MTL - Guide on How to Fail at Online Dating - Chapter 22

Intelligence without ambition is like a bird without wings.

“That monster’s prefix is two hundred meters long?!”“It’s back. Who can stop it?”Isaac never planned for Celestia: The Eternal Realms to change his life. The game promised 100% immersion, a completely realistic world powered by quantum brainwave interfaces. But the moment he entered the game, Isaac was thrown into an entirely new world, no longer the player, but the played. His character, a “Lesser Hyena-Wolf,” came with the dreaded “Weak” prefix, reducing his stats by 20%.Isaac quickly realized that this wasn’t a game he could simply log out of. It was his new life, and there was no escape. To survive, he had to evolve, to fight, and ultimately, to conquer. He knew the game inside and out, but this wasn’t the same reality he’d logged into. This time, he would have to become the monster, instead of fearing it.Every step he took, Isaac grew stronger. He realized that monsters weren’t bound by the same rules that governed the players. He could evolve, gaining new powers and unlocking Monster Reputation. With every kill, every victory, he unlocked a new level of power. The prefixes that marked his growth—Normal, Strong, Especially Strong—were a testament to his evolution. And the players began to whisper.

Isabella was supposed to be sipping champagne at a luxury spa, not waking up in the middle of a forest. Worse, a SYSTEM had attached itself to her like some clingy ex, spouting nonsense about survival, quests, and—oh, hell no—manual labor.“System, I was NOT built for the wilderness! My ideal ‘roughing it’ experience involves a five-star hotel with bad WiFi!”Now, instead of lounging in silk robes, she’s being ordered to farm? To hunt?“A farming quest? You want me—a city girl—to grow food? System, I once killed a cactus by overwatering it. This is NOT my calling!”And don’t even get her started on the hygiene situation.“You want me to bathe in a cold river? Darling, I require warm water, scented oils, and an ambience! What do I look like—some barbarian?!”Unfortunately, the locals—big, muscular beastmen—don’t seem to understand the concept of self-care. The women? Neglecting their skin like it’s a crime to be radiant. The men? Walking hygiene disasters.“Ladies, if your man can smell you before he sees you, we have a problem.”“You see this? This is lotion. It exists so you don’t look like a dried-up leaf. Use it.”“A beard should be majestic, not tragic. Let me fix it.”And the beastmen? They don’t just stare at her like she’s an oddity. No, they hover. They smirk. They lean in too close, fangs flashing with amusement.“Why do you keep looking at me like that?” she huffed, crossing her arms.The panther grinned, his tail flicking. “Because you’re fascinating when you’re annoyed.”No, absolutely not. She was not here for this nonsense.“If you have time to stare, you have time to moisturize.”She didn’t ask to be here. She didn’t ask to be their savior. But if she has to suffer through this world, she’s making everyone around her suffer less—through skincare, style, and some serious attitude.“If I hear one more ‘We don’t season our food here,’ I’m launching a war.”“If you have time to gossip, you have time to do squats.”“You want to impress a woman? Start with not smelling like the battlefield.”Survival isn’t just about fighting monsters; it’s about looking good while doing it. So what if the System keeps throwing impossible quests her way?“What do you mean ‘you can’t skip quests’?! Since when?! Where is the skip button?! I demand a skip button!”But somewhere between dodging ridiculous quests and fixing these people’s tragic grooming habits, Isabella found herself in situations. Uncomfortable, heart-racing situations.Like being trapped against a tree by the red python, his red eyes half-lidded as he murmured, “You talk too much, little star. Should I silence you?”Like waking up with the lion lord’s fur-lined cloak draped over her shoulders, his deep voice gruff, “You shiver in your sleep. I’ll fix that.”Like the phoenix watching her every move, his burning gaze searing into her skin as he mused,“You cause chaos wherever you go, but I find that I don’t mind.”Oh, hell. No. She was not about to fall for four beastmen. She was too pretty for this much stress.“If you insult me again, I’ll make sure your soul needs a beauty upgrade.”“I refuse to be disrespected by anyone who dresses like an unwashed tree branch.”And yet, when a rival tribe came to challenge her, when danger lurked too close, those same beastmen stood beside her—smirking, taunting, fighting for her.“A beastman growled at me today. I growled back. He ran. I am the alpha now.”Isabella isn’t just surviving. She’s thriving. And this world better keep up.

She, the second daughter of the Bluen consortium, a figure of envy among the rich second generation. No matter who she mentioned, they were all figures that others flocked towards. However, her boyfriend was getting married, but she was not the bride. She, who had always been so noble and lofty, was cruelly abandoned.He, the CEO of Valence Group, the intimidating young master of the Horne family and a prime example of the rich second generation. Little did people know, his bride ran away on the day he planned to register for marriage. He too, was cruelly abandoned.Laughably so, He was her soon-to-be brother-in-law.Seeing her angry and lonely future brother-in-law, she suddenly jeered, “We both have been abandoned. We would make a perfect pair.”He pursed his lips in silence.The next day, he took her to the Civil Affairs Office to go through the marriage registration process, having her replace her runaway sister as his bride.(Declaration of Ownership Chapter)“Julia, I now realize that I have always loved you. Do you know that I think of you all the time? I married her just so I could have a secure footing in the company.” Her ex-boyfriend, gripping her hand, whispered this soft confession of his misguided actions in the past.Before she could react, a strong hand appeared out of nowhere, fiercely grasping her ex-boyfriend's wrist. He cried out in pain, causing a stir among the guests at the wine party.He stood by her side, one arm draped across her shoulders, gently and passionately smiling while saying, “Wife, tell him, who am I to you?”Gazing at his handsome appearance, noble aura, and two bodyguards following him, her ex-boyfriend's face quickly drained of color, as if he had just realized something.(Cherishing Her Chapter)“Young master, the young mistress said something strange today.” The housekeeper, trailing behind him, was reporting her daily activities.“What did she say?”“The young mistress said she wonders if snow flying in June would be beautiful.” The housekeeper finished his report and carefully observed his reaction. After all, how could it be possible for there to be falling snow in the scorching heat of June?Once again, he pursed his lips in silence, then silently went upstairs.The next day.As soon as she stepped out of the main house, she was stunned. The sunrise filled the high sky while the expansive courtyard was covered in white snow. It was a vast expanse of white, as if it were midwinter, and countless snowflakes were dancing in the sky. The snowstorm was of extreme beauty.