Embers Ad Infinitum - Chapter 1: Central Assignment

He underwent profound transformations after 100 reincarnations. Bahamut, once possibly a more innocent or vulnerable entity, emerges from his experiences as a sadistic dominator, embodying the essence of a beast on literal, figurative, and spiritual levels.His priorities shift drastically, abandoning concerns as he becomes consumed by his love for challenges, blood, horror, and death. Bahamut thrives in this brutal world, embracing his identity as the ultimate BEAST.This journey is marked by his relentless pursuit of darkness and domination, making him a force to be reckoned with.Bahamut travels around the world, the universe, explores various mythologies, gains more power, and for his main purpose…It becomes something he would do when he feels like it.[Additional Tags: No Yuri, No NTR, Harem (50-50: Massive or Small), OP, Intense, Anti-Hero Anti-Villain]

Ethan is a man nearing forty who has squandered his life behind a screen. Since his teenage years, he has poured everything into online games, chasing digital achievements while real life quietly passed him by. Now, with reality finally weighing on him, he realizes how empty his existence has become.Despite decades of obsession, he has only one thing to show for it: the #1 account in the world’s most popular MMORPG, Lost World Online—a fully immersive virtual game operated through neural-link technology. It is an account powerful enough to guarantee fame, sponsorships, and a second chance at life.But overnight… it vanishes.No warnings… No errors… His account simply ceases to exist.Ethan spends the entire night frantically searching for answers, contacting the developers through official forums, only to be told that nothing can be done. Without the account, even streaming or professional contracts are impossible. Exhausted and hollow, he finally gives up and falls asleep, deciding to forget his regret, half hoping everything would be a dream when he wakes up.When Ethan opens his eyes, he finds himself standing before the character creation screen of Lost World Online.It feels like a dream, yet his mind is clear, his body well responsive, not even like a game. Paying little attention, he goes ahead and creates a character and initiates the game.Then, his vision is swallowed by darkness.A violent rush of wind slams into him, and when his senses return, he is standing inside a bustling town from the game. Before he can question the missing opening cutscene—something that should always play after character creation—his attention is seized by the scene around him.The town was celebrating an Annual Festival. This was a festival that only ever occurred once, a festival that marked the first day Lost World Online was launched.Realizing the impossible, Ethan hurriedly calls up his system interface—only to find that there is no options menu, no settings, no log-out button…“This cannot be real.”

Nikolai gets bitten by a vampire and a werewolf on the same night. Their bites cause his hidden blood to awaken as the first hybrid. He grows stronger by devouring the blood of his enemies and lacks the weaknesses of both races.Despite this, he lives a normal life during the day. While at night, he explores a dark, hidden life, working for a spoilt princess and helping his obsessive friend. One is a vampire—the other leads a werewolf mafia group.Lost in this strange world, he finds help from Eliza, the strange pendant his mother created before she died. This helps him realise the world isn’t what he thought as he faces constant threats and danger from those who despise him.In this new world, his growth is rapid, and with endless possibilities, Nikolai fights for his life and to protect what he finds important while rising to the top.

Crossing over to Japan during the year 1860, a time marked by the end of the Edo Shogunate Era, amidst a whirlwind of events.Having completed the industrial revolution, foreign powers with steam battleships have opened Japan's doors, bringing turmoil and opportunity to the nation.In this chaotic era, Tachibana Aoto, who travels through time to become an ordinary police officer in Edo (modern Tokyo), acquires the Talent Duplication System, allowing him to duplicate any talent from an opponent after a confrontation, regardless of winning or losing.For instance—after a match with a beautiful youth named Chokata Toshisuke, Tachibana Aoto duplicates the talent of Swordsmanship Talent Amplification, increased by 50 times the average person's talent.