Captain Cross’s fingers drummed rhythmically against his leg as the chief constable talked him down.
"What made you think it was a good idea to send all of your men to attack goblins?! You didn''t even attempt to communicate with the rest of the RCMP. You just ran off on your own …"
Cross tried to tune out the nonsense the Chinese man was saying. What did he know of duty? Of honour or glory. Cross seethed with a fury that threatened to bubble over at any moment as his so-called commander talked him down.
"Not only did your actions have no discernable result, but instead of staying with your men, you ran away like a coward ---"
"I am not a coward!!" Cross roared as he shot up out of his chair, his blood pressure rising.
"You''re right, captain. You''re not a coward. You''re a deserter. Maybe I should have you taken outside and shot for failing in your duty."
"Just give me more men. Then I can go back and ---"
"And what? Abandon more good officers? I''ve got enough problems here with the gangs and the civis thinking this is all one big larp. And even if I did send people to deal with these goblins I wouldn''t send them under your command."
Cross felt his fists clench, knuckles white as another dull ache of frustration washed over him. He should be in charge of this operation, issuing the commands, bringing the city to its knees under his rule, his moment of glory, not working as some washed-up bureaucrat.
"You are hereby demoted to the rank of corporal. You will not be in charge of anyone you ---"
His hand reached for his pistol, but it wasn''t there. His jaw clenched, fury building. How dare this pathetic excuse of a man come to him, asking to leave his post? Cross’s vision blurred red for a moment, the edges of his self-control fraying dangerously.
That''s when he noticed something. The room seemed to grow dark, and the shadows grew longer. Something, a presence, flickered at the edge of his consciousness. It was faint at first, like a whisper in the wind, but then it grew, filling his mind until it was all he could do to stay standing. Blood trickled down from his nose as his vision blurred.
DING!!!
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Do you Seek Power? The Power to Bend Others to Your Will and Rule over them?
Y/N
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The notification wasn''t the same as the others. This one was golden, and it felt different somehow, less sterile, more authoritative, even divine.
"Yes," Cross slurred out as the presence increased.
He gripped his head, feeling like it was about to explode, and blood trickled down from his nose.
DING!!!
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
What will you give in Exchange for True Power?
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
"Anything," Cross said as he fell to his knees.
DING!!!
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Will you serve me? Will you honour me above all other gods? Will you spread my image and my word to your subject in exchange for power? Will you become a [Templar of Tova]? Will you spread the word of the God of Domination, of Kings, Chains and Slavery?
Y/N
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
''A god?'' Cross wondered. That explained what he was feeling. But how could he trust this system? But it was offering him power. The power he needed, the power he wanted.
His heart raced as his mind spun with possibilities. It was right there, just within his grasp. But what about the price? He would have to spread the worship of the god of this Tova. But the scripture didn''t mention that he had to worship the thing. Hell, the God of Kings was offering him power. Was it not his divine right to take it?!
"Yes," Cross said.
"Are you listening to me, officer?! What are you --"
The constable was cut off as Cross collapsed to the ground, screaming as his body twisted and contorted as, his muscles bulged, and his body and soul were altered. The constable rushed over to try and help him but he couldn''t do anything.
Cross felt like lightning coursed through his blood as an oppressive weight settled on his soul. Cross could hear thunder as he attempted to scream before he passed out.
He didn''t know how long he had been out before he came back, but when he did, a system notification popped into his vision. He barely glanced at it, already knowing what it said.
DING!!!
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Congratulations on your classes [Police Officer] and [Police Chief] have been sacrificed
LEVEL UP!!!
LEVEL UP!!!
…
LEVEL UP!!!
An external force has forcibly levelled you up.
You have suffered extreme Soul Damage.
You may not level up further until the Soul Damage is repaired.
You have gained an XP debt.
You will not gain additional xp until the debt is paid.
You have gained the skill [Royal Leader]If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
You have gained the skill [Power Strike]
You are now a level 30 [Holy Emperor of Tova]
Your stats have been reassigned.
You have been assigned the following skills.
[Bullying]: Whenever you make a physical attack against another person, everyone in visual range must make an EGO check or suffer [Paralysing Fear]. +1.25% to blunt weapon, firearm and unarmed mastery per skill level.
[Chivory]: This skill fortifies the user''s defences, granting +0.5% resistance per skill level to physical, magical, and elemental effects. Additionally, it enhances armour mastery by +1.25% per skill level.
[Virtue in Extremis]: This skill embodies resilience in the direst of circumstances, granting +0.5% to mental resistances per skill level, safeguarding the user against psychological and emotional influences. It reduces the user''s reliance on food, water, and sleep by 0.33% per skill level. The skill sharpens focus, allowing the user to ignore distractions, including pain, by 1% per skill level. Additionally, it grants a veil of protection against scrutiny, blocking [Identify] skills of lower levels than this skill, ensuring privacy and secrecy.
[Meditative Prayer]: You gain a number of spells from your God each day. The number of spells is based on skill level.
[Pierce the Veil]: Pierce the veil of deception, unravelling lies, illusions, and obfuscation Skills to reach the truth. Your eyes can spy hidden treasures, traps, and compartments. Reduce the effectiveness of illusions and obfuscation skills by 1% per level. Increase your chance of finding hidden treasures, traps, and other compartments by 1% per level.
Capstone - [Divine Armaments]: Imbue ordinary items with divine energy, transforming them into instruments of holy power. Increase the rarity and power of items by one rank in exchange for decreasing the total durability by 50%. Reduce the durability loss by 0.4% per skill level.
[Holy Blast]: Fire a blast of Holy energy dealing direct damage to your target''s vitality. The holy blast may explode out of your person or be fired out of your limbs as a shaped charge. Increase the power from this skill by 1% per skill level.
[Domian of Tova''s Chosen]: Everyone who sees you must make a [Ego] save against your skill level or suffer the following: Your allies will become [Charmed] while your enemies are stricken with [Terror]. Those around you feel an instinctual need to kneel before you. Reduce your opponent''s effective Ego against your mental effects by 1 point per skill level.
[Chains of Tova]: Summon ethereal chains to bind an enemy''s movements and weaken their willpower. Restrains target for 5 seconds and reduces their damage output by 25% as long as they are chained. If they submit to the chains, they become your slave.
[Eternal Servitude]: Should your servants die, you can resurrect them with 0.25% of their total resources restored. Increase the resources restored by 0.25% per skill level.
Capstone - [To the Bitter End]: When your party members die, they are resurrected, and 1% of all of their resources are restored per skill level. This skill requires one week of cooldown. This skill can be toggled so your followers respawn at your location or at the location of their death.
[Tyranny]: whenever you fight an opponent with debuffs or affliction, you have a chance to gain +1 to all base stats per debuff
[Voice of Tova]: Your voice resonates with divine power, forcing those who hear it to obey or cower in submission. Forces all enemies in your presence to choose: obey the command or be inflicted with the [Terror] debuff
[Eternal Chains]: Your followers are bound to you forever. Should they die, their souls will be bound to you to use as you choose.
[Blood For the King]: You may drain your follows resources (HP, MP and Stamina) to restore yourself. This exchange must happen willingly.
Capstone - [God Emperor]: The pinnacle of divine authority, [God Emperor] transforms your presence into a drug that commands loyalty and devotion. Your aura passively increases the loyalty of allies and followers under your leadership while fortifying their resistance to mental manipulation from others. All individuals within your presence must pass a contested [Ego] save against your skill level or fall under [Fanatical Devotion], serving you with fervour and a willingness to sacrifice themselves in your name. Commands issued to those affected by [Fanatical Devotion] or to individuals with lower Ego or levels than your skill cannot be defied. Additionally, this skill grants a permanent +3 EGO.
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
His skills had changed, and each skill seemed to resonate with his soul. Cross dismissed the notification with a sneer. He still hated the system, despising its rules and meddling, but at least it rewarded him in tangible ways.
"Cross, Cross!" the constable was shaking him.
DING!!!
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Ascend to your Throne
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Cross smiled as his hands lashed out grabbing the constable by the head. The Constable struggled, trying to get out of his grip. But Cross''s grip was iron even as the constable struggled.
"Mr. Lee, I hereby tender your resignation," Cross chuckled.
Then Cross slammed Lee''s head into his own desk with a sickening crack. Then a second, then a third, and a fourth.
"You think you can order me?! Me?! You damned Chink" His voice was low, each word laced with venom.
He kept smashing Lee''s head into the desk until Cross was holding nothing but brain and bone fragments.
Cross had never felt better as he dumped the near headless body onto the ground, his body hitting the floor with a sickening thud. Blood pooled quickly beneath him, the crimson stain spreading across the tile like a creeping curse.
Cross’s gaze lingered on the lifeless form, a cold satisfaction spreading through his chest.
"That''s what he deserved." Cross spat as his lips curled into a sneer.
The door to his new office swung open suddenly, and three officers rushed in, panic etched into their faces. Cross raised an eyebrow, his smirk deepening as they hurried toward him. These fools had come to him, just as he’d expected. The officers stood frozen, their faces drained of colour, eyes wide in shock.
"What happened?" one of the officers asked.
He glanced at the trembling officers, all eyes now on him, waiting for orders. Perfect.
"Mr.Lee has failed to uphold his duty," Cross''s voice cut through the air like a blade. "I''m in charge now. Going forward, we will remind the Vancouver area that the RCMP are, in fact, in charge. Do you understand?"
One of the officers, who had the nameplate Matthews, reached for his gun, but Cross was faster. He grabbed the late constable''s gun pointed and fired before the other man could get his gun halfway up.
The gunshot rang out in the room, sudden and deafening. Matthews dropped, his body hitting the floor with a sickening thud. Blood pooled quickly beneath him, the crimson stain spreading across the tile like a creeping curse.
All eyes were on the gun in his hands, but Cross’s gaze lingered on the lifeless form as a cold satisfaction spread through his chest. Weakness, he thought, his lips curling into a sneer. That was the price of weakness. The other officers stood frozen, their faces drained of colour and their eyes wide in shock.
"Anyone else?" Cross''s voice cut through the air like a blade. "Anyone else want to turn traitor?!"
No one moved. No one breathed. Cross stalked across the room, his boots echoing ominously as he loomed over his subordinates, eyes narrowing. "Traitors will no longer be tolerated. If you attempt to abandon your post, I will kill you. UNDERSTAND!!!" Cross all but roared at his officers.
He paused, letting his words sink in, watching the younger officers hang on his every word. He could see the uncertainty in their eyes, the desperation for someone—anyone—to take control.
More than that, he could feel their resistance. They were weak and low-level, and he could feel it as their wills broke and they submitted to him. It felt euphoric.
The officers nodded hurriedly, fear etched into their faces. Cross relished the look. The officers exchanged nervous glances, but none of them spoke up. Cross could see the fear, the confusion, and the reluctant acceptance. They were weak sheep, and sheep needed someone to follow them. And he would be more than happy to lead them.
"Good, now get rid of this trash," Cross said, kicking Lee''s corpse.
Two of the officers jumped to it, removing the body before it could stain his carpet any further.
"Lee’s death doesn’t change our duty. The city is in chaos, and We can not afford to let this place descend further into anarchy. Crack open the armoury. I want every officer in riot gear before the end of the day. We need to secure our operations here before taking additional actions." Cross demanded of the third officer
The officers nodded hurriedly, too terrified to argue. Cross could feel the power radiating off him, and it was intoxicating.
“And tomorrow,” he continued only to himself, “I take control of this city.”