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!!!

  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!!!

  "Anything," Cross said as he fell to his knees.

  DING!!!

  '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!!!

  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!!!

  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.”

  Base

  Personal: +4 STR +3 EGO +3 CHA +2 CON +2 END

  Racial: +3 CON +2 END +2 SPIRIT +1 EGO

  Class: +3 EGO

  Level Bonus: +3 to All Stats

  AN:

  Patreon.