Desolate Era - Book 42, Chapter 14 - Before the Battle

Philip never expected his new life to be so… complicated. When a tragic accident in the modern metropolis of Bortinto abruptly ends his struggle for survival, he wakes up as the scandal-ridden heir of a ducal house in a world where magic and science coexist. Any fantasies of an easy, heroic life vanish the moment he realizes that the estate that he is tasked with managing is drowning in debt, and his reputation has been shredded by rumors involving his predecessor’s broken engagement to the socialite Lady Rosetta—the granddaughter of a prince.Even as he scrambles to rebuild his estate’s fortunes—grappling with contaminated land, mounting debts, and shrewed industrialists—he unearths troubling secrets about the original Philip’s heartbreak and suicide. A dark, hidden force seems intent on wiping him out for an unknown reason. As conspiracies emerge linking Lady Rosetta’s departure to these shadowy machinations, Philip struggles to separate ally from adversary, not knowing why this power in high places is so bent on destroying him.Meanwhile, the realm teeters on the brink of monumental change. Technological and social revolutions collide with century-old magical traditions, and war drums thunder on the distant borders. Armed with his modern knowledge of finance—now fused with the kingdom’s burgeoning industrial innovations—Philip attempts to ride the trends and transform his estate into a beacon of prosperity and secure his heirship to the ducal title. Yet each small triumph only attracts more enemies.Tasked by the System with cultivating a supernatural entity while uncovering the real reason behind Lady Rosetta’s canceled engagement and the original Philip’s tragic end, he must also shield those he grows to care about from the looming threats. Will he harness the synergy of magic, technology, and commerce to steer his estate toward greatness, or will malevolent forces quash his second chance at life? Will his second chance at life end the same tragic way as his first?

Jiang Chao Ge, people called him “money hungry Jiang”. Went from a street hooligan to a newly appointed city official. The difficulties he experienced along the way he hid deep inside himself and did not say a word about it. He only wants be blinding in the eyes of everyone from now on.

Who would’ve thought that before he even had the chance to enjoy the wealth and reputation, he inexplicably passed into a different world. Moreover to his bad luck, the first thing he was faced with was being chased down to be killed. He just casually took a worn out rusted old sword to defend himself, why are these country bumpkins who’ve never seen the world chasing him so relentlessly?

In order to get himself a body guard, he tried to summon the ‘animal spirit’ in the sword. In the end, he summoned a devilish brat who rolled his eyes upon seeing someone, who only called him a good for nothing, who bit him whenever he got close. Where was the powerful, first class spirit weapon he was promised?!

No money, no power, no people, life constantly at risk. He couldn’t see the path ahead, nor could he face the fierce tiger behind. Jiang Chao Ge was beaten back into the abyss with one hit. In this unfamiliar world full of thorns, there is only one reason that allowed him to persevere and that is: to go back.

Hence, he was forced to embark on a desperate and risky journey with this devilish brat who he loathed mutually.

- Description from Novelupdates

On Terra, everyone has a 58% chance to “Awaken” as a Traveler—a chosen few who can access mystical portals called Flumes, allowing them to travel to Genovia, a world filled with unimaginable power, chaos, and danger. But not everyone gets to be a hero.Born into a struggling family with nothing but ragged clothes and a bleak future, Aoni Thurston, a total nobody with a humiliating One-Star Potential and G- stats across the board, knows his only chance at survival hinges on unlocking his hidden ability, something which all Traveler’s are gifted “Attributes.”But Aoni’s Attribute, “Progression,” holds a secret—a power to bend the rules of his ruthless reality. Each small victory, every step forward, earns him mysterious Progress Points, enabling him to transform his weaknesses into strength. Surviving the unforgiving snows of his desolate Territory, he faces isolation, despair, and near-death, all while unraveling the potential of his Attribute.In a world where power is everything, can Aoni claw his way from obscurity to greatness, or will the system grind him into dust? His future is uncertain, but one thing is clear—everything in his world can change through his Attribute: Progression.