The Newt and Demon - Chapter 2.16: Enriching Soil

He was just an ordinary orphan.At least he thought he was,That was until some group claiming to be the Hero Faction tried to recruit him for being the inheritor of a lost bloodline.

“Evil God of the Universe, You are in every space and time. Present in every dimension of reality and govern the darkness of our world.Oh, almighty Atticus! Hear our plea and grant us your presence tonight, awaken my Lord!”The rain had completely stopped and the strong gale had subsided into the fading raindrops. The night had turned eerily silent and only the sizzling and cackling of the fire entered their ears.Suddenly, they all felt like floating from their feet despite setting foot on the watery, hard ground, as if they were traversing into space. The darkness of the night gradually turned darker, enveloping them, morphing into everyone, like a void eating them slowly. Sequentially, their breathing turned oddly slower. Despite exaggeratedly inhaling air to breathe, it was to no avail, as if a higher entity was limiting them from breathing.Nolan felt his throat and tried to open his mouth to gasp more air but failed. Everyone but him was in a state of indignation and panic as they struggled to breathe to fill their lungs with air. Nolan tried to calm his heart. He closed his eyes and stopped inhaling air in pure panic, instead, he put his heartbeat and breathing into a rhythm. It was hard at first, but after a minute, he found his breathing gradually went stable.His whole being was in pure anticipation of what was going to happen next.After a couple more minutes, the storm completely subsided, the night turned to normal. Nolan remained standing, taking in his surroundings with his eyes closed. Everything turned silent. The eerie atmosphere and the crackling of the fire from the hay figure didn’t even enter his ears. Nolan waited for a couple more minutes, his breathing turning normal. He was reluctant to open his eyes, afraid he might ruin their ritual.“It’s alright now, Young Master. You can open your eyes now.”Nolan’s breathing hitched. He jolted on his feet as he fluttered his eyes open.“Atticus? W-why are you here?”The butler, standing in front of him, a raincoat hung on his arm, smiled. “I am everywhere, Young Master, in order to best serve you.”****Atticus, a demi-god from the underworld, was cast out of his parents' realm and banished to the human world. The reason? He had yet to give them any grandchildren.Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction and is purely the product of my imagination. Any resemblance to real people, events, or beliefs is entirely coincidental. The intention is not to disrespect or diminish any faith or tradition, but rather to explore ideas within a fictional context. Reader discretion is advised.

“Infinite Abilities Academy”On his first day at Infinite Abilities Academy, Class F freshman Su Bei awakened a new ability. It was only then that he realized their world was actually a manga. And the protagonist of this manga was his classmate Jiang Tianming.But that’s not the main point. The main point is that in the next chapter of the manga, he, Su Bei, is destined to die tragically in the restroom! This event would kick off the protagonist’s first challenge at the ability academy.Su Bei: …The only good news is that this chapter of the manga hasn’t been published yet. He can alter the course of the story and save himself from a cannon fodder’s fate through his actions.As everyone knows, becoming friends with the protagonist doesn’t guarantee escape from plot-induced death, but becoming the protagonist’s enemy will certainly result in defeat at the protagonist’s hands.Under the blazing sunlight, the golden-haired boy smiled recklessly, yet there was a hint of solemnity in his purple eyes: “Saluting you on behalf of fate, the unluckiest of the unlucky in this generation~”

Riku Aoyama was just a broke, unlucky and starving college dropout waiting for his time and scraping by on instant noodles, and ended up as part-time buddy—until a mysterious vending machine offered him a deal: a system that lets him buy anything.Want a skills? Check.Looking for knowledge? Instantly downloaded.Legendary weapons? Delivered to his door.Authority, time, fate, even the affection of others? All up for sale—if he can pay the price.With the Infinite Wallet System, Riku’s once-pathetic life turns into a wild ride of action, opportunity, and temptation. From unlocking forbidden martial arts to building a harem of powerful women drawn to his rising charisma, Riku is determined to forge an empire, one purchase at a time.But every system has its cost. As he gains power, hidden forces begin to notice his ascent. Gods, demons, and beings beyond reality have started watching—and some want to claim the system for themselves.Action-packed, hilarious, and mature, this is the story of a man who can buy everything—except his own peace of mind.