Born in apocalypse - Chapter 24: Sword, Shadow and Death

What would you do if you found yourself trapped in a world of a game?Would you panic?Rejoice?Just give up?This is a conundrum I found myself in after waking up in an unfamiliar bed, in an unfamiliar room, with no clue of how I got there.Magic powers?I had none of those…A cheat-like system?Nowhere to be found.All I possessed was a single skill that seemed meager at best…[ Shadow Manipulation ]

Growing up with eccentric materialist parents who left him in the care of his grandfather for a job overseas, Zhang Heng had learned to adapt and be unfettered by the oddities and challenges in life. But he would soon learn the baffling truth about the world he thought he knew when one day at midnight time froze and he found himself in a world so quiet and still it was deafening. That night, he discovered that he had 24 hours more than everybody else and thus, marked the beginning of his adventures. The mysteries surrounding his newfound ability only deepened when a strange old man claimed to have given Zhang Heng that ‘gift of time’ and recruited the young man to participate in a cryptic ‘life-changing’ game on his behalf. Little did Zhang Heng know that accepting those terms meant embroiling himself in many versions of reality and exposing himself to the hidden secrets of the world—a decision he could never undo.

A catastrophic rift has torn the world apart, tearing open the fabric of reality and unleashing hordes of demons upon humanity. As the world is thrown into disarray, cities fall, governments crumble, and the once-thriving human race finds itself on the brink of extinction. What was once known as civilization is now a nightmare of chaos, destruction, and monsters. Amidst this apocalyptic nightmare, Selene, an ordinary woman, finds herself thrust into a brutal new reality.After a near-death encounter with a demon, she awakens a mysterious lust system within her—one that demands intimacy to grow stronger. This power grants her extraordinary abilities but comes with a dangerous cost: to survive and protect those she loves, Selene must navigate a world where every bond she forms feeds the system’s insatiable hunger.In a world ravaged by demons and destruction, Selene must learn to wield this power before it consumes her completely.

Trojas was a land of beauty, rich in warmth and culture. It was also home to some of the finest warriors on the continent. The people of this prosperous nation lived happily, taking great pride in their homeland.Ceremus Marcrinos had just inherited the throne, and despite his grief, he carried out his duties the best he could. Unfortunately, his loneliness overwhelmed him, and the only escape from the pain in his heart came through his vices. Whether it was drinking the night away, sleeping with countless strangers, or getting into unnecessary fights, the king just couldn’t stay out of trouble.The citizens of Trojas initially tolerated his behavior, sympathizing with his loss, but things only grew worse. Ceremus, once revered as a benevolent king, became a tyrant. His abuse of power pushed the people to their breaking point, and in desperation, they prayed to Kaleeso, the goddess and creator of mortals, to ease their suffering. The goddess, moved by their cries, chose to send someone who could finally put the unruly king in his place.A man emerged from the heart of the Aphthonia Forest becoming the protector of its land. He had but one mission—to save the people, but more importantly, save the King of Trojas from himself.The problem was, would the prideful Ceremus be able to accept such a change? Especially when all he had known for the last eight years was solitude? I mean his chosen one was destined to be a man!