Levelling Up System In The Apocalypse-Chapter 14: Home Owner For 10 Seconds.

Derek sat in the dimly lit apartment, scrolling through his system menu, when his phone suddenly vibrated on the counter. The number was unfamiliar, but something told him he should answer. With a flick of his wrist, he picked up the device and pressed it to his ear.

"Mr. Carter? This is Olivia from Crestfall Realty. I'm calling regarding your recent property acquisition."

Derek raised an eyebrow. "Property acquisition?"

"Yes, sir. The Elysium mansion at Blackridge Heights has been officially transferred to your name. Congratulations on your purchase. We would like to arrange a tour for you to inspect the estate at your earliest convenience."

Derek leaned back, a smirk tugging at his lips. He hadn't bought anything—at least, not through legal means. He already knew who was behind this.

[Ding! System Notification: Congratulations, User! You are now the proud owner of a totally not haunted, absolutely not cursed, ominous-looking mansion on Blackridge Heights!]

Derek remembered that he had gotten a mansion as a reward for the mission.

" I am still wondering you gave me a mansion though "

[Oh, I don't know. Maybe because you're a rising apocalypse protagonist and every self-respecting one needs an over-the-top base of operations. Can't have you sleeping in motels forever, can we?]

"And where exactly did the funds come from?"

[Details, details! It's all taken care of. Paperwork, legalities, the whole deal. Just accept your new lair of villainous solitude.]

Derek pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine. Might as well check it out."

"Excellent, sir," Olivia's voice chirped in his ear. "Would you like a private car to take you there?"

[Ooooh, fancy! Shall I prepare a silk robe and a goblet of expensive wine while you bask in your newfound wealth?]

Derek sighed. "I'll get there myself."

Derek stepped out of his rundown apartment, adjusting the hood of his faded, secondhand jacket as the cold morning air hit him. His jeans were practically holding on for dear life, worn thin at the knees, and his shoes were one solid step away from falling apart. Even his hoodie had mysterious stains that he didn't remember ever putting there.

He sighed.

Yeah. Definitely looking at the part of a future billionaire apocalypse overlord.

Still, a free mansion was a free mansion. Even if it was probably haunted. Or cursed. Or built on top of an ancient burial ground with a tragic backstory.

Hailing a ride-share, he slid into the backseat, noting how the driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror like he was debating whether or not he should ask for payment upfront.

The drive started out fine. Paleview City's lower districts were places Derek had always been familiar with—loud streets, old buildings, people barely scraping by. But as they crossed into Blackridge Heights, things changed fast.

The roads got wider, the sidewalks suspiciously clean, and the streetlights no longer flickered like they were on their last breath. Luxury cars cruised by, their owners probably sipping on thousand-dollar coffee while discussing their next yacht purchase.

Then came the mansions.

Massive estates sat behind towering iron fences, each one more extravagant than the last. Some looked modern and sleek, all glass and steel, while others screamed old-money opulence, like something ripped straight out of a Victorian drama.

And then there was Elysium Manor.

Derek spotted it before the driver even slowed down. It stood apart from the rest—not just bigger, but... different. The black stone walls gave it a gothic, foreboding presence, and the golden-accented iron gates looked straight out of some vampire lord's estate. Fog curled unnaturally around the perimeter, and the tinted windows practically dared anyone to look inside.

Derek squinted. Was that... lightning in the clouds above it?

Yeah, that was totally normal.

The driver cleared his throat. "Uh... you sure this is the right place?"

Derek looked down at himself, ripped jeans, worn-out hoodie, shoes barely held together by hope.

Oh yeah. He definitely looked like a burglar casing the joint.

He smirked, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Not really. But apparently, I own it now."

[Ding! System Notification: Welcome home, boss! Try not to get exorcised on the way in.]

Derek sighed. Yeah, that sounded about right.

As the doors slammed shut behind him, Derek instinctively tensed, expecting eerie whispers, flickering lights, or at least a dramatic ghostly wail. Instead... nothing happened.

The source of this c𝓸ntent is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.

No shadows moving in the corners of his vision. No ominous chills creeping up his spine.

Just... warmth.

The soft glow of golden sconces along the walls cast a gentle, inviting light. A faint but pleasant aroma of cinnamon and fresh wood filled the air—the kind of smell that made you think of cozy winter mornings by a fireplace.

The floor wasn't ominously creaky—it was polished to perfection. The portraits on the walls? Less creepy, more dignified, like something you'd find in an old-world aristocrat's home. The air had the perfect balance of warmth and freshness, as if the place had been cleaned just moments ago.

Derek frowned, glancing around. "Wait... this is actually kinda nice?"

[Uh... Yeah, about that. So, funny story—I may have exaggerated the whole 'haunted gothic deathtrap' thing.]

Derek crossed his arms. "You literally told me it had eldritch undertones."

[For dramatic effect! Would you have been as excited if I just said, 'Hey, congrats on the super-comfy mansion with modern heating and self-cleaning furniture'?]

Derek opened his mouth to argue but paused. "...Okay, fair point."

He stepped further into the grand foyer, where a plush leather couch and a roaring fireplace sat by a coffee table stocked with books and—was that hot chocolate?

He hesitated before picking up the steaming mug. The scent of rich cocoa and a hint of vanilla wafted up. Carefully, he took a sip.

Oh. Damn.

It was perfect. Smooth, creamy, and at just the right temperature.

Derek lowered the mug, his suspicion growing. "Okay. Who's behind this? Is there a maid I don't know about?"

[Nope! All automated! Welcome to your new smart estate. The mansion is equipped with state-of-the-art enchantments, ensuring perfect temperature control, self-replenishing amenities, and a fully stocked kitchen. You could live here forever without lifting a finger.]

Derek narrowed his eyes. "And you're just telling me this now?"

[Well, I was going for the whole dark, brooding protagonist vibe, but I guess that ship has sailed.]

He shook his head, still trying to process it. A free mansion was already suspicious, but a luxurious, self-sustaining one? This was either the best thing that had ever happened to him... or the setup for some elaborate prank by an interdimensional god.

Still, he wasn't about to complain.

Dropping onto the massive leather couch, he took another sip of hot chocolate and let out a satisfied sigh.

"Yeah... I can get used to this."

Derek let out a deep breath, sinking further into the ridiculously comfortable couch. The heat from the fireplace warmed his face, and for a moment—just a moment—he let himself relax.

But that moment was fleeting.

A cold, hard truth weighed on his mind.

He didn't have time for this.

The apocalypse was looming. The system had warned him—two weeks before everything went to hell. And while a luxury mansion with self-cleaning furniture was great, it wouldn't mean a damn thing if he was too weak to survive what was coming.

His fingers twitched as he pulled up the System Interface, his eyes locking onto the only thing that truly mattered right now.

[Dimension Travel] – Available

Below it, options flickered in his vision.

[Netherworld First Floor – Entry Fee: 0]

His heart pounded. The Netherworld. The system had unlocked this feature early—his one real chance to level up fast before the world turned into a bloodbath.

He had no idea what was waiting for him in there. No guarantees. No safety nets. But hesitation meant death. He checked his Stats screen one more time and made sure that all the stuff were properly secured in his Inventory.

Without another thought, he pressed the [Enter] button.

The world around him lurched.

A sudden pull in his gut, like gravity had shifted—his surroundings warped and twisted, the warm glow of the mansion stretching into streaks of light before shattering like glass.

And then—

Darkness.

A bone-chilling wind slammed into him, the warmth of his mansion instantly replaced by an unnatural cold.

He landed hard on what felt like solid stone, knees bending to absorb the impact. His breath left his lips in a visible mist.

The air was thick—heavy with decay.

Derek slowly straightened, scanning his surroundings. The dim, eerie glow of blue torches cast flickering shadows against towering black walls covered in twisting, jagged symbols. The ground beneath him was cracked obsidian, faintly pulsing with an ominous red light, like it was alive.

A low, distant howl echoed through the vast cavernous expanse before him.

[Ding! You have entered Netherworld First Floor.]

[Survive, and grow stronger.]

Derek could feel that there was a subtle change in the system's tone. It sounded more serious, he was starting to doubt whether the system had no emotions like it claimed.

He had to walk out alive from this place or become known as the guy who became a home owner for ten seconds.