Because I simply love you - Chapter 6: He was just a little annoying

After years of intense development and a thrilling beta phase, Ashen World Online has finally opened its doors to the public—instantly capturing global attention.At the center of the excitement is Blake, once the proud and formidable leader of the Cerberus guild—until his relentless ambition led to a crushing defeat in the beta’s grand finale. Now, as the official release dawns, he returns with two legendary powers: Spiritual Blacksmith and Limitless Enchanter. Bestowed with the power to forge entire armies, fortresses, and legendary gear, Blake can forge far more than just his own fate.But the question remains: has he truly changed, or will the lure of ultimate creation pull him back into the same ruthless path?

Sakimori Kagami plays a VRMMORPG called Arch Earth Online. He is a veteran player with the name and appearance similar to an elderly bearded wizard from a certain book about a ring.

One day he purchases an appearance change item as a last resort to spend expiring currency and gets the idea of choosing what he would want to look like if his character was ever a girl.

Falling asleep should have suspended the game, but Kagami wakes up still online and feels the game has has gotten a bit more realistic. Did Arch Earth Online finally get a long-awaited update?

Hunters getting sponsored by their Sponsors, and amongst them, the most dazzling 12 heroes of them all. They claim themselves to be Gods and started Eden.

Eden ruled the world.

That was the era that Lee Jun-Kyeong had been living in. Hunters rule the world that normal citizens are living in, like domesticated animals.

However, Lee Jun-Kyeong had a special book in his possession. It was about the life story of a forgotten yet true hero, the Demon King.

One day, one of the 12 heroes, Athena, came looking for him.

‘It’s the past? Over a hundred years ago? When Hunters first started appearing?’

However, he fell back into the past. The Demon King’s sponsor, The Sky of the Apocalypse, had sponsored him instead.

Although he walked a similar path as what the Demon King took…

‘It wouldn’t be the same as the Demon King’s.’

I dreamt of a much better future than the Demon King; using the very same power that the Demon King had, I would become a Player above all hunters.

‘From today, I’m a Player.’

……………………………………………………………

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Set in the Shadow Slave world...a time before Sunny was born...this story follows a simple soldier who must survive in a dystopian, apocalyptic landscape where magic and gun warfare collide.In a far-off Quadrant known as North America, a young soldier named Hope is 16 years old when he gets infected by the Nightmare Spell. He passed! But...he feels a bit scammed...?A flaw that makes him fade from people's memories...A cursed attribute that makes him remember everything endlessly in eternal wakefulness...It's as if the Spell is twisting his future and existence into an almost improbable one.All he has ever known his purpose to be was to serve as a simple soldier. Not too powerful. But not so weak either. And maybe, just maybe like some others, become an Awakened. Although he never dreamt of being one.Now that his whole life is compromised after his First Nightmare, his first objective is to survive on his own. But as he tries to escape his fate, his actions seem to lead him further from his goal.He struggles against obstacles that slowly grow bigger and out of proportion.Maybe the Dream Realm and the Real World aren't so different than one may think.Hope's journey involves uncovering secrets and gaining knowledge about his true nature and his new role in the world.Is he fit to be a hero?Could he redefine it?***Please read the READER DISCLAIMER in Volume 0.This is my spin-off novel of “Shadow Slave” by Guiltythree.But please don't expect the same writing style, setting, and characters, especially the main character.This story reveals more about how people/cities/governments operate after the Spell’s arrival. I always find it interesting how maybe one country handles it fairly, but how others handle it with desperation to the point that you question humanity.There will be easter eggs pointing to the original novel either intentional for the plot or unrelated to it, but all for fun.I am a new author so props to all who bear with me and helps me improve my writing. If it is not for you, please don't leave outright hate comments. Eat wassabi instead if you want pain. Critique and advice would be great too.