Mark of the Fool - Chapter 16: The Core

There was a prominent old martial arts family which in the hundred years would give birth only to males, never a girl. Finally, one day, a girl was born. She was a tassel blower among ten thousand green groves. Ultimately, she turned into an agile and brave tomboy!

There was also an imperial descendant who his old father had six princesses. His father was just short of a son to inherit the throne. Finally, one day, he got a bastard son who was his youngest child. With countless spoiling, in the end that son was brought up into a universally unmatched egomania!

“Zhen as the nation’s number one beauty, as the nation only first class figure, obviously needs to have a professional bodyguard constantly at our side for protection. That will be you, the iron-willed female King Kong pretending to be a little eunuch.”

- Description from Novelupdates

In an exhilarating twist of fate, Jiang Chen traverse into a fantasy realm novel he read, taking on the role of the notorious Holy Son in a riveting tale. But here’s the catch – he’s pegged as the female lead’s obedient doglicker. Or so the story initially wanted…Unleashing the ‘Slack Off System’, Jiang Chen flips the script! Each act of slacking off spectacularly rewards him. Doglicking duties? Jiang Chen smirks at the thought. “Not in a million realms,” he declares.As the system chimes melodically, rewards rain down like immortal gifts:Ding, for successfully slacking off, you receive: the Emperor Weapon, All-Heaven Mirror!’Ding, another round of slacking off earns you: the Immortal Technique, Great Daluo Heaven!’Ding, for successfully slacking off you received: Immortal Emperor Cultivation!’But wait, there’s a twist in the tale! The world around Jiang Chen starts to unravel in the most unexpected ways.The character settings of the female leads have all collapsed.Junior Sister Ye Qingcheng: ‘I can only repay your life-saving grace with my body!’Cold and aloof master: ‘Disciple, I allow you to defy your master.’

A student who was preparing the Civil Service examination for 4th year, suddenly he found himself in an unfamiliar body 3 years ago.

As well as a status window displaying a threat in front of his eyes!

※Speciality: He used to take and sell idol’s data.

In 2173, the world’s first Full-World Virtual MMORPG game ‘Astral Online’ went on sale globally, forever changing the blue planet Asteria!

With its revolutionary Digital Capture System, astonishing graphics and ability to scan yourself into the game with up to 20% beautification, countless defenders rallied to play the game.

Fifty million players logged in on launch. There were no queues or lag on launch, leaving countless critics impressed and willing to try the game. Because the game used a 6-hour play limit a day, it allowed even working adults to keep up with young students and the unemployed.

A resounding success, as more people poured onto the game servers, families and friends alike. Astra Online became a household name overnight.

One month later, the game opened its first RMT system, which made earning a living from the game easier... Thus began the Astral rush!

Professional players formed guilds and factions to increase their profits, but nobody could know this prosperity was a mere joke.

One year later, players fused with their avatars, gaining powerful abilities in the real world, which tipped the power and caused chaos.

Two years later, demons and monsters from inside the game invaded the real world.

Three years later, over 90% of humanity perished, leaving the rest to hide like rats, unable to fight back in fear.

Four years later, this world is no longer ours. The demons march on our last bastions, one by one. They exterminated us.

Zell was an average player who liked to collect beasts in the game and evolve them into humanoids, as they were primarily females.

He spent most of his life working two jobs to make ends meet.

Thanks to the excellent healthcare of his country, there were no crippling debts. There was only emptiness.

When the end came, he was powerless and alone. His only companions were his cute pets and Rika, his cherished Flame Rabbit.

She was the only beast he evolved to a humanoid form after his late start to the game.

He died saving the life of a strange girl with white wings and his pet Rika, the sad eyes of Rika and the girl’s sorrow floating through the air as he slowly passed away.

However, instead of dying, he awoke inside an empty white room with a single computer and a strange, game-like screen that allowed him to edit his IRL avatar and persona.

Who offered him this second chance?

For what reason did they help him?

Can he meet Rika again?

Zell could never know; he only knew his second life’s goal.

Survive!