Merchant Crab - Chapter 191: The Golem Forge

In 2173, the world’s first Full-World Virtual MMORPG game ‘Astral Online’ went on sale globally, forever changing the blue planet Asteria!

With its revolutionary Digital Capture System, astonishing graphics and ability to scan yourself into the game with up to 20% beautification, countless defenders rallied to play the game.

Fifty million players logged in on launch. There were no queues or lag on launch, leaving countless critics impressed and willing to try the game. Because the game used a 6-hour play limit a day, it allowed even working adults to keep up with young students and the unemployed.

A resounding success, as more people poured onto the game servers, families and friends alike. Astra Online became a household name overnight.

One month later, the game opened its first RMT system, which made earning a living from the game easier... Thus began the Astral rush!

Professional players formed guilds and factions to increase their profits, but nobody could know this prosperity was a mere joke.

One year later, players fused with their avatars, gaining powerful abilities in the real world, which tipped the power and caused chaos.

Two years later, demons and monsters from inside the game invaded the real world.

Three years later, over 90% of humanity perished, leaving the rest to hide like rats, unable to fight back in fear.

Four years later, this world is no longer ours. The demons march on our last bastions, one by one. They exterminated us.

Zell was an average player who liked to collect beasts in the game and evolve them into humanoids, as they were primarily females.

He spent most of his life working two jobs to make ends meet.

Thanks to the excellent healthcare of his country, there were no crippling debts. There was only emptiness.

When the end came, he was powerless and alone. His only companions were his cute pets and Rika, his cherished Flame Rabbit.

She was the only beast he evolved to a humanoid form after his late start to the game.

He died saving the life of a strange girl with white wings and his pet Rika, the sad eyes of Rika and the girl’s sorrow floating through the air as he slowly passed away.

However, instead of dying, he awoke inside an empty white room with a single computer and a strange, game-like screen that allowed him to edit his IRL avatar and persona.

Who offered him this second chance?

For what reason did they help him?

Can he meet Rika again?

Zell could never know; he only knew his second life’s goal.

Survive!

An Nuan thought that she was going to have her happy ending, marrying the love of her life when the man left her on their wedding day.“Pei Zhi Yi, the moment you step into the elevator, it's over between us.”An Nuan thought that she could stop her fiance from leaving, but that man still left for the other woman.The wedding hall was prepared and the guests had all arrived. With no groom beside her, An Nuan decided that she would marry anyone willing.“An Nuan, if you are willing, then how about considering me as your groom?”Unexpectedly, the young master of the Lin family, Lin Xiao Feng stepped forward to offer himself.An Nuan did not expect much from this marriage, especially when they both agreed that they were seeking to gain something through this marriage.Lin Xiao Feng needed someone as his wife in his political career. Meanwhile, she just needed to marry someone to get over Pei Zhi Yi. As someone who was disappointed by love, An Nuan no longer wanted to believe in love.She never thought that the marriage that she did not expect would turn out better than she had expected. Young Master Lin would pamper her and support her whenever she needed help.Wasn’t their marriage just for show?

Jiang Yang and Qin Xu both dislike each other. Every time they meet they become filled with hatred. Both have feelings for the school idol but they didn’t expect that the other party was actually a cross-dressing man. In an instant, their world views were shattered.

The daughter of a healthcare company's CEO, Ines Jackson was in an arranged relationship that was soon supposed to turn into a marriage.However, her fiancé, Trevor Harrington, was physically abusing her and using her only for her family’s status.One night, while running away from him as he chased her in a drunken rage, she bumped into a guy…not just any guy, but a famous boxer: Raphael Giovanni, whom she had never heard of personally.He saved Ines from Trevor, and in her rush for safety, she offered him a marriage in return.Unbeknownst to Ines, Raphael knew her father, who was responsible for his mother’s health issues and eventually her death.Seeking revenge, Raphael agreed to the marriage. But little did he know that the heiress would become more than just a part of his revenge plan.“You can’t love me…monsters like me don’t live enough to experience love.”