Revival System

Chapter 1: The Last Breath

The sound of metal clanging against the cold, wet pavement echoed through the alleyway as Jang Tae-sik staggered back, wiping blood from his lips with the back of his bruised hand. His knuckles throbbed from the endless brawling, his muscles strained but still eager for another round. Around him, bodies littered the ground, the aftermath of a battle fought and nearly won. Nearly.

"Damn... bastards," Tae-sik spat, his voice a low growl, ragged from fatigue. His vision swam, the world around him blurring at the edges. Blood oozed from a deep gash above his brow, trickling down into his eyes.

He could barely stand, but his pride wouldn't allow him to fall. Not yet.

"Jang Tae-sik!" a voice called out through the darkness, laced with malice. It was his rival, Seo Jin, leader of the biggest gang in the city. Jin had been gunning for him for years, and tonight, he'd brought enough men to finally take Tae-sik down.

Tae-sik chuckled bitterly, spitting blood on the ground. "You think this is how it ends for me?" he said, his voice hoarse but defiant.

Jin stepped forward, his silhouette towering under the dim streetlight. "It doesn't matter what you think, Tae-sik. It's over." He raised his hand, and the gang surrounded Tae-sik for the final blow.

And then, with a sharp crack to the back of his skull, Tae-sik's world went black.

When he woke, it wasn't in the alley surrounded by enemies. The stench of blood and asphalt was gone, replaced by a faint scent of stale air. His body felt different—heavier, sluggish, like he was weighed down by something more than pain.

Tae-sik blinked, his vision clearing, and his breath caught in his throat. He wasn't in the alley. He wasn't even himself.

A dull light flickered overhead as he looked around. He was in a small, cramped room that reeked of mediocrity—plain white walls, a single desk cluttered with textbooks, and posters of boy bands adorning the walls.

"What the hell?" Tae-sik muttered, sitting up, only to be hit by the shock of a lifetime. His arms... no, his arms, weren't the ones he was used to seeing. They were thick with fat, pale, and soft. Where were his biceps? His tattoos?

Frantically, he stumbled out of bed, making his way to a small mirror hanging crookedly on the wall. The reflection staring back at him was not the feared thug Jang Tae-sik. No, it was someone else entirely.

A fat kid with bloated cheeks, a round face, and disheveled black hair.

"No... no, no!" Tae-sik screamed, grabbing at his own face, feeling the unfamiliar flesh jiggle under his grip.

Suddenly, a cold, robotic voice echoed inside his mind, cutting through his panic.

"System Initialization Complete: Welcome, User. You have been selected for the Revival System."

Tae-sik froze. "What... what the hell is this?"

The voice continued, indifferent to his confusion.

"You have been reincarnated into the body of Kim Jae-min, a 17-year-old high school student. Your current physical stats are as follows:"

[User: Kim Jae-min]
[Level: 1]

Strength: 2/10Agility: 1/10Endurance: 2/10Charm: 0/10Looks: 1/10Weight: 120 kgHeight: 170 cmStatus: Obese, Bullied, Resentful

Tae-sik stared blankly at the numbers, his mind racing. Kim Jae-min? That name sounded familiar. Was this some kid's body he was trapped in?

"What the hell is going on?" he demanded, glaring into the mirror as if the voice could see him.

"You were chosen for a second chance, Tae-sik. Welcome to the Revival System. This is your opportunity to overcome the limitations of this body, or remain weak forever. Do you accept the challenge?"

Tae-sik blinked. A second chance? He clenched his fists, feeling the soft, squishy texture of his new body. Everything he had—the strength, the fear he commanded, the power—was gone. But if this system could give him a way back, he'd take it.

He wasn't a loser. He was Jang Tae-sik, and no matter what body he was in, he would rise again.

"I accept."

The moment he spoke the words, a series of notifications flashed before his eyes.

[User: Kim Jae-min]
[Level: 1]

Current Status: Weak, Bullied, ObeseQuest Unlocked: Begin the First Step.Task: Walk 1,000 Steps.Reward: 10 EXP + Minor Fat Burn.Penalty for Failure: None

Tae-sik felt his eye twitch. Walk? It was like a slap to the face. The system wanted him to walk? In his old life, he had taken down entire gangs with his bare hands, and now... now he had to walk like some fat loser?

But as much as it stung, Tae-sik knew he didn't have a choice. This was his body now. His weak, useless body.

He sighed, heading toward the bedroom door. His legs felt heavy, every step a reminder of how far he had fallen. Sweat beaded on his forehead after just a few moments, and his breath came in short bursts. He hadn't even walked more than a few meters, and he already felt winded.

It was pathetic. But that didn't matter. What mattered was the system.

Each step brought him closer to the 1,000-step goal, and by the time he finished, his entire body was drenched in sweat, his heart pounding in his chest. He collapsed back into the chair by the desk, breathing heavily.

Then, the voice returned.

"Quest Complete: Walk 1,000 Steps."
"Reward: 10 EXP Gained."
"Minor Fat Burn Applied: Weight - 0.1 kg."

Tae-sik sat up straighter. He had lost weight? His fat body still felt the same, but a spark of hope ignited in him. Maybe this Revival System wasn't just messing with him.

"System," he said aloud, "what do I need to do next?"

"New Daily Quest: Walk 1,500 Steps Tomorrow. Reward: 15 EXP + Minor Fat Burn.
Quest Unlocked: Build Muscle (Beginner). Task: Do 10 Push-Ups. Reward: Strength +1."

Tae-sik stared at the next set of tasks. It was small, laughably small compared to what he was used to. But this was his path now, and if he had to crawl his way back to power, he'd do it.

One step at a time.

As Tae-sik—now Kim Jae-min—closed his eyes that night, the weight of his new reality settled on him. This body was weak, his stats were pathetic, and he was far from the feared thug he once was. But there was something about the Revival System that called to him.

If he could grow stronger, inch by inch, maybe one day, the name Jang Tae-sik would be feared again.

But first, he had to survive high school.