Illusions, Lies, Truth - Volume 2, Chapter 3: Hidden in the Dark… Part 1—The Master

Due to unfortunate circumstances, “Ari” Ariel Matisse lived in the slums of Los Angeles, also known as Skid Row.One night, on his way home, he was killed while witnessing an old man getting beaten.When he woke up, he had been thrown into a dumpster, and a strange screen flashed across his eyes, and no matter how he looked at it, it reminded him of a status window in a game.[System Integration Complete!][Become a Global Music Superstar!]For some reason, he gained a system that wanted him to join a survival show and become a globally famous idol.If he refused to complete his given tasks, he would die.But if he succeeded, he would have the money and power to change his life as well as get revenge against the person who killed him.P.s. this story is kind of a love letter to LA and the amazing blend of cultures (American, Asian, Hispanic, African, etc) that can be found there. I hope you all fall in love with the area as much as I love it.

A thousand years ago, the world shattered.Mana surged into existence, rewriting reality itself. Dungeons tore through the land, birthing monstrous horrors, while beasts mutated under the influence of Primordial Ki, evolving into unstoppable apex predators. Humanity was on the brink of annihilation—until the Awakened emerged, wielding supernatural power to defy extinction.Yet, in this brutal new world, strength reigns supreme, and weakness is a death sentence.Amidst it all, Azvoid Larkson—a nameless figure among the countless struggling to survive—awakens a power beyond reason. A power tied to ancient, forgotten dragons—beasts feared even by the strongest Awakened.With each battle, he ascends. With every dragon he tames, his legend grows.In a world where only the strong thrive, how far can one man rise?

Nanzhi only thought she had traveled into a novel about raising a child. Relying on her many years of “Wilderness Survival” watching experience, she hunts rabbits up the mountain for grilling every day, gropes for fish in the river to make soup, and diligently raises the child. Just when she thought her life was finally looking up and she could have her “second spring”, the “husband” who was rumored to have died hundreds of times suddenly appeared. Wait a second!She seems to have ended up in a novel where the male lead is the main character!Nanzhi? Isn't that the cannon fodder and deposed wife?PS: Not a web novel about farming, the female lead doesn't have a golden finger space system. Just turned eighteen and got into university, not a novel about a powerful female protagonist.

“Breaking News! A 28-year-old IT worker beats three university kids to death with a spiked bat over a dog!”***Following the revenge, John took his own life in stubborn resistance, but that wasn't the end. He and his dog, Alfred, found new life after making a deal with an Eldritch God, Chuthulos.The duo reincarnates in another cosmos where Humans live an intricately connected life with Monsters as Tamers.However, in this perilous journey where his exposure to higher powers can lead to not only his death, but of the entire Eldritch Cosmos, John is not without help, for he receives the Rune of New Beginning, a power shaped into a system made from Eldritch Ancestor, to aid him.“So I can inspect all Monsters, eh? Awesome.”“Evolution Pathways? Cool!”“A private world where I can create biomes and habitats for monsters? A Monster Paradise?! Holy Land!”“Hey, what new function are you going to add in the next level up of the Rune, Chuthulos?”With all stacks on himself, John is determined to make the most of his new life with Alfred and his Pet Monster companions and keep his end of the bargain.