Tenebroum - Chapter 24: Muddy Waters

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…

Dreams are… a reality that only those who are capable can speak about.This was an era marked by the births of geniuses!This was an era where heroes could be found everywhere!The fierce conflict between the aristocrats and the civilians, the open and veiled battles between the Federation and the Empire, the restlessly lurking extraterrestrials…When the principles of truth were within the range of battleship cannons, when order had no place in this world… Mu Fan, with the mysterious intelligent life “Black” and his unwavering will, fiercely tore open the magnificent Great Galaxy Era!

This is a story about the pursuit of victory.

Bai Ran had been married to Chen Chen for three years—three years in a secret marriage, only to have him hand her a divorce agreement. He asked her to sign it because he wanted to give his ultimate unattainable lover, Hu Wan, a beautiful ending. Chen Chen said, "Go and see Hu Wan tomorrow. If she asks you, tell her that you already have a boyfriend." Bai Ran said, "Okay." Chen Chen said, "You have to do everything it takes to convince her and make her happy." Bai Ran answered, "Okay." Staring at Bai Ranran's calm face, Chen Chen felt an inexplicable sense of frustration and uneasiness. Seeing the lack of hesitation on Bai Ran's face as she signed the divorce agreement, Chen Chen regretted it. To Bai Ran, ever since she signed the divorce agreement, Chen Chen's name had been erased from her memory. Even though she had loved him for more than ten years, once she gave up, she would never look back.