Starting from Zero - Book 2 - Chapter 1 – Golden Dragon

Set in the Shadow Slave world...a time before Sunny was born...this story follows a simple soldier who must survive in a dystopian, apocalyptic landscape where magic and gun warfare collide.In a far-off Quadrant known as North America, a young soldier named Hope is 16 years old when he gets infected by the Nightmare Spell. He passed! But...he feels a bit scammed...?A flaw that makes him fade from people's memories...A cursed attribute that makes him remember everything endlessly in eternal wakefulness...It's as if the Spell is twisting his future and existence into an almost improbable one.All he has ever known his purpose to be was to serve as a simple soldier. Not too powerful. But not so weak either. And maybe, just maybe like some others, become an Awakened. Although he never dreamt of being one.Now that his whole life is compromised after his First Nightmare, his first objective is to survive on his own. But as he tries to escape his fate, his actions seem to lead him further from his goal.He struggles against obstacles that slowly grow bigger and out of proportion.Maybe the Dream Realm and the Real World aren't so different than one may think.Hope's journey involves uncovering secrets and gaining knowledge about his true nature and his new role in the world.Is he fit to be a hero?Could he redefine it?***Please read the READER DISCLAIMER in Volume 0.This is my spin-off novel of “Shadow Slave” by Guiltythree.But please don't expect the same writing style, setting, and characters, especially the main character.This story reveals more about how people/cities/governments operate after the Spell’s arrival. I always find it interesting how maybe one country handles it fairly, but how others handle it with desperation to the point that you question humanity.There will be easter eggs pointing to the original novel either intentional for the plot or unrelated to it, but all for fun.I am a new author so props to all who bear with me and helps me improve my writing. If it is not for you, please don't leave outright hate comments. Eat wassabi instead if you want pain. Critique and advice would be great too.

(following the boat) When a person who can get random superpowers every day enters the world of pirates and joins the protagonist group, what will happen as a result?

Luffy: “Si Guoyi! Lin Bei, let’s jump from the sky again!” Kebi: “Please don’t!” Sauron: “Be sure to leave Lin Bei’s room at twelve o’clock every day!”

Nami: “This bastard, just let me…” Akainu Sakasaki: “Bastard Lin Bei, turn me back into a man!

The old lady used her ability to come to her aunt once! “Big” boys, come and meet your father! “Lin Bei:!!! This really doesn’t exist!!!

- Description from novelbuddy

The Yaoguang Realm expelled the foreign demons from the human race, and established the ninth-grade family and sect. At this point, the Yaoguang Realm came to an era ruled by the family and the sect.

The ninth rank rules a city, the eighth rank rules a county, the seventh rank rules a state, the sixth rank rules a country…

Chen Yang came through with He Daozhu, cultivated a powerful bloodline monster, raised the farm, and led the Chen family to become the current saint.

- Description from novelbuddy

Everyone wants superpowers, including Alden Thorn.But even if he's lucky enough to be one of the few humans granted magical abilities by the extraterrestrial System that's been running things on Earth for decades, his goal of being a battlefield support hero is still a long way off.He's got determination on his side and maybe a murderous alien desk clerk, too.The universe is a complicated place. Alden's about to meet it.