The Desolate Era (Web Novel) - Book 38, Chapter 18 - Two Competing Sides

Discord: https://discord.gg/dWW4RHNXwJ***Let's not pretend like we haven't heard this story before.Mana descends upon an unprepared world. Dungeons rupture reality. Monsters pour out. Humanity awakens in response—some with sparks, some with power capable of leveling continents.Aris Ashborne was born into that world.His problem?He was too damn cute to be taken seriously!Media companies treat him like heaven's favourite mascot. Fellow awakened dote on him as if he isn't ranked among the strongest humans alive. Confessions pile up. Stalkers appear. The title “Cutest Awakened” follows him everywhere.No one seems interested in how he earned his S-rank.It's hard to command fear when people are asking what skincare routine you use.Oh well.Being underestimated has its own perks too.Truth is, Aris Ashborne is one of the few people that has transcended the ranking system entirely. He is among the few that could very well rule the world if he wanted to.But for now, he is contempt with being called a cutie.After all, monsters don't always look the part.

I am the most talented guardian of this era!

But no one knows, I still have a second template, the knife cuts the flesh, the intention cuts the soul!

You may have seen the meatless juggernaut, but you have never seen a full-time meat shield with an explosive attack!

- Description from novelbuddy

Yu Yi found herself transmigrated into a female protagonist in a xianxia novel, destined to suffer both physically and emotionally.The entire novel was 800,000 words long. For 700,000 words, she endured extreme torment. In the remaining 100,000 words, the heroine reconciled with her past, found true love without regrets, and achieved a happy ending with the male lead.Yu Yi absolutely refused to be this pitiful scapegoat.To avoid the main plot, she adhered to the basic principle of “where he is, I am not; where I am, he is not.” She laid low in her sect, dodging every opportunity to encounter the male lead.Five years passed, and she finally severed this ill-fated connection.The male lead married someone else. Yu Yi let out three wild laughs as she stepped out of the sect gates, happily rushing towards the colorful world outside.However, she didn’t expect that in her excessive joy, she would accidentally stumble upon the mu*der scene of the main villain.Yu Yi hid in the bushes, watching Xue Chenjing, dressed in white robes now stained with blood, slowly crushing someone’s skull. She was so terrified she didn’t dare to breathe.In the dead silence, a noisy voice suddenly rang out: [Master, look quick! It’s your wife! Your wife has finally come online. Isn’t she adorable, curled up and hiding in the bushes like that?]Yu Yi was shocked: Surely it can’t be referring to me?[She’s even wearing a red dress, matching couple outfits with you.]Yu Yi clutched her pomegranate-red skirt tightly, glancing at the hem of Xue Chenjing’s robe. What couple outfit? Isn’t that just stained red with blood?Xue Chenjing flicked the blood from his fingertips, his gaze sweeping towards the bushes. He asked in bewilderment, “Whose wife?”The system pulled out a masterpiece of literature, tapping the cover and asserting confidently: [Your wife.]

[Ding! Sign-in System Installed!][Ding! 10x Rewards System Installed!][Ding! Mythical-Rank Ice Mana Circulation Technique Acquired!][Ding! Legendary-Rank Blazing Sun Holy Physique Acquired!]He spent all his life caged in a hospital because he was born with something special. Within those thick walls of concrete, he yearned for freedom and love, but he only found freedom in his death.But that wasn't the end.Reborn as Aegon Valeria Augustus, he awakened not one, but two systems.A Sign-In System that rewards him depending on where he is.A 10x Rewards System that multiplies whatever he gains as rewards.One day it’s mythical techniques, the next it’s… bricks. But whether it’s legendary physiques or useless sandals, Aegon takes it all with a grin.Why?He finally had the freedom and love he had always wanted, and along with that came the desire to explore this fantasy world and its culture.But there were a lot of things he missed from Earth, so the system helped him with that too.[Ding! Skill: Master Chef Acquired!][Ding! Skill: Professional Author Acquired!][Ding! Skill: Barista Arts Acquired!][Ding! Skill: Modern Medicine Acquired!][Ding! Skill: Entrepreneur’s Insight Acquired!][Ding! Skill: Musician’s Touch Acquired!][Ding! Skill: Tech Crafter Acquired!]Each reward gave him the knowledge, instincts, and muscle memory of those professions. Suddenly, he could cook dishes no one in this world had ever tasted before, write stories in a style completely alien to their culture, brew strange drinks that hooked nobles with their unfamiliar taste, or even treat injuries with precision no healer had ever displayed.“Who cares about conquering the world when you can explore and enjoy it? Or even help it become something better?”Aegon wasn’t worried about his strength, because his systems were already making him invincible.He only wanted to enjoy the freedom his new life gave him and protect the love he had never experienced before....What to expectVery Slice of Life. Yes, it’s mostly focused on SoL, so if you want tension-filled battles, this isn’t the novel for you.Low stakes.Some drama.Good fights, but low stakes and fun in tone.Light-hearted story.Modern professions introduced in another world.Comedy mixed with character development (which means you need to give some time for MC to develop too before calling out names for him.)Slow paced