Reborn in the Apocalypse :The son In-law's revenge

The pen felt heavier than it should have.

Leo stared at the divorce papers on the mahogany desk. Three years of marriage, reduced to a single sheet of paper and a cheap plastic pen. He could hear his mother-in-law, Eleanor, pacing behind him, her heels clicking against the marble floor like a ticking clock.

"Don't just sit there like a mute fool," Eleanor sneered. "Sign it. You've wasted enough of my daughter's youth. A useless live-in son-in-law who can't even buy her a decent handbag. Pathetic."

Leo didn't look up. He simply slid the papers back to Sophia.

His wife—his soon-to-be ex-wife—didn't even glance at him. She was too busy checking her makeup in a gold compact mirror. "Just sign it, Leo. Mark is waiting for me. We're going to the Maldives tomorrow."

"Mark," Leo repeated, the name tasting like ash in his mouth.

Mark, the billionaire heir. Mark, who had been sending Sophia roses for months while Leo was cooking and cleaning for her family. Mark, who was currently waiting outside in a luxury car, probably laughing at the pathetic son-in-law who was about to be thrown out on the street.

Leo picked up the pen. He had been weak. He had taken the insults, the humiliation, the separate bedrooms, all because he thought if he just endured it, things would get better.

But they never did.

He signed his name.

"Finally," Eleanor scoffed, snatching the papers away. "Now get out of my sight. You have one hour to pack your trash and leave the estate. And don't you dare ask us for a single penny."

Leo stood up. He didn't say a word. He turned toward the door, his jaw clenched so tight his teeth ached. This was the end. He had lost everything.

And then, the world turned red.

A deafening CRACK split the air, not like thunder, but like the sky itself tearing apart. The entire mansion shook violently. Eleanor screamed, stumbling back against the wall. The windows shattered inward, glass spraying across the room.

"What the hell is happening?!" Sophia shrieked, dropping her compact mirror.

A blue holographic screen flickered to life in front of Leo's eyes.

[GLOBAL SYSTEM INITIALIZATION...]

[THE APOCALYPSE HAS BEGUN.]

Before Leo could process the floating text, a guttural, inhuman screech echoed from the hallway. A creature burst through the shattered doorway. It was a grotesque, green-skinned goblin, its mouth filled with jagged teeth and its yellow eyes glowing with bloodlust.

It wasn't looking at Leo. It was looking at Sophia and Eleanor.

"Mark! Help us!" Sophia screamed, but Mark, who had been waiting outside in his luxury car, was nowhere to be seen. The coward had probably already driven away.

The goblin lunged.

Time seemed to slow down. Leo saw the terror in his ex-wife's eyes. He saw the arrogance wiped clean from Eleanor's face. They were helpless.

For three years, he had been their punching bag. But now, something deep inside him snapped. A cold, predatory instinct took over.

The Apex Plunder System, dormant within his soul, recognized the shift.

[BLOODLINE CRISIS DETECTED. UNLOCKING SSS-CLASS SYSTEM: APEX PLUNDER.]

Leo didn't run. He grabbed the closest thing on the desk—a heavy, silver letter opener—and stepped in front of his terrified ex-wife.

The goblin swung its claws. Leo dodged, feeling a sudden surge of unnatural speed flow through his veins. He drove the letter opener straight into the creature's skull.

The goblin let out a wet gurgle and collapsed.

[DEVOUR SUCCESSFUL.]

[+1 Strength, +1 Agility.]

Leo looked down at his hands. The letter opener was covered in black blood. He felt stronger. Faster. He turned to look at Sophia and Eleanor. They were huddled on the floor, staring at him with wide, shocked eyes.

"Y-you killed it," Sophia stammered.

Leo wiped the blood on his torn sleeve and walked toward the door. He didn't look back.

"You chose poorly," he said quietly.

It was time to take back his dignity. And he was just getting started.