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Chapter 84 - Chaos of Everafter
Chapter 84
Chaos of Everafter
Ethan was in a daze.
He hardly heard the remainder of the ‘trial’--the time unfroze, and the punishments were meted out, and the notification windows sprung forth with rewards, and even the exit to the Tunnel appeared… and he was still in a daze, his mind reeling.
Stepping out of the Tunnel, he caught the King’s gaze one last time–in it, he saw a shred of pity, encouragement, and hope. The man smiled ever so bri...
2023-10-20 19:18:04 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 83 - Endless Questions
Chapter 83
Endless Questions
Ethan’s declaration silenced the throne room.
Even the King appeared slightly shocked at how boldly he declared that all three should be punished. Of the trio, the merchant was the only one to look up at him, while the other two remained with their heads bowed. However, Ethan's gaze was focused on all the people besides the King on the platform as well as a couple of figures nearest to the throne. While he was unable to precis...
2023-10-18 21:07:15 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 82 - In Tiny Letters It Spoke
Chapter 82
In Tiny Letters It Spoke
Seconds passed in silent deliberation.
The gears of Ethan’s mind were churning at an accelerated rate. They didn’t have a lot of time to come up with a ‘solution’ that would yield the best results. In fact, Ethan was beginning to suspect that there really wasn’t a solution for the ‘best results’, but more so one with the ‘least bad’ ones.
The three stories were somewhat vague, though with just enou...
2023-10-16 21:36:36 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 81 - Judgement
Chapter 81
Judgement
[May your Judgement be right!]
The first notification window alarmed Ethan who was forced to use Mana to calm himself down. Battling? That, he was comfortable with. Even fighting monsters nearly twice his Level would be doable. But passing judgment where his choices will either make or break the story? Especially within a scenario that he knew nothing about? The thought petrified him–yet, he had to proceed onward.
[...
2023-10-15 15:44:06 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 80 - Within Time
Chapter 80
Within Time
The root of everything.
She stared at the behemoth spanning eight miles, perfectly circular, its surface smooth and pristine. It seemed metallic, impervious to any and all external effects. Within the rivers of suffering that the world was undergoing, they had forgotten it. The very thing that started it all–the orb that defied reason. Though there were over eighty vessels of nations surrounding it in a permanent occupation, nobody ...
2023-10-13 21:43:16 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 79 - Spinning World
Chapter 79
Spinning World
The journey through the portal was staggeringly uncomfortable–unlike the entrances and exits to the Tunnel, Delilah's skill with stabilising the portals was still lacking. Everyone, even Ethan, tumbled out disoriented, falling to the floor and vomiting. Not only did the journey take some two to three minutes of stumbling through the abyss, unlike the Tunnel portals which were all but instant, but the world was shaking the entire way th...
2023-10-12 20:51:44 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 78 - Means of Blood
Chapter 78
Means of Blood
[Wildtree Seed]
Rarity: Unique
Level: 1
Note: From a Seed sprouted a Tree, and from a Tree a Fruit; Borne Noble in the visage of light, from a Fruit Seeds sowed the Youth.
The seed was nut-shaped, its size matching half a palm, and was harder than a rock while weighing less than a feather. Ethan inspected it rather closely as they walked over to Delilah, but couldn’t discern m...
2023-10-11 21:48:28 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 77 - When Life Burns
Chapter 77
When Life Burns
It came like a storm.
Branches of the tree sprung out in droves, belting out like tentacles. Dozens of them came flying towards Ethan, while dozens went for the other kids. Ronald quickly covered up for Elijah while Mingzhu managed to make herself just invisible enough that the branches skirted sideways and flanked Ethan. The latter danced–his feet moved back and forth as he swung the sword in a repeatedly circular fashion. It w...
2023-10-10 19:12:50 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 76 - Wonders of Life
Chapter 76
Wonders of Life
Ethan mulled inwardly while the young woman stared at him as though he was mad. The memories were distant and somewhat foggy, but he could still recall that day well enough.
It was about fifteen years post-Descent, and the world had all but collapsed. There were no true countries or borders left, just groups surviving the hellscape the best they could. Ethan, however, didn’t belong to any one such group. He was a vagrant, moving...
2023-10-08 20:29:54 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 75 - Once Upon a Time
Chapter 75
Once Upon a Time
“Ah, fucking fuck, pieces of shit. I hope you choke while guzzling down buckets of cum, you goddamn fucking shits,” Mingzhu cursed ardently as she found herself adrift inside a fog-infested forest with the visibility so low she feared treading forward. Of all the people to send into the portal after the intruders, there was no way she didn’t know it would be her. “Ah, that garbage dog’s been on my ass ever since I kneed his b...
2023-10-07 21:35:22 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 74 - Lonely Eden
Chapter 74
Lonely Eden
Ethan barely managed to land squarely on a rather wet and soft surface. He still felt pain radiating outwards from his shoulder and pulsating throughout his entire body, though it didn't feel as though it would last long as his body had already begun to heal. He took a moment to collect himself before standing up and looking around, confirming this indeed was the Lonely Eden from his memories.
Delilah was still clutching tightly...
2023-10-06 21:29:57 +0000 UTC View Post
Chapter 73 - Fifty Yards
Chapter 73
Fifty Yards
Four shadows stood inside one of the abandoned apartments surrounding a square where a rousing entrance to the Tunnel shimmered relentlessly. Ethan, Ronald, Elijah, and Delilah all stood patiently, their gazes drawn to the rows of men and women going in… though none coming out.
Their entrance to China was rather… uneventful, contrary to the expectations of everyone except Ethan. They’d flown over to Gunsan in South Korea–more ...
2023-10-05 19:01:37 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 72 - Accelerated Plans
Chapter 72
Accelerated Plans
Ethan silently observed a rather spacious, underground chamber that they’d dug out through the past two days. Wooden beams stood erect scarcely about, forming a module that helped hold up the ground from collapsing. Sarah had some experience with simple building from her early military days, and for everything else, there was Google.
However, this chamber wasn’t meant for habitation–it was too damp and humid, not to mentio...
2023-10-04 20:45:45 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 71 - Unbound
Chapter 71
Unbound
It was dark and scary.
Like a leaf in the wind, all she could do was tremble. It would stop. It always stopped. Sometimes, it stopped quickly. Other times… it lasted a while. This time, it was the latter. It was loud. Piercing. Shrikes of a belt roused like bellied beasts. Once. And twice. And thrice.
It hurt.
She tucked her head tightly into her chest, wrapping it with her arms. It was dark and scary. Always. Always. Foreve...
2023-10-03 21:02:43 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 70 - Lullabies of the Damned
Chapter 70
Lullabies of the Damned
They hung by their necks, struggling to breathe.
The world had learned of the proper way to hang a person centuries ago–drop them from an appropriate height to immediately break their necks, causing them to lose consciousness and die shortly after. It was humane and far more efficient, as well as a generally accepted mode of execution worldwide. However, they were short-dropped.
Twelve of them, all humans, all yout...
2023-10-02 19:50:35 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 69 - Treasure Trove
Chapter 69
Treasure Trove
Ethan steadily worked through the sheer list of notifications that swarmed him, some of which were purely informative, but most of which regaled the various rewards that fell upon him. The Emperor’s death would likely speed up the fall of the city, but Ethan suspected he wouldn’t be part of the ‘rewards’ on that end, too, as this string seemed like a finality.
[Congratulations on slaying Emperor Bylon the Fourth! Your n...
2023-09-30 19:12:07 +0000 UTC View Post
Chapter 68 - When the Head Falls
Chapter 68
When the Head Falls
The charge, the same one that would have absolutely failed just a day ago, was beyond successful–the rows of Altukeen ushered forth carnage as their tall, broad, and strong frames spilt into the city streets. The soldiers that came to try and stop them fell one after another, and the citizens began to stream out in droves. Fires, soon, began to consume the edges of the city, rising and rowing like steady canoes toward the centre.<...
2023-09-29 20:26:49 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 67 - Hitherto, Light
Chapter 67
Hitherto, Light
“Caleb! Caleb! Caleb!”
Chants were deafening–the light in their eyes mesmerised by the horse rider, by the visage of a valiant soul, by him. They were devout to him, they loved him, and they worshipped him. The masses bowed in awe and in love and in devotion.
“Caleb!” They sang his name.
“Caleb!” They prayed.
“Caleb!” They loved.
“Caleb!” They desired.
He was a man of va...
2023-09-28 17:13:30 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 66 - Neverending Wars (V)
Chapter 66
Neverending Wars (V)
The entrance was a gaping maw that stretched to twenty feet of height, wide enough to berth four grown men, with a gilded arch coming together into the shape of an eskyrion, a mythical beast found occasionally in the Tunnels that resembled a mix of a jaguar and a snake. There were six guards lazily stationed either at or near the entrance, some nodding off, some talking between themselves, and some staring off into the sky.
I...
2023-09-28 17:13:08 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 65 - Neverending Wars (IV)
Chapter 65
Neverending Wars (IV)
Doppelgangers.
In some ways, doppelgangers were one of, if not the weakest monsters created by the Descent. They couldn't use magic, didn't have any physical prowess, and were almost worthless in a direct fight. However, in far more ways, doppelgangers were one of the most dangerous and horrific disasters that would ever strike a particular place.
Ethan had lied both to Elijah and Michael–he had absolutely no way of ...
2023-09-25 21:48:46 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 64 - Neverending Wars (III)
Chapter 64
Neverending Wars (III)
Ethan and Michael stood side by side at the edge of a steep cliff, their eyes locked on the majestic city sprawling in the valley. The moonlight was rather fierce, illuminating the sharp edges of the buildings and giving a clear picture of the place even deep at night.
Everyone else was fast asleep, tired from the descending night and having crossed through into the Tunnel. Michael was tired, too, but he stubbornly stayed a...
2023-09-24 15:59:15 +0000 UTC View Post
Chapter 63 - Neverending Wars (II)
Chapter 63
Neverending Wars (II)
The landing party squared off with the welcoming committee–had Ethan not immediately stepped forward, chances were that the soldiers would immediately lash out and attack, believing to have been ambushed.
Rather, his worry was unfounded as, right then, everyone except him faltered and fell, weak in the knees, their innards churning. Whether the welcoming committee's hopes were dashed at the sight, they didn't let ...
2023-09-22 21:00:22 +0000 UTC View PostChpater 62 - Neverending Wars (I)
Chapter 62
Neverending Wars (I)
Layla gasped in awe at the rather marvellous sight in front of her–two helicopters, both seeming massive and beyond deadly, were being filled up by men and women rapidly as she, Ethan, and Ronald stayed to the side with an older-looking man who would occasionally bark an order or two. She'd been roused rather early from a nice dream and dragged out of the room, and though she was a bit peeved, the sight in front of her turned it ...
2023-09-21 18:25:33 +0000 UTC View Post
Chapter 61 - Lost Humanity
Chapter 61
Lost Humanity
Ethan had wondered why nobody came out of the barracks when the sound of the gunshot rang out, but as soon as he entered he discovered that the singular room they were all shoved into was soundproofed. Whether by design or pure coincidence, he didn’t necessarily care as it played out to his benefit, in the end. It was a strange sight, watching nearly a hundred souls crawl out of a single room, somewhat large though it was, like clowns o...
2023-09-20 18:06:56 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 60 - Cold Apathy
Chapter 60
Cold Apathy
By the time they got to the barracks that housed the selected soldiers, their group had grown from four to nine. It included Sarah, whose existence was still shrouded in the seed of doubt within Ethan, as well as the man who supposedly was the one responsible for what eventually became of HUMAN–Lieutenant General Zachery Collins, Michael’s second in command.
The man was well into his sixties, though appeared fit enough to...
2023-09-19 12:52:55 +0000 UTC View Post