Valkyrie's Shadow - Chapter 19Winter’s Crown: Act 1,

Lucas Arthur was nothing more than a weak and struggling C-rank hunter, barely getting by in a world where power dictated everything. Forced to participate in a risky raid in a Class B cell, he found himself abandoned by his comrades when a deadly ambush left one of them, Andre, mortally wounded.As Lucas stood beside his dying comrade, the impossible happened. A glowing blue screen appeared in front of him.[Congratulations! You have earned the unique skill: “System Maker (SSS Rank)”]Before he could realize the absurdity of it, another prompt followed.[You have met the requirements to grant Andre the System: Evolutionary System]Driven by instinct, Lucas agreed and watched in shock as Andre's wounds healed, his strength rose, and his eyes shone with new power.Then, with unwavering loyalty, he spoke:*“Your orders, sir?”*It was then that Lucas realized he had the power to create systems for the Hunters, growing stronger with each follower.Each follower and each hunter Lucas gave a system that could evolve and increase in level and powerBut as Lucas grants more systems, powerful enemies take notice—ones who would do anything to control or destroy a System MakerWith every hunter he empowers, Lucas steps closer to becoming an existence that defies the very rules of this world.

【Brand New Setting】【Fully Developed System】When you awoke, you had become an official known as “Minister of Agriculture” in a fantasy game.“Dynasty's Prosperity” version: You diligently cultivated the “Seasonal Order,” from “Harmonizing Winds and Rains” to “Summoning the Winds and Commanding the Rains,” from “Bountiful Grain Harvests” to “All Things Flourish,” commanding the seasons and quietly developing.You achieved minor successes, joined the army on expeditions, and controlled the “Four Books of Agriculture.” You froze thousands of miles of great rivers to pave the way for the army. With “Miasma” you slew enemies, “Fog Shadow” obstructed tens of thousands of troops, establishing unparalleled military exploits and rising to the position of Director of Agriculture, secretly seizing the fate of the dynasty, all falling into your hands.“Spiritual Energy Resurgence” version: You nurtured “Mountain Spirits and Wild Creatures”: Twin lotus make you invulnerable to both water and fire, the Seven Star Sword cools the light across Nineteen Provinces, Parasitic Species feeding on living beings, Void Species rooting in the void to absorb the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth... You established an inner scenic area, cultivated immortal species, with “Grand Taiyi Lotus” replicating en masse! “Ancient Tree of Life” immortal and indestructible!“A true seed falls into the Dantian, can nurture spiritual sprouts for ten thousand years, one day when the cultivation is complete, my life is governed by me, not by the heavens!”“Heart fire shines like the sun, kidney water is the source, spleen stores earth, lungs refine through metal, liver sustains with qi. Using the body as the foundation, nurture original species, foster all laws, achieving the status of Shennong Dao Master !”

# PRETENDTOBEAFOOL

In the empire, both men and women would awaken Beast Essence once they reach the age of eighteen. Beast Essence was hidden in human bones, and the bone is called Beast Bone.

The more important the position of the Beast Bone was in a human body, the better the Beast Essence, and stronger Beasts would hatch from the beast eggs in the future! Kong Rui was going to be eighteen soon. She wanted to awaken, and then escape from this colosseum.

She wanted to escape this deceitful place where she was only entertainment for others, and had to fear her fate in order to survive. However, she was caught.

She was tied up and her sister dug out her entire backbone, because Kong Rui had awakened a Phoenix that had not been seen in a thousand years! She was stripped of all hope and thrown into a ravine filled with demonic energy like a dead dog.

Everyone thought she wouldn’t survive, but they didn’t expect her to have two elements in her body. She found a master under the cliff and even became a pampered princess of the demons there. The demons: “We’ll cut off the head of whoever touches Little Rui!”

Walking out of the abyss, she used her power to defeat the heroes, and no one dared to say the word “genius” in front of her! The Beasts that no one could conquer were as good as babies in her hands!

Countless peerless bosses came out just to accept her as their disciple! The bigshot that everyone feared even hugged her waist and whispered, “Do you want the entire empire? Why don’t I give it to you?”

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.