A Step Towards Power

The atmosphere was heavy with dust and the smell of newly cut concrete as I compelled my weary body to continue onward. The sun scorched brightly over the construction site, roasting the bare metal beams and warming the ground beneath my feet. Each movement seemed like a challenge—a fight against the heaviness of exhaustion that wrapped around my arms and legs like shackles.

I clenched my jaw and lifted another bag of cement onto my shoulder, sensing my back complain from the pressure. Sweat drenched my already exhausted shirt, clinging to my back like a second layer.

Surrounding me, the other employees operated effortlessly, carrying, dragging, and putting together materials without showing any signs of fatigue. The disparity between us was strikingly clear. As I wheezed and fought to stay on pace, they operated with the consistent effectiveness of machinery.

Especially Nathan Crowley.

I glanced toward him, my jaw tightening.

Nathan carried a steel beam across the site, his muscles barely straining under the weight. He dropped it onto the designated area with a loud clang, stretching his arms with a satisfied smirk before turning his gaze toward me.

He saw the struggle written all over my face. And he loved it.

"Getting tired already, Vale?" he called out, loud enough for the others to hear. "We're barely halfway through the day!"

Laughter erupted from the surrounding workers.

I ignored them and forced myself to keep moving. Every fiber of my being screamed for rest, but I wouldn't give Nathan the satisfaction.

But I needed to change this.

I had power now.

I just had to figure out how to use it.

During a brief break, I took a step away from the group, pretending to take a sip of water as I focused on my interface. The translucent window still hovered in the corner of my vision, pulsing softly.

It was time to test my ability.

I locked onto Nathan's name and activated Destroy.

A red notification immediately flashed across my screen:

Error!

Target must be subjugated before their profession can be destroyed.

I frowned.

Subjugated?

I didn't know exactly what that meant in this context, but it was clear I couldn't just steal a job from someone at will. I needed to break them first.

That made things… complicated.

I clenched my fists, frustration boiling beneath my skin. The ability was there—just out of reach. If I wanted to take Nathan's profession, I needed a way to overpower him. But right now? He was A-rank, and I was nothing.

There had to be another way.

I refocused, activating Scan again. This time, instead of just looking at Nathan's job and skills, I pushed deeper, searching for something—anything—I could use.

A new prompt appeared.

Would you like to copy 'Endurance Boost' (Lv. 1)?

I felt my pulse quicken.

Copy?

This wasn't Destroy. I wasn't taking the skill from Nathan—I was duplicating it.

I hit YES without hesitation.

A wave of power coursed through my body. It wasn't intense, but it was present—a slight change, as if my muscles had quickly recalled how to function more effectively. The exhaustion pressing on me didn't disappear, but it diminished, allowing me to breathe more easily.

I checked my interface.

[Job Skills Updated!]

Endurance Boost (Lv. 1) – Reduces fatigue from manual labor.

A small victory.

I tried to copy another skill, but the system immediately blocked me.

Skill Copy on cooldown. Next available use: 24 Hours.

Damn.

Still, this changed everything.

Returning to work, I picked up another load, bracing myself for the familiar burn in my muscles—but it wasn't as bad this time. I moved faster, kept up better, and felt less like I was dragging my own corpse around the site.

It wasn't a dramatic improvement. I wasn't suddenly an A-rank worker. But it was enough.

The other workers started to notice.

Nathan frowned as he saw me carrying materials without nearly collapsing like before. "Trying to act tough now?" he sneered.

I didn't answer. I didn't need to.

Instead, I kept moving, pushing myself through the day with a focus I hadn't felt in years. The usual aches and exhaustion that came with the job weren't gone, but they were manageable.

Sienna, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow. "You good?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

She gave me a skeptical look but said nothing more.

The others dismissed it as me being stubborn. They thought I was just pushing through the pain for the sake of my pride.

Let them think that.

The truth was far better.

By the end of the day, I wasn't dead on my feet. For once, I walked home without feeling like my entire body was going to collapse.

And then the next notification appeared.

Endurance Boost has leveled up! (Lv. 2)

First-time Level Up Reward Available! Choose One:

1. Tactician (Lv. 1) – Enhances strategic thinking in combat.

2. Strategist (Lv. 1) – Improves planning and problem-solving abilities.

I barely had to think about it.

Strategist.

Combat wasn't my concern—not yet. I needed plans, ways to subjugate Nathan and climb the ranks. If I could outthink him, I could find a way to break him.

I made my choice.

Another pulse of energy. My mind sharpened, the fog of exhaustion fading further. Suddenly, my thoughts flowed faster, connections forming that I hadn't noticed before.

This… this was it.

That night, I sat at my small, cluttered table, scribbling notes on scraps of paper. The cheap lamp above flickered, casting a dim light over my workspace.

With my newly gained Strategist skill, I formulated plan after plan—different ways to subjugate Nathan, to force him into a position where I could Destroy his job and take it for myself.

One plan involved turning the other workers against him. Another involved baiting him into a fight he couldn't win. A third revolved around exploiting site regulations to get him removed.

But each plan had flaws.

Nathan had influence. He had status. And I was still at the bottom.

None of my ideas were solid yet.

But I was getting closer.

As I worked, another notification popped up.

Strategist has leveled up! (Lv. 2)

A grin tugged at the corner of my lips.

This was only the beginning.

I was learning. Adapting.

And soon, Nathan Crowley would fall.

[SYSTEM INTERFACE]

Name: Reynard Vale

Job Title: Jobmaster (Rank SSS)

Job Skills:

Endurance Boost (Lv. 2): Reduces fatigue from manual labor

Strategist (Lv. 2): Improves planning and problem-solving abilities

Jobs:

Unskilled Laborer (F)

Special Skill:

Scan, Absorb, Destroy

Cooldown

Skill Copy (13h 43m Remaining)