Merchant Crab - Chapter 84: Antoine’s Deeds

I am currently re-writing the first chapters of this story. They are quite rough and bounce around a lot and I can do better. At some point, I will replace these with the better chapters.Sometime in 2024 Aethon Books will publish the first volume of this story on Amazon, KU, and audible. This will mean the story will be stubbed. I will notify people far in advance of that.In the dystopian world of the future, life is rough when you live at the bottom. Jobs are non-existent. Far too many people live in poverty, crammed into huge buildings called Habitats. With no jobs in the real world, many people can only find work online in VR worlds as servants to the very rich. And it's getting worse. The old internet is unusable and hacked to pieces. The new system needs AI to run things, but all but one of them were destroyed. The last sentient AI is ordered to create a new game world so the rich can have a playground, and the corporations that rule the world can have a new global market place. Everyone wants a piece of the new game. The guilds are competing to be the first to find the dungeons and kill the biggest monster. The corporations are claiming land and putting in their online market places. Ozzy and his friends just want a paycheck.Four friends sign five year contracts as virtual serfs in a small village, and can't go adventuring at all to gain money. They don't have many choices. They can work as a blacksmith, barmaid and shepherd for all those years....or they can cheat and find ways to take advantage of the system and carve out a section of the game world for themselves, and earn a fortune in the real world.When they give you a mop and not a sword, you have to find the loopholes and change the rules.

“Look, I don’t need to be the strongest — I just need to be slightly stronger than the guy trying to kill me.”---Zayn Eldrake was nothing more than a nameless extra in the grand tale of summoned heroes — a disposable swordsman in the legendary Hero of Light’s party, fated to die in an early battle against the monsters of the Apocalypse.But when he awakens in this doomed body with memories of his past life, he refuses to meet the same pathetic end.He knows the story. He knows the heroes. He knows their strengths, their weaknesses… and most importantly, their women.With the power of [Devourer’s Pact], Zayn can consume the abilities of those he defeats, transforming himself into something far greater than a mere extra.Strength, magic, divine blessings — everything in this world is his for the taking. And if fate itself stands in his way? He’ll devour that too.

[WSA 2024 Entry]

Matt saved humanity, but humanity betrayed him and murdered him and his wife, which led him to reincarnate in a Vampire World.

He quickly realized that he had been reincarnated in a unique body that, among vampires, would make him look like a genius. In addition, he has several powerful abilities that no other vampire has.

This time, he will cling to this new life to become as strong as possible to search for his wife in a world of magic and vampires.

In addition, he will try to walk the path to become a True Vampire, a Vampire Progenitor!

At the same time, his desire for revenge burns within him...

In a world ruled filled with runes, Matt is reborn at the lowest rung of society after being sold off by his family.But Matt is no stranger to politics and power. Once a soldier and a cunning leader who bent entire nations to his will, death could not erase his sins—or rather his ambition.This new world is far from simple.Yet, Matt carries more than memories of his past life—he wields powers so extraordinary that they could turn kings into beggars and saints into monsters.But with great power comes an unsettling truth.As cryptic messages flood his vision—_____________[ You have obtained the Divine ability- Cursed Re… ][ You have obtained the Divine ability- Demonix Blo… ]...[ Would you like to tranform your rune into... ]...[ You have slained the Slug win... ][ You gained... ]_____________And with each surge of his newfound abilities, a disturbing realization takes hold: Matt is no longer certain he’s even human.What has he become—a monster, a weapon, or something far more terrifying?Something vast, unknowable, and merciless stirs in the shadows, pulling the strings of fate. Caught in its game, Matt must decide whether to embrace this power or risk being consumed by it.In a realm where deceit rules, strength speaks, and the line between salvation and damnation is razor-thin, Matt must decide what it means to live, to fight, and to survive.******My talent grow infinitely.I grow stronger even as I sleep, what's considered best for others is the least for me.I can stack skill infinitely._____________The main character of this novel is slightly based on Fang Yuan. Though, he will have a borderline.This will have Talent awakening, some mystery, Op abilities, beast mastery and a lot more...For faster updates, show your support.Read my review for more details...