[ God-Eater (Mythical, Dark Element) : Innate Ability (Stat Drain) :
This is the core power of the class. When Zack kills monsters (especially with his shadow-cloaked [God-Eater] hand), he drains their energy, forcing them to drop Stat Cubes (Red, Purple, Blue, etc.) that he can absorb to permanently increase his stats.]
When Zack woke up on Wednesday, his whole body was one big, dull ache. The spot on his chest where the Mutant Goblin had punched him was a dark, ugly purple. Even with his powerful [Minor Soothe] skill, his 34.0 Defense (from the previous day) had been just barely enough. The monster's strength was real, and the bruise was a solid reminder.
He sat on the edge of his bed, breathing slowly. His muscles felt tight and sore from the fight. But underneath the soreness, he felt a new kind of power. The 4.5 stat points he had gained last night were not just numbers. He could feel the 36.3 Agility in his legs. He felt lighter, more balanced. His 35.8 Strength made his arms feel less like his own and more like packed, ready weapons.
He stood up and went to the mirror, just as he did every morning. The physical changes were becoming very clear. His shoulders and chest were filling out his frame, and the muscles in his arms and legs were hard and defined. He didn't look like a bodybuilder; he looked like a person who was perfectly in tune with his own body. He looked... dangerous.
But when he looked at his face, he still saw the same person. He still had kind eyes. He practiced a small, nervous smile. "Oh, wow, a D-Rank monster? That sounds scary." He practiced looking afraid, like Emily had told him to. It was getting harder to do. His natural calm, now backed by real power, made him look steady and unshakable. He would have to try his best to look like the "scared F-Rank Healer."
He showered, the hot water feeling good on his sore muscles. He put on one of his father's old business shirts. It was a little big in the neck, but it fit his shoulders perfectly. He felt a small pang of sadness, but also a new feeling: pride. He was finally growing into the man his father had wanted him to be.
He got to Cole Logistics at 7:30 AM, coffee in hand. Sarah, his assistant, was already there.
"Good morning, Zack," she said, handing him a folder. "You've got a problem. The manager from the 7th Street warehouse is here. He's... well, he's angry."
"Angry? About what?" Zack asked, his voice calm.
"The new inventory system. He says it's too complicated and he's not doing it. He's one of your father's 'old guard.' He was good friends with Mr. Barros."
Zack nodded. He knew who she meant. A man named Frank, who had been with the company for twenty years. He was loud, lazy, and had been stealing small amounts from the company for years. Zack's new accounting system, powered by his 34.7 Spirit, had found the errors in a single night.
"Thank you, Sarah. Send him in," Zack said.
Frank stormed into the office. He was a large, red-faced man.
"Kid, you've got to stop this!" he boomed, throwing a tablet down on Zack's desk. "This new system is garbage! It's too much work! We've done things my way for twenty years, and it's worked just fine!"
He was trying to underestimate Zack. He was loud and angry, trying to bully the "kind, F-Rank kid" into backing down.
Zack didn't raise his voice. He sat back in his chair, looking kindly at the man.
"Good morning, Frank. Please, sit down."
"I'll stand!" Frank yelled.
Zack's smile faded, just a little. His eyes turned from kind to cold and ruthless.
"Sit down, Frank," he said. It wasn't a request.
The change in tone was so sudden, it shocked the big man. Frank's yelling stopped, and he suddenly looked confused. He slowly sat down in the chair.
Zack leaned forward. "The new system is not garbage, Frank. It's efficient. The only reason you don't like it is because it tracks everything."
He pushed a different folder across the desk. It was thin.
"This," Zack said, his voice quiet, "is the report from the new system. It shows you've been faking your inventory numbers for three years. It shows you've been selling company-owned shipping pallets and pocketing the money. About... sixty thousand dollars' worth."
Frank's red face went completely white. He stared at the folder, then at Zack, his mouth opening and closing like a fish.
"I... I... that's a lie! That's... Barros said..."
"Mr. Barros is gone," Zack said, his voice still ruthless and cold. "And so are you."
"You... you're firing me?" Frank whispered, his bully attitude completely gone.
Zack leaned back, and his kind expression returned. "No, Frank. I'm not firing you. You're an experienced manager, and you worked for my father. So, here is what we're going to do."
He took the folder back. "You are going to go back to the warehouse. You are going to learn the new system. You are going to pay back the sixty thousand dollars. We will take it out of your paycheck. It will take you about... five years."
Zack stood up, signaling the meeting was over. "You will work hard, and you will be a model employee. And in return, I will not send this folder to the police. Do you understand me?"
Frank nodded, his whole body shaking. He was looking at Zack like he was a monster.
"Good. Now get back to work."
Frank scrambled out of the office.
Zack sat down, letting out a long breath. He had won another fight. No fists, no magic. Just facts. His 34.7 Spirit was a weapon, too.
That night, he was back in the gray void. Two days. He had two days left until the D-Rank dungeon.
He had to get stronger.
[Welcome, Host. Host Rank: E (Beginner). E-Rank Dimension selected.]
[System notice: Host is adapting. Increasing challenge.]
[Wave 1: E-Rank (Beginner) x12 Spawning...]
Twelve goblins. Two more than last night.
"Good," Zack said.
Flash! His [Minor Soothe] was his opening move every time.
The twelve goblins were blinded.
Zack moved. His 36.3 Agility was a blur. He was so fast now, it felt like the world was in slow motion. He was a ruthless shadow, his [God-Eater] hands ending the goblins before they even knew he was there.
Chop. Punch. Kick. Drain.
In less than thirty seconds, all twelve were dead.
[Wave 1 Cleared.]
[Wave 2: E-Rank (Mid) x7 Spawning...]