MTL - Never Fade Skull Flag - Chapter 25 captive

After years of intense development and a thrilling beta phase, Ashen World Online has finally opened its doors to the public—instantly capturing global attention.At the center of the excitement is Blake, once the proud and formidable leader of the Cerberus guild—until his relentless ambition led to a crushing defeat in the beta’s grand finale. Now, as the official release dawns, he returns with two legendary powers: Spiritual Blacksmith and Limitless Enchanter. Bestowed with the power to forge entire armies, fortresses, and legendary gear, Blake can forge far more than just his own fate.But the question remains: has he truly changed, or will the lure of ultimate creation pull him back into the same ruthless path?

A struggling businessman on the verge of bankruptcy finds himself drunk one night, only to wake up in the past—specifically, in 1943 London, amidst the chaos of World War II.This is an era of both immense danger and unprecedented opportunity. It is a time when the British Empire, once the unrivaled superpower where the sun never set, is finally witnessing the dusk of its dominion. Meanwhile, the United States is rising to claim the mantle of global leadership, reshaping the world's balance of power.This is the era where everything begins—where old rulers step down and new powers rise to take their place. This is the era where Pierre finds himself, an era filled with the kind of opportunity he never had before. A small, precious chance to rise, to become a giant, to seize the throne of power, to become a ruler, a world hegemon.

As part of the imperial family, every move by Chu Yuan in this game of chess is made with apprehension, fearing that with a moment of inattentiveness, the whole match will be lost in a single move. Ascending to the throne at eighteen, not half a year passes before civil strife erupts in Yun Nan. Though the thoughts of the old guard at the imperial court are not exactly identical, they are all waiting to see how the new emperor will put an end to this. Unexpectedly, before this side could make a move, a few thousand miles away, the King of Xi Nan, Duan Bai Yue, had already personally commanded troops to attack in all directions; not half a year had passed when peace was restored. Sparse moonlight shines into the palace; Chu Yuan stamped the wax seal himself, and had a secret letter sent urgently to Yun Nan 800 miles away — this time, what must we(1) give in exchange? Brush marks passed through the back of the paper; it almost can be seen, when writing this line, how angry the young emperor was. Duan Bai Yue spread out a piece of paper unhurriedly, replying with only one word. You.

Richard Santamo, a Jobless, idling bystander, stumbles upon a mysterious blue panel that grants him access to advanced technology and skills beyond human comprehension. With the power to shape his destiny, he must navigate his newfound abilities while balancing everyday life, friendships, and his mother’s expectations. As he sets his sights on business, innovation, and self-improvement, Richard quickly realizes that knowledge and power come at a cost. Will he rise above his humble beginnings, or will the weight of his ambitions pull him under?-----------[ DISCLAIMER ] -----------Please note that the entirety of this book is a work of fiction. All characters, names, businesses, locations, and events depicted within these pages are products of the author's imagination or have been used in a purely fictitious manner. Any perceived resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased, or to real-world companies, organizations, or institutions, is entirely unintentional and purely coincidental. The portrayal of any names, character traits, positions, or corporate entities in this narrative is fundamentally fictional and is not intended to represent, comment upon, or interact with their real-life counterparts in any way. Our aim is to provide an immersive story, completely detached from reality.Furthermore, neither the author nor the publisher intends to defame, discredit, or infringe upon the rights or reputation of any individual, company, or entity that may, by sheer happenstance, share a name or a superficial characteristic with an element found in this book. This creation is offered solely for entertainment purposes and should not, under any circumstances, be interpreted as factual documentation or a representation of real-life events, actual people, or existing circumstances. Its sole purpose is to invite you into a world crafted from imagination, with no ties to the factual world.