Deep Sea Embers - Chapter 14

In 2173, the world’s first Full-World Virtual MMORPG game ‘Astral Online’ went on sale globally, forever changing the blue planet Asteria!

With its revolutionary Digital Capture System, astonishing graphics and ability to scan yourself into the game with up to 20% beautification, countless defenders rallied to play the game.

Fifty million players logged in on launch. There were no queues or lag on launch, leaving countless critics impressed and willing to try the game. Because the game used a 6-hour play limit a day, it allowed even working adults to keep up with young students and the unemployed.

A resounding success, as more people poured onto the game servers, families and friends alike. Astra Online became a household name overnight.

One month later, the game opened its first RMT system, which made earning a living from the game easier... Thus began the Astral rush!

Professional players formed guilds and factions to increase their profits, but nobody could know this prosperity was a mere joke.

One year later, players fused with their avatars, gaining powerful abilities in the real world, which tipped the power and caused chaos.

Two years later, demons and monsters from inside the game invaded the real world.

Three years later, over 90% of humanity perished, leaving the rest to hide like rats, unable to fight back in fear.

Four years later, this world is no longer ours. The demons march on our last bastions, one by one. They exterminated us.

Zell was an average player who liked to collect beasts in the game and evolve them into humanoids, as they were primarily females.

He spent most of his life working two jobs to make ends meet.

Thanks to the excellent healthcare of his country, there were no crippling debts. There was only emptiness.

When the end came, he was powerless and alone. His only companions were his cute pets and Rika, his cherished Flame Rabbit.

She was the only beast he evolved to a humanoid form after his late start to the game.

He died saving the life of a strange girl with white wings and his pet Rika, the sad eyes of Rika and the girl’s sorrow floating through the air as he slowly passed away.

However, instead of dying, he awoke inside an empty white room with a single computer and a strange, game-like screen that allowed him to edit his IRL avatar and persona.

Who offered him this second chance?

For what reason did they help him?

Can he meet Rika again?

Zell could never know; he only knew his second life’s goal.

Survive!

Three thousand years ago, Bai Qiuran, who was extremely talented, was accepted as a disciple by the founder of Qingming Sect, and the young Taoist began to cultivate the path of immortality.

Qin Chen was transmigrated to the Taiyi Holy Land where he became a servant in charge of sweeping the floor. However, on his 16th birthday, he was rewarded with a system where he was rewarded whenever he signed in at a new place.

When he signed in at the Empire Ruin, he was rewarded with the strongest Chaotic Holy Body and the Chaos Emperor Scripture.

When he signed in at the Demon Sealing Land, he was rewarded with the Probationary Royal Armies.

When he signed in at the Alchemy Palace, he was rewarded with the Divine-grade Alchemy.

When he signed in at the Herb Garden, he was rewarded with an Immortality Elixir.

When he signed in at the Empire Palace, he was rewarded with the Emperor-grade Divine Art, Revival.

…

Qin Chen thought he could just spend the rest of his life signing in at different places until he became invincible.

However, when the ruin of the Great Kingdom appeared inside the holy land, people from other holy lands, prestigious families, and even ancient empires gathered to defeat the All-Powerful Demon King who appeared with the ruin. The Demon King had killed countless people and had planned to destroy the Taiyi Holy Land.

Qin Chen was left with no choice but to step up. When he killed the Demon King with a single slap, he sighed, “Why do you guys have to force a mere servant to act?”

Shunned by her pack as the Traitor's daughter, Natalie Cross—a werewolf without a wolf—has endured more pain than most could imagine. Forced to bear the mark of a ruthless alpha, rejected by her destined mate, and ultimately banished, she finds herself alone and unwelcome among her kind. With the Alpha's scent branding her as untouchable, no other pack will take her in.Desperate and discarded, Natalie hides among humans, scraping by in a world that doesn’t know or care about her true identity. But everything changes when she crosses paths with an adorable wolf pup—and its enigmatic, wealthy owner. The man offers his help, something no one else has dared to do.Yet, kindness feels like a foreign concept to Natalie. Can she trust this stranger who harbours secrets as deep as her own? Or is his generosity just another trap, promising a fate darker than the one she’s already survived?