Hans sat on the couch, staring at the bullet holes and broken furniture.
One soldier was trying to fix the door by holding it up with duct tape. Another stood at the window, still saluting even though his helmet was dented in.
"Y'know," Hans muttered, "maybe I should start charging rent."
Suddenly, the lights in the house flickered.
Then went out.
Everything was quiet. No gunfire. No yelling. Not even the creak of the floorboards.
Hans looked up—and nearly fell backward.
In front of him stood a tall man in a black officer's coat. Cigarette in mouth. A faint ghostly glow around his eyes.
He was sitting in Hans's chair, legs crossed, as if he'd been there the whole time.
"...Who the hell are you?" Hans asked, gripping his Luger.
"Put that thing down, boy. I'm not here to fight. I'm here to see what kind of mess you've made of my name."
Hans froze. "Wait. What?"
The man smiled, exhaled smoke, and leaned forward.
"I'm Reinhardt. Your great-great-grandfather. First Officer of the Ironfront during the Pre-Awakening Era."
Hans blinked.
"Hold up. We're just dropping lore like this now?"
Reinhardt smirked. "You woke the system, boy. That makes you more than just some lucky recruit. You've got Officer blood in you. And it's time you leveled up."
The air pulsed.
A screen appeared in front of Hans:
🔶 [Legacy Connection Established – Bloodline: Officer Tier Confirmed]✴️ Unlocking Gene Sync…✴️ Enhancing Skill: RECRUIT → RECRUIT+5
RECRUIT+5:
You now summon 10 soldiers per use.
Soldier AI upgraded to Tactics Level 2 (flanking, cover usage, squad formations).
Soldiers gain increased HP and Morale under direct command.
Skill cooldown halved.
New Passive: "Morale Boost" – all summoned units gain +15% damage when Hans is nearby.
Passive Buff: "Aura of Authority" unlocked.
Hans stood there with his mouth open. "I have an aura now?"
Reinhardt chuckled. "Kid, you've got presence. Your enemies are gonna feel it."
Then his smile faded.
"But something's wrong. A gate's about to break. And this one isn't supposed to."
Hans frowned. "Wait… how do you know?"
Reinhardt's image flickered. "Because I've been there."
Somewhere in the outskirts of New Hampshire, a rift in the sky split open like cracked glass.
Alarms blared through the National Training Grounds. A voice came over the speakers:
"Warning: Gate Breach Detected in Sector 9 – All Ranked Units Mobilize. Repeat: This is not a drill."
Hans was halfway through making coffee when the alert hit.
The house shook.
His system chimed in:
[New Mission – Gate Control Operation: Sector 9]"High-value anomaly confirmed. Guilds en route. Officer presence requested immediately."Reward: Rare Upgrade Core x1
Hans groaned. "I literally just repaired my house…"
When Hans arrived, the entire zone was chaos.
Guild banners waved everywhere — armored figures, elite mages, and drone scouts swarmed the scene. Even the legendary Stormborn Guild had a visible presence.
Hans walked up to the staging area, feeling very underdressed in a hoodie and jeans. The guards moved to stop him—
—until ten soldiers materialized behind him in full formation, rifles at the ready, boots stomping the cracked pavement.
The guards froze.
Someone whispered, "That's the guy from Forest Gate Alpha… the one with the vintage army units."
Hans cleared his throat. "Yeah, uh. Officer Hans. Reporting for duty."
A woman in silver armor turned sharply. "You're Hans?"
Before he could reply, a roar echoed through the zone. A Chimera-class Beast burst through the gate.
Everyone panicked. Mages cast shields. Swordsmen charged. Archers fired—
—but it didn't stop.
Then Hans stepped forward.
"Line up! Focus fire, 3-round burst pattern. I want that thing distracted and bleeding!"
"YES SIR!"
The soldiers moved like a machine. One slid into prone position. Another tossed a smoke grenade for cover. Within seconds, the Chimera was surrounded and pelted with bullets.
Then Hans pulled out his Officer's Luger.
"Headshot time."
BOOM.
The Chimera's head burst like a melon.
Silence.
Dozens of guild members stared at him.
Someone clapped slowly. Then others joined in.
A woman in black robes from the Crimson Guild stepped forward. "We'll be in touch, Officer Hans. Very soon."
And another man, older, from the Ironwood Guild murmured to his aide: "Recruit him. No matter the cost."
Hans returned with a bonus chest of loot and a headache.
He slumped into bed.
[Congratulations. You've attracted the attention of 3 Major Guilds.]"Expect invitations… or ambushes."
A knock hit the door.
Hans opened it to find three letters.
All with wax seals.
And all addressed to: Commander Hans Reinhardt, Officer-Class Anomaly.