Chapter 2: A Brief Detour
Kael Draven leaned back in his chair, the hum of the bunker's generator a faint buzz beneath the opulent silence of his mansion's upper floors. Three weeks of relentless preparation had left him wired—warehouses stuffed, bunker fortified, system tasks ticking upward like a scoreboard. [Task Progress: Stockpile Supplies – 62% Complete] flashed in his vision, followed by a new perk: [Reward Unlocked: Enhanced Stamina (Minor)]. He smirked. The Apocalypse Tyrant System was turning him into something more than human, bit by bit. But even tyrants needed a break.
He was still fourteen, still the prince of Ridgewood High, and the world hadn't ended yet. Two months until the chaos—he could afford one night to remind himself why he'd been the king of the social scene. The old Kael, the playboy who'd ruled with a wink and a smile, stirred in his chest. Why not flex that muscle one last time before the world turned to ash?
The idea hit him like a shot of adrenaline: the cheerleading squad. All twelve of them—gorgeous, giggly, and perpetually orbiting his gravitational pull. He'd charmed them before, dated half of them individually in his first life, but never all at once. The new Kael, the one with a tyrant's ambition and a system pumping power into his veins, wanted to see how far he could push it.
The party was set for Friday night. Kael sent out the invites with his usual flair—personalized texts dripping with charm, a promise of "a night you'll never forget" at the Draven estate. His parents were off in Dubai, the staff dismissed for the weekend with a generous bonus to keep quiet. The mansion was his kingdom, and he intended to rule it.
By 8 p.m., the cheerleaders arrived in a flurry of laughter and perfume, their uniforms swapped for tight dresses and heels that clicked against the marble floors. There was Sasha, the captain, all blonde hair and sharp wit; Mia, the brunette with a laugh that could melt ice; Lila, the fiery redhead who'd always had a thing for him. The rest followed—each a stunner in her own right, drawn to Kael like moths to a flame.
"Welcome, ladies," Kael said, leaning against the grand staircase, a glass of sparkling cider in hand. (He wasn't dumb enough to risk real booze with the apocalypse looming—needed his wits sharp.) His voice was smooth, his smile devastating. The girls giggled, exchanging glances. He could feel their eyes on him—his freshly tailored shirt hugging his frame, his hair artfully tousled, those green eyes glinting with something dangerous.
The night unfolded like a dream he'd scripted. Music pulsed through the mansion's sound system, the pool lights casting a shimmering glow over the backyard. Kael moved among them, a predator in paradise—dancing with Sasha until she was breathless, whispering something filthy in Mia's ear that made her blush, pulling Lila into a slow grind that left her biting her lip. The others watched, some jealous, some intrigued, all hooked.
"God, Kael, you're too much," Sasha laughed, fanning herself as he spun her into a dip.
"Only the best for my favorite squad," he shot back, winking.
By midnight, the energy shifted. The flirting turned bolder, the air thick with tension. Kael led them upstairs, past the guest wings, to his private suite—a cavernous room with a bed the size of a small country, draped in silk. He didn't need to say much; his presence did the work. The cheerleaders followed, a mix of nerves and excitement, their laughter softening into something hungrier.
What happened next was a blur of tangled limbs and whispered dares. Kael was everywhere—kissing Sasha's neck, running his hands through Mia's hair, pulling Lila against him while the others pressed close. His enhanced stamina kicked in, a quiet gift from the system, letting him keep up with the chaos he'd unleashed. It was reckless, indulgent, a throwback to the playboy he'd been before the world taught him survival meant blood and grit.
The girls were a symphony of gasps and giggles, feeding his ego as much as his senses. He lost track of time, of who was who, until the first light of dawn crept through the curtains. They sprawled across the bed, exhausted, flushed, and starry-eyed, while Kael sat up, shirtless, a satisfied grin on his face.
"Best. Night. Ever," Mia mumbled, half-asleep.
"Worth it," Lila added, her voice a lazy drawl.
Kael chuckled, running a hand through his sweat-damp hair. It had been a detour, a flex of the old him before the new one took over completely. The system stayed silent—no judgment, no tasks, just a faint hum in the back of his mind.
By morning, the girls stumbled out, giggling and promising to text him later. Kael waved them off, then collapsed onto the couch in his bunker, the afterglow fading into focus. The apocalypse was still coming. He'd had his fun, scratched the itch, but the clock was ticking—thirty-seven days left.
[System Notification: Hidden Task Completed – Indulge Your Desires]
[Reward Unlocked: Charisma Boost (Minor)]
Kael laughed out loud. "You're kidding me." The system approved? He shook his head, already plotting his next move. Supplies were nearly set, but now he had charm to weaponize too. The cheerleaders were a warm-up; soon, he'd be seducing survivors, building an empire from the ruins.
For now, though, he let himself savor the memory. A tyrant could afford a little decadence—especially one this handsome.