The system responded instantly to Park Jin-ho’s choice. [Would you like to register your avatar’s nickname as Huk-yeong?] [This username is not in use. It has been registered.] Park Jin-ho had chosen the name Huk-yeong for a reason. Most people, when prompted for a username, either picked something thoughtlessly or wasted thirty seconds of deliberation only to have their real name assigned by default. But his past regressions had taught him that a username was surprisingly important. It was the first impression you made on others. The soul transference was taking him to a new world, another dimension entirely. In a place like this, people didn't use their real names. They used their chosen handles. Soon enough, everyone would be hiding their identities, some even donning masks. Using your real name during avatar creation was a fool's mistake. It was the same reason people didn't use their real names in games—especially survival games where you had to climb over others to live. A username was a vital part of one’s identity here. It was a key factor in how others perceived you. The Cheon-sa hadn’t mentioned this, a detail Park Jin-ho was certain was a deliberate omission. An avatar’s username hovered above their head, always visible to everyone. It was the ultimate first impression. My experiences have taught me one thing, he thought. Never appear weak. The stronger and more memorable the name, the better. In his first few lives, he had registered his real name or a generic online handle without much thought. Those easy-to-dismiss names had only attracted swarms of flies, forcing him to waste precious time swatting them away. In this world, you always had to project strength. That was why he’d settled on Huk-yeong. It was also the name of his main weapon, and it perfectly suited the class he intended to specialize in: the Sasin. This new world offered around thirty different classes. The Sasin, however, was a unique class, one that only a single person could possess. I have to become the Sasin again. No other class is as powerful. It was too early to choose a class, but there was no harm in setting his path. [Please set your physical appearance within 3 minutes.] [Hold a strong image in your mind to apply it.] [Say “Imagining completed” when you are done.] [If you do not decide within the time limit, your original appearance will be automatically reflected.] Next came appearance customization, which was just as important as a nickname. Most people treated it like free plastic surgery, a chance to fix every perceived flaw. He didn't need to see them to know it was true. But that was a terrible idea, especially for women. A beautiful face certainly drew attention and could leave a good first impression, but this wasn't a beauty pageant. This was about survival. An outstanding appearance made you a target, and for women, the danger was even greater. Everyone was mistaken. They weren’t creating a game character. The otherworld was reality. Die here, and you died for good. Those who let the game-like system cloud their judgment were fools destined for an early grave. An ideal appearance had to be distinct, but not so handsome or hideous as to draw unwanted attention. While his real-life appearance fit that description, he still changed it to hide his identity. What he needed was a face that was different from his own, one that projected anything but an easygoing nature. Park Jin-ho quickly formed the image in his mind. He pictured a face with sharp cheekbones and a hard jawline, its expression cool and its gaze intense. He replaced his own leaner frame with a moderately muscular build. It was a look that radiated strength, a perfect match for the name Huk-yeong. “Imagining completed.” [You have completed customizing your appearance.] [Creating the avatar now.] [Avatar creation is complete.] [We will immediately transfer your soul to the first level. Good luck.] In an instant, a brilliant light flooded Park Jin-ho’s vision. When he opened his eyes again, a new world unfolded before him. The field for the first level was a vast, open meadow, the kind of place where cows and sheep might leisurely graze. There were no cows or sheep here, though. Instead of livestock, this field held monsters. Park Jin-ho looked down at his body. He stood 180 cm tall, solid and muscular, and it moved exactly as he willed it. Though customized only moments ago, it already felt like his own. I’ve created it so many times it feels more real than my actual body, he thought. He had used this same appearance since his twelfth regression, so the familiarity was comforting. He didn't stumble in his new form or stare in shock like the others. He had already experienced this soul transfer countless times. “Where are we? Some kind of meadow?” someone asked. “Who knows? But it feels… peaceful,” another replied. One by one, avatars materialized across the meadow, each in their own uniquely crafted body. “Whoa, my body actually changed!” one man exclaimed. “So this is the body I designed?” asked another. “I made myself muscular… what about my face?” The chatter grew louder as more people arrived. Some marveled at the nicknames hovering above each other’s heads. Others expressed satisfaction with their new bodies, while a frustrated few complained that they’d run out of time to change their appearance at all. Many were simply captivated by the endless green meadow. Park Jin-ho, however, watched them all with a bored expression. He’d seen this all before. His gaze was fixed on a single spot. It’s about time. A moment later, a figure appeared right where he was looking. There you are, Lee Jun-ho, he muttered to himself. Lee Jun-ho, looking clumsy and unbalanced in his new body, wandered about nervously. As expected, he went for pure muscle again, Park Jin-ho noted. Lee Jun-ho hadn’t bothered to change his face, making him easy to spot. His nickname, [Lee Jun-ho], was the same as his real name. He must have been too flustered to choose one in the thirty-second time limit.

Chapter 5: Never Appear Weak