power

Driving recklessly, Darren sped toward the private stadium, giddy and in a frenzy to test his power. After all, telling someone you possessed abilities *unimaginable* to ordinary humans would likely land you in a mental institution—but Darren was one of the lucky few who'd slipped through the cracks. Though he wasn't *entirely* sure of his limits, he felt certain he was leagues ahead of everyone else globally. A one-month head start tended to do that. 

Barreling through the streets, Darren knew he wouldn't be stopped. Aside from a handful of individuals matching his influence and raw power, no one in Valleyview stood a chance against him. Fifteen minutes later, he screeched into the underground garage of the stadium. Slamming his car door, he marched to the security room, where an old man and a young guard were hunched over breakfast, eyes glued to the surveillance monitors—a clear breach of protocol. Darren couldn't care less. Once the apocalypse hit, all this bureaucracy would be *absolute* and pointless. 

He rapped sharply on the glass door. The younger guard jolted, nearly dropping his sandwich, before scrambling to open it. His initial panic dissolved into relief when he recognized Darren. *If the boss hadn't complained yet, he'd tacitly approved their slacking.* With a sycophantic grin, the guard asked, "What can I do for you, sir?" 

"Clear the building. Shut off all cameras and power," Darren ordered. The added demand was his safeguard against spies. Sure, his newfound abilities granted heightened perception, but they weren't omniscient—though they *could* detect if someone was watching. 

Once the guards scurried off, Darren stalked into the stadium. The place was colossal for a private venue, its dimensions rivaling Olympic standards—in fact, it *had* hosted Olympic events years prior, a testament to the fortune Darren's family had dumped into it. The investment paid off: its grandeur minimized bureaucratic red tape, and its revenue funneled a solid 1/10th of Darren's empire. *Not bad for a glorified concrete playground.* 

He'd barely settled into the silence when security returned, confirming the building was evacuated and power severed. Nodding curtly, Darren snatched the keys and dismissed them: "Well done. Get lost. I'll call if I need you." After locking the doors, he prowled the stadium twice, ensuring it was empty, then flicked on the blinding spotlights—bright enough to scorch retinas and alert him to any intruders. 

At the center of the arena, Darren summoned his system panel: 

**[Ding! Host Panel]** 

**Name:** Pleasure King Darren 

**Status:** Awakened 

**Strength:** 20 → 25 (Normal Human: 8) 

**Speed:** 22 → 27 (Normal Human: 8) 

**Dexterity:** 14 → 19 (Normal Human: 5) 

**Mental Strength:** 24 → 29 (Normal Human: 8) 

**Powers:** Space, Duplication, Ice, Fire, Metal Control 

**Wife:** None 

**Servants:** Rose+, Sofi+, Mary+ 

**Pet:** Willow+ 

"System, break down my powers," Darren demanded. 

**[Ding! Host Power Panel]** 

**Space → Main System (Level 3):** Space Cutting, Teleportation (15m), Space Gate (10m) 

**Ice → Branch System (Level 1):** Ice Spike 

**Fire → Branch System (Level 1):** Fire Ball 

**Metal Control → Branch System (Level 1):** Metal Coating 

Darren smirked at the assessment. He hadn't even *tried* to grind for upgrades, yet snagging a Main System ability felt like cheating. "System, what's the deal with Main vs. Branch Systems?" 

**[Ding! Main Systems evolve and unlock new skills within their domain. Branch Systems are static, limited to their initial function.]** 

"So that's why Space has multiple skills. If I sleep with more women, can I grab another Main System?" 

**[Ding! Negative. However, merging compatible Branch abilities can approximate a Main System.]** 

Darren's grin turned feral. *Multiple Main Systems?* He nearly cackled—then caught himself, cheeks flushing. *Thank god no one's here to see that.* Reining in his glee, he closed his eyes and focused inward. A strange, disk-like structure pulsed in his mind, radiating raw power. Instinctively, he knew it was the core of his abilities. 

When he opened his eyes again, they blazed silver, the faint silhouette of a tree flickering within them. Space energy crackled around him like live wires. 

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