Exception to Grace Period

Recovering from the throbbing headache and the blunt system announcement, Kingsley simply sighed. His surprise had worn thin after all he'd encountered so far. Deep down, he knew the system wasn't going to make his life easy.

Shaking off his frustration, he shifted his attention to the strange flood of instinctual knowledge that had been implanted in his mind.

It was bizarre—he couldn't explain it, but he felt the boundaries of his territory. He could sense exactly where it ended and where its center lay.

Interestingly, the broken-down castle, which he initially assumed to be the focal point of his territory, wasn't at the center.

"Damn, that's big!" Kingsley muttered as he processed the size of his domain.

He assumed this was the standard size given to everyone. The system, annoying as it was, seemed fair in its workings.

It balanced his overpowered [Domini] ability by stripping him of the basic resources and functions others had access to. It also seemed to grant more time to the elderly and young, allowing them to find safety or learn the ropes before the chaos began.

The sheer size of his territory astounded him. The closest comparison he could think of was three football fields, though he wasn't sure of the exact measurements.

"At least I've got plenty of space to work with," he said, trying to give himself a pep talk.

With his thoughts somewhat organized, Kingsley turned back toward the broken-down castle. Making his way to the shabby throne inside, he plopped down, already feeling the discomfort of the worn-out seat.

"Right, time to figure this out," he mumbled, determined to make a plan.

1He couldn't afford to waste time; his family was out there somewhere, and he had only two weeks to find them.

Staring at the overgrown shrubs around him, Kingsley had an idea. He raised his hand hesitantly, mimicking the kind of dramatic gestures he'd seen in fantasy shows.

To his astonishment, the shrubs began to grow rapidly. A wide grin spread across his face.

"Holy crap, it worked!" he exclaimed.

For a moment, his excitement took him back to his school days—running down hallways, arms stretched out Naruto-style, or yelling like a wannabe Super Saiyan before a play fight with friends. Those moments felt ridiculous then, but here he was, doing something even crazier.

"Wait… wait, it's actually growing?" he stammered as the shrubs shot up to his height.

"Is this my ability?" he asked himself, marveling at the results.

His excitement soon gave way to suspicion. "No ability is this good without a cost. Where's the catch? The law of equivalent exchange? Does it take my life force or something?"

He'd consumed enough books and media to know there had to be a downside. As he debated the mechanics of his power, a harsh notification jolted him out of his thoughts.

---

Warning!! Warning!!!

Lord Kingsley is an exception to the grace period. Please prepare for battle, as the natives of the planet [Deus] have access to your territory.

Good luck!

---

"Huh?" Kingsley blinked at the message, completely thrown off.

"Why? No, wait… F** YOU!*" he roared, standing up in a fit of rage.

"YOU ******* PIECE OF ****!!!" Kingsley let loose a tirade of profanity, venting every curse word and insult he could muster.

His voice echoed through the empty castle as he paced back and forth, alternating between anger and disbelief. The system had just declared war on him, and he hadn't even figured out how his ability worked yet.

"This is fine," he muttered, his voice shaking with anger. "Totally fine."

Kingsley sat back down, his hands trembling. If the system wanted a fight, then so be it. He had no choice but to win.