Merchant Crab - Chapter 1: Stepping Stones

“Transmigrate as the Final Villain of the novel...” Ark stared at his reflection in the mirror he held. It was Theos Von Fallen, the final villain of his favorite novel.Although he was the final villain and the strongest in the novel, he was killed by the protagonist and his harem in the finale.[Ding. The Heroine Snatching System has started] Ark gave a crooked smile when he read the system message in front of him... “Exchange!” he shouted, unwilling to accept the fate they had in store for him.Trapped in the world of his favorite novel as the most “evil” and powerful villain, Ark, now Theos, will use his knowledge as a fan obsessed with the novel to take away all the protagonist's opportunities.Whether he can become the focus of the whole show or whether a script will dictate his fate, he will decide! He will live as a true villain who doesn't care about anything but his life and his loved ones.

Noan transmigrated to a world that blends advanced technology and magic, with countless gates leading to other strange worlds.In that world, he took over the body of a young man of the same name who had just died.He realised that in this world, he was one of the 0.1% of the population who had the ability to become a landlord and had the right to go to mysterious lands to build territories.However, he was only a Rank F lord, the lowest and weakest rank in the landlord rankings.Besides, his family was like blood-sucking demons. Not only did he wear out his labour, but his younger brother was also jealous of him becoming a landlord, so he hired thugs to beat him to death.Fortunately, the 'old Noan' died, giving the 'new Noan' a body to live again.This Noan was not a coward; he was not weak like the 'old Noan'.And of course, the goddess of luck smiled upon him. Although he is only a Rank F Landlord, who can only summon useless Skeletons, he possesses the only Rank SSS talent in the world - Almighty Fusion.He can fuse ordinary skeletons and transform them into the King of the Undead, the lord of hell.He can help a weak succubus become the almighty fallen angel.He can turn a small lizard into the King of Dragons, the nightmare of all creatures.Besides, Noan also begins to lift the curtain that has hidden the truth about the new lands.

My dream will come true! Soon I will be arriving in Italy and appearing at the Milan Fashion Show! My photos will be published in all fashion magazines around the world!

In the end, all my sacrifices and hard work will not be in vain!

But why my dream become a nightmare!? Daddy suddenly invited me to meet a young CEO who was really arrogant. He said, for the sake of my family's business, I will become his future wife of the young CEO!

I don't want to marry him! I don't even know, and don’t love him, but now I have to sacrifice my dream to become his housewife!?

What about my dream? Are my efforts and sacrifices in vain? What does the world's most arrogant CEO want? Does he think money can buy love?

The most popular game worldwide is Ancient Arena Online, a high-octane PvP fantasy game where teams fight for supremacy in mythical arenas. Millions of fans watch livestreams, bet on matches, and follow their favorite players like celebrities. The game’s competitive scene is so fierce that professional teams are treated like esports royalty.At the heart of it all is Kai Ashford, one of the top players and captain of the pro team Phoenix Edge. With lightning-fast reflexes and strategic brilliance, Kai leads his team to countless victories. But success breeds jealousy. Sabotaged by a teammate he thought was loyal, Kai is not only kicked off his team, but also humiliated in front of millions of fans. With his reputation shattered and confidence at rock bottom, Kai retreats from the public eye.However, Kai's competitive spirit is not easily extinguished. He stumbles upon a group of amateur players—a ragtag bunch who show raw potential but lack the finesse needed to win at the highest levels. Their quirky personalities clash with his no-nonsense attitude, but something about their passion reminds him of why he started gaming in the first place. Deciding to put his past behind him, Kai agrees to train them into a professional team.Along the way, Kai builds unexpected connections with his new teammates, including romantic entanglements with a fiery mage, an eccentric hacker, and a mysterious assassin player, all while juggling his personal feelings and growing attraction for multiple women. As his new team rises through the ranks, they gain attention from fans and sponsors, putting them back on the radar of the professional scene.But Kai’s past doesn’t stay buried for long. His former teammates—now rivals—plot to sabotage him once again, while jealous contenders within the gaming world aim to tear him down. However, Kai's return to the spotlight will be on his terms this time. With a darker, more calculating approach, he plans to not only dominate the game but also to get sweet revenge on those who betrayed him.