Nexus: The Rise of the Administrator

Chapter 6: The First Level and the First Ally Part 2

Lira swallowed hard. Her eyes drifted down to his sword, then back up to his face. That's when she saw him.

A translucent blue screen, partially visible because Xander hadn't completely hidden his interface, floated beside him. She could only read fragments:

[Level: 7]

[Classe: System Sovereign]

[Title: The Sole Administrator]

"What the hell is this…?" she whispered, her eyes wide. "You… you have a System? A real one? And… level 7? I barely managed to get to level 4 after killing five of those damn things."

Xander didn't smile. Instead, he extended his right hand. In his palm appeared one of theFull Recovery Potions (Administrator)that still remained from the initial package.

"Baby."

It wasn't a request. It was an order, given with absolute calm.

Lira hesitated for two seconds. Then she picked up the small bottle that glowed with blue light. She drank. Her eyes closed for a moment as the light enveloped her leg, closing the wound, restoring her energy, and even healing minor scratches.

When she opened her eyes again, she seemed refreshed. But her gaze toward Xander had changed completely.

"How…?" Her voice trembled slightly. "I saw you a few times in the elevator. You were… quiet. Thin. Always looked like you hadn't slept. And now… you took down three monsters that almost killed me in less than fifteen seconds. And that aura… damn, Xander. What are you?"

He put the sword back in his inventory (now with 8 slots after leveling up). Then he crossed his arms. His biceps, now visibly developed, stood out.

"I am the Administrator," he replied simply. "The only one who received this specific System. The other humans probably received standard versions. I didn't. I can…"grantPower. In the future. When I judge that someone deserves it.

Lira took a deep breath. She looked at the monsters' bodies, then at him again. There was respect there. Fear too. But, above all, a decision being made in real time.

"I don't want to die here," she said, her voice firm despite her exhaustion. "I fought alone for almost four hours. I killed six of those things with makeshift arrows and a knife. But I know when I'm at my limit. If you really have the power I saw on that screen… I want to stay with you."

She took a step forward, ignoring the lingering pain. Now she was close enough for Xander to smell the sweat, blood, and something floral in her red hair.

"I'm not useless. I was the state archery champion for two years. I trained in instinctive shooting, compound bow, recurve bow... I know how to hunt, I know how to move silently, I know how to kill from a distance. If you give me a real chance, I'll follow you. I swear."

Xander watched her in silence for long seconds.

He felt the weight of that moment. This was his first ally. The first person who would see the "new Xander." He decided to set the tone right away.

He raised his hand and placed two fingers under her chin, lifting her face so that she looked directly into his eyes. The gesture was dominant, but not violent. Controlled.

"If you follow me, Lira Voss, you won't be treated as an equal. I am the Administrator. You will be my first subordinate. My ranged blade. When I reach level 10, I can give you a subordinate System. But until then, you obey. You fight when I command. You survive because..."euI've decided that you deserve to survive. Understood?

Her green eyes gleamed. There was excitement there. Respect. And something deeper—attraction to the raw strength he exuded.

"Understood… Administrator."

Xander released his jaw. A cold, satisfied smile finally appeared on his lips.

[New Skill Acquired!]

[Basic Sword Mastery (Level 3)]– Increases accuracy, speed, and damage with swords by 30%. Reduced mana cost.

[Unlocked Skill: Mana Arrow (Level 1)]– Allows you to infuse arrows with mana, increasing penetration and elemental damage. Compatible with bow users. Cost: 15 Mana per arrow.

He reached out his hand to her.

"So come on. Let's clean up the rest of this floor. Then we'll go down to my apartment. Let's turn this building into our first safe haven."

Lira took his hand without hesitation. Her fingers were calloused from so much archery practice, but her palm was warm. She stood up with his help, positioning herself beside him—slightly behind, like a bodyguard recognizing her superior.

As they walked down the hallway, Xander partially opened his status screen for her to see, in a gesture of restrained trust.

[Level: 7 (2,340 / 4,800 XP up to Level 8)]

Attributes:

Strength: 41

Agility: 38

Vitality: 29

Mana: 72

Intelligence: 51

Perception: 37

Willpower: 81

Lira read in silence. Then she let out a low, almost incredulous laugh.

"You were Force 4, weren't you? I remember seeing you carrying groceries and looking like you were going to faint."

Xander laughed too. A low, dangerous sound.

"I was. Now I am this. And I'm going to get much stronger. And you…" He glanced at her sideways, admiring her athletic body and her red hair that shone even in the dim light. "You'll stay by my side while I climb."

They encountered two more monsters at the end of the corridor. Lira tested the new ability that Xander had just indirectly unlocked for her. He usedOmniscient Analysisto guide her and temporarily transferred the knowledge ofMana Arrow.

The first arrow she fired glowed with a faint blue light. The makeshift arrow pierced the skull of a Blood Leech Hound as if it were a drill, exiting on the other side.

Lira looked at her own hand, then at Xander, her eyes shining with excitement.

This... this is incredible.

"This is just the beginning," he replied, decapitating the last monster with a clean blow.

As they collected the blood crystals and Nexus Points, Xander felt a profound satisfaction. He had reached level 7. He had saved—no,dominated— the first ally. And she had set the tone for what her empire would be like.

Lira walked beside him now, bow in hand, posture erect, gaze attentive. The initial respect and loyalty were already taking root.

As they descended the stairs together, Xander gazed at the horizon through a broken window. The portals were still spinning in the sky. The world was still burning.

But inside the Riverview building, something new had been born. A king had awakened, and his first warrior queen was by his side.