MTL - Crossing the Crowd to Chase Love - Chapter 112

“Before the towers fell, before everything was consumed by darkness...”Leo Astralis whispered to himself while traversing through the rubble of the ancient structure.His body bore the scars of survival, bite marks that throbbed against the coarse, blood-stiffened fabric of his clothing.“..I wonder what the world was like.”After humanity failed to complete the Tower almost 700 years ago in time, it exploded, spreading monsters all over the word.Even the system, which blessed humans with power, had abandoned them. Or did it?[Run]A singular message urged Leo to escape, yet it was short lived as was he was caught like an animal in a trap.And just like an animal he lashed out until the very end, taking one of the captors to the grave with him.But as darkness closed in, the system spoke again.[One time Regression activated][Congratulations. You've activated the Heart of the System]

“You called me lazy, good. Watch me turn sloth into gold.”—Rino.***Rino used to be a boy who was betrayed by someone he trusted to be his intern, and left to die all because he believed in digital money. At just 18, his entire world laid into shambles when his intern retrieved the loan he borrowed, the bank seized all he had left with him, and worse, his father disowned him.That was when he died out.But fate had other plans.He wakes up in the body of Rino Carter, the “useless” son of a global billionaire who also believes in online wealth, but is termed lazy by everyone around him. Except this time, Rino has something powerful by his side...He awakened “The Throne of Gold System”.Not only did he awaken this system, Rino returned as another being of the same identity in a different timeline, and this time, he’s building an empire no one can take from him.He’ll conquer the world of money, crush his enemies and win hearts, with the system by his side.***“You see, money is power. And I? I have money.”—Rino Carter.

In a realm where power is determined by affinities—elemental forces that shape magic, combat, and survival—Ethan is an anomaly. While most people are born with a single affinity, Ethan stands apart, wielding a vast range of abilities granted by a mysterious Ancestral-line System. This unique system taps into the untapped potential of his vampire and dwarven bloodline, unlocking ancestral powers far beyond the norm.At just 18 years old, Ethan's journey begins when he accidentally awakens this system, discovering that he is the heir to a forgotten lineage that blends the strength, resilience, and mysticism of both vampire and dwarven ancestors, a perfect hybrid of both. Though he must awaken and evolve to harness their power. However, the more power he gains, the more he learns about the dark secrets of his lineage—secrets that others would kill to possess.Unlike everyone else, Ethan's affinities are not innate; they are granted by the system based on his bloodline’s ancient heritage. As he levels up, he acquires abilities that no one in the current era has ever seen: the Psychic powers of telekinesis and telepathy from ancient vampire lords, the earth-shaping skills of dwarf warriors, and a host of hidden abilities that challenge the world’s very understanding of magic.But power comes with a price. Ethan quickly finds himself targeted by powerful factions and hidden enemies who fear what his bloodline could mean for the balance of the world. Ancient forces tied to his ancestry awaken, each with their own agenda—some seeing him as a threat to be eliminated, others as a tool to be used.Accompanied by a diverse group of companions, each with their own affinities and secrets, Ethan embarks on a perilous journey. Together, they traverse beast-filled forests, ancient ruins, worlds and perilous dungeons, all while facing foes who seek to exploit or destroy Ethan’s unique powers. Along the way, bonds are forged, fates are entwined, and the line between friend and foe blurs as Ethan learns that his destiny is far greater than he ever imagined.But with every new ability comes a deeper question: What is the true purpose of the Ancestral-line System? As he battles monstrous creatures, rival affinity users, and ancient curses, Ethan must confront the reality that his bloodline holds the key to either the salvation or the destruction of their world or something else entirely.In a world governed by affinities, Ethan’s unmatched power sets him on a path that could change everything—or lead to his downfall.Will he master the secrets of his ancestry and forge his own fate, or will the weight of his heritage drag him into the depths of a history best left forgotten?

Nine Characters, all bound to the whims of a 'Deranged Entity.'All the clues they have are the vast differences they have with those that bore them.His Madness has seeped into them, crowning them with Glory. They shall come to know the price of Sin & Virtue by Sacrilege & Madness:Krael _My Pride can overturn Creation, drowning it in the madness of an unwilling. And yet I have to offer servitude to one who will always be beneath me, in the twisted guise of learning Humility - If only she knew how I long to grind her bones, she would know to control her tongueBorn to Pride, servitude to Humility.:Kaelan_My Hunger can consume the very foundations of existence leaving behind an abyss born from my will. And yet I have to exercise temperance lest I lose meaning. Why do the gods mock me so...to give me all I can ever eat, and yet never to touch any satiate my growing hunger. I have seen the cruelty of the divineBorn to Gluttony, raised by Temperance:Zaen_My Envy stalks the might of existence, wishing for its grandeur to be mine. And yet, my envy is never allowed to fester for Kindness plagues me like a curse. Compassion that was never mine, empathy I could care less about, heavens know I would rather drown in my own spit than to share goodwillBorn of Envy, chained by Kindness:Xaelan_My Greed clouds the hearts of even gods, from the mortal coils to the vastness of the cosmos chaining the 'Old Ones to sin. I feel the sickening embrace of her love, and yet I can never have it, for whatever is mine, I must give. To know Charity—that bustard—is the punishment I was accordedBorn in Greed, defiled by Charity: ...My Wrath burns the Heavens and fuels the pits of hell, bringing the end to all, as I ride my mount to Herald the storm. -Oops, this is not my stage. Sorry, but worry not my progeny will carry the mantle on my behalf. As they unleash the wrath stocked in their blood. But soon they will learn just how deep my Lord intends to go and that only Patience is the key to his games...hahaha...poor children, if only I could march alongside you in misery.Born to Wrath, burial by Patience:Thaen_My Sloth... uhm mm... well, I am too exhausted to think of a monologue.But Yah, blah blah...something Diligence... All I know is that I am more hard working than all of them combined... that 'guy was truly not fair when dishing them out_Born to Sloth, death by Diligence:Laen_My Lust fuels the passion of Creation, all beings lost in the throes of my splendor, indulging in desires so dark, and yet I am the purest of them all, abstinence is second nature. I weep for desires unfulfilled and yet Chastity that horrendous bi*** mocks me with laughter. Yet it seems only I suffer this cruelty; others are free in indulgence only I am a slave to virtue_Born in the flames of Lust, sustained by Chastity:Haelan_My Hatred runs so deep that the abyss is flooded; the rivers of the underworld are mere streams to my Hatred. I hold nothing but hate in my heart and yet 'he wishes I hold onto compassion. In 'his twisted form of madness, 'he has left me with no other choice. I shall let 'it fester until the day I make 'him pay_Born in the depths of Hate, Compassion my Love and my Death:Raelin_My Despair has seeped into the cracks of existence, corrupting the Light' of the 'Creator. All I feel is the despair and sorrow of all those born and chained in the embrace of 'the sisters' misery.'Unlike them, I search for her, elusive like the wind. I despair for the sight of her, and yet she will always elude me, shunning my pleas_Born in Despair, mourning for Hope...I feel the twisted love 'he holds for us all and yet they do not see it, blinded by Sin and Virtue:>Long but necessary:) what is the story about? Simply it's about the interplay of Sin and Virtue with a hint of Madness and Malevolence. Complicatedly, what makes sense may not actually make sense.