Rise of the Devourer - Chapter 48: Cultist Chaos

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!

Reincarnated into his college days. Zhou Yuwen knew the importance of a persona. In this life, Zhou Yuwen’s labels were aloof, mature, and exceptionally talented! “I’m quite traditional, I believe that if you’re in a relationship, you need to be responsible, so one must be extremely cautious about dating.” “Zhou Yuwen, let’s get remarried!” “Damn it! Are you poisoned or something? I haven’t even been married before!” “Stop talking nonsense! We were married in our last life!” “That was in the past life!” “Remarry!” “Go away! I have a girlfriend!” He fled, she chased! He couldn’t escape, even if he had wings!

Villain System: Activated> Alignment: Chaotic EvilObjective: Obey the plot, serve the empire, die like a good villain.Yeah, no thanks.I woke up as Dorian Valen—sadistic noble, arsonist, war criminal, mid-tier villain with a face everyone wants to stab. The story wants me to beg for my life, cough up secrets, and die at sunrise so the hero can get a shiny new power-up. Been there, read that.But I'm not here to follow the script. I'm here to flip the table.I’ll expose the cracks in the empire, dismantle the hero’s halo, weaponize every trope, and corrupt the system that tried to cage me. And if I have to burn the world down to do it?Well… I’ve got the villain system. Might as well make it earn its name.

Max Winchester suddenly found himself in the world he hated the most, Xiao Bai novels.Not only was he not the protagonist, but he became a villain, and the worst thing is, unlike other Villains, he was not transmigrated at the beginning of the novel but rather at the end point of his arc.His death was already decided; the Protagonist had already firmed his foothold in the city.The most important thing for the villain is their family already pretty much disowned him; the sisters who used to dote on him were ignoring him.His business was in a crisis as he was just days away from declaring bankruptcy as his capital chain was broken.He found himself standing in front of his childhood sweetheart, who came to him to break off their engagement.When he was in the desperate situation, the compulsory golden finger of every traveler popped in.[Ding! The Counter-Attack System is being bounded][Ding! Protagonist attack on host detected...Counter-Attack is being triggered....][Ding! Congratulations to the host for gaining {Absolute Dodge}...][Ding! The protagonist gaining strength is detected...Counter-Attack is being triggered....][Ding! Congratulations to the host for receiving the SS+ Calamity rank power base....][Ding! Protagonist attacking your company detected....Counter-attack is being triggered....][Ding! Congratulations to the host for receiving 1 Trillion UC market value company....Congratulations to the host that Protagonist's most loyal brother who helped him in attacking your company stepped on shit and died....][Ding! A protagonist's childhood sweetheart hatred towards you is detected...Counter-Attack is being triggered....][Ding! Congratulations to the host for receiving +100 (Only one) Favorability of Protagonists childhood sweetheart....][Ding! Protagonist trying to blackmail your sisters detected....Counter-Attack is being triggered....][Ding! Congratulations to the host for receiving +1000 (Not even death do us apart) favorability of his mother....Congratulations to the host for receiving {Harem protection halo}....Congratulations to the host that the Protagonist lost his PP right....Congratulations to the host for the Protagonist lost half of his mind....]And so he goes on his relaxing journey of the Counter-Attack.