Crown of Thorns - Chapter 19

In 2025, Avalon the most legendary MMORPG that had reigned for two decades, announced it would shut down its servers on July 12th.Rian, the Guild Master of Avanheim, decides to stay loyal until the very end, accompanying his guild in the Throne Room of Avanheim Castle until the servers are completely shut down.However, when the final second passes, a miracle occurs. He isn't forcibly logged out by the system. Instead, he remains within Avanheim. The NPCs, once mere programs, begin to show consciousness, and the digital world feels entirely real.It seems he has been summoned to another world, just like in the fantasy novels he so often reads.This time, Rian swears to himself: he will no longer be a loser. In this new world, he will become a winner.To establish an empire. To conquer the world. This is the beginning of the Great Path of Conquest....Or maybe he'll just keep a low profile and live in peace?AUTHOR NOTE :Other Tags: Reverse Isekai, Shadow Leader, Corporate Building, Evil Organization Leader, Genius Protagonist, World Domination, Politics, Slow Burn, Detailed, Romance, Magic vs. Technology.This novel features a slow-paced plot, making it unsuitable for readers expecting fast-paced action like intense battles against equal foes, massacres, or starting a war early in the story.- Volume One: Focuses on world-building.- Volume Two: Centers on corporate development, building a criminal empire, controlling a nation from the shadows, generating wealth, and a touch of romance.- I update every day, but if something comes up on a particular day, I’ll post two chapters together the next day.Support me with reviews, votes, or a Golden Ticket gift—it would help me a lot!

An AI calling itself Schema has assimilated earth into its system. As a consequence, everyone gained access to status screens, power-ups, and skills. This AI turned these concepts from fiction to fact. It's easy to become intoxicated with leveling up and becoming stronger. To some, it's too good to be true like living out a dream.

For Daniel, however, it's closer to a nightmare.

He's in a bit of a predicament. Cracks in our dimensional fabric have unleashed terrifying beasts from dark, abyssal places. Schema organizes these cracks into dungeons, giving the native species of the planet a chance to fight back. Daniel finds himself trapped in one of these dungeons. Not long after, he discovers there's only one way out.

The year was 2030 when dungeons descended and wreaked havoc across the world.Fortunately, along with the descent of the dungeons was the awakening of various people obtaining superpowers, allowing the world to barely defend against the worldwide threat.Five years later, Desther, a young man that only wants to watch anime and read online novels, awakened the SSS-Grade Talent, Ultimate Thief, allowing him to steal a target’s attribute in battle and making it his own.However, along with the overpowered talent, was an announcement he wished he never got.[You obtained the title, [Chosen One]][Clear the dungeon or Die!]

“Hah..Hah..”

In the midst of what seemed like a battlefield, a young boy with white hair knelt on the ground, struggling to catch shallow breaths. A short sword pierced his heart, his arms and legs were broken, making him unable to stop the crimson blood from coloring the ground.

“That's what you get for betrayal,” a red-headed teenage boy sneered as he stood before him.

“A pathetic person like you could never be my brother,” added a purple-haired girl, her voice seething with anger, as she stood alongside the redhead.

With great effort, the young boy shifted his gaze forward. He could see many familiar faces in front of him—his so-called family, his so-called friends but his gaze remained fixed on her.

“Wh..y, A.nna,” he uttered with immense difficulty and sorrow in his voice, his vision blurring as he locked eyes with the blonde-haired girl, who regarded him with emotionless eyes.

“I did that so I could save you,” he said, his voice gradually growing louder.

“I DID THAT SO YOU COULD LIVE!” he shouted, making everyone present flinch in fear.

“I never asked you to do this” the blonde-haired girl replied, her words crushing the very soul of the boy.

“A...nn.a,”

the young boy whispered one last time, a small tear slipping down from his eye as he breathed his final breath.

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Neil survived eight grueling years in a post-apocalyptic world only to die and be reincarnated in the body of Eden Morton, a character from a game he

used to play as a teenager, by an unknown entity for unknown reasons.

Eden's life was a pitiable one, plagued by the constant manipulation and betrayal of those around him – whether it was the princess, the famed hero, or even his very own family. Eden died without ever experiencing genuine love. Now, as Neil took over, he was determined to embark on a new journey, seeking the one thing he and Eden never had : a life worth living.