The Strange Adventure of a Broke Mercenary - Chapter 8: Collapsing to Running Away

Q: How would you approach your target?

Tiger Tribe:
Jiang Yu (excited): “Cure him, give him medicine!”

Future Mecha:
Duan Jingzhe (at a loss): “… umm … feed him expired nutrients?”

Ancient Court:
Donghao Yang (banter): “Follow nature’s example and flirt shamelessly.”

Next unlucky protagonist: “…”

This is a collection of three short stories in which each protagonist crosses to another world or is reborn.

- Description from Novelupdates

Arriving in a strange world, Xavier realizes he's born into a family of hunters: Humans who hunt demons, cursed spirits, and various supernatural creatures.Xavier also comes to a realization that apart from espers- humans who awaken their attributes.They are Arcanists- humans who by going through the Arcane Ascension make use of the power of belief- Arcana, to manifest their wills onto the physical world.Not only that, but Transcenders- humans who consume divinity potions at the risk of losing their sanity also exist....And with the resurgence of the pathways.Xavier and his brother, Klaus are born into the Dark Era... an era also known as the Golden Age.Now both armed with a system each. The brothers must do everything in their prowess to put an end to the resurgence of the various evil gods and lunatics that endanger the lives of the normal citizens of the society.Churches of Gods, Prophets, evil gods, seers, oracles, and even angels of the lord can be both allies and enemies in this legendary tale that delves into the peak of mystery, fantasy, mysticism, and Lovecraftian horror!

Japan – National News BroadcastThe polished news anchor sat upright, her gaze sharp as she adjusted the stack of papers before her. The newsroom behind her hummed with quiet urgency, the weight of the moment settling over the broadcast.“Authorities are baffled by a sudden and unexplained surge in sleep-related deaths across Japan,” she began, her voice steady yet tense. “More and more citizens are passing away in their sleep without any prior health concerns. Experts are working tirelessly to determine the cause, but no clear explanation has emerged. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and report any unusual symptoms before bedtime.”A graphic appeared, displaying the spike in fatalities over the past month. Behind her, unsettling photographs flickered across the screen—blurred images of individuals found in their beds, their faces frozen in expressions of terror.The anchor’s tone shifted. “Health officials recommend citizens avoid excessive fatigue and maintain healthy sleep habits. More updates will follow as investigations continue.”---United States – Paranormal PodcastIn a dimly lit podcast studio, the host leaned forward, his eyes wide with curiosity. Across from him, a rugged man in a worn flannel shirt, gripping a faded photograph in one hand and a beer can in the other, leaned back in his chair.“So, you're telling me you saw this creature firsthand?” the host asked, clearly intrigued.The man scoffed, shaking his head. “Damn right, I did. Ugly thing had wings bigger than my body—slow but sneaky. Thought it could steal my pigs again, but I was ready this time—camera in one hand, shotgun in the other.”He slammed the table for emphasis, then shoved the blurry image toward the host. The photograph depicted a small, red-skinned humanoid figure with large, bat-like wings, its eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.“Spit, the thing didn’t know what hit it when I fired!” the man chuckled, his voice full of excitement.The host held up the picture to the live chat. “Alright, what do you think? Mothman? Demon? Or is our friend here just seeing things?”The chat exploded with theories—some skeptical, others eager for the investigation to continue.---China – Liangyuan Street MarketSurveillance footage from a bustling night market in China captured a chilling scene. A woman in a red qipao walked gracefully through the crowd, her figure striking in the soft glow of lanterns.Suddenly, she paused. Her body flickered—like a glitch in a video—before vanishing completely, as though she had never existed.The footage zoomed in, replaying in slow motion. In the final frame before she disappeared, her face distorted unnaturally, her eyes hollow and empty.The screen cut abruptly to black.

Ronnie, a college student with a boring life has everything around him change when his whole world is turned upside down by a woman he accidentally summons while trying to summon a magical familiar as a game.His peaceful and tranquil days are disrupted as he tries to help her fit into human society while also searching for a way to break their bond.Hell further breaks loose when he discovers that his familiar is indeed the demon queen and mysterious forces start trying to eliminate him for reasons unknown.He struggles to protect himself, adjusting to having a demon queen in his life, and understanding his growing feelings for her.