Merchant Crab - Chapter 104: Fanning Out

When the entire world learned of the future.Some worshipped me like a deity, while others regarded me as a demon!Some tried to persuade me to switch allegiances, while others prayed for me to trek the invincible path once more.Daoist magic, martial arts, prodigies, goddesses, demonesses, immortal emperors... they were merely supporting characters on the stage.And I still remained the center of the world!

Silas Blackwood wakes up with a machine in his chest – his missing mother's parting gift to help him survive the war with the Fae. This “system” grants him bizarre abilities: neuromancy (magic of the mind), biomancy (magic of the body), and essomancy (magic of souls and essences). Oh, and it fused a leviathan's mana core into his body. Because why not become part sea monster?At Arcanium University, a military boot camp churning out mage knights, Silas finds himself targeted by rich brats who think being born with a silver wand up their ass makes them special. When they leave him for dead, Silas decides it's time to show these spoiled kids what real power looks like.As Silas grows stronger, he discovers he can upgrade himself by absorbing essences from magical beasts and demons. Just when he thinks he's got a handle on things, Silas learns his mother's alive, and now he's got a new mission: a rescue that'll take him and his friends straight into the depths of Hell.

After being killed by a high-velocity tree-hug, Arlo is transported to a new world of skills, stats, and levels where those brave and talented enough to conquer ancient Delves are rewarded with incredible supernatural power. Unfortunately for Arlo, there is no tutorial, and he is immediately forced to tackle a Delve set to the highest difficulty with a party of adventurers who are not only strangers to him, but strangers to each other as well. Arlo has no armor, no weapons, no knowledge of the world at large, and his party is growing increasingly suspicious of his lack of preparation and paper-thin excuses for how he got there.There's also the fact that the System seems to be treating Arlo's situation like a big, cosmic joke.Determined not to die again, Arlo forgoes putting any points into his highest stat, Intelligence, and instead dumps everything he's got into Fortitude. After all, who needs equipment or fighting skills when you can eat fireballs for breakfast and still ask for more hot sauce?Mage Tank is a comedic LitRPG adventure set in an epic fantasy world that is rapidly evolving as new and powerful secrets of the Delves are uncovered. There are strong horror themes, graphic violence, overindulgent use of naughty language, and poorly constructed jokes. Mage Tank features slow progression and intelligent characters who spend time making intentional build choices. It’s not action all-the-time, but Arlo’s life is replete with danger and, more importantly, consequences.Cover art generated with MidJourney and Canva.Maps and world-building support by Sir Raiu Koren.

Due to unfortunate circumstances, “Ari” Ariel Matisse lived in the slums of Los Angeles, also known as Skid Row.One night, on his way home, he was killed while witnessing an old man getting beaten.When he woke up, he had been thrown into a dumpster, and a strange screen flashed across his eyes, and no matter how he looked at it, it reminded him of a status window in a game.[System Integration Complete!][Become a Global Music Superstar!]For some reason, he gained a system that wanted him to join a survival show and become a globally famous idol.If he refused to complete his given tasks, he would die.But if he succeeded, he would have the money and power to change his life as well as get revenge against the person who killed him.P.s. this story is kind of a love letter to LA and the amazing blend of cultures (American, Asian, Hispanic, African, etc) that can be found there. I hope you all fall in love with the area as much as I love it.