MTL - Steel Shell System - Chapter 39 Pick up a cat and use it as a pet

“H-Haru.... please... go...”In the midst of the sudden and ongoing Apocalypse, which had turned their lives into a complete hell, Haru embraced his loved one amidst the sadness and despair, watching helplessly as her bitten neck turned black.The person who meant the world to him was turning into a zombie, and he felt helpless to save her.“Why... Why... Why...” Tears fell as he held her tight, not wanting to let go. He was afraid, not of death or turning into something else, but afraid of losing her once more.Yet, amongst tears and desperation, a bit of unexpected hope appeared out for Haru.[Ting! Ting! Ting!][System has now finally initialized!!][Assigning a designated Class suited for the User!!][3][2][1][Congratulations! You acquired the EX Class – Zombie’s Husbando!!][First Quest – Choose a Zombie to be your Waifu!]

DEATH COULDN’T KILL HIM—IT JUST GAVE HIM A NEW LIFE TO DESTROY.Reo Carter was a name that made even the hardest killers shudder. A perfect hitman—no hesitation, no mercy. Until his own crew turned on him, leaving him bleeding out in a pile of bodies that used to be his enemies.But fate wasn’t done with him.He wakes up in a world of nobility, magic, and honor duels—trapped in the body of Leonhardt Caulem, the weakest, most useless son of Duke Caulem. A spoiled brat with no skill, no spine, and a reputation so pathetic that even servants look down on him.They think he’s weak? They have no idea who they just brought back.- Swords and magic? He spent his last life dodging bullets—this is child’s play.- Dueling etiquette? A knife in the ribs is the only honor that matters.- A noble’s life of luxury? He’s had enough backstabbing for one lifetime, thanks.He was once a ghost in the underworld—a man who didn’t exist. Now, in a world where strength is everything, he’s about to remind them what true fear looks like.The hitman is back. And this time, he’s aiming for something more.#NobleByDayKillerByNature #TheyBroughtBackTheWrongMan #FromHitmanToDuke #SayYourLastWords

I am currently re-writing the first chapters of this story. They are quite rough and bounce around a lot and I can do better. At some point, I will replace these with the better chapters.Sometime in 2024 Aethon Books will publish the first volume of this story on Amazon, KU, and audible. This will mean the story will be stubbed. I will notify people far in advance of that.In the dystopian world of the future, life is rough when you live at the bottom. Jobs are non-existent. Far too many people live in poverty, crammed into huge buildings called Habitats. With no jobs in the real world, many people can only find work online in VR worlds as servants to the very rich. And it's getting worse. The old internet is unusable and hacked to pieces. The new system needs AI to run things, but all but one of them were destroyed. The last sentient AI is ordered to create a new game world so the rich can have a playground, and the corporations that rule the world can have a new global market place. Everyone wants a piece of the new game. The guilds are competing to be the first to find the dungeons and kill the biggest monster. The corporations are claiming land and putting in their online market places. Ozzy and his friends just want a paycheck.Four friends sign five year contracts as virtual serfs in a small village, and can't go adventuring at all to gain money. They don't have many choices. They can work as a blacksmith, barmaid and shepherd for all those years....or they can cheat and find ways to take advantage of the system and carve out a section of the game world for themselves, and earn a fortune in the real world.When they give you a mop and not a sword, you have to find the loopholes and change the rules.

Being a bottom feeder in society is an unpleasant experience.That's how Kiro felt after being left for dead in a back alley. Abandoned and disappointed by the 'work hard' ethic his parents left for him.'At least the heavens are weeping for me.' As the light from his eyes faded, he declared as the last act of defiance.He awoke in a room he hadn't seen in ten years. Whether it was due to sheer luck or divine intervention, he was grateful.'Through the VR game, Asgard, I'll become filthy rich in this life time.'Kiro was blissfully unaware that his return was a cry for something greater, for the underlying threats that hovered over his world.