The Newt and Demon - Chapter 2.17: Tax Brackets

“Look at him,” someone snickered from a few rows over. “Smells like he sleeps in a dumpster.”“Probably does,” another voice added, louder this time. Nox just stared at his textbook, the words blurring. He had heard it all before.Then, Mark, one of the main reasons his life was a living hell, swaggered past his desk. Mark always had a smirk on his face. “Oops,” he said, not even trying to sound accidental, as a full cup of bright orange juice tipped over, splashing all down the front of Nox's already ruined shirt. The cold liquid soaked through instantly. Laughter erupted around the room. It was loud, clear, and mocking. Nox slowly looked up. His eyes landed on Ms. Joy, who was watching the whole thing. She had seen Mark deliberately pour the juice on him. He raised his hand, a small, tired gesture. “Ms. Joy,” he said, his voice flat. “He just poured juice on me. Are you just going to ignore it? Again?.” Ms. Joy looked at him, then at Mark, who was now theatrically wiping his hands. A small smile played on her lips. Then she chuckled. Just a little airy laugh.“Oh, Nox, don't be so dramatic. Boys will be boys, right Mark?” Mark puffed out his chest. “Yeah, Ms. Joy. He's just sensitive.” The class laughed even harder at that. Ms. Joy joined in, her laughter ringing out with theirs. Hearing them all, hearing her laugh, something in him finally snapped. It wasn't a loud break, more like a quiet, final click. He realized it then, with a cold, hard clarity. No one was coming to save him. No teachers, no police, no parents he never had. No one cared. If he wanted this to stop, he would have to be the one to stop it. He was the only one who could.His face remained blank, but his mind was suddenly very clear. He reached down slowly, his hand going into his worn-out school bag. The laughter died down a little as a few students noticed his deliberate movement, a strange stillness about him. He pulled out a gun.The classroom went silent. Utterly, completely silent. Mark's smirk vanished, replaced by wide, terrified eyes. Even Ms. Joy stopped laughing, her face paling. “What… Nox, what are you doing?” she stammered, her voice suddenly shaky. He didn't answer. He looked around at their faces, one by one. Fear. He saw fear now. Good. He was ready. He was going to make them all pay. He was going to end it, all of it.Just as he was about to raise the gun properly, a bright blue screen appeared right in front of his face. It was translucent, and only he seemed to see it. [Congratulations! You have met the requirements!] [1st Player Chosen!] [You have won the System!]

Alvin had planned his future: after leaving the city of Serinthia and obtaining his graduation certificate in technology, he would return to his hometown, stay close to the only girl in his life, and kill a few people from time to time for fun and entertainment.But fate had other plans. On an ordinary day in the Royce Empire—one of the three great empires that ruled this world—the sky split open and a barrage of meteors descended. From that moment, the world changed, and the lands of the empire turned into a battlefield, as monsters appeared and people became hunters.Now, Alvin found himself forced to abandon his former dreams and return to his city before the companion of his life dies.

He is an undead who is devoid of all humanity, he is the one and only supreme overlord, he is a man who has severe mysophobia.

Leng Pan never expected her late-night rant after reading a book about the apocalypse to change her life forever.Frustrated by the sheer stupidity of the second female lead in the novel; Apocalypse Rebirth', she criticized her tragic death, and the character’s blind loyalty to the female lead. But when Leng Pan wakes up, she finds herself inside the very novel; as the second female lead!She realizes she had transmigrated into the novel on the day she’s meant to hand over the jade bangle with a space to the so-called “best friend” who would betray her. With only seven days left before the world falls into chaos, Leng Pan refuses to follow the script. Instead of giving up her greatest advantage, she uses it to stockpile supplies, distances herself from the scheming reborn heroine, and most importantly; fights for the love of the male lead who once died trying to save her.Armed with foreknowledge, Leng Pan will change her fate. No more being used as a stepping stone. No more tragic endings.This time, she will survive. And she will thrive, even in the apocalypse.But what happens when the butterfly effect of her transmigration changes the script? Will her plans fail to keep up with the changes or will she rise above the author’s imagination and write her own story with the man who would kill and die for her?