Monster Paradise - Chapter 45: Monster Outbreak!

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?

“I’ll clear your mother’s debt entirely. In return, you’ll marry me.”“Are you out of your mind? Do you really think I’d agree to such an absurd proposal?”“Possibly. But it’s a mutually beneficial arrangement. You keep your shop, and I get what I need.”“And what exactly is it that you need?”“That’s none of your concern. All you need to know is that this deal benefits both of us.”Two years ago, Lunara entered a marriage she never wanted. Desperate to save her mother’s flower shop, she was cornered by Eryx, a man with a hidden agenda. With no other choice, she agreed, and found herself bound to him in a transaction of convenience—he needed something from her, and she needed him to prevent her world from falling apart.But after the papers were signed, he disappeared without a word, leaving her with nothing but unanswered questions and lingering bitterness.Now, fate has thrown them together once more but with a cruel twist, Eryx doesn’t remember her at all.Lunara believes she’s long since moved on. But when she sees him again, a stranger who has no recollection of their past, old wounds resurface. What was the truth behind their marriage? And why, despite the resentment, does her heart still stir when he’s near?

Over ten years ago, a Bitcoin was priced at $0.008. Today, it is priced at nearly $100,000!It is a fantasy we've all played in our heads. What if we could go back with all the knowledge we have now and invest in some Bitcoins, perhaps in many Bitcoins?Well this is your chance to live that fantasy through Darren Steele, our MC who suffers a soul shattering betrayal in the hands of his girlfriend and her millionaire father.After a sudden death, he regresses ten years to the past with all his knowledge retained and with the Investor System to guide him.[Ding!][Weekly Quest: Make your first investment!]What! Darren can invest in Bitcoin?!Huh?! The price of one Bitcoin is only $0.08!Since he knows when Bitcoin is going to rise and when it will crash, does that mean he can avoid loss and only make PROFITS?!Indeed! With the Investor System, Darren Steele is going to build his way up the business world as a young investor. Bitcoin will make him a billionaire and he will defeat all his rivals and take down the companies of everyone who once treated him like trash!

You have all read about Self Inserts and their adventures. Some are good, some are bad. All of them are entertaining. What would happen if the person involved had a choice about who they could become? What would they do? Be good? Be Bad? Have more fun than anyone ever deserves?Join me as we explore a brand new Gamer-like existence with The Protagonist System!(all characters and likenesses are copyright their respective owners)Warning: I will not apologize that this story is completely wish fulfillment. It's a story and I'm going to have fun with it.