Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king - Chapter 174: Showing off new stuff (1)

The formless ancient world was infested with despicable demons. They hunted and feasted on mankind, keeping the human civilization constantly in a weak and suppressed state.

During the first known year, a magical mountain descended into the world from the realm of the Gods. Carved on this enormous mountain was a message: ‘Heaven Prevails’…

After the Grand Descent, a name that was given to the descending of the mountain, the Three Great Sages made their ways to Mystic Mountain where they learned to harvest what we now call magic, establishing the Mystic Cults and eighty-one sacred shrines to help aid mankind with the cult’s mystic powers against the eternal fight to the death with demons.

- Description from Novelupdates

Five years ago, humanity’s strongest Tower Climber was betrayed at the peak of his conquest.Rael Arden, known only by his codename Phantom, was the silent genius who cleared impossible floors, crushed monsters with forbidden magic, and shaped the rules of Tower exploration. No one had ever seen his real face—yet his legend was feared across the world.But at the Tower’s summit, the teammates he carried to glory stabbed him in the back. For power. For godhood. For fear of what he might become.They thought he died.They were wrong.Reincarnated in secret, Rael awakens in a modern world that’s on the edge of collapse. Dungeons bleed into cities. Monsters evolve. The Tower is no longer just a gate—it’s infecting the world. And the very ones who betrayed him now rule from the shadows, hiding behind titles, guilds, and lies.But Rael isn’t alone. His soul split across hidden clone bodies, each designed to infiltrate, gather information, and prepare for war. As each clone reawakens, his power grows—and so does his rage.With him are three women tied to his fate:Selene, the shadow rogue who never betrayed him.Lyra, a curious researcher drawn to the legend of the Phantom.Aeris, the sword saint who still mourns his death… and may not be as loyal to the enemy as she seems.Now, Rael hunts the seven betrayers who destroyed his past.One by one, they will fall.But revenge is just the beginning.Because deep within the Tower, something else is waking—an ancient force that even Rael feared. And this time, the world may not survive unless the Phantom reigns again.

Battlegrounds of the Gods, New World

Ethan was an extra in the game, and an opportunity presented itself.

[Subscribe to the god you want!]

“Everyone wants me?”

-Mortal, please subscribe to me!

Ethan had become the idol of many gods,

His every step shook the world, and the gods took notice!

Ning Shi, a man from Saturn, accidentally downloaded a game on his phone called the Age of All.

“Beep! Clone successfully created!”

Ning Shi received a clone in the game. Whenever his clone got stronger, his real self would get stronger as well.

“Your clone has trained in the training room for 12 hours. Vitality +1, Mentality +1.”

“Your clone has slain the Earth-Dragon. You have received the Earth-Dragon Bloodline.”

“Your clone has consumed the Charm Fruit. Beauty +10.”

His clone started to conquer the game, created his own faction, and left a legacy.

“Your clone has successfully won the heart of Alice the Rose Duchess. Alice will be arriving in your world shortly. Please be mindful of your surroundings.”