The Last Step - Chapter 6: A Step Closer

WARNING: DARK AND MATURE CONTENT. Readers discretion advised.Serena Alaric wanted nothing more than a quiet life, far from the shadows of her family’s dark past. But when masked enforcers storm her home and drag her into the clutches of the Council of Vitae, she learns her blood is the key to a deadly legacy she never asked for.Lucian Draven is the cold and ruthless leader of a powerful mafia syndicate, cursed to endure unimaginable pain. The Council claims Serena is his only salvation. Yet beneath the Council’s polished facade lies a web of lies, experiments, and betrayal that runs far deeper than either of them imagined.Forced into an uneasy alliance and given a time limit to produce an heir, Serena and Lucian must navigate a treacherous world of power and manipulation, where trust is a rare commodity. As they uncover the truth about the Council’s sinister plans, their hatred begins to give way to something unexpected—a bond forged in fire and blood.But with enemies closing in from all sides and time running out, Serena and Lucian must decide: will they fight their fates, or embrace the dangerous connection that could either save them, or destroy them both?

This is the first part, the second part is “Playing Fish Trapped in a Secret Room (密室困游鱼 Mi Shi Kun You Yu)”.

In 2007, at the WCG Asian Tournament in Singapore. In just a few hours time, between left and right hands, there goes a life and death battle. In the Chinese team that year, there is a professional player who’s only 15 years old, nicknamed “God’s Left Hand”. At that match, he sits right next to her.

Their professional lives start from 14 years old until they retire, disappear, at 25 years old.

In these non-mainstream tournaments, where a small niche of the population follows closely, their only possessions are a mouse, keyboard, and headphone each. There they won gold medals one after another for China.

Would you play the universally disliked character in a romance reality show for a million? Xu Qingyan's answer is: Hesitating for even a second is disrespectful to money.Being cursed and trending online, Xu Qingyan says it doesn't matter; after all, you can't abandon money for the sake of saving face, right?Director: “Don't feel any psychological burden.”Xu Qingyan: “Director, I feel this line isn't mean enough.”Director: “Don't worry, just let loose and act.”Xu Qingyan: “No problem, Director. I'll act naturally, and show you what devotion means.”.......Xu Qingyan: You all see me messing around every day, but you don’t see my hardworking lifestyle, my late-night studies, or the way I kindly interact with others.You can't see it! Because I've never done it.Netizen: “What a satisfying read, time to be discharged from the hospital.”.......The rising pop princess, Lin Wanzhou, had a gap in her heart, a sorrowful little secret about an unrequited love. In the blink of an eye, the object of her affection was on a romance show, getting ambiguous with a rival she had once defeated.The washed-up pop princess, Mu Chan, initially wanted to just frustrate Lin Wanzhou, but didn't expect to get caught up...In the twenty-sixth spring of her life, she fell for someone, and could never let go since.May you be well, with a bright future ahead.

Ding![QUEST: Defeat the Abyssal Realm Lord. Grimzark, The Dread of Tyrant.]DESCRIPTION: The Abyss Realm was once under the rule of Goddess Zyraena, but it fell into darkness when the Fallen God, Grimzark defeated it's guardian and took control.OBJECTIVE: Reclaim Goddess Zyraena's realm.Reward: Hidden Class, Gold Coins, Experience, Legendary Weapon, Return to Earth ,REUNITE WITH YOUR MOTHER Etc.Time Limit: None.Penalty for Failure: Death.You will be transported to the Abyss Realm in 5..4...3...Han Seojun is frail and barely more than skin and bones from a life of poverty, was raised by his hardworking mother with no knowledge of his father. At 18, he inherits the Ancient Infinite System, a power passed down for generations from Goddess Zyraena, The Former Echidna (Goddess of Monsters).Over five months, the system transforms his weak body and improves their lives. Just as Seojun is about to take his dream veterinary exam, he's suddenly summoned to the Abyss Realm, a brutal world where only the strong survive.After 500 years of Endless battle with his Guardian Cerberus named Huno and Hydra named Silla, Seojun finally reclaim the Realm.Ding![Congratulations Host! You have max your level! LV. 999,999]Ding![You have obtained a Hidden Class: SSS-Rank Abyssal Tamer.][Title Acquired: Lord of the Abyss]Upon returning, 5 years had passed since his dissapearance and finds the world transformed. Dungeons and monsters are rampant, and people now possess skills and classes granted by a system called global system Where Earth transformed A Game into Reality.People granted is known as the Awakeners and Seojun, protected by his Infinite system, rejected the global system. He is classified as a glitch—a Non-Awakened by the Global System but his level just reset to 1.