The streets of Chicago were still and broken, but the silence didn't feel like peace. It was the quiet of a city holding its breath, waiting for the next disaster. Smoke from the Behemoth's corpse still curled into the air, dark against the gray morning sky. Pools of its ichor had cooled to a glassy black crust, eating through the asphalt in ugly, bubbling pits.
Ethan stood atop a collapsed city bus, looking down at the survivors huddled in the street. Two dozen remained—bloodied, exhausted, and staring at him with a mix of awe and wariness. Behind them, the corpses of the two Multiversal Hunters dissolved into motes of violet light, fading into nothingness.
The System's cold, ever-present voice thrummed in his mind.
[Overlord Directive: Guild Formation Available][Requirement: 10+ survivors within claimed territory][Warning: Guild formation will trigger visibility to all Multiversal Hunters]
So that was the tradeoff. Power and organization for exposure. He'd become a beacon—but maybe that was inevitable. If humanity didn't unite under someone, they'd die scattered and weak.
Kayla stepped up beside the bus, leaning on her cracked spear. "You've got their attention," she said, glancing at the survivors. "If you're going to make a move, it has to be now."
Ethan's eyes swept the group. He saw the exhaustion in their faces, the suspicion in some eyes—especially Rogan's—but also the raw, desperate hope. People wanted someone to follow, whether they admitted it or not.
He leapt down from the bus, landing with a thud. His voice carried, firm and sharp. "Listen up. You all saw what just happened. The Behemoth was only the start. The Multiversal Hunters are here now, and they're smarter, faster, and stronger than the monsters we've been fighting. If we stay scattered, we die."
A murmur rippled through the group. A man in torn tactical gear—one of the former Iron Fangs—crossed his arms. "So what? We just… bow to you?"
Ethan met his gaze without flinching. "You bow to survival. The System gave me the tools to lead, and I'm going to use them. Anyone who joins me will have protection, resources, and strength. Anyone who goes alone… good luck."
Silence stretched, broken only by the distant crackle of fire. Then Kayla stepped forward and planted her spear in the ground. "I'm in."
Jace, pale and shaking, nodded quickly. "Me too."
The siblings hesitated, then followed, stepping into line behind Kayla. One by one, others trickled over—most willingly, some with muttered curses and narrowed eyes. Finally, Rogan stepped forward, his expression sour.
"You lead, fine," he said. "But I'm not your dog. I follow because I want to live, not because I like you."
Ethan smirked faintly. "I can work with that."
The System responded instantly.
[Overlord Directive Confirmed: Guild Formation Initiated][Guild Name?]
The words hung in his vision. He didn't hesitate. Overlord was what the System wanted, and he wasn't about to pretend otherwise.
"Overlord Guild," he said.
[Guild Created: Overlord Guild][Initial Roster: 24 Members][Territory Claim Available — Choose Stronghold Location]
He turned toward the ruined fire station that had served as their shelter during the first wave. Its walls were cracked, windows shattered, and part of the roof had caved in—but it was defendable, central, and symbolic.
"There," he said.
[Territory Claimed: Overlord Stronghold — Tier 0][Passive Buff: Morale +5% for Guild Members in Territory][Next Upgrade: Reinforce perimeter and fortify for Tier 1]
Around him, the survivors murmured, some with relief, others with uncertainty. They had a base now, however fragile.
Ethan climbed the rubble of the fire station and addressed the group. "This is step one. We claim this ground. We defend it. We make it ours. From now on, we move as one unit—Overlord Guild. Anyone who betrays us, steals, or endangers the group… won't get a second chance."
The Overlord Protocol thrummed in his chest, and he felt the subtle shift in the air. The survivors weren't just listening—they were bending, ever so slightly, to his presence. The System was shaping them as much as it was shaping him.
[Overlord Aura Activated: Minor Influence — Instills loyalty in Guild Members]
He exhaled slowly. It had begun.
The next few hours were a blur of rebuilding and organization. Survivors dragged debris to form makeshift barricades, scavenged usable weapons, and patched walls with whatever scrap they could find. Kayla coordinated the defenses, her practical leadership balancing Ethan's raw authority. Rogan handled the heavier labor, barking orders at anyone too slow, and to Ethan's surprise, most people actually listened.
By afternoon, the fire station was at least functional as a base. Ethan walked the perimeter, his eyes on the sky. He couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. The cracks of violet light along the horizon pulsed faintly, and once, he thought he saw movement—a glint of alien armor against the clouds.
The System's voice returned.
[Warning: Multiversal Hunters regrouping][Estimated Time to Contact: 3 hours][Guild Strength: Inadequate for Direct Confrontation]
Ethan's jaw tightened. He needed more power. He opened his hand, revealing the Mythic Class Evolution Token. It pulsed with light, hypnotic and warm.
Kayla noticed. "You're going to use it?"
"I have to," he said. "The next wave won't wait for us to catch our breath."
He centered himself and focused on the Token.
[Mythic Class Evolution Token Detected][Eligible for Use: Class — System Overlord (Prototype)][Warning: Evolution Path Unknown][Proceed?]
"Yes," he whispered.
The Token dissolved into threads of light that coiled around him, sinking into his skin. Energy surged through his veins like fire and ice, and the world seemed to tilt. His vision filled with cascading symbols and blue-white grids of System code. His body convulsed as the Overlord Protocol expanded, its presence filling every corner of his mind.
[Class Evolution Complete][New Class: System Overlord — Apex Variant][Unique Traits Unlocked:]— Overlord Aura (Tier 2): Allies in territory gain +15% attack, +10% defense— Skill Assimilation: Absorb one ability per slain elite enemy— Command Protocol: Issue binding directives to Guild Members (limited use)[Overlord Protocol Progress: 33% → 45%]
He gasped as the light faded. His senses sharpened. He could feel every heartbeat in the fire station, every movement within his claimed territory. The power was intoxicating—and frightening.
Kayla stared at him like she was seeing something otherworldly. "You're… changing."
"Yeah," Ethan said quietly. "And we're going to need every bit of it."
A sharp chime rang in his head, cutting the moment short.
[Alert: Multiversal Hunter Strike Team Approaching — 6 Units | Level 25][Warning: This is a coordinated attack]
He looked toward the horizon. Silhouettes emerged from the clouds, moving in perfect formation. Six Hunters, each larger and heavier than the scouts, their weapons gleaming with deadly intent.
Ethan lifted the Abyss Fang, the Overlord Aura flaring around him. "Positions!" he barked. "The second hunt starts now!"