking hard surfaces. His legs had become explosively powerful, allowing him to move faster, jump higher, and kick with real weight behind each strike.

But physical growth alone wasn't enough.

Daniel knew that reaching the pinnacle of combat wasn't just about training harder, it was about training smarter.

And that meant finding his own path.

The sooner he started, the smoother his progression would be in the future. Every true master had their own way. The greatest fighters weren't just copies of someone else, they had something unique. A style that was truly their own.

And right now, Daniel didn't have that.

Sure, he had Copy. His ability to perfectly mimic the movements of others was a massive advantage. But he was beginning to realize something crucial.

Copy wasn't invincible.

Yes, he could imitate any technique he saw. Yes, he could replicate martial arts styles instantly.

But just copying movements wasn't enough.

If he wanted to surpass the original, he needed to go beyond just execution.

He needed to understand the essence.

It was exactly like his drawing journey.

At first, he had simply copied the works of others, tracing, replicating, and learning by observation. But with time, practice, and deep study, he didn't just copy anymore, he created. He had reached the pinnacle of art not because he could copy perfectly, but because he had truly understood its foundations, rules, and principles.

Fighting, however, was an entirely different beast.

It was more than just technique.

More than just perfect execution.

It was experience.

It was will.

And that was what it would take for him to go beyond.

(3:15 PM)

The warm afternoon breeze drifted through the open windows of the classroom, bringing with it the distant sounds of students chatting and the occasional faint honk from the street outside. Big Daniel leaned back in his chair, lazily enjoying his snack, a pack of honey butter chips and a bottled drink while his mind was only half-present.

Tomorrow was the school festival, but honestly? He hadn't thought much about it at all.

Zoe, however, had.

She slid into the seat beside him, resting her chin on her hand as she grinned. "So, Daniel~, you ready for tomorrow?"

Daniel paused mid-chew before blinking.

"…For what?"

Zoe rolled her eyes. "The festival, duh! What else?"

He scratched the back of his head. "Oh. Right." He chewed thoughtfully before sighing. "I didn't prepare anything. Probably just gonna enjoy the food and watch whatever drama the students cause."

Zack, who had been lounging with his arms crossed, snorted. "Tch. Waste of time."

Mira turned from her seat, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? So you're not planning to play any games?"

Before anyone could blink, Zack was suddenly next to her with a dead serious face. He pulled out a neatly folded paper, tapping it against his palm.

"I have a detailed list of everything that'll be there tomorrow." he declared.

The group stared.

Jay shook his head, sighing.

Daniel slowly nodded, turning to Jay. "Simp behavior."

Jay gave him a small glance, silently agreeing.

But then, without warning, Jay's eyes shifted slightly, side eyeing Daniel.

More specifically, on the scene right next to him.

Zoe, with a mischievous chuckle, held up a piece of fried chicken, gently nudging it toward Daniel's mouth.

"Here. I know you like this."

Daniel, completely unfazed, let her feed him. He casually took a bite, chewing without shame.

Then, as if sensing Jay's stare, he slowly turned his head, locking eyes with him.

A silent standoff.

Jay's face remained blank, but his gaze spoke volumes.

Daniel, still chewing, stared right back with shamelessness.

Then, he smirked.

Jay sighed, turning away, resting his head on his hand as he gazed out the window, clearly done with everything.

----

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