The Paladin in the Abyss - Chapter 34 - 30: The Price of a Soul

Six months ago, tens of thousands of black phantom towers appeared all over the world, floating above the cities. Chemists, physicists, religious people… all of them could do nothing.

Six months later, people became used to the towers and no longer paid them attention.

One day, Tang Mo saw a flying insect crash into it instead of going through it. The next day, a sharp and clear child-like voice issued an announcement to all humans.

“Ding dong! November 15th, 2017. The earth is online.”

The black tower’s three iron-clad rules:

1. Everything is explained by the black tower.

2. 6 o’clock to 18 o’clock is the game time.

3. All players, please strive to attack the tower.

- Description from Novelupdates

The world is separated into three realms: Aegaryn, Terranis, and Abyssion.Terranis and Abyssion realms have been in disharmony as the Demon King of Abyssion aims to overthrow all the other realms. In the tackling of this and to help the humans of Terranis defend themselves from the demons,A street orphan becomes a sacrifice in a summoning ritual for an S-rank beast. But he is given a golden opportunity of a lifetime as he is transmigrated into a hyena. Guided by a mysterious system that helps him unlock his boundless potential, he evolves with each rank upgrade, a feat no one of his kind has ever known. His journey is one of transformation, both in form and spirit. Each evolution brings new powers and challenges as he is summoned into deadly wars, cruel betrayals, and battles that threaten the very balance of the realms.Along his journey, he meets a summoner whose kindness and ideals are a stark contrast to all the summoners that he had met previously. Unlike the others, she treated him differently. Gave him a name. Through her, he begins to question his path, torn between his primal instincts and the flickering remnants of his humanity.But as the Demon God stirs in the shadows, threatening to collapse the realms into chaos, he must rise to face his ultimate destiny. To protect those who matter, to shatter the chains of servitude, and to ascend to the pinnacle of power—Ash must embrace his boundless evolution and become a force unlike any the realms have ever seen.

Damian, a Centurion of the Punishment Unit of the Baroque Kingdom. “Damn it.” Just once. If I were given just one more chance… ‘I would have truly conquered the battlefield with these guys.’ At the age of 30, he closed his eyes on a nameless battlefield. But when he opened them, he found himself back 17 years in the past. And this time, he had a perfectly functioning mana core that could wield magic. ‘This time.’ I will rise higher than anyone else. I won’t be swept away by the turbulent times. ‘I will conquer.’ Damian, who has returned to the past, wields his spear toward the world.

Humanity is caught in a great upheaval after the Intergalactic Union of All Species coincidentally discovers their existence on what they had formerly considered to be the fringe of the universe.Without any say in the matter, they get indicted into the Union as a legal member. Unfortunately, this meant that they were now obligated to partake in the exploration of a new Chaotic Realm parallel to their universe containing rich energies, resources, and essence that the universe itself craved.To that end, the universe has created its own will, which seeks to gather all races and strengthen warriors from them to explore the dangerous but lucrative Chaotic Realm, initiating the Augmented Reality simulation, Essence.In Essence, one can experience a carefully crafted universe similar to an RPG game, either by going in through your soul or going in through VR. The former means that death is true, and the latter is similar to a normal FIVR experience.Those who go in with their souls can freely receive feedback from their 'game characters' to obtain all stats, skills, and items they acquire in Essence, while those who go in with VR do not obtain that benefit.However, those who pay for it in Essence can receive an awakening of genetic talent called abilities. These abilities are graded from F to EX, a total of 10 stages.Not much is expected from the human race when the first 100 participants get chosen at random from the public - a standard protocol - only for each one of them to awaken at least an A-grade ability.Then, there was Damon Arnan, a young Ghanaian politician, who ended up awakening, not one, not two, but three EX-Grade Talents.The human race, which had just entered the galactic playground, was about to experience a storm with Damon smackdab in the middle.