Illusions, Lies, Truth - Volume 3, Chapter 5: Ceremony of the Devil, Part 2—Floor by Floor… Upwards?

I was sixteen when the gods abandoned me.The Blessing Ritual was supposed to grant me power, a divine gift to carve my future. Instead, I received nothing. No abilities. No hope. Just another nameless soul left to rot in a world ruled by strength.Fine. If the gods wouldn’t bless me, I’d make my own power.For ten years, I clawed my way forward, experimenting with forces no human should touch. I pushed too far—and it killed me.Then I woke up.Sixteen again. Back at the Ritual. But this time, something changed.Time bends at my will. Blood moves when I command it.The gods still won’t acknowledge me, but it doesn’t matter. This world isn’t fair, and I’ve stopped playing by its rules. Faith and Chaos clash in my veins, and I will use them both.They wanted a Chosen Hero, someone to dance to their tune.Well, too bad for them—I’ll carve my own fate.

Welcome to The Last Step – A Tale of Fate, Power, and the Unforgiven.In a world where magic defines one's worth, three souls walk a path toward an uncertain destiny—each bearing a power that can shape the fate of nations.Lucas, the God’s Chosen Sorcerer, wields divine magic that bends reality itself, blessed by forces beyond mortal comprehension. A shining beacon of hope—or a harbinger of destruction—his path is riddled with expectations he never asked for.Celia, the Queen of Curses, commands a power feared by even the strongest mages. She carries the weight of a past filled with whispers and condemnation, but where others see a curse, she sees the strength to carve her own future.Kaiser, the Unwanted Void, stands apart. Neither blessed nor cursed, he is the anomaly that should not exist. In a world that measures worth by magic, he is a shadow in the light—yet, the abyss within him holds something far greater than mere sorcery.Together, they are bound by fate yet divided by their own battles. As war brews and forgotten gods stir, the lines between hero and villain blur. In the end, their choices will decide more than just their own lives—they will determine the very foundation of their world.This is their journey. This is their Last Step.

Lin Feng was at rock bottom—buried in debt, stuck in a dead-end job, and barely surviving as a struggling college student. His fridge contained nothing but a single egg and regret.Then, one day, his life changed forever.> [Ding!]> [Congratulations! You have unlocked the Rich System!]> [Spending money on women increases their favorability at 2x, 3x, or more!]> [Reach favorability milestones to receive cash returns—higher favorability, higher profits!]At first, Lin Feng thought it was a scam… until 5,000 yuan appeared in his bank account.Now, armed with a system that rewards extravagant spending on women, Lin Feng must navigate the world of wealth, luxury, and high society. But there’s a catch—- Cheap gifts don’t count.- Unnecessary spending lowers the favorability boost.- Some women require more than money to be impressed.- And sometimes, the system throws in humiliating spending challenges.From sharp and ambitious career women to calculating high-society heiresses, rising celebrities, and even a mysterious billionaire widow, Lin Feng must learn how to play the game—or risk losing everything.Can an unlucky underdog turn money into power, respect, and romance? Or will wealth bring him more trouble than he ever imagined?One thing’s for sure—**he’s about to find out.

After his death, Bern awakens 10 years into the past as the third prince of Kailis, the enemy country.