The First Impression

Kai leaned against the locker, watching Aria's curious expression. The moment felt surreal—this was a girl who, in his past life, had been untouchable. Now, thanks to the Erebus System, his charisma had risen, and he could already see the effects.

She was intrigued.

"Maybe?" Kai repeated, smirking. "That doesn't sound like a yes."

Aria chuckled, tilting her head. "I don't give compliments that easily."

"Good. I prefer a challenge."

The way her eyes gleamed told him he was on the right track. Charisma was already paying off.

But attraction wasn't enough—if he wanted her as part of his growing empire, he needed to pull her in completely.

"So, what's up with you?" Aria asked. "I swear you weren't this... confident before."

Kai shrugged. "People change."

"You're making it sound like you had some kind of awakening."

You have no idea.

He didn't respond immediately. Instead, he let the silence build, watching as her curiosity grew. People hated mystery—it made them want to know more.

Just as she was about to press further, the first bell rang.

Aria sighed. "Guess we'll have to continue this conversation later."

Kai smirked. "I'll hold you to that."

She gave him one last glance before turning away, her hips swaying ever so slightly. A subconscious sign of attraction.

Kai exhaled. That was the first step.

Now, it was time for the second step—establishing dominance.

A New Presence

Walking into his first class, Kai immediately noticed the way people reacted to him.

Before the regression, he had been forgettable.

Now?

Heads turned. Girls whispered. Even the guys who usually ignored him seemed to acknowledge his presence.

Kai took his seat, ignoring the usual morning chatter. He had no interest in wasting time on trivial conversations.

Instead, he opened the Erebus System and checked his stats.

[User: Kai Nakamura]Balance: $1,025,000,000Abilities:

Time-Freeze (Active)Attribute Upgrade SystemSystem Missions (Available)

[Current Stats]Strength: 10Intelligence: 10Charisma: 10Perception: 9Agility: 9Endurance: 10Available Points: 3

Kai wasn't in a rush to spend his attribute points just yet. Strategy mattered.

For now, he focused on his next move.

His phone vibrated. A message.

[Luxury Motors: Your Bugatti Chiron Super Sport is ready for pickup. Please schedule a delivery or visit our showroom.]

Kai smirked. Perfect timing.

He typed out a response.

[Deliver it to Celestial Tower's private garage. Today.]

He had no intention of waiting.

The Celestial Tower penthouse was already his, and the Bugatti would be another statement piece.

Now, he just needed to make sure the world noticed.

Lunchroom Power Move

The real social battleground in high school wasn't the classroom.

It was the lunchroom.

As Kai entered, he took in the usual cliques. Jocks, cheerleaders, nerds, loners. The social hierarchy was painfully predictable.

And at the center of it?

Aria's table.

In his past life, he would have never even considered sitting there.

But today was different.

Instead of heading to his usual seat, Kai walked straight toward her table. The people sitting with her—mostly popular students—noticed him immediately.

A guy named Ryan, one of the basketball players, raised an eyebrow. "Uh, can we help you?"

Kai ignored him and looked directly at Aria.

"Mind if I join?"

She blinked in surprise but quickly recovered. A small smirk appeared on her lips. "You sure you can handle sitting with us?"

Kai pulled out a chair and sat down without hesitation.

Ryan scoffed. "Dude, you can't just—"

Aria cut him off. "Relax, Ryan."

The guy tensed, clearly annoyed, but didn't push further. Kai noticed the way Aria was watching him now.

It was different from before.

This was respect.

Charisma wasn't just about attraction—it was about presence.

And today, he had just taken his first step toward the top.

Mission Triggered: The King's First Steps

Objective: Establish dominance in a social setting.Reward: $2,000,000 + 1 Attribute Point

Kai barely reacted to the notification, but internally, he was pleased.

Another easy reward.

The conversation at the table continued, but now, it was different.

People paid attention when he spoke. Even those who had dismissed him before were curious about him.

Aria, in particular, kept stealing glances his way.

Good. This was only the beginning.

A Surprise Awaits

After school, Kai didn't waste time. He had a penthouse to check out and a car to claim.

Stepping outside, he spotted a familiar face.

Lila Dawson.

Aria's best friend.

With short dark hair and sharp green eyes, Lila had always been one of the more reserved girls in school. But unlike Aria, she was also skeptical.

She approached him with her arms crossed. "Alright, spill it."

Kai raised an eyebrow. "Spill what?"

"You. This whole... 'new and improved' thing. What's your angle?"

Kai smirked. "No angle. Just living life."

Lila didn't seem convinced. "People don't just change overnight."

He chuckled. "Maybe I just got tired of blending in."

She narrowed her eyes but didn't press further. "Well, Aria seems to like it. Just don't screw her over."

Kai's smile didn't fade. "I wouldn't dream of it."

Lila studied him for a moment before nodding. "Good."

And just like that, she walked away.

Kai exhaled. She was sharp.

But it didn't matter. He wasn't playing to impress Lila—he was playing to dominate the world.

His phone buzzed.

[Luxury Motors: Your Bugatti Chiron Super Sport has been delivered to Celestial Tower's private garage.]

Time to claim what's his.

A New Beginning

Standing in front of Celestial Tower, Kai took a deep breath.

This was it. The first real step toward his empire.

The moment he stepped inside, he was greeted by the concierge.

"Welcome, Mr. Nakamura. Your penthouse has been prepared."

Kai smiled. This was only the beginning.

With a fortune at his fingertips, an empire to build, and power beyond reason, he was ready.

And soon?

The world would know his name.

[Mission Completed: The King's First Steps]

Reward: $2,000,000 + 1 Attribute PointBalance Updated: $1,027,000,000