Welcome to the foundation of this story — a world where strength, talent, and instinct define destiny.
In Lookism: When a Weakness Turns Wicked, every fighter is ranked by their power level, a reflection not only of raw strength but also of skill, perception, endurance, aura, and adaptability.
Power levels range from the fragile and weak to the mythic and transcendent. Those at the lowest tiers struggle to survive street fights, while the legends dominate entire battlefields with terrifying presence and near-unbeatable skill. Each tier marks a stage of evolution — from human limits to godlike perfection.
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Talent: The Heart of Growth
Talent governs how naturally a fighter can grow and adapt. Two fighters may share the same tier, but one's talent determines how efficiently they evolve.
Fragile Talent: Struggles to grasp basics; learns through pain and failure.
Learner Talent: Understands fundamentals; adapts slowly but surely.
Adept Talent: Quickly imitates opponents and picks up fighting styles.
Skilled Talent: Possesses innate timing and reflex; gains early aura sensitivity.
Elite Talent: Exceptional adaptability, tactical precision, and awareness; can utilize Heat Mode and Predator Instinct efficiently.
Master Talent: Flawless technique, invisible strikes, and battlefield dominance.
Mythic Talent: Can replicate and combine techniques instinctively; unmatched perception and aura control.
Transcendent Talent: Fuses instinct, intellect, and creation; can invent new fighting styles in the middle of battle.
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Abilities and Combat Mechanics
The world fuses real martial arts discipline with fictional enhancements, blending physical mastery with psychological dominance and supernatural instinct.
Heat Mode: The first awakening of a fighter's potential, born of anger or desperation. It amplifies strength, speed, and aggression but drains stamina until mastery is achieved. Controlled Heat Mode allows precise, devastating attacks without reckless exhaustion.
Predator Instinct / Ultra Instinct: Fighters act without thought, reacting instinctively to threats. At low tiers, it provides partial reflexive responses; at Diamond and Obsidian levels, it merges with strategy, granting near-perfect foresight in battle.
Reverse Eye (Ultra Instinct) — Yamazaki Clan Exclusive:
A signature ability of the Yamazaki bloodline, Reverse Eye grants the user complete separation of mind and body in combat. Movements become entirely instinct-driven, faster than perception, while the mind can analyze multiple threats simultaneously. Only Yamazaki descendants can unlock this ability fully, making them uniquely deadly. Early mastery allows partial reflexive control, while late-tier mastery (Diamond+) grants flawless combat foresight and simultaneous offensive-defense flow. At Myth-tier and beyond, Reverse Eye merges with aura manipulation, enabling instantaneous preemptive strikes that opponents cannot anticipate.
Copy Technique (Mimicry): Ability to observe and replicate an opponent's fighting style. Beginners need repeated exposure; masters replicate even rare martial arts instantly.
Invisible Strikes: Attacks impossible to track through normal perception, relying on speed, stealth, and aura control. Mastered by Obsidian and SSS-tier fighters.
Hybrid Combos: Fluidly blends multiple martial arts styles into seamless attacks. Diamond-tier fighters begin mastery, perfected by Obsidian and SSS fighters.
Aura Manipulation: The psychological weapon of elites — projecting fear, dominance, or serenity to control an opponent's mental state. Myth-tier fighters can impose near-total battlefield control.
System Growth: Unique to the MC, this system tracks battles, experience, and abilities, granting stat boosts, unlocking new skills, and accelerating development. It bridges the gap between natural human limits and Myth/Transcendent power.
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Fighting Styles Across Tiers
Iron & Steel: Wild brawling and raw emotion.
Titanium: Adaptation and technique mimicry.
Diamond: Controlled Heat Mode, strategic precision.
Obsidian: Hybrid mastery and invisible strikes.
SS / SSS: Tactical monsters; aura becomes a weapon.
Myth (Z–, Z, Z+): Perfect combat harmony; reality-bending presence.
Transcendent (Ω): Enlightened mastery — perfection beyond comprehension.
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Legends and Inspirations
This world's power hierarchy mirrors its legends:
Gun and Goo — apex human weapons, masters of aura and hybrid combat.
James Lee, Kitae Kim, and EOS Daniel — near-mythic prodigies whose speed, adaptability, and technique surpass mortal limitations.
Shigen, Hansu, and Manager Kim — the pillars of the first generation, symbols of absolute combat discipline.
Gapryong Kim and Samdak — living myths whose strength has transcended comprehension.
They are not just fighters but forces of nature, each representing a stage of human evolution in combat — the ideals every warrior strives to reach.
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Author's Note
Hey everyone,
Volume 0 is designed to help readers understand the tier system, talents, and combat philosophy of Lookism: When a Weakness Turns Wicked.
From the fragile Iron-class to the divine Transcendent tier, every level represents more than just power — it's about mental evolution, instinctual growth, and the fight against limits.
Legends like Gun, James Lee, Goo, Kitae Kim, and EOS Daniel serve as examples of what perfection looks like in this world, setting the benchmarks for future growth and legacy.
I'm using AI to help organize and refine these ideas — so expect gradual polish as the story develops. Feedback, theories, and suggestions are always welcome.
This is a story where weakness isn't a curse — it's the seed of something unstoppable.