Extra Basket - Chapter 98 - 85: Syndicate Arc (8)

Poisoned by his wife, betrayed by his best friend, and abandoned by his children—Matthew died broken and alone. But when he wakes up thirty years in the past, trapped in his eighteen-year-old body, everything changes.Now, the halls feel haunted, memories from a future that may never come keep popping into his head, and something strange is growing inside him—something he can’t explain. Sadly, this second chance isn’t a blessing. It comes with a price.But this time, he won’t be the victim. This time, he’s the one in control.

In a world ravaged by fiend beasts and spatial rifts, humans fight back using “”Soul Contracts”” to tame these creatures, turning them into protective spirit animals. Amidst this chaos, Zhou Mu, born with inadequate soul intensity and physical prowess, struggles to become an esteemed Animal Whisperer.With only a low-tier grass snake as his spirit animal and limited chances to pass the Whisperer’s test, Zhou Mu’s future looks bleak. However, an unexpected twist comes with the discovery of a mysterious system that allows him to trade personal attributes for power. As he navigates this new potential, Zhou Mu faces the challenge of overcoming his limitations and rising to power in a world where strength determines one’s fate.

Hell's Awakening: The Guardian's RiseIn the fiery depths of Hell, where infernals, demons, and ancient creatures reign, the balance is fragile. At the heart of this underworld stands Azrael, the Guardian of Hell, a powerful being tasked with keeping the infernal realms from chaos and preventing the resurrection of fallen demons. With mastery over fire magic and the strength to command Hell itself, Azrael's existence is defined by vigilance and control.But when a powerful force of rogue infernals escapes their prison, led by a ruthless and vengeful faction, Hell’s foundation begins to crack. As these infernals break free, their goal is clear—to unleash an uprising and bring back the dead. Azrael must face not only these deadly foes but also confront his own inner demons. As the situation escalates, Azrael discovers his own potential for evolution—powers he never knew he possessed that could either save Hell or destroy it entirely.Amid this turmoil, the arrival of deities, including gods of light and purity, threatens to further destabilize Hell’s delicate ecosystem. They believe Hell must be purified, even if it means eradicating the guardian himself. As battles rage, alliances shift, and Azrael’s strength grows, he must decide whether he will uphold the order or reshape Hell in his own image.In this battle of gods, demons, and guardians, Azrael’s evolution is just beginning. The question is not just whether Hell will survive—but if Azrael will become its ultimate ruler—or its ultimate downfall.

A wicked mother one day brought home a girl. The child was the hidden legitimate daughter of the duke, the heroine of [The Duke’s House Has Three Sons and One Daughter] Loretta. I was Melody, the villainous girl who tormented her and was condemned along with my mother. Not wanting to die like that, I decided to start treating her well now. I personally fed Loretta, put her to bed, and played with her. And then her reaction was…? “I want Melody to marry me!” Caught off guard by her endless affection, I too ended up entering the duke’s family, “I’ll stick right by Miss Melody’s side.” And there, it seems I’ve met a young lord who’s an even bigger ‘Melody fool’? All I did was be kind to survive, but why am I being loved…?!