Castle of Black Iron - Chapter 22: Land Reclamation

In 2036, humankind steps foot on Mars for the first time.

...[Inside an underground basement]“You are going to die for nothing, hahahaha,” the old man's voice thundered through the room, sending chills down my spine.Step.With a swift and ruthless motion, he lunged forward, his sword slicing through the air and slashing my throat, crimson droplets staining the darkness.“We'll see,” I whispered defiantly, my final words escaping as a mere breath against the impending darkness.Slowly, inexorably, my consciousness slipped away, and I descended into a deep, unfathomable slumber.“Huh!?” My eyes fluttered open, and I found myself seated in a bustling tavern, the air thick with laughter and the clinking of glasses.In front of me stood a captivating lady, her beauty juxtaposed with an angry furrow upon her brow, threatening to shatter the harmony of the jovial scene.“Don't follow me around!” Her words pierced the air like shards of ice, the intensity of her emotions palpable as she cast a resentful glare in my direction, before swiftly departing from the tavern....Am I trapped within the confines of a game? The fragments of my shattered common sense scattered before me, leaving me to question the very fabric of my reality.

Today’s headlines –
   “The Malaysian Master has broken through nine products and fought the world!”
   “The pony master is the best, sweeping Eurasian!”
   “Joe’s helper once again, suspected of nine major masters!”
   “The god of the gods is not old, the global master list re-enters the top ten!”
   “…”
   Looking at a piece of news flashing, Fang Pingxin is so tired, this script is wrong!

- Description from 69shu.org