Runaway Guide - Chapter 22

Ethan is a man nearing forty who has squandered his life behind a screen. Since his teenage years, he has poured everything into online games, chasing digital achievements while real life quietly passed him by. Now, with reality finally weighing on him, he realizes how empty his existence has become.Despite decades of obsession, he has only one thing to show for it: the #1 account in the world’s most popular MMORPG, Lost World Online—a fully immersive virtual game operated through neural-link technology. It is an account powerful enough to guarantee fame, sponsorships, and a second chance at life.But overnight… it vanishes.No warnings… No errors… His account simply ceases to exist.Ethan spends the entire night frantically searching for answers, contacting the developers through official forums, only to be told that nothing can be done. Without the account, even streaming or professional contracts are impossible. Exhausted and hollow, he finally gives up and falls asleep, deciding to forget his regret, half hoping everything would be a dream when he wakes up.When Ethan opens his eyes, he finds himself standing before the character creation screen of Lost World Online.It feels like a dream, yet his mind is clear, his body well responsive, not even like a game. Paying little attention, he goes ahead and creates a character and initiates the game.Then, his vision is swallowed by darkness.A violent rush of wind slams into him, and when his senses return, he is standing inside a bustling town from the game. Before he can question the missing opening cutscene—something that should always play after character creation—his attention is seized by the scene around him.The town was celebrating an Annual Festival. This was a festival that only ever occurred once, a festival that marked the first day Lost World Online was launched.Realizing the impossible, Ethan hurriedly calls up his system interface—only to find that there is no options menu, no settings, no log-out button…“This cannot be real.”

Lu Ren is being chased by a fleshy ball made of his three friends when the Proficiency Panel appears in his mind. Thanks to it, he could gain Attribute Points by doing anything--even breathing.“Ding, you just changed direction while running, your Agility proficiency +1.”“You were just frightened, passively improving your Spiritual proficiency +1.”“‘Ding, you seem to have a vague understanding of breathing due to years of constant practice.'”

She is one the most famous thieves of the twenty-first century and the legendary racing queen who is unrivalled in the underworld.

She is a carefree girl who comes and goes as she pleases like the wind.

He is a powerful underworld boss, known to be cruel and merciless.

***

He didn’t think that someone would dare to provoke him by touching what belonged to him. Since they had shown him enmity, then he would return it in her stead.

Passion. Love. Hate. Pain.

It was all impossible to unravel.

- Description from Novelupdates

When the man in front of her tried to touch her hand, she instinctively took a step back from him—as she didn’t want him to get hurt. “Please don’t touch me for your sake,” she said to him. The man smiled a little and replied,” Don’t worry about me, Celestia! Nothing will happen to me.”She was startled as he had called her by her actual name. She had kept her identity a secret—as no one is supposed to know who she really is. “How do you know my…. real name?” she asked him nervously. “I know everything about you, Celestia,” he said and moved near her. “I know you better than you know yourself—”Her heart throbbed when his hand got near her skin. She thought that he would be thrown away from her and get severely injured—just like all the other men did.But surprisingly, nothing happened to him when his sturdy hand clasped her pearly white fingers. With his other hand, he held her chin and fixed his alluring gaze on her. “How... How are you even able to touch me?” Celestia asked him. “Because you are mine—” he answered in a deep tone. “Others weren’t able to touch you—as you only belong to me—”She winced slightly when he suddenly grabbed her tiny waist and pulled her closer to him. Then he leaned down and kissed her pale cheek. “Only I get to touch and kiss and make love to you! Because you are forever destined to live with me,” he whispered in her ear and made her shudder. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~He is feared by everyone else in her kingdom. His powers are infinite, and he can do things beyond other’s imagination. Even though everyone considers him dangerous, Celestia sees a different version of him. He is ruthless and cold to others—but whenever he sees her, he surrenders himself to her.Despite the warnings of others, she finds herself slowly falling for him. Even after she becomes his lover, she is unable to predict his true nature.What are his true motives? And what circumstances are forcing him to join hands with the dark side?And why does he desire Celestia so much that he is willing to kill any man who even thinks of touching her?!