Seeking the Tao in the Mortal World - Chapter 133: Painter

When a fantasy kingdom needs heroes, they skip the high schoolers and summon hardened Delta Force operators.Lieutenant Cole Mercer and his team are no strangers to sacrifice. After all, what are four men compared to millions of lives saved from a nuclear disaster? But as they make their last stand against insurgents, they’re unexpectedly pulled into another world—one on the brink of a demonic incursion.Thrust into Tenria's realm of magic and steam engines, Cole discovers a power beyond anything he'd imagined: magic—a way to finally win without sacrifice, a power fantasy made real by ancient mana and perfected by modern science.But his new world might not be so different from the old one, and the stakes remain the same: there are people who depend on him more than ever; people he might not be able to save. Cole and his team are but men, facing unimaginable odds. Even so, they may yet prove history's truth: that, at their core, the greatest heroes are always just human.

Anne, a shy and introvert woman, was in love with Denis for ten years. But Denis had someone in his heart. When his girlfriend left him to pursue her career, he finally noticed Anne and asked her to be his girlfriend.Anne stayed devoted to him for three years, but Denis cheated on her with his first love. Worse, his scheming ex-girlfriend killed her.Fate gave her another chance. Anne was reborn. This time, she vowed to take revenge on everyone who had hurt her.Augustine, the CEO of the Sphere Group of industries, was powerful and wealthy. But he died from his family’s conspiracy.Reborn, he was determined to punish those who had schemed against him.In his past life, he had failed to protect Anne, his savior. This time, he vowed to love her and keep her safe with his life.But Anne no longer believed in love.~~~~~~~~~“Will you marry me?” Augustine’s eyes sparkled with anticipation and nervousness.However, Anne was calm. “Yes,” she replied blankly. “I’ll marry you. But don’t expect anything from me. Love is the last thing I can give you.”He smirked and took a step closer to her. “Miss Clair,” he pinched her chin, “are you sure you won’t fall for me? Can you resist my charm?”Anne’s breathing hitched, her stomach fluttering. The challenge in his eyes and his husky voice threaten to shatter her resolve to never fall in love again.“Let me promise you one thing: in this life, I’ll love you, cherish you always. All I want is your faith.”

“Look at him,” someone snickered from a few rows over. “Smells like he sleeps in a dumpster.”“Probably does,” another voice added, louder this time. Nox just stared at his textbook, the words blurring. He had heard it all before.Then, Mark, one of the main reasons his life was a living hell, swaggered past his desk. Mark always had a smirk on his face. “Oops,” he said, not even trying to sound accidental, as a full cup of bright orange juice tipped over, splashing all down the front of Nox's already ruined shirt. The cold liquid soaked through instantly. Laughter erupted around the room. It was loud, clear, and mocking. Nox slowly looked up. His eyes landed on Ms. Joy, who was watching the whole thing. She had seen Mark deliberately pour the juice on him. He raised his hand, a small, tired gesture. “Ms. Joy,” he said, his voice flat. “He just poured juice on me. Are you just going to ignore it? Again?.” Ms. Joy looked at him, then at Mark, who was now theatrically wiping his hands. A small smile played on her lips. Then she chuckled. Just a little airy laugh.“Oh, Nox, don't be so dramatic. Boys will be boys, right Mark?” Mark puffed out his chest. “Yeah, Ms. Joy. He's just sensitive.” The class laughed even harder at that. Ms. Joy joined in, her laughter ringing out with theirs. Hearing them all, hearing her laugh, something in him finally snapped. It wasn't a loud break, more like a quiet, final click. He realized it then, with a cold, hard clarity. No one was coming to save him. No teachers, no police, no parents he never had. No one cared. If he wanted this to stop, he would have to be the one to stop it. He was the only one who could.His face remained blank, but his mind was suddenly very clear. He reached down slowly, his hand going into his worn-out school bag. The laughter died down a little as a few students noticed his deliberate movement, a strange stillness about him. He pulled out a gun.The classroom went silent. Utterly, completely silent. Mark's smirk vanished, replaced by wide, terrified eyes. Even Ms. Joy stopped laughing, her face paling. “What… Nox, what are you doing?” she stammered, her voice suddenly shaky. He didn't answer. He looked around at their faces, one by one. Fear. He saw fear now. Good. He was ready. He was going to make them all pay. He was going to end it, all of it.Just as he was about to raise the gun properly, a bright blue screen appeared right in front of his face. It was translucent, and only he seemed to see it. [Congratulations! You have met the requirements!] [1st Player Chosen!] [You have won the System!]

William and his college class are ripped from Earth and thrown into Aethel, a world on the brink of collapse. Everyone gains incredible magical powers – except William. Mocked and underestimated, he’s an outcast among heroes. But William has a secret: an SSS-ranked skill that lets him travel to Aethel’s past. Learning lost magic from ancient masters, he’ll surpass his classmates and become the true savior Aethel needs. But can he overcome the dangers of the past and present to forge his own destiny? While others studied about the first mage, William could go back in time and see the first mage himself! While others dreamed of seeing a dragon, William could go back in time, hatch a legendary dragon egg and turn it into his puppy. While others used common materials to craft their items, William could go back in time and mine materials that weren’t find anywhere in Aethel anymore. Is it unfair? Perhaps, but William was not the type of person to not use the powers the universe gave him.