Infinite Cube: Extra's Life in Another World - Chapter 4: The Elixir Of Immortality[1]

“We campaigned for a century, prevailing against all obstacles. The sole exception being the Marshal, who could not be defeated…… the military fame of the Marshal endures, yet the Alliance has been utterly crushed. From this day forth, all the glory belongs to the Marshal, himself.”

As the Alliance government that stood for a thousand years crumbled, the Galactic Empire rose into power. The supreme military leader of the Alliance, Gavin Silla, refused to surrender and chose to fight to the death for his nation.

“Your Majesty, in the Age of Old Earth, mint blossoms were believed to be an omen for reunion. In the language of flowers, it means—

—hoping to see you once more.”

- Description from Novelupdates

In this world, orphans or just anyone without any hope for this world can apply to become a “walking target”. Their sole purpose is to be a practicing dummy for the students of the sect who train to become “Demon Hunters”. These students need “walking targets” to test their training on living, walking beings of flesh and blood.
In exchange, they will be provided with food & shelter.
Their existence value is lower than a slave, but if they manage to survive a few years they can receive a life long pension.

Xiao Han is such a “walking target”. One time he witnessed a powerful Demon Hunter disposing a demon. When the demon died, a fragment of the demon that managed to escape entered Xiao Han’s heart. No one saw that, and even Xiao Han himself only felt some discomfort for an instant.

But that thing in his heart soon gave Xiao Han visions, and the first one is of a cultivation method which allows Xiao Han to absorb damage to enhance his body. A perfect cultivation method for a “walking target”.

- Description from Novelupdates

Initially, the four elder brothers of the affluent Sang family disapproved of everything about their biological sister, their hearts and eyes solely focused on their foster sister.The eldest brother said, 'Stop embarrassing yourself with your acting, just retire from the industry.'The second brother remarked, 'Your life is less significant than Jiaojiao's movie premiere.'The third brother declared, 'Didn't buy you a gift, you are an outsider after all.'The fourth brother insisted, 'Don't come to my game, Jiaojiao will be there.'After repeated disappointments, Sang Qiao carried her bag and left, not only setting up her own company to make money but also participating in a dating show with her ex-fiance as her partner. Just when she finished the show diligently, thinking she could gracefully retire from it, she suddenly felt a pair of large hands encircling her waist, and a man's voice murmured deeply: 'Where do you think you're going, naughty girl? Were you just leading me on this whole time? Hmm?'Sang Qiao: '!' I was taking the dating show seriously, and you actually fell in love???'From then on, she gained a powerful supporter, reaping the rewards of both a flourishing career and a love life.However, the four brothers, betrayed by their foster sister and realizing how wrong they were in their treatment of Sang Qiao, deeply regretted their past actions, attempting every means to reconcile.Facing the eldest brother she said: 'Stop squatting at my doorstep begging, you're affecting the city's appearance.'To the second brother she said: 'You've only lost a leg, if I take care of you, I'd be losing five million!'Confronting the third brother: 'Keep dumping trash at my doorstep and watch how unpleasant I can be.'And to the fourth brother: 'Tomorrow I'm going to visit a friend's dog, so I have no time for your competition.'

In the year 2090, technology has advanced to the point where Simulation Boxes, (Sim Box for short) are common place, allowing for the user to link up their brain's neural network to a full dive Simulation. While initially used for educational purposes, recently a large gaming company, Averon, released a fully fledged immersive MMORPG simulation where users can become anyone they desire, level up, choose their class, and become a hero or a villain. The name of this simulation is The Shattered World Online.

Eli Winters had no interest in playing it. His father, a jobless bum who spent his entire life playing games in the hope of becoming a famous player or streamer, was able to use the release of The Shattered World Online to gain wealth and fame, quickly becoming the number one player and a household name as the game took the world by storm. He immediately abandoned Eli and his mother in favor of being with someone from his guild, despite his mother having worked two jobs to support them and raise Eli by herself. Eli had nothing but spite for his father and the game.

When Eli's best friend convinces him to try out the game, his father's fame begins to interfere, culminating in him being singled out and shunned by his peers, and his father offering to pay for his university tuition in return for Eli hiding their relationship and quitting the game. Instead of complying with his father's wishes, Eli decides to prove to everyone how useless a guy his father is by challenging him that if Eli is able to surpass him in the game world he must delete his account and quit his streaming career. His father accepts the challenge believing his son to be useless at games - but Eli will soon show him just how ambitious a spiteful person can be.