Don't be So Proud - Chapter 11.4 — A Sweet Burden (4)

Lumberling, a 42-year-old civil engineer, grew numb to the monotonous rhythm of modern life. Hoping to rekindle his sense of wonder, he set out on a solitary nature trip, only to stumble upon an ancient, forgotten pyramid. A strange red light burst forth, killing him instantly… and binding itself to his soul.Cast adrift in the void, his soul found no rest, until he awoke in the body of a young foot soldier, bleeding and broken on a war-torn battlefield in a world not his own.Determined not to die again, Lumberling fights to survive in this brutal new realm where knights clash with monsters, kingdoms rise and fall, and mysterious powers shape the fate of nations.Armed with a strange ability to devour the essence of those he slays, he begins to carve out a new path, one forged by blood, strength, and sheer will.But power alone may not be enough. In a world where danger lurks in every shadow, and ancient forces stir in the dark, can a lost soul rise above fate… or will he be consumed by the very essence he seeks to control?

[Reformatting World Settings...][Real-World Currency Disabled.][Physical Laws Adjusting to Game Protocols.][Initiating Player Culling Sequence...][All Players Age 60 and Above Will Now Be Eliminated.]A blue screen appeared before every person in the world, displaying those chilling words.At first, many believed it was some kind of elaborate hologram prank—until every person aged 60 and above disintegrated into glowing particles.But that was only the beginning.The world had changed. Humanity had been turned into “players” in a twisted system where survival meant leveling up through killing others or completing brutal quests. Fail to level up in time—and you're dead.Shinra Takamura, a 20-year-old survivor in this new Filthy World, receives a rare skill Lewd Reap: the ability to steal another player’s ability through intimacy.But can he survive the chaos, the betrayals, and the moral decay with such a controversial power? Or will the world break him before he ever learns how to use it?Read on to find out.This book is a smut novel with a solid plotline, set in a world of survival and extremely gory scenes. The main character is no goody two-shoes—he’ll do whatever it takes to survive. He’s not evil, though; he doesn’t kill without reason. The story begins with his transformation, showing how a once-good kid was shaped by a brutal world into the person he is now. Hope you find it interesting (:->

Three years ago Conquest was released, redefining virtual reality and gaming.

Life from birth has been nothing but hell. I lost my parents to some stupid aristocrats whom they offended. Executed for no good reason.

My relatives abandoned me and pushed me aside. They feared for their lives and left me and my sister to starve and wander the streets alone!

No, this is worse than hell!

I watched my sister die of starvation. Her lips were dry and her feet bloody. Her nails were broken and her fingers riddled with cuts. She struggled in my hands and after a few seconds of struggle she passed away. She seemed joyful in death so I prayed mine will come just as swift and merciful as hers.

So I stayed in the alleyway, alone with her rotten corpse awaiting my fate for God knows how long. I could see it already. The darkness encroaching from all sides

Everyone said death is scary but I say it’s the end! Who needs life after death? What is the need for reincarnation?

Who would want to return to this crazy world?

“It’s not yet time for you to go… You have one more task to accomplish as my host” A voice called out to me.

I could barely see or speak but how can I miss such a beautiful face? It was an extremely handsome man who gazed at me with tender eyes.

.....

“Haven’t I suffered enough? Can’t I just rest?” I cried out. Why would I want to stay back in such a cruel world?

“Don’t you want to avenge the death of your parents? Don’t you want to become something greater? I can make that happen!” The beautiful man said with an alluring voice.

“You… Who are you?” I asked with an anxious heart.

My parents always said God is the only one who cares about me! Maybe in my final hours, he has come to save me.

“Call me Death…”