Black Sail - Chapter 28: XXVIII. A Fool’s Countless Anxieties

The year was 2026, and the world wasn't what it used to be. Ever since the Abyss Gates cracked open three years ago, spilling monsters and dungeons across the planet, life had turned into a chaotic mess. Cities were half-ruined, half-rebuilt, and people clung to whatever normalcy they could find. Hunters—those brave or crazy enough to fight the monsters—became the new heroes. Everyone else? Well, they just tried to survive.Fin wasn't a Hunter. He wasn't a hero either.He was just… Fin. A lanky 19-year-old with messy brown hair, a chipped front tooth from a dumb skateboard accident, and a power that everyone called useless. Absorption. Sounds cool, right? Like he could suck up energy or steal someone's strength. Nope. All it did was let him “feel” things he touched a little more than normal. He could tell you the exact texture of a brick wall or how warm a coffee mug was—big whoop. No fireballs, no super strength, no flashy moves. Just a glorified touchy-feely trick.“Fin, you gonna eat that sandwich or just stare at it like it's gonna confess its life story?” Meg's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.He blinked and looked across the rickety table at his best friend. Meg was short, loud, and had a wild mop of dyed purple hair that she swore made her look “intimidating.” It didn't.

In a world transformed by the arrival of mana, Earth is no longer the domain of humanity alone. Magical beasts and three powerful humanoid species have claimed vast territories, forcing humanity into fortified cities protected by mana-infused barriers.The hope for survival lies with the awakened—those blessed with magical classes and the ability to wield mana.Victor Revenant, a hilarious and self-deprecating 16-year-old, has spent his life dreaming of joining their ranks. But on the day of his Awakening Test, his dreams are shattered. Like countless others, he fails to awaken, destined to remain ordinary in a world where mediocrity means irrelevance.Just as Victor hits rock bottom, his father gifts him a VRMMORPG game, Ascendant Realms: Cultivation Chronicles, as a consolation prize. The game promises an immersive cultivation experience, complete with mystical techniques, powerful bloodlines, and the journey to ascend to godhood. But when Victor logs in as his in-game persona, Fang Chen, he discovers something incredible: the cultivation techniques he learns in the game begin to manifest in the real world.Armed with the Primordial Chaos Constitution and the legendary Void Emperor Bloodline, Victor embarks on a dual journey—mastering the game’s cultivation system while using his newfound abilities to change his fate in the real world.What begins as an escape from his failures turns into a chance to rewrite his destiny. But Victor quickly learns that his unique ability may make him more than just an anomaly—it may make him a target...

“The host has come to the days of your old pretending.”

Chen Mo was stunned for a moment, and put down the polished Shiwang drive in his hand.

“It’s time.”

After finishing speaking, Chen Mo came to an empty square, took out the divine light stick and shouted loudly: “Dija!”

…

Yukino Yukino: “My turn, draw a card!”

Kasumi Hill Shiyu: “theworld!”

Eri Sawamura: “Henshin!”

Kaguya Shinomiya: “This is an equivalent exchange!”

Kato Megumi: “Walking in the dark, serving the light, everything is empty, everything is allowed!”

…

Why is the flower of the high mountain of the academy addicted to playing cards? Why did famous fiction writers twist in strange poses? Why are famous painters in the industry inseparable from toys? Why do rich daughters believe in alchemy? Why do ordinary passers-by wear cloaks?

And why did Yangyang Huaxia frequently appear in the Xiuxian sect?

Looking at this gradually becoming strange world, Chen Mo said that all this has nothing to do with him.

- Description from novelbuddy

“I’m alive... again?”Adam died and was brought into a fantasy world. Then he died again, and has been reborn into a new (?) fantasy world. His life, as before, is in the hands of the dice. Come and join Adam as he rolls his way in and out of trouble. The story has a very slow pace, and has elements of really light hearted, wholesome stuff, and really dark, gruesome stuff. Sequel/Reboot of Beyond Average. You don't need to read Beyond Average, but it will explain a lot about Adam.Also, you can start at the beginning of each year (301, 501, 701, 901, 1001, etc), because most of the systems and relationships will be partly explained when they come up, and most others are easy to pick up after a few interactions. Finally, I am also currently in the middle of editing and rewriting the first year, and perhaps other years. A lot of my early chapters are a rough read, and even I cringe reading them.