The Class Evolution Token hovered in front of Ethan, spinning like a coin of pure light. Its glow reflected in his eyes as he stood in the dim cavern where the Shadow Alpha had fallen.
[Would you like to use the Class Evolution Token?] [Y/N]
Ethan's heart thudded. His "Undefined" class was his biggest advantage. Would evolving it break the system—or make him unstoppable?
"Let's gamble," he muttered. "Yes."
The System chimed, its tone sharp and cold.
[Class Evolution Initiated.] [Analyzing…] [Error: No defined evolution path.] [Searching for compatible parameters…]
The token dissolved into threads of light that wrapped around his body. The cavern shook as lines of code—not real code, but something woven into the air—flashed before his eyes.
Then the System settled.
[Congratulations, Ethan Cross.] [Class Evolved: **System Overlord (Prototype)**]
"System Overlord…?" His voice trembled. The next notifications rolled in:
[Class Traits Unlocked:] — **Omni-Skill Access** (Learn all skill types with no penalty) — **Skill Fusion (Advanced)** (Combine 3+ skills into custom abilities) — **System Override** (10% chance to "hack" a monster or item) — **Adaptive Growth x20** (EXP and stat growth doubled again)
Ethan stared at the glowing blue text. "...This is broken. This is so broken."
He pulled up his Status Window:
Ethan Cross — Level 5Class: System Overlord (Prototype)HP: 140/140MP: 100/100STR: 12DEX: 8VIT: 10INT: 8WIS: 6CHA: 5LCK: 5Stat Points Available: 10
He grinned and dumped five points into Strength, three into Dexterity, and two into Vitality
[STR: 17 | DEX: 11 | VIT: 12]
"Okay," he whispered. "Time to test this power."
When Ethan stepped back through the Dungeon Gate, the city was worse than before. Buildings burned. A military drone spiraled from the sky trailing black smoke. Civilians—other Inducted—fought monsters with glowing weapons and magic. The world had turned into a war zone.
But not all the chaos came from monsters.
Two groups of survivors were fighting over a supply truck, their weapons glowing from their new System-imbued power.
"You think you can just take all the food?!" a man shouted, swinging a crude sword at the other group.
"Survival of the fittest!" another roared back. "The weak die! That's the rule now!"
Ethan froze. The System wasn't just giving people power—it was tearing society apart.
"Hey! You, with the bat!"
Ethan turned. A woman about his age, tall and lean with short-cropped black hair, jogged toward him. She wore a leather jacket and wielded a spear that hummed with faint runes.
"Uh… yeah?" Ethan asked.
"You just came out of that dungeon, right?" she said, nodding toward the fading portal. "I saw the light spike. You're alive, so I'm guessing you killed the Alpha."
Ethan nodded slowly. "Yeah. And you are…?"
"Kayla Vega. Class: Spear Sentinel." She extended her hand, which glowed faintly blue—probably from some passive skill. "I'm gathering survivors. There's another dungeon spawning near the river, and we need to clear it before the next wave."
Ethan hesitated. "...I work better alone."
"Alone, you'll die," she said bluntly. "The second wave will hit like a truck. You think this was bad? Wait until the 'World Bosses' spawn."
She had a point. Besides, Ethan could use the cover of a group to experiment with his new skills.
"Fine," he said. "But I'm not babysitting anyone."
Kayla led him to a group of Inducted camped around a half-burned fire station. There were maybe eight of them, armed and armored with whatever the System had provided. A hulking man in scavenged SWAT gear stepped forward, a massive axe strapped to his back. His presence was… intimidating.
"Kayla," he said, his voice like gravel. "Who's the new guy?"
"Ethan Cross. He just cleared a dungeon by himself," Kayla said. "He's strong."
The man raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Nobody clears a dungeon solo at Level 5. You're either lying or cheating."
Ethan's jaw tightened. "What's your problem?"
"My problem," the man said, stepping closer, "is that I don't trust rookies who pop out of nowhere claiming they're tough. People like you get others killed. I'm Rogan Holt, Class: Berserker, and around here, I'm in charge."
Ethan could practically feel the tension crackling. Kayla moved between them. "Enough. We don't have time for dick-measuring contests. The next dungeon's forming now."
The dungeon was unlike the Shadow Fang Den. This one rose from the Chicago River like a black crystal fortress, jagged spires pulsing with violet energy. The System message appeared:
[Dungeon Gate Detected: Abyssal Nest] [Recommended Level: 7–10]
"We're underleveled," Kayla muttered, scanning the others.
"Then we get stronger," Rogan said with a grin. "Or we die trying."
Ethan clenched his fists. His new System Overlord class was itching to be tested.
Inside the dungeon, the walls pulsed like living flesh. Swarms of insectoid monsters—creatures with chitin armor and razor legs—attacked in waves. Ethan fought like a demon, his bat glowing with Arcane Strike as he combined magic and melee seamlessly. Kayla stared at him mid-fight.
"How the hell are you doing that?" she asked after he cleaved through two bug-monsters with one flaming, blue-infused swing.
"Trade secret," he muttered, firing a Mana Bolt directly through another's eye.
But Rogan was watching him too—and not with admiration.
Hours into the dungeon, after they cleared the first wave, Rogan called Ethan aside. "You're not normal," he growled. "Nobody picks up power that fast. What's your Class?"
"Undefined," Ethan said honestly.
"Undefined?" Rogan's expression twisted. "You mean you're a glitched freak. That means you're dangerous. People like you… you need to be controlled."
Ethan narrowed his eyes. "Try me."
Rogan smirked. "Oh, I intend to."
The group entered the final chamber, where an Abyss Queen—a monstrous insect with obsidian wings—waited. As the fight began, Rogan made his move.
While Ethan dodged the Queen's venomous strike, Rogan swung his massive axe—not at the monster, but at Ethan.
"You're too dangerous to live!" Rogan roared.
The attack would have cut Ethan in half, but his instincts flared.
[System Override Triggered!] [Weapon Hacked: Berserker's Axe Lv. 5 (Temporary Control)]
Rogan's axe froze mid-swing, glowing with Ethan's energy.
Ethan turned slowly, eyes blazing with blue light. "Bad move."