Gilded Ashes: When Shadows Reign - Chapter 33: Escalation Phase

Year 2035. A groundbreaking game—“Glory Lords: Arcane War”—takes the world by storm.With cutting-edge VR immersion, players can feel the pulse of magic, the tremors of battle, and the weight of every decision. But more than just a game, it becomes the ultimate stage for global esports. Elite teams rise, billion-dollar prize pools emerge, and the entire world is swept into the frenzy.But for Ethan Parker, this isn’t just a game. It’s a gamble with fate itself.Las Vegas. Midnight. A secret high-stakes game.On the table lies the world’s only Legendary-tier artifact—the Stone of Glory.Its value? Far beyond a billion dollars. Because hidden within it is a secret—one that can rewrite the very rules of reality.Ethan bets everything. And loses.In that moment, he doesn’t just lose the artifact—he loses his future.Then, the world changes.The game and reality merge.Earth is no longer the world it once was. Society collapses, replaced by a brutal new order where a person’s rank in “Glory Lords: Arcane War” determines their status in real life.The strongest players become kings.The weakest? Slaves.And the one who won the Stone of Glory—Griffin Musk—rises to absolute power, ruling over this new world as its supreme leader.As for Ethan? Once the #1 player in the world, he loses everything—his account, his status, his freedom. Reduced to the lowest class, he suffers, tortured until his final breath.But now—he’s back.Reborn with the memories of his past life, he returns to the moment it all began.This time, he wins the gamble.This time, he won’t let the world fall into Griffin’s hands.But fate has more in store for him…When he logs into the game, he realizes something is off.Not only is he the first player in the world to own private territory, but he also acquires something unheard of—the only Legendary-tier unit in existence: the Green Dragon.And then—something even more shocking.These two Green Dragons aren’t just powerful units. They’re heroes. With growth potential and combat abilities surpassing even top-tier players, they have the power to change the course of the entire game.At that moment, Ethan knows—his path to the top has begun.But the real world isn’t done with him yet.Governments, military forces, corporate giants, secret organizations—and even Griffin himself—are now watching his every move.This time, it’s not just about revenge.This time, he’s taking control of the future.The war of heroes has only just begun…

“No one is standing in the sky to begin with.”

“Whether it’s Hokage or the God of Ninja World.”

“But the window period for the Throne of Heaven has been too long.”

“From today, I will stand in the sky.”

Above Konoha, Naruto Uzumaki’s hairspray hand touched the drooping bangs, revealing sharp eyes.

Boiling blue light descended from the night, pulling Uzumaki Naruto away from the sky.

In Muye Village below, countless ninjas looked shocked and unbelievable.

Iruka: “Impossible, you are not that gentle Naruto, who are you?”

Kakashi: “The disciple I know is a gentle boy who will always take care of and protect others and inherit the will of fire.”

Uchiha Sasuke: “Naruto, you pulled me out of the abyss, but why do you want to leave now? Damn, even if you break your limbs, I, Uchiha Sasuke, will bring you back!”

PS:

A Naruto who was not influenced by Ashura Chakra, accepted Aizen’s teachings, was gentle and refined since he was a child, but was actually ambitious and deep-minded.

- Description from novelbuddy

Yang Chen, an online car-hailing driver, is bound to a “Negative Reviews Reward” system.As long as he does not compromise with unreasonable passengers, he can receive rewards if he receives negative reviews or complaints.Passenger: Driver, I want you to drive the car upstairs for me. My new Hongxing shoes got wet and dirty. Are you going to compensate me?Yang Chen: Miss, this is a car, how can I drive it upstairs?Passenger: I don't care, you have to drive it upstairs. Aren't you an online car-hailing driver supposed to serve passengers? Do you believe I'll give you a negative review?Platform: Dear driver, we regret to inform you that you have received a negative review and have been complained about by the customer.System: “Congratulations, Master, for earning a negative review through your capability, and you are rewarded with 28% ownership of the Peninsula Hotel.”……

Heavy rain poured down from above the dark clouds up in the night sky, filling the sky with droplets that splatter on the muddy ground of a narrow road. Thunder and purple lightning roar resounded over the clouds.

This was a night that would forever be remembered.

Bernard was a poor young man with a dream just like any normal human would have, he wanted to survive and make ends meet.

However, he was rendered hopeless when he realized just his certificates and hard work alone, wouldn't be enough to climb up the ladder in the society, he needed connections as well.

Putting his frustrations aside, Bernard decided to work harder, however on his way home something that would forever change his life happened.

Bernard was bitten by a strange Cat in his dark room and entered a strange world...the Symbiote world, with this strange twist of fate, Bernard soon realized the hope to fulfill his dream was rekindled once again.

[Daily Quest: 'Meow Meow five times]