Xander Voss sat in his worn-out gaming chair, surrounded by snack wrappers, empty energy drink cans, and three monitors illuminating his pale face with a bluish light. It was 2:37 PM on June 17, 2026. At 25 years old, he was what most people would call "a walking failure." Too thin, slumped shoulders, thick-rimmed glasses that constantly slipped down his nose, disheveled brown hair, and a sparse beard that he only trimmed when he remembered.A freelance programmer, he spent most of his day fixing bugs for clients who paid poorly and late. At night, he immersed himself in light novels, system web novels, LitRPGs, and empire-building games. He daydreamed about the possibility of one day receiving a System. "If I had a System…," he often murmured while looking at his frail body in the bathroom mirror. "I wouldn't be this piece of shit anymore."At that moment, he was watching a live stream on the country's largest news channel, broadcast simultaneously on YouTube and Twitch. The title of

Xander remained kneeling on the bedroom floor, surrounded by chunks of black flesh and viscous blood that still steamed as it touched the floor. The decapitated head of the Blood Leech Hound was propped against the wall, its red eyes now opaque and lifeless. The tentacle that had almost sucked the life out of him lay limp like a dead snake.His breathing was still irregular. His heart pounded against his ribs, but it wasn't just fear anymore. There was something more. A warm, vibrant energy pulsing through his veins. He looked at his own hands. His once thin, pale fingers now had bulging veins. His forearms showed muscles that definitely hadn't existed ten minutes ago."I... I killed it," he murmured, his voice hoarse. "I killed a level 8 thing."A low, nervous laugh escaped his throat. He stood slowly, feeling his body respond with a lightness and strength bordering on the absurd. The silver sword with blue veins was still firmly in his right hand, as if it were a natural extension o

Xander climbed the stairs of the Riverview building with silent, controlled steps. His body, which less than two hours ago had been that of a scrawny, Force 4 nerd, now responded with almost instinctive precision. Each step was taken with economy of movement. The Nexus rookie sword, still stained with black, viscous blood, rested in his right hand as if it had always belonged there.He had cleared floors 6, 5, and 4 almost completely. The counter of dead monsters already showed 9. He only needed one more to complete the daily mission, but he couldn't stop. The thirst for experience, for power, fortrialThe feeling that he was no longer the weakling he once was now throbbed in his chest like a second heart.[Level 2 → Level 4]The levels had risen rapidly after the massacre on the 4th floor. Each fight taught something new. His attributes grew. His confidence too. The fear still existed—latent, like a caged animal—but now it was dominated by the calculating coldness that the System seem

Xander and Lira descended the stairs side by side, the sound of their footsteps echoing through the concrete void like a death knell for anything that still breathed in that building. The Nexus rookie sword rested on the makeshift belt Xander had fashioned from a strip of curtain. Lira carried her makeshift bow, now reinforced with mana, and a quiver full of arrows they had collected from the destroyed apartments.The air was heavy. The metallic smell of blood, the acrid odor of alien ichor, and the sweet stench of decaying flesh created an almost suffocating atmosphere. But neither of them complained. They had gone beyond the point of disgust. Now only purpose remained."How many more are left?" Lira asked, her voice low and controlled. Her red ponytail swayed with each step, stained with dried blood.Xander opened the mind map generated byOmniscient AnalysisThe 12-story building appeared as a three-dimensional structure with flashing red dots."Twenty-four living monsters. Most are

The soft blue light of the Safe Zone filled apartment 703 like a calm and comforting mist. Xander Voss slowly opened his eyes, feeling the comforting weight of the body beside him. Lira slept with her head resting on his chest, her red hair spread like liquid flames across her skin. Her arm rested possessively on his waist.He hadn't touched her intimately yet. It wasn't the right time. But the way she had snuggled up to him during the night—almost as if seeking protection and warmth at the same time—was a silent declaration. She belonged to him now.Xander raised his left hand and opened his status screen with a thought.[Nexus Administrator System]Name:Xander Voss Level:14 (8,720 / 18,200 XP up to Level 15) Class:System Sovereign (Evolutionary Path available at Level 20) Titles:The Sole Administrator (+15% to all attributes in unclaimed territory)Pioneer Administrator (+20% experience in unclaimed territory | +10% efficiency in creating laws and safe zones)Attributes:Strengt