A Stepmother's Marchen - Chapter 8

Laviore Bailey—the ‘fake saintess’ who banished the innocent princess and stirred up bad blood to wage war.

She’s the villainess with a façade of a saintess.

“I love you. So just shut your mouth and die. Okay?”

But the moment her trusted lover chose her as a sacrifice to the demon, and she realized her father was behind the plan, she killed herself by swallowing poison.

It hurt. It was so painful that she could not even scream. But it was fine. Because she knew this was not the end.

“I will save you this time.”

Then, she came back for her second life. She was determined to rescue those who were unlucky because of her and restored her life back.

“You do whatever you want for the man in your dream.”

Demian said with a rough smile.

“I’ll also protect you the way I want to.”

A decade ago, the first dungeon gates appeared, but some vanished before they were ever conquered. The MC, a low-rank hunter, awakens the Lost Gate System, granting him access to these forgotten dungeons where legendary monsters and artifacts are trapped. Each completed lost gate grants him absurd power, but also reveals terrifying truths—these dungeons are prisons for ancient beings who want revenge.

'I'm not an ambitious person,' is something Reiner often says. He just wants to hang around with the Straw Hat crew, traveling the world while collecting the souls of the dead. From Kuro... Arlong, then to 'Old Sand' (Crocodile)... the Golden Lion (Shiki)... As he gathered more and more, the 'style' started getting progressively weirder.A demon with goat horns and a snake tail? Okay, maybe I can understand that. But a 'Chainsaw Demon'? What the heck is that? And where did you even pull this 'Sukuna' from?!When the Summit War kicks off, Sengoku and the Three Admirals stare at Reiner, who is sitting calmly upon the execution platform.'What? You're saying these incredibly strong individuals are undead beings controlled by him?!''How is that possible! Isn't he just some handyman doing chores for the Straw Hat crew?''Seriously, man... You call *this* logistics?!'Hearing this, Reiner gets annoyed: 'If doing literally every kind of job isn't called logistics, then what is!?'------(Story follows the Straw Hats' journey + original plot elements. The main character is neither overly righteous/naive nor does he turn evil/dark.)

“Alas, this life is a failure; let’s see what the next life holds.” ... “The second life has ended, calculating results... Final rating: C+. Rewards based on rating: You may choose to inherit one item from Constitution, Skill, or Talent. Please select?” “Hmm, I choose to inherit the Talent ’Dynamic Vision’.” “Talent inherited... Congratulations on achieving the following lifetime achievements: Innate Grandmaster; Blessing of Many Offspring (10/10)” Achievement rewards: Two random rewards. You may draw from Constitution, Skill, or Talent, or choose to upgrade Talent level. Please select? ... A reborn individual, in possession of the treasure ’Hundred Lifetimes book’, reincarnates within the Cultivation World, undergoing endless cycles of rebirth without the bloodline ending or the soul perishing! The family he established ten thousand years ago has now grown into a massive entity that spans the heavens. The disciple taken in casually eight thousand years ago ultimately became the founder of a Great Sect in the Immortal Realm. The pet raised three thousand years ago has evolved into an unparalleled Demon Saint of the Otherworld. ... I am Zhao Sheng, and I shall cultivate life after life until Ascension!