Grind to Greatness: The Barista System - Chapter 25 - 24 – Scratches That Matter

In a world where black holes, magical talents, and formidable hunters form the fabric of everyday life, Ethan Cross—a freshly graduated student with an uncertain future—once believed he would lead an ordinary existence like everyone else. However, everything changed when he awakened a seemingly feeble and inexplicable ability known as “Coexistence with Darkness.” No one took his talent seriously—until a catastrophic dimensional rupture unleashed terrifying creatures known as the “Demons of Corruption” upon him.On the brink of death, the pendant he had inherited from his father suddenly activated, summoning three dragon girls—beings of unimaginable power, yet with complex and rebellious personalities. Cursed in the past and trapped within that pendant, these three dragons have now become inexplicably bonded to Ethan. The twist, however, is that they neither recognize him as their master nor believe he is worthy of such a union.Now, Ethan must unravel the mystery of the darkness within him, learn to control his burgeoning powers, and find a way to tame these proud dragonesses—forces that could either aid him in his quest to conquer the underworld or lead to his ultimate downfall.A power that no one had believed in has become the key to mastering the shadows. Can Ethan harness it without being consumed by the darkness?

In the year 2090, technology has advanced to the point where Simulation Boxes, (Sim Box for short) are common place, allowing for the user to link up their brain's neural network to a full dive Simulation. While initially used for educational purposes, recently a large gaming company, Averon, released a fully fledged immersive MMORPG simulation where users can become anyone they desire, level up, choose their class, and become a hero or a villain. The name of this simulation is The Shattered World Online.

Eli Winters had no interest in playing it. His father, a jobless bum who spent his entire life playing games in the hope of becoming a famous player or streamer, was able to use the release of The Shattered World Online to gain wealth and fame, quickly becoming the number one player and a household name as the game took the world by storm. He immediately abandoned Eli and his mother in favor of being with someone from his guild, despite his mother having worked two jobs to support them and raise Eli by herself. Eli had nothing but spite for his father and the game.

When Eli's best friend convinces him to try out the game, his father's fame begins to interfere, culminating in him being singled out and shunned by his peers, and his father offering to pay for his university tuition in return for Eli hiding their relationship and quitting the game. Instead of complying with his father's wishes, Eli decides to prove to everyone how useless a guy his father is by challenging him that if Eli is able to surpass him in the game world he must delete his account and quit his streaming career. His father accepts the challenge believing his son to be useless at games - but Eli will soon show him just how ambitious a spiteful person can be.

After a tragic accident, an ordinary young man awakens in a new world teeming with floating islands, supernatural abilities, and mysterious dangers. Reincarnated in a body he doesn’t recognize and granted a cryptic “system” that refuses to explain itself, he’s thrust into Vanguard Academy—a high school where only the most powerful and determined survive.With no clue why he’s been chosen or what the system wants from him, he must navigate a cutthroat world of rivalries, alliances, and mind-bending challenges. Armed with courage, wit, and untapped potential, he embarks on a journey to uncover the truth behind his reincarnation and the forces pulling the strings in this enigmatic universe.Can he rise above the chaos, or will he fall like countless others before him?Perfect for fans of Solo Leveling and The Beginning After The End, this story blends reincarnation, epic battles, and intricate worldbuilding into a gripping tale of survival and self-discovery.

Hyde arrives in a doomed world with nothing but his body and fragmented knowledge of the future from a game he once played. He has no grand ambition—why try to save a world already destined to fall? Survival is enough.That is, until he discovers his sister is also transported into that world.However, only he hears the Melody of Nightingale and receives the power to survive.[You have established a connection with The Forgotten Hollow.]Awakening as a Resonant—an elite group with supernatural abilities—he is thrust into a conflict between two worlds. Armed with the authority of space and time, he vows to protect his powerless sister at all cost, even if he has to fight against the Mirage creatures, other Resonants, or even Gods themselves.