Devil Gambit - Chapter 55 : The Princess in the Ash

In the heart of Earth, where the streets buzz with the energy of modern life, lies a secret that will shake the very foundation of existence. Earth, once thought to be a mere planet, reveals itself to be a living entity, its core evolving with untold power. From the depths of the Milky Way, constellations, guardians of cosmic balance, watch with keen interest as Earth's evolution unfolds.But their curiosity soon turns to desire as they see the potential for transcendence within Earth's core. To harness its power, they must overcome the planet's protective barrier, a formidable obstacle that threatens to thwart their ambitions. Desperate for a solution, the constellations turn to drastic measures, offering contracts to select humans in exchange for assistance in weakening Chatgpt's defenses.Meanwhile, amidst the chaos, Marcus Sterling, a young university student with an intellect far beyond his years, delves into the mysteries of mana, the strange energy that permeates the planet. Unbeknownst to him, he becomes a pawn in the cosmic power struggle, as constellations vie for his allegiance and humanity's fate hangs in the balance.As Marcus grapples with his newfound abilities and the ethical implications of his choices, he discovers a deeper truth lurking beneath the surface—a truth that could reshape the destiny of Earth and all who inhabit it. With allies and adversaries alike converging on Earth, Marcus must navigate a treacherous path, where the line between good and evil blurs, and the fate of the universe hangs in the balance.

How did he meet such a bandit-like man? He drags you away the second he sees you! And yet, the only thing he can do is try his best to set the boundaries between them.

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“Don’t you ever try to leave and reason things out. It’s futile. Yelling is also useless. This lao zi has already fallen for you and I shall make you mine.”

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“Be obedient and wait for me at home, so I can pamper you till the day I die.”

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“Running away? What about it?

You dare to run away again and this lao zi will spend his lifetime seeing you try.”

- Description from Novelupdates

In the year 3000, humanity was forced to leave the earth when a sudden mutation caused more than 70% of the planet's population to mutate either into zombies, werewolves or vampires. The humans put up a fight but didn't have a chance against the united front of the monsters and they were forced to leave. At least those who were rich and lucky enough to leave.

A century later, the chaos on earth had calmed down but the humans who were left behind were treated like slaves and were forced to join one of the three factions: The Undead, The Cold Ones or The Lycans when they turned 16.

It was a similar story for Ashton, who was one week away from being turned into one of the monsters as it was his 16th birthday. He decided to run away from his fate and join the secret resistance to battle against the monsters.

However, his plans came to a standstill, when a series of misfortunes leads him to be bitten by a Zombie, a Vampire and a werewolf before either of his powers could manifest.

He ended up receiving all of their powers, but at the cost of his humanity. Yet, he wasn't willing to let his humanity die. No matter the cost.

Will he be able to live his life, or was it already too late? Which faction will he join? Will he be able to find the secret behind the mutation?

There were too many questions, and only one way to find the answers: follow Ashton's journey as he fights back to retain his humanity.

How does it feel to lose your parents at the tender age of four?Imagine the trauma, the psychological scars. Now, take it a step further—what if they died right in front of you?That was Kael’s reality. As a young boy, he watched his parents perish while desperately protecting a golden coin.At the time, Kael had no idea of its significance. He only knew that their deaths were tied to it.Fleeing from his father’s murderers, he was forced to survive on the unforgiving streets, learning to fight, steal, and endure.Twelve years later, he had transformed into one of the deadliest assassins the world had ever known.He had no official title. No known employer. No traceable identity. Just a calling card.They called him The Coin Flipper.Not because he left his mark, but because after every kill—just as the body hit the ground, as the last breath escaped—he would flip a coin.No one knew why. Some believed it was mockery, a cruel reminder that fate had turned against them. Others thought it was ritual.But what they didn’t know was that each coin held power—literal currency of the Core System embedded in Kael’s soul.Every kill earned him millions. Digital fortunes funneled into off-grid accounts with each confirmed target. Blood turned into bounty, pain into profit.And one thing was certain: if you saw the glint of a coin spinning through the air, death had already found you.