A Record of Ash & Ruin: The Grieving Lands - Chapter 26Book 1: : The Darkest Hours

In the era of global evolution, humans and monsters coexist, and evolution is the only theme!

Chu Zhou traveled to this world. At the age of 17, he awakened the attribute panel!

Breathing method, combat skills, talents, you can upgrade with points!

Basic breathing method, upgrade 10,000 layers, and become black hole breathing method!

D-level combat skills, upgrade 10,000 layers, and become SSS-level magic skills!

Ordinary talents, upgrade 10,000 layers, and become true god talents!

…

Several years later, Chu Zhou stood on the top of the cosmic pyramid, facing many cosmic overlords, cosmic true gods, and cosmic sages, and summed up his life: Everything I have today is due to my hard work…Deep blue, add points!

- Description from novelbuddy

This story takes place in Modern China. However, no matter how much things change, in the depths of society, a secret world of syndicates and hidden factions exist.

Yang Chen, a graduate from Harvard who is fluent in English, French, Italian, and German to list a few. He is also capable of fighting and a number of practical skills. Yet he chose to go on the streets to sell fried mutton skewers for a living.

Lin Ruoxi is the CEO of a multibillion-dollar company—Yu Lei International. This company is one of the leaders in the cosmetic and fashion industry. Despite being only 20 years old, her ice-cold demeanor and beauty are well-known and unrivaled in Zhonghai City.

Due to a wild night consisting of a lot of liquor, fate has brought them together to become husband and wife.

And with that, the story begins!

- Description from novelupdates

Octavius, misled by friends, embarks on a quest to clear his father's name, ultimately facing a tragic end with his sister.Their journey results in devastating loss, leaving him powerless and yearning for revenge against those who harmed his family. Spirits offer him a chance to reincarnate, but he refuses, saying;“What’s the point of a new life if I keep running from my problems”The entities are taken aback by his unwavering decision, having never encountered a spirit who refuses to escape their troubled past. They warn him about the evil being that now resides in his old body, but that only motivates him. He believed In the saying - to defeat a monster, you have to be twice as monstrous.Embracing his fate as The Phantom's Gambit, they traverse the shadowy path of retribution, their identities blur, secrets unravel, and the line between savior and monster fades.This is a tale of darkness and redemption, where justice is a blade, and revenge is the only way forward.