Republic Reborn: Against the Stars and Stripes - Chapter 81: Bruises

“When the old gods are forgotten, they do not die—they wait.”In the year 1025, the Viking Age wanes.Iceland bows to Christ. The Althing governs by law. And the gods of old fade to whispers.But in the far Westfjords, something stirs.Vetrulfr, a former Varangian captain and exile, returns from the East with foreign gold, forgotten warcraft, and a hunger no man can name.He comes not in peace, but to raise Ullrsfjörðr from ash and ice; building walls, carving runes, and waging war on behalf of a dying faith.From Reykjavík to Aachen, rumors spread: a ghost walks the North once more. Some call him the son of Ullr. Others, a wolf-cloaked demon.But all will know his name.and when the Valkyries call, he will answer.

Ren thought getting sacrificed and becoming a holy spirit was rock bottom—until he discovered his divine wife, the Goddess of Magic, is completely broke on faith power. That means his remaining soul would completely disappear.Turns out magicians are the worst believers ever!Ren has a crazy idea: if magicians won't pray willingly, make them pray to access the internet.Starting with a simple magic forum, Ren introduces this fantasy world to the addictive power of online connectivity. Want Q&A sessions on spell theory? Pray first. Need to livestream your dragon research? That'll be one prayer, please. E-commerce shopping for rare magical components? Prayer required for checkout.The moment Ren becomes the God of Technology, this world's whole vibe goes haywire.What begins as a desperate faith-farming scheme spirals into something far bigger. Soon dragons are running delivery services, apprentices are binge-watching magical tutorials, and even gods are competing for subscriber counts. Magic cars cruise the streets, magic trains thunder across continents, and when apprentices start wielding magic ray guns against seasoned magicians, everyone realizes this world has changed forever.From a simple forum to consciousness uploading and biological immortality—when technology crashes into magic, the explosion reshapes reality itself.After all, why choose between science and magic when you can have both?

When an ordinary gamer wakes up in the body of Ellen Joe, a high schooler and an elite member of Victoria Housekeeping Co., life takes a bizarre turn. Known for tackling everything from cleaning and yardwork to securing rare items and fighting off monsters, the company operates more like a covert squad than a housekeeping service.Caught between school deadlines and deadly Hollow missions, the protagonist struggles to maintain Ellen’s demanding dual life. Armed with Ellen’s ice-infused scissors and sharp wit, they navigate a world of high-stakes combat and meticulous chores while trying to keep their true identity hidden. But as Ellen’s habits and instincts creep into their own, the line between their life and hers begins to blur.

Visha's life was a checklist of adrenaline-fueled firsts.Her latest 'first' ended with her arrival on the beast man continent.Armed with nothing but her system, Visha must learn to survive.Her new journey leads her to a group of beatmen who were cast out of their homes because of their 'defects'.The first thing to do is figure out how to survive the winter.From an alliance of mutual benefit to genuine friendship, Visha learns to trust the easygoing beastmen. And with their trust, she learned their secret.This world is saturated with vital energy.Now, Visha is chasing the ultimate thrill. With the system as her guide and her new tribe as her family. She's building a home, a legacy.She is building her kingdom and finding her purpose, one quest at a time.-----DISCLAIMER:Reader Discretion AdvisedThis is a work of fiction. All names, places and characters are products of the author's imagination.Contents include:ViolenceNudity (Partial and Full)Fictitious Religious CeremoniesNon-monogamous relationship (Triad/Throuple/Polyamory)