WHEN THEY ALL LAUNCHED I BECAME THEIR GOD

Chapter 3

At that moment Damian stood there in the dim warehouse, staring at the glowing blue screen floating in front of his eyes. His hands, which had been crushed to pulp minutes ago, flexed without pain. His chest, where his ribs had been shattered and his organs destroyed, rose and fell with easy breaths.

The necklace against his skin felt warm now, almost alive.

His foster parents had told him the story a hundred times. They'd found him as a baby, wrapped in a blanket by the riverbank, nothing on him but this silver chain with a ring attached. The name "Damian" had been engraved on the inside of the band in letters so small you needed a magnifying glass to read them.

They'd never been able to tell him anything else. No note, no clue about who left him there or why.

And now this necklace had just saved his life. More than that, it had given him something.

[SYSTEM INITIALIZATION COMPLETE]

[BOUNDLESS POWER SYSTEM ACTIVE]

[ANALYZING HOST CAPABILITIES...]

New text scrolled across the translucent screen.

[POWERS UNLOCKED:]

[WEALTH MULTIPLIER - LEVEL 1]

“Any money spent by Host will be multiplied 10x and returned to Host's account within 24 hours”

[CULTIVATION FOUNDATION - LEVEL 1]

“Host can now sense and absorb ambient energy to strengthen body and mind”

[MARTIAL ARTS DATABASE - LEVEL 1]

“Basic combat techniques available. Advanced techniques locked”

[MEDICAL SKILLS DATABASE - LEVEL 1]

“Acupuncture, pressure points, and healing knowledge available”

[ALL SKILLS CURRENTLY AT LEVEL 2]

Damian's throat tightened. Level 2 already? He hadn't done anything.

Another notification appeared.

[DETECTED: BONDED INDIVIDUAL]

[NAME: MEGAN CROSS]

[RELATIONSHIP: SPOUSE]

[STATUS: ABILITY AWAKENED THROUGH SYSTEM CONNECTION]

[ABILITY TYPE: POWER AMPLIFICATION]

His blood went cold. 

"What?" The word came out raw.

[EXPLANATION: Host's bond with Megan Cross created a resonance link. Her latent ability was activated through proximity to System energy. All powers she believes are hers originated from Host's presence.]

Damian's jaw locked tight. Everything. Her awakening, her ability to amplify Maxwell's power, the reason the Rushman family wanted her - it all came from him. From this system. From the connection they'd shared as husband and wife.

She'd thrown him away like garbage, and she didn't even know the power she was so proud of came from him.

[OPTION AVAILABLE: UNBIND MEGAN CROSS]

[WARNING: Unbinding will permanently sever the resonance link. Target will lose all System-derived abilities.]

[REWARD FOR UNBINDING: 100 SYSTEM POINTS]

[PROCEED? YES / NO]

Damian didn't hesitate. His finger moved through the air, selecting YES.

[UNBINDING INITIATED...]

[UNBINDING COMPLETE]

[+100 SYSTEM POINTS ACQUIRED]

A new screen opened, showing his available points and a list of upgrades.

[SYSTEM POINTS: 100]

[AVAILABLE UPGRADES:]

- Wealth Multiplier Enhancement: 50 points

- Cultivation Advancement: 30 points  

- Martial Arts Mastery: 20 points

- Medical Skills Expansion: 20 points

In a world where power decided everything - where people with abilities lorded over those without, where money opened every door and strength commanded respect - he needed both.

Damian allocated quickly.

50 points into Wealth Multiplier. 30 into Cultivation. 20 into Martial Arts.

[UPGRADES PROCESSING...]

At that moment heat exploded through his body. Not painful, but intense, like every cell was waking up at once. His muscles didn't grow bigger, but they felt denser, coiled with potential energy. His senses sharpened - he could hear his own heartbeat, smell the oil and rust in the warehouse, feel the vibration of traffic from the street half a block away.

Knowledge flooded his mind. Cultivation techniques, breathing patterns, ways to draw energy from the world around him and store it in his body. Martial arts forms, strikes that could break bones, pressure points that could paralyze or kill.

[UPGRADES COMPLETE]

[WEALTH MULTIPLIER: LEVEL 6]

“Any money spent will be multiplied 60x and returned within 12 hours”

[CULTIVATION: FOUNDATION STAGE - EARLY TIER]**

Host has entered the first realm of power. Physical capabilities enhanced. Energy manipulation possible.

[MARTIAL ARTS: IRON BODY TECHNIQUE ACQUIRED]

“Defensive and offensive combat skills unlocked”

Damian stood, and the world felt different. Lighter. His body responded with a precision he'd never experienced before. When he'd worked construction jobs to pay for Megan's medication, he'd lifted heavy materials until his back screamed. Now he felt like he could lift a car.

“So this is power.”