The world had already ended by the time Liam opened his eyes.
Smoke filled the air, thick and bitter. It clung to his throat as he coughed, then sat up slowly, his fingers scraping against broken concrete. Around him, the ruins of the city stretched in every direction. Skyscrapers had collapsed into twisted metal. Fires burned without control. There was no sound but the crackling of flame and the distant howls of something not quite human.
He pressed a hand to his chest. His heartbeat was steady. Alive. Somehow.
The last thing he remembered was the sky tearing open. Light pouring down. Screams.
Then nothing.
He staggered to his feet, legs unsteady beneath him, and looked up at the ash-filled sky.
That was when the voice echoed in his mind.
A cold, mechanical tone. Loud. Unmistakable.
> [System Detected]
Host identified: Liam Voss
Vital signs... stable.
Neural link... incomplete.
Warning: System installation failed.
Attempting emergency overwrite...
Liam blinked. "What the hell...?"
More words appeared, not in the sky, but behind his eyes. Floating, pulsing, impossible to ignore.
> [Emergency Protocol Engaged]
You have been assigned the Harem Overlord System.
Survival linked to system compliance.
He stumbled backward, nearly falling into a cracked sewer grate. "Harem what?"
The words kept coming.
> Objective: Claim your first wife within 24 hours.
Failure to comply will result in termination.
Reward: Each wife grants unique skills, territory control, and power upgrades.
Current wife count: 0 / 99
Timer: 23:59:58
Liam stood there, stunned.
Some kind of system. A countdown. A requirement. Wives?
"This has to be a dream," he muttered.
He slapped his cheek hard. The pain was real. So was the heat from the nearby fires. This wasn't a dream.
This was a nightmare.
The ground trembled beneath his feet, sending a wave of dust into the air. A distant roar followed, deep and guttural. Liam flinched, spinning toward the sound, but he couldn't see through the smoke. Whatever was out there, it was getting closer.
He glanced back at the timer still ticking in his mind.
23 hours, 58 minutes. Not a lot of time to figure out what the hell was going on.
He didn't know how the world had ended. He didn't know why he was still alive. But one thing was clear... he had to move.
He ran, weaving through the broken streets, stepping over shattered glass and abandoned cars. The city was silent, save for the occasional scream carried on the wind. Most people were gone. Dead or worse.
As he turned a corner, Liam spotted movement up ahead. A figure darted into a collapsed building, clutching something in her hands.
"Hey!" he called out.
No response.
He followed, careful with his footing as he climbed over rubble and debris. Inside, the building was half-destroyed, the ceiling caved in. Light filtered through cracks in the walls. Dust hung in the air like mist.
He found her near the back, crouched low, a blade in her hand. She turned as he approached, eyes narrowing.
"Stay back," she warned.
Liam raised his hands slowly. "I'm not here to hurt you. I just... I need help."
She didn't lower the blade. Her eyes flicked over him, cautious, calculating.
"You're not infected?"
"No. I just woke up. I don't know what's happening."
She hesitated, then stood. She was tall, lean, wearing torn armor that looked like it had seen better days. Her dark hair was tied back, face smudged with ash. She looked like a soldier, or maybe a survivor who had learned to fight.
"What's your name?" she asked.
"Liam. Liam Voss."
Her eyes widened for a split second, then narrowed again. "You're on the list."
"What list?"
Before she could answer, the ground shook again. Louder this time. Closer.
A roar echoed through the ruins, followed by the sound of something massive crashing through stone.
She turned toward the sound, her grip tightening on the blade.
"Damn it. They found us."
Liam's heart pounded. "Who?"
"Monsters. Keep up or you're dead."
She didn't wait for a reply, running toward a side exit. Liam followed, stumbling after her as the building groaned under the weight of something outside.
They emerged into the open just as a massive shape burst through the nearby wall. The creature stood three meters tall, its body a mix of bone and sinew, eyes glowing red. It let out a deafening screech.
The woman didn't hesitate. She charged.
Liam could only watch as she moved like lightning, blade flashing, dodging the creature's claws with practiced ease. She struck, drawing black blood from its side. The monster roared again, swiping at her, but she ducked low and slashed again.
He wanted to help. But he had no weapon. No skills. Nothing.
Then the system voice returned.
> [Combat Detected]
Compatible partner nearby.
Candidate: Unnamed Survivor – Combat Class
Compatibility: 89%
Initiate wife contract?
Yes / No
"What?!"
The words burned into his vision. Another roar shook him back to reality. The creature had turned, lunging toward him.
"Liam, move!" the woman shouted.
He dove to the side, barely avoiding the monster's claws.
The system voice rang again, urgent.
> Partner request pending.
Confirm to unlock skill: Blade Storm
Countdown: 30 seconds
Liam stared at the woman as she fought. She was strong. Skilled. A survivor. And somehow... the system wanted him to claim her?
"This is insane," he muttered.
The monster roared again, charging.
He had no choice.
"Fine!" he shouted. "Yes!"
> Partner accepted.
First wife acquired: Name pending
Skill unlocked: Blade Storm
Territory bonus activated: Ruined Mall Fortress
Power level increased.
Something surged through him... warmth, energy, power. His limbs felt lighter. His vision sharpened.
The monster swung at him again, but Liam didn't flinch. He raised his hand, and a sword appeared in it. Silver, etched with glowing lines.
The woman stared at him, stunned.
"You... you formed a pact?"
Liam didn't answer. He stepped forward, gripping the blade, and charged.