The air reeked of smoke, blood, and betrayal. Maximus Darn, once the undisputed King of the Underworld, sat slumped against the shattered desk of his private office. Bullet holes riddled the mahogany walls. His men—loyal brothers who had fought with him from the slums to the throne—lay lifeless across the marble floor.
The crimson insignia of the White Tiger Gang—his gang—was splattered with his own blood.
Maximus coughed, tasting iron on his lips. His once sharp black suit was shredded and stained red, the same suit that had struck fear into police commissioners, politicians, and gang lords alike.
And standing above him was his betrayer.
"Maximus," the traitor sneered, pressing the barrel of a pistol against his temple. "You built an empire… and you thought loyalty would keep it safe. But in the end, you forgot the one rule of this world."
Maximus lifted his eyes, his vision blurred but his fury unbroken. "You… dog."
The traitor chuckled. "Money rules all."
Bang.
The shot echoed like the final nail in the coffin of the White Tiger Gang.
As darkness swallowed him, Maximus's last thought wasn't of regret. It wasn't of the empire he built or the brothers who followed him. It was a promise.
If there's a second chance… I'll take everything. Not just power, not just money. I'll take their women, their families, their pride… everything they think belongs to them.
The Awakening
Maximus opened his eyes to blinding light. For a moment, he thought it was hellfire. Then he realized he was lying on soft silk sheets, his body clean, untouched by bullet holes. His chest rose and fell with steady breaths.
"What…?" he muttered, sitting up. His hands were smooth, younger, thinner. He rushed to a mirror across the lavish room and froze.
The reflection staring back wasn't the scarred face of Maximus Darn. Gone were the hardened eyes of a man who clawed his way out of the gutter. Instead, he saw a young man, barely twenty, with sharp features, pale skin, and aristocratic blue eyes.
"Who the hell…?"
Before he could process, a flood of alien memories surged into his mind like molten fire. He clutched his head, gritting his teeth as fragments of another life forced their way into his brain.
Max Stern. Heir to the Stern Family—the wealthiest family in the country. A spoiled weakling. A disgrace to the family name.
Maximus gasped as the memories settled. He now understood. He had been reborn. His soul, once burned by betrayal, now lived inside the body of Max Stern.
And Max Stern's life… was pathetic.
The Stern Family was a dynasty that controlled banking, corporations, politics, and media. The family patriarch, Lucius Stern, was worth billions. But among his many children and grandchildren, Max Stern was the weakest—pampered, useless, constantly ridiculed.
"Heh." Maximus chuckled, the corner of his lips curling. "From the slums to the underworld… and now I wake up in the lap of luxury."
But then his expression hardened. Wealth without respect is worth nothing. And in this house, I see wolves. They won't stop until they devour each other.
His fists clenched. If this is my second life, then I'll do more than survive. I'll dominate.
The System Awakens
A chime rang in his ears, mechanical and cold.
[Ding!]
The Underworld Domination System has been bound to Host: Maximus Darn (Reborn as Max Stern).
Initializing…
Maximus's eyes widened. "A system?"
A holographic panel appeared before him, glowing with golden light only he could see.
[Underworld Domination System]
Host: Maximus Darn (Soul) / Max Stern (Body)
Level: 1 (Fallen King)
Revenge Points (RP): 0
Seduction Points (SP): 0
Wealth Points (WP): 0
Power Points (PP): 0
Main Mission: Rise again as the King of the Underworld.
Failure: Permanent death. Soul erasure.
A second panel flickered into view.
[Daily Mission Panel]
Humiliate one rival → Reward: +50 RP
Seduce one target → Reward: +100 SP
Accumulate $1M in wealth (legal or illegal) → Reward: +200 WP
Establish a gang following → Reward: +200 PP
Failure to complete daily missions = Punishment.
Maximus grinned. "Now this… this is interesting."
The system wasn't just a guide. It was a weapon. Revenge, seduction, wealth, power—it aligned perfectly with his desires.
"System," he muttered. "What kind of punishment?"
The cold mechanical voice replied:
Punishment varies depending on failure. Options include:
Physical pain simulation (equivalent to death).
Stat reduction.
Forced humiliation of Host.
Loss of acquired assets.
Maximus smirked. "Good. A game where failure isn't an option."
He cracked his knuckles. In my last life, I had only my fists, my wits, and a blade. In this one… I have everything. A rich family, a system, and a chance to burn the world down properly.
The Stern Mansion
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Young Master Max," a voice called. "The family meeting begins in ten minutes."
"Family meeting?" Maximus muttered. The memories of Max Stern filled the blanks. The Stern Family gathered weekly, a battlefield disguised as polite conversation. The patriarch, Lucius Stern, presided. Every child, grandchild, and cousin vied for his approval, clawing for inheritance, influence, and favor.
Max Stern was usually the laughingstock.
Maximus chuckled. "Not anymore."
He straightened his black suit, adjusted his tie, and walked down the vast marble halls of the Stern Mansion. Gold chandeliers sparkled above him. The smell of luxury filled the air. Servants bowed as he passed, their eyes filled with mockery hidden behind obedience.
The double doors opened into a grand hall where the entire family gathered around a long obsidian table. At the head sat Lucius Stern, the patriarch—an old man with sharp eyes, white hair combed back, his presence heavier than steel.
Around him sat Max Stern's cousins, brothers, and sisters. Some whispered. Some smirked. One cousin, Victor Stern, sneered openly.
"Well, well, look who decided to show up. The useless playboy."
Snickers echoed around the table.
Maximus—now Max Stern—took his seat calmly, his eyes scanning the room like a predator.
The Wolves of the Stern Family
Victor Stern, ambitious and arrogant, was the first wolf. A cousin with political ambitions, always trying to drag Max Stern down to prove his superiority.
Sophia Stern, a stunning beauty with cold eyes, was the family's prodigy—business genius, ruthless in the boardroom. She barely spared Max a glance, dismissing him as trash.
And then there was Lucius Stern, whose gaze lingered on Max Stern with silent disappointment. The old man considered him a failure.
But Maximus didn't care for their opinions. He wasn't here to beg for approval. He was here to dominate.
System Trigger
As the meeting began, the system chimed in his mind.
[Mission Triggered!]
First Blood: Humiliate a rival during the Stern Family meeting.
Reward: +50 RP, +10 Charm.
Failure: Host will experience simulated public castration.
Maximus nearly laughed out loud. What kind of twisted system is this?
Victor leaned forward with a mocking grin. "So, Max… did you waste another night gambling, drinking, or chasing skirts? Or did you finally learn how to count past ten?"
Laughter spread across the table.
Maximus smirked, leaning back casually. His eyes gleamed with the confidence of a man who had ruled the underworld.
"Victor," he said smoothly. "At least when I chase skirts, they open willingly. Unlike you, who has to bribe them with your father's money and still leaves them unsatisfied."
The room went silent. A few jaws dropped. Then a ripple of shocked laughter filled the hall—except this time, the laughter was aimed at Victor.
Victor's face flushed crimson. "You—!"
Lucius Stern raised a hand. "Enough. Continue the report."
But Maximus saw it: the system panel glowing before him.
[Ding!]
Mission Complete: Rival Humiliation.
Reward: +50 RP, +10 Charm.
Current RP: 50 | Charm: +10
A warm sensation spread through his body. His voice felt smoother, his aura sharper.
Maximus smirked. This is only the beginning.
The New King
The meeting continued, filled with financial reports, stock discussions, and political talk. Maximus remained silent, but his mind raced. The Stern Family thought him weak. That illusion was his weapon.
The system whispered in his ear, listing optional missions.
Seduce a rival's lover.
Acquire $1M in assets.
Recruit your first follower.
Maximus's lips curled. Patience. First, I'll test the waters. Then, I'll break this family apart from the inside.
When the meeting ended, Victor stormed out in humiliation. Sophia gave Max one cold glance before leaving. Lucius Stern said nothing, but his eyes lingered on Max with the faintest trace of… curiosity.
Nightfall
That night, Maximus sat in his luxurious room, staring at the neon-lit city skyline through tall glass windows. The city buzzed with life, unaware that its old King had returned in a new form.
He opened the system panel again.
[System Status]
Revenge Points (RP): 50
Seduction Points (SP): 0
Wealth Points (WP): 0
Power Points (PP): 0
Available Missions:
Seduce Victor Stern's fiancée at the upcoming family gala. (Reward: +200 SP, +50 RP)
Establish a private gang within the city. (Reward: +500 PP)
Take control of a failing business. (Reward: +300 WP)
Maximus chuckled darkly. "So… Victor has a fiancée."
The thought of humiliating his arrogant cousin by seducing his woman made his blood boil with excitement. He could almost hear her moans already.
First, I'll humiliate them. Then I'll take their power. And when they're crawling, broken, begging for mercy… I'll take the one thing they can never get back.
The King of the Underworld was reborn.
Cliffhanger
Maximus raised a glass of aged whiskey to his lips, his eyes burning with a predator's hunger.
"To the Stern Family," he whispered. "You have no idea the devil you just welcomed into your home."
The system chimed once more.
[Next Major Mission Triggered!]
Target: Victor Stern's fiancée.
Condition: Seduce and claim her before the gala ends.
Reward: +200 SP, +50 RP. Hidden Bonus if she moans your name loud enough for Victor to hear.
Maximus's grin widened into something feral.
"Perfect."
✅ End of Chapter 1