MTL - Blackstone Code - ~ two thousand sixty-six

William was once a gamer ranked in top 20 worldwide. After his death, he found himself in the body of an insignificant NPC in the game “God's Apocalypse.” This NPC was doomed to die early in the game, filling William with dread because he knew he had only three months to live.The game world of “God's Apocalypse” was rich with many different fantasy races, from elves to dwarves, each offering unique opportunities for him to make use of, as well as challenges to home oneself.William was terrified because he had the knowledge of the game's future but lacked the power to change his fate.However, he was not without options. He retained his game panel and the unique talent “[Jack of All Trades],” which allowed him to learn skills from various professions.William realized that when the game's beta opened, players would arrive. As an NPC, he could assign quests to them and use his knowledge of the game's future to manipulate them to do his bidding.He began to leverage the abilities of the players to alter his fate and grow stronger.William made alliances with various races, gaining their trust and learning their secrets. This enabled him to transcend the boundaries of his initial condition and steadily increase his power.As William's power grew, players in the game started to complain: “This boss is impossibly strong and keeps getting stronger, we demand a nerf!” They were frustrated by his rapid progression and the unique challenges he posed.In contrast, the elves venerated him: “Lord William is the ultimate chosen one, bringing an unparalleled peace to our realm.” They saw him as a savior who brought stability and hope.The mages revered him as well: “He is the trailblazer of magic, our protector. His name, William Cain, is synonymous with the god of the arcane.” They admired his innovative approach to magic and his role in advancing their knowledge.When asked how he managed to achieve such feats, William simply responded, “Knowledge is power, and it's the one thing I don't lack.”

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.

The World Tower has unimaginable wealth and treasures. Once a week, as long as you rush high enough, you can surpass ordinary people and enjoy a brilliant and glorious life.

A thousand floors are capped, and some people say that reaching the thousand floors can get the wealth of the whole world; some people say that above the thousand floors is a beautiful new world or even heaven; some people say that they can obtain the power of gods;

Unfortunately, no one has reached the summit for thousands of years.

The strongest team in the world rushed to the 929th floor, which was unprecedented, and was still destroyed.

Wang Wen survived.

Time went back to twenty years ago.

Reborn with all the emotions and experiences, the lush Wang Wen in front of the World Tower is calm and determined.

- Description from novelbuddy

Ethan Liu, an ordinary young man trapped in a monotonous life, finds an escape in the form of the latest virtual reality game—Immortal Cultivation VR. This game offers a deeply immersive cultivation experience where players can become powerful cultivators by mastering ancient martial arts.However, what initially seems like mere entertainment soon turns into a far more dangerous and mysterious journey. When Ethan accidentally joins a cultivator chat group filled with players from around the world, he begins to realize that the virtual world is much more than just a game. Behind its battles and mighty creatures lies a greater threat that could destroy not only the game but the real world as well.In his quest to uncover the truth behind the game, Ethan must fight against powerful players with dark ambitions while facing a crucial dilemma regarding the immense power and technology controlling the virtual world. As time passes, Ethan’s choices in the virtual realm start to have real-world consequences, altering the very fabric of life outside the game.As the battle between the virtual world and reality escalates, Ethan must decide whether to continue seeking power in the game or fight to prevent the impending destruction of both worlds. With the fate of the world resting on his shoulders, Ethan faces a decision that will shape the future of humanity—and his own destiny.Virtual Reality Cultivator is an epic tale of power, betrayal, and self-discovery in a world where the boundaries between reality and virtual worlds are becoming increasingly blurred.