The 100,000th Try - Chapter 21: Into the Lion’s Den

When I opened my eyes, I was inside a novel.

Hunter woke beneath two moons with a System that wanted a hero and built a bandit instead.At first, it rewarded raids, recruits, and “efficient acquisitions.” His small crew became legends: raiders, thieves, and accidental conquerors who couldn’t stop winning.Every fight made him stronger. Every victory pulled him further from the hero he never wanted to be.Now, feared by sects and hunted by saints, the Bandit King laughs beneath the same two moons that started it all because when the System wants a hero, sometimes it gets a villain instead.Content Warning: slavery, graphic violence, and a protagonist whose system messages will hurt your sides.Join the official Discord: https://discord.gg/GRcKN8YV

An AI calling itself Schema has assimilated earth into its system. As a consequence, everyone gained access to status screens, power-ups, and skills. This AI turned these concepts from fiction to fact. It's easy to become intoxicated with leveling up and becoming stronger. To some, it's too good to be true like living out a dream.

For Daniel, however, it's closer to a nightmare.

He's in a bit of a predicament. Cracks in our dimensional fabric have unleashed terrifying beasts from dark, abyssal places. Schema organizes these cracks into dungeons, giving the native species of the planet a chance to fight back. Daniel finds himself trapped in one of these dungeons. Not long after, he discovers there's only one way out.

Chase C. Miller is an actor with chillingly glowing purple eyes that could violently take one’s heart and a beauty that draws everyone’s eyes. After spending a heated night with him, Josh was imprinted behind his ear and he now had a secret that must never be found. It was none other than the fact that he was pregnant with Chase’s child!A few years later, Josh, who had been hired once again as his bodyguard, is astonished by his appalling character. Despite this, every time they meet eyes and stand close together, Josh cannot seem to be able to stop his heart from beating faster.“Oops, are you all right?”“You f*cking bastard, how dare you—”“Yes, I somehow dared to touch my client’s dick. I sincerely apologize.”