The class laughed at some joke he didn’t hear. He didn’t need to. Every thought filtered into his brain like a second, louder classroom buzzing in his skull.
( “God, he’s creepy.”)
(“Does he ever blink?”)
(“Weird-ass Damon Black. Bet he shoots up the school one day.”)
He didn’t react. Just stared out the window as storm clouds gathered unnaturally fast over New York City. The sky went dark. Then—
Time broke.
[SYSTEM INITIATION: REBOOTING REALITY...]
[Welcome to the Trial of Humanity.]
[Your world has ended. Your new one begins now.]
[Choose Your Class Archetype:]
[Warrior]
[Mage]
[Rogue]
[Support]
[Ranger]
[Pugilist]
Phones exploded. Screams erupted. The smartboard cracked. A rift of light split the sky.
Damon smiled.
("Finally..")
He chose Mage. But the system did not give him a normal one.
[Bloodline Detected: Psionic Origin – Unique]
[Class Promoted]: Psychic Mage (Singular Variant)
[Titles Gained]:
[You are now a world anomaly. Monsters are drawn to you.]
[Evil Alignment Detected. Bonus Perks Unlocked.]
[Skills Gained]:
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[Mental Spellcasting (Passive)]
[Mind Spike (Active)]
[Psychic Scream (Active)]
[Mind Thread (Passive)]
[Psyche Drain (Active) – Steal MP from mentally broken enemies.]
[Trait Gained: Evil Alignment – Manipulator Path]
[20% bonus EXP from betrayal, manipulation, and fear]
[Fear-based abilities gain +1 tier]
[System Notification: Your destiny is to dominate. Shape the world in your image—or destroy it.]
---
[Fourth Floor – Midtown High]
Jason Holt, [Warrior Level 2], cleaved through a goblin with his bat and grinned. Behind him, Ms. Graves hurled her second alchemical firebomb, setting the carpet ablaze.
“Jason! We can’t hold them much longer!”
“I got you!” he yelled back.
And then… Damon appeared.
Not running. Not panicked.
Calm. Silent. Focused.
A goblin lunged. Damon’s eyes flared violet.
Mind Spike.
The goblin’s skull popped like a water balloon.
Jason stepped back. “What the hell…?”
Ms. Graves froze. “Damon?”
“Let me help,” Damon said with eerie calm. “Let me lead.”
They hesitated. Just long enough.
[Mind Thread Activated.]
Jason Holt – Loyalty: 64% → 71% (Suppressed Doubt)
Ms. Graves – Loyalty: 72% → 81% (Emotional Anchor Applied)
---
[Basement Stairwell – Principal Watkins’ POV]
Principal Watkins didn’t scream. He moved.
The Rogue archetype had chosen him instinctively—he was fast, smart, and ruthless when it counted.
[Level 2 Rogue – HP: 120/120 | Skills: Shadow Step, Precise Strike]
He’d already killed five goblins with his newly acquired dagger.
Then he saw Damon enter the second-floor stairwell, walking behind a goblin brute.
Behind it. Calm. Like a general trailing his warbeast.
Watkins narrowed his eyes. “Black.”
Damon looked up at him like a cat observing a bird.
“I was wondering when you'd show up, sir.”
“You controlling that thing?”
“Guiding,” Damon said with a smirk.
“Leadership matters in times like these.”
The goblin brute snarled—then lowered its weapon at Damon’s silent mental command.
[Goblin Brute Loyalty: 68% – Feral Resentment Building…]
Watkins didn’t move. His fingers twitched over his dagger. “You’re not normal. You never were.”
“Neither are you anymore, Principal Watkins,” Damon said.
“But the difference between us? You’re still clinging to order. I’ve already let go.”
Watkins lunged. Shadow Step → Strike.
Damon didn’t dodge.
Mind Spike.
The rogue’s legs buckled. Blood trickled from his ears.
[Principal Watkins – HP: 37/120 | Confused. Mind Resistance Low.]
Damon kneeled beside him.
“You’re smart. Stay that way,” he whispered. “I need you alive—for now.”
He placed two fingers on Watkins' forehead.
[Mind Thread Activated – High Resistance Target]
Willpower Roll: SUCCESS (Barely)
Watkins Loyalty: 24% → 41% (False Loyalty – Masked Rebellion)
---
[System Notification – Evil Path Progression]
You have manipulated a high-willpower authority figure.
+100 EXP (Villainous Bonus Applied)
[Level Up! Damon Black is now Level 2.]
+1 Skill Point | +2 INT | +1 WIL
New Trait Gained: Fearmonger
Enemies and allies affected by Psychic Scream have lingering panic for 60 seconds
You gain double EXP from enemies that die while terrified of you
Damon stood tall over the broken principal and the enslaved goblin.
“Good,” he whispered. “Now let’s clear this dungeon.”
---
[Goblin Brute – POV]
It hated the Not-Flesh-Mind.
It wanted to rip and crush and scream.
But it could not.
The Mind made it obey. The Mind twisted its rage into obedience.
“Eat them. Tear the noisy ones.”
“No. Wait.”
“Now. Die for me.”
It wanted to resist.
And yet—
It charged where the Mind pointed. It tore where the Mind demanded. Every kill made the Mind stronger.
The Brute no longer felt like the boss.
It felt like a weapon.
---
[Back to Damon – POV]
He stood in the gym now, surrounded by corpses, flame, and silence. Mia and Jason were cheering a "win." Graves looked dazed, hands shaking as she brewed more bombs.
Watkins stood near the shadows, gripping his dagger, too quiet.
And the brute stood by the exit like a chained beast.
All of them thought they were surviving.
None realized they were already his.
[Dungeon Cleared: Midtown High – Temporary Safe Zone Established]
[EXP Gained: 150 | Evil Bonus: +60 | Party Kills Registered: +40]
[Level Up! Damon Black is now Level 3.]
New Skill Gained: Brain Leech (Active) – Drain mental stats from weakened targets
System Notification: You have unlocked the path of the Mind Tyrant.
Damon looked around the gym.
His kingdom, for now.
And soon, the world.