It was 3:33 AM.
Damon stood on the rooftop of his apartment building, shirtless, fists taped, eyes scanning the city like it owed him something. The wind carried the scent of ambition and blood.
The System pulsed softly in his mind.
[Phase Transition: Dominance Initiated]
Your power has drawn eyes. The weak will follow. The smart will join. The bold will challenge.
You need soldiers. Strategists. Loyalists. Enforcers.
Welcome to: Faction Management System (Beta)
Build your empire. Expand your influence. Control the board.
Damon cracked his knuckles.
"Let's start building."
Check-In Reward Activated
[Strategic Asset Drop: Urban King Bundle]
– Penthouse (Skylight Heights, 47th floor)
– Lamborghini Revuelto + Tesla Cybertruck + Bulletproof Escalade
– 5% Ownership in KartaTech (AI Security Firm — Hidden Power Ties)
– $5,000,000 wired to Shadow Wallet
Passive Upgrade: "Real Estate Royalty" — Every property owned adds bonuses to safety, influence, and passive income.
Damon blinked slowly as the system displayed the key to his new penthouse.
"…I went from ramen to rooftop in ten days."
Later That Day — The Recruitment Begins
1. Zeke "Zero" Maddox
A lean, brilliant hacker with street ink and a criminal record longer than a CVS receipt. Found Damon through darkweb chatter.
"You don't know me, but I watched what you did to those clowns who hit your laundromat. I want in."
Role: Tech & Surveillance Director
Bonus Skill: "Digital Ghosting" — Hide your operations behind a web of fake data
Damon nodded. "Welcome to the family."
2. Kai Moreno
Ex-amateur boxer. Southside native. Ruthless. Loyal. Hungry. Used to run errands for Rico — now looking for real leadership.
"I ain't ever been behind a man who made me believe we could own the city. Until you."
Role: Enforcer & Combat Specialist
Bonus Trait: "Unbreakable Loyalty"
Damon smiled. "You'll be my right hand."
[Faction Established: Black Empire – Tier I]
– Leader: Damon Black
– Trusted General: Kai Moreno
– Network: 3/10 operative slots filled
Next Milestone: 5 Operatives = Unlock Private Base, Armory Access, Global Contracts
Nightfall — Penthouse Move-In
The elevator opened to an entire floor: glass walls, skyline views, a private gym, digital security, and a rooftop garden with space for helicopters.
Damon stepped inside.
He didn't laugh.
He didn't cheer.
He just whispered: "You threw me away…"
He opened a drawer in the master suite and pulled out an old photograph — him at six years old, standing in front of a mansion with a woman who never called him "son."
[Hidden Background Unlocked: Legacy Bloodline — The Black Family]
Descendant of Lucien Black — billionaire banking mogul
Status: Bastard. Disowned. Erased.
Warning: Your rise will trigger ancestral alerts.
Damon's hands tightened.
"They thought I'd stay broken."
Meanwhile — In a Mansion Across the City
A silver-haired man poured a drink, eyes locked on a glowing alert on his secure tablet.
"Bastard Blood Detected."
"Illegitimate Lineage: Damon Black."
Lucien Black's eyes narrowed.
"So… he lives."