The Path of Ruin - Chapter 19: King’s Blessing

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.

Henry Morris, the 8th-Circle Mage, stood on the execution platform.

When the emperor, his friend, had passed, his son had became a puppet of the nobles. Soon after, a purge had ensued, led by the forces opposing Henry.

Even in the face of death, all Henry could think was that he hated the new emperor and the nobles.

Just as he thought it was all over, Henry suddenly found himself in a new body—one with the potential to become a swordsman. An 8th-Circle Mage, reborn as a swordsman.

With both powers now at his disposal, Henry’s revenge was only a matter of time.

……………………………………………………………

Dear readers! Without any ads, maybe you will prefer .

[Time Travel + Pocket Dimension + Strong Female Lead + Happy Ending + Both Pure]Jiang Ning thought that someone like her, with hands stained by blood, was destined for hell after death.Unexpectedly, upon her demise, her soul traversed to another world, where she encountered a kind-hearted and handsome scholar who brought her home.This scholar was perfect in every way: he could write, paint, style hair, sew clothes, and even tell her after she had killed someone, “Jiang Ning, this isn’t who you’re meant to be.”……Liu Ming’an thought that someone like him, all alone in the world, accustomed to solitude, would remain lonely for life.Unexpectedly, a chance glance in a crowd stirred his compassion, leading him to bring home a battered young woman.This young woman was perfect in every way: she could cook, earn money, catch thieves, fight, and even solemnly promise him, “Liu Ming’an, I will protect you!”……Gentleness collides with indifference, darkness encounters warm sunlight.“You are my redemption!”“You are my good fortune!”

In this world, only if you are strong, can you protect the people you love.