Xavier paced back and forth, his mind racing as he stared at the red and black system screen hovering before him. The new skill he had acquired from the time stone was displayed once more, and despite reading it over a dozen times, he still found it unsettling.
[Skill Name: Ruler's Supremacy]
[Passive Skill: Active]
[Description: Requires No Mana Allows the user to bend the will of a selected target, forcing complete obedience. Currently, the user may have up to three subjugated targets.]
Xavier ran a hand through his hair, his fingers threading through the strands in frustration. Morally, he found the skill to be in poor taste. Why would he ever want to make anyone or anything his... well, his slave? The very thought made his stomach churn. Yet, from a purely logical perspective, the ability was undeniably useful. No mana requirement, absolute control over enemies—an invaluable asset in survival situations.
He sighed. "I shouldn't dwell on it too much," he muttered under his breath. "It's just an option, not a necessity."
Pushing the dilemma to the back of his mind, Xavier decided to explore his personal dungeon further. It still baffled him how eerily perfect the simulation of New York was—every building, every street corner, every alleyway exactly as he remembered. The only difference was the apocalyptic setting. Skyscrapers stood in ruins, entire streets were buried in debris, and a thick, unnatural fog loomed in the distance. The city had transformed into a dystopian nightmare.
His musings were abruptly cut short when a sharp instinct kicked in. Xavier ducked, just as something shot past his head at blinding speed, slamming into a nearby wall with a deafening crack. He turned his gaze toward the point of impact, eyes narrowing as dust and rubble fell away.
Emerging from the debris was a humanoid figure. It wore what seemed to be the tattered remnants of modern clothing, but its appearance was anything but human. Its bloodshot eyes locked onto Xavier, teeth jagged and irregular, its skin pallid and stretched tight over an emaciated frame. The creature's fingertips were elongated into grotesque, sharpened claws.
It hissed, a sound that sent a chill racing down Xavier's spine. Then, as if reacting to his apprehension, a name tag flickered into existence above its head.
[Ravenous Ghoul]
The text glowed a bright red, a color Xavier had only seen once before—back in the penalty zone. His breath hitched as his mind rapidly processed the implications. A monster with a red-tagged name meant serious danger. His instincts screamed at him to either run or fight, but before he could decide, the ghoul lunged.
It moved at an astonishing speed, its claws swiping through the air just inches from Xavier's throat. He barely managed to twist away in time, his heart hammering in his chest. Without hesitation, he retaliated—flipping backward and using the momentum to drive a powerful kick into the ghoul's chin. His foot connected with a sickening crack, sending the creature's head snapping backward.
But instead of collapsing, the ghoul merely grabbed its fractured jaw and wrenched it back into place with an unnatural pop.
Xavier's eyes widened in horror. "Oh, come on... it doesn't even feel pain?"
He didn't wait for an answer. His options were clear—fighting this thing head-on would be a losing battle without more intel. Survival was priority number one. Xavier spun on his heel and bolted down the ruined streets, glancing back only once to see the ghoul baring its fangs and giving chase.
"I need to find a weakness," Xavier muttered, dodging debris and wreckage. "Before this thing catches up and turns me into its next meal."