To ascend, I had no choice but to create games - Chapter 22 - You’re the Test Subject Now_1

In 2173, the world’s first Full-World Virtual MMORPG game ‘Astral Online’ went on sale globally, forever changing the blue planet Asteria!

With its revolutionary Digital Capture System, astonishing graphics and ability to scan yourself into the game with up to 20% beautification, countless defenders rallied to play the game.

Fifty million players logged in on launch. There were no queues or lag on launch, leaving countless critics impressed and willing to try the game. Because the game used a 6-hour play limit a day, it allowed even working adults to keep up with young students and the unemployed.

A resounding success, as more people poured onto the game servers, families and friends alike. Astra Online became a household name overnight.

One month later, the game opened its first RMT system, which made earning a living from the game easier... Thus began the Astral rush!

Professional players formed guilds and factions to increase their profits, but nobody could know this prosperity was a mere joke.

One year later, players fused with their avatars, gaining powerful abilities in the real world, which tipped the power and caused chaos.

Two years later, demons and monsters from inside the game invaded the real world.

Three years later, over 90% of humanity perished, leaving the rest to hide like rats, unable to fight back in fear.

Four years later, this world is no longer ours. The demons march on our last bastions, one by one. They exterminated us.

Zell was an average player who liked to collect beasts in the game and evolve them into humanoids, as they were primarily females.

He spent most of his life working two jobs to make ends meet.

Thanks to the excellent healthcare of his country, there were no crippling debts. There was only emptiness.

When the end came, he was powerless and alone. His only companions were his cute pets and Rika, his cherished Flame Rabbit.

She was the only beast he evolved to a humanoid form after his late start to the game.

He died saving the life of a strange girl with white wings and his pet Rika, the sad eyes of Rika and the girl’s sorrow floating through the air as he slowly passed away.

However, instead of dying, he awoke inside an empty white room with a single computer and a strange, game-like screen that allowed him to edit his IRL avatar and persona.

Who offered him this second chance?

For what reason did they help him?

Can he meet Rika again?

Zell could never know; he only knew his second life’s goal.

Survive!

A number of university students are given a simple survey in which they must watch a number of short films and rank them in order of preference. The reader takes the survey along with them with the short films being told as short stories.

# CRYBABY

A stranger! Lu An’an married a stranger! She heard that the man was extremely ugly and was a sex masochist despite his old age, but she could not reject him for the sake of her family.

On their wedding night, she thought about how she would leave her parents and brother completely in the future and spend the rest of her life living with the rumored sexual abuse…

The more Lu An’an thought about it, the more worried she became and the more terrified she became.

Her tears started gushing out even more violently. At this moment, a coarse and warm hand gently lifted her face.

“So beautiful, how did you know I like to see others cry?”

Oh, my god! He— he was truly a pervert! Lu An’an shivered.

Although he looked very young and good-looking, with deep-set eyes and thick eyelashes, and he had a smile like a sun, she would never tolerate such a terrifying hobby, much less cooperate with it!

“It’s just a business marriage between us. I hope we can… respect each other after we get married,” said Lu An’an after mustering up all her courage. Her tears turned the handsome man’s features blurry. However, Yan Yunge merely chuckled and kissed her tears away.

“Don’t worry, you’ll like it.”

Looking at the huge object that was as thick as a forearm staring straight at her with its head held high and chest puffed out, Lu An’an could not help but shake her head. Yan Yunge whipped out his pocket-sized pistol and looked at her with a cheeky smile.

“One of these guns is going to enter your body. Choose it yourself.” She—she did not want to choose any of them. She wanted a divorce! Yan Yunge’s breathing became heavier.

“Then, can I choose for you? Why don’t we put both of them in?”

Ye Xuan came from a normal but extremely wealthy family. Yet, one day, when he woke up, he realized that he had been transmigrated to a fantasy world.

He was prepared to train and embark on an adventure, but he quickly learned that he had actually become the young master of Thousand Realms, the biggest trade company.

His father even let him inherit more than trillions of spirit stones.

“Are you serious? I’m sick of being rich!” Ye Xuan complained.

Fortunately, he had awakened a system that would make him stronger by spending money.

With that, he used the Grade 9 Celestial Pill to feed his dogs.

He used the famous painting that contained the will of the Supreme Sword to start a fire.

He used the Five-elements Divine Talisman to clean his ass.

And yet, he still had much more to spend. He then decided to join a clan that no one had even heard of.

He spent thousands just to see the saintess of the clan smile.

He built a pill alchemy workshop and gave out high-grade celestial herbs for free, and yet, one of the disciples who had never made a single pill was actually talented and was able to create the high-grade celestial pills.

When he started a dueling competition, he bet a lot of his money on the weakest contestant.

However, that contestant had actually awoken the Ancient Holy Body during the fight and was able to fight 100 men on his own.

“You sure are my son. You are as talented as me when it comes to managing a business!” his father complimented.

“This man is so cool when he spends his money!” exclaimed the saintess.