A Background Character's Path to Power - Chapter 157: Stabalizing, The Next Step

He was weak, he was depressed, he was a loser.
He wasn't even Lvl 10 in the game when Earth was destroyed in the Quake and the players of Redlands were transmigrated to the fantastic world of Zushkenar.
But he lived, learned, and died again.
Now, he was back on Earth, one year and three months before the Quake.
Deciding to rejoin the game earlier and with greater focus, what changes would he bring with his actions?
What life would he live?

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paypal.me/JInDaoran

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There's a map for the lands of Zushkenar posted on the DeviantArt website:
https://www.deviantart.com/kilrain/art/Hunters-Guide-map-cities-grid-b-877682076

It's not complete, but it'll give an idea of the general geography.

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The background image for the cover is part of a landscape by moinzon taken from pixabay.com

*Slow Burn Historical Fantasy Novel*

Elise had about to change into the dress that was lying on the corner of her bed when she heard a knock lightly calling from her door. Curious, she turned the door knob only to have a tall man towering in front of her.

“Master Ian!” She called.

Ian smiled with the usual mischievous smirk that he always used. His crimson eyes trailing a little over her room and spotted the black dress over her bed and shifted his eyes over to the woman in front of him. He stepped forward and spoke. “Where did you acquire that dress?”

“Mr. Harland gave it to me.” Elise replied and strained her neck to see Ian’s brows knitted in its elegance.

“Do you know why a man would love to give a woman a dress?” He gave the riddle that she always had to think twice before replying. But this time, she found no answer and instead shook her head. “I don’t know.”

His grin grew bewitching as though something had stirred deep inside the scarlet eyes that he had. He slowly slid his hand over the collar of her dress, sending a cold shiver that startled her for a moment due to its freezing temperature. After unbuttoning the first two buttons on her collar, he tilted his head down, whispering to her ears. “Because they want to be the one to undress the cloth.”

He paused and kissed her neck, turning the pale skin to red before retracting his move to fix his eyes on her and leisurely replied. “Unfortunately, you can’t wear the dress over there with this.” He chuckled and passed a box over to her hand. “And the fortunate news is I prepared a dress for you.”

Elise was a cursed little girl who could see ghosts. Her family hated her and threw her from one adoptive family to another. However, misfortune didn't act alone. When she was brought up by her aunt, she was sold as a slave. When she had thought she would become nothing but a sacrifice to the sorcerer, she was saved by a man whose identity was far different than a normal mythical being.

This is a story of a captain of a secluded place and a gorgeous female celebrity—both who would hardly cross paths but a collision in Tibet sets an opening to their encounter.Upon their first encounter, Wenxian already has her eyes set on Captain Lu—her mouth drooling with desire.Wenxian, “Hmm? How can I win over your heart? In a plain sack or using sweet talk?”With a cigarette in his mouth, Lu Xiao scoffs. “You are an impressive and popular celebrity, I am only a captain at this secluded place. I am very poor, what is it in me that you like about?”Wenxian, “I like how you always snub back at me.”Lu Xiao choked and walked away heartlessly. “You are shameless, don’t even dream about it!”The next day, he said, “It’s all because you were carried away by a whim?”Wenxian, “No, hatching a scheme.”

This time, the soul-transferred Naruto no longer worries about his lineage and ignores those strange looks, binding himself to the 'Take It Easy System'.[Option 1: Pursue Sakura. Reward: S-Rank Ninjutsu.][Option 2: Pursue Hinata, avoid ten years of detours. Reward: Kyubi’s approval (you can use Kyubi’s Chakra at will)]Is that even a question?Naruto decisively chooses Hinata.Naruto fishes by the river, and Mizuki suddenly appears.Mizuki: “Naruto, do you want to become stronger?”[Option 1: Refuse Mizuki’s invitation and tell him to get lost. Reward: Full level Fishing Mastery.] [Option 2: Accept Mizuki’s invitation and steal the Scroll of Seals. Reward: Impure World Reincarnation (Incomplete)]Naruto: Is there even a choice?Sandaime Hokage: “Where tree leaves dance... one shall find flames... the fire's shadow will illuminate the village... and once again tree leaves shall bud anew.”Naruto: “Smooth!”