Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king - Chapter 142: Close call

In a world where failure is almost guaranteed, the game I now find myself in has a staggering 99.9% chance of defeat. Every choice brings chaos, and every road leads to disaster. No one has ever beaten it—it's infamous for being impossible to clear. But somehow, against all odds, I've transmigrated into this cursed game.Worse yet, I've taken over the body of Max, a minor character whose role is insignificant in the grand scheme of things. In the original story, Max is destined to die—nothing more than a forgettable extra lost in the background, a mere footnote in the epic tale of others.Frustration hit me hard as I realized I was trapped in this dead-end character. My doom felt inevitable, and every instinct told me to give up. What hope did I have in a world where even the strongest could barely survive?But just as despair was about to swallow me whole, a System suddenly activated, turning everything on its head. Along with the System came a peculiar ability:[Charm]It wasn't some overpowered skill designed for combat or survival. No, it was something entirely different, yet equally powerful in its own right.[Charm: Increase favorability as more women are captivated by your presence.]This was my key to survival.Through this strange, almost ridiculous skill, I realized that I could change my fate. The powerful female characters, once unreachable in the original storyline, could now be influenced. If I could make them favor me, their strength, influence, and protection would be mine.But it wouldn’t be easy. Each of these women had their own complex personalities, histories, and goals. They were dangerous, capable of crushing me in an instant if I misstepped. But with charm on my side, I might just be able to win them over—and in doing so, alter my destiny.What was once a game of certain death had now become a gamble of life and affection. Every conversation, every interaction, would determine whether I live or die. My charm was my weapon, and it would be the only thing standing between me and the grim fate that awaited Max.Now, with my new plan in motion, I’ll have to navigate the intricate web of relationships and alliances while avoiding the countless threats looming over me. The odds are still stacked against me, but for the first time since I arrived, I can see a glimmer of hope.If I can make the right moves, charm the right people, and avoid the pitfalls, I might just survive this nightmare.Or better yet, thrive.This is my one chance at life in a world of inevitable ruin, and I’ll do whatever it takes to change my story.

Power? Wealth? Glory? Who freaking cares!

Jack just wants to live in peace, but he’s the greatest trouble magnet EVER!

[Ding! Congratulations! You've Awakened!]

[Unlocked SSS+ Curse of Obliteration!]

[Good Luck Surviving!]

Just as all hope seems lost, he gets reincarnated in the Game-like Magical world of Eternia! Is this finally a chance at an uneventful life?

Jack will do whatever it takes to accomplish his goal, including World Domination. Can’t have anyone disturbing you if they’re all under your rule!

But this might prove troublesome… For instance, how are there so many Demonic Gods trying to make him their Slave?! Can’t they just leave him alone?!

Every Goddamn Day….

[Class Unlocked: Ruin Knight!]

[Class Unlocked: Blood Mage!]

[Class Unlocked: Grim Reaper!]

[Class Unlocked: Vampire Progenitor!]

[Class Unlocked: Apocalypse Overlord!]

[Class Unlocked: Ethereal Incubus Prince!]

“Sigh…..”

In her last life, Yu Lingxi fell from a myriad of stars that surrounded the moon into the dust, and was forced to sacrifice herself to the regent, Ning Yin.

The regent was born handsome and beautiful, but unfortunately he has a crippled leg. He was a twisted and cruel madman who killed his brothers and father.

What Yu Lingxi was most afraid of was that while wiping the fresh blood on his hands, he smiled and said to her: “Lingxi, come here.”

After only two years of marriage, Yu Lingxi passed away suddenly.

After her death, Ning Yin did not set up a mourning hall, did not make funeral arrangements and buried her, and became even more insane, slaughtering the city with blood.

Then she was reborn at fifteen years old, when she was still a high-ranking noble daughter of the general’s mansion, and Ning Yin was not yet the regent who covered the sky with one hand.

Unable to swallow this anger, Yu Lingxi took the guards to find Ning Yin, who was living on the street, and intended to beat him anonymously to avenge the resentment in her previous life.

Unexpectedly, when she rushed to the scene in anger, she saw the thin boy curled up and was being pressed to the ground, and his left leg was about to be broken. The muddy water was covered with blood and trickled down, soaking his dark and resentful eyes red…

Only then did she realize what a pitiful past Ning Yin had.

Yu Lingxi made a mistake due to a strange combination of circumstances, and instead of going to beat someone, she went to save him.

She had no choice but to take in the little poor boy and try her best to teach him to be an upright young man with a healthy body and mind.

To her surprise, as she taught and taught, the little poor boy looked at her with more gloomy and strange eyes.

- Description from Novelupdates

On a continent where every soul is born with a Seal that defines their destiny, there is no place for the weak.“Mo Bai” son of the Demonic Seal Sect, had his childhood stained in blood—forced by his own father to kill at the age of six.With only average talent but an unbreakable will, he enters the Demonic Academy, where his journey begins—to prove that sheer will can shatter all limits… and even rewrite the very laws of the Seal.Tags:1. Unique Cultivation System2. Dark Fantasy3. Cunning Protagonist4. Evil MC5. Anti-Hero6. Power Absorption7. Martial Arts8. Sect Politics9. Intelligent MC10. Villainous MC11. World Building12. Psychological13. Twisted Morality14. Mystery15. No Romance16. Gore17. Average Talent18. Betrayal19. Survival20. Slow Burn Power Progression21. Cold-Hearted MC22. Scheming23. Dark World24. Tragic Past25. Growth Through Suffering26. No System27. Morally Gray MC28. Descent Into Darkness29. Heaven-Defying30. Clans and Bloodlines