Gardenia's Heart - Chapter 33: A Winding Path

In 2173, the world’s first Full-World Virtual MMORPG game ‘Astral Online’ went on sale globally, forever changing the blue planet Asteria!

With its revolutionary Digital Capture System, astonishing graphics and ability to scan yourself into the game with up to 20% beautification, countless defenders rallied to play the game.

Fifty million players logged in on launch. There were no queues or lag on launch, leaving countless critics impressed and willing to try the game. Because the game used a 6-hour play limit a day, it allowed even working adults to keep up with young students and the unemployed.

A resounding success, as more people poured onto the game servers, families and friends alike. Astra Online became a household name overnight.

One month later, the game opened its first RMT system, which made earning a living from the game easier... Thus began the Astral rush!

Professional players formed guilds and factions to increase their profits, but nobody could know this prosperity was a mere joke.

One year later, players fused with their avatars, gaining powerful abilities in the real world, which tipped the power and caused chaos.

Two years later, demons and monsters from inside the game invaded the real world.

Three years later, over 90% of humanity perished, leaving the rest to hide like rats, unable to fight back in fear.

Four years later, this world is no longer ours. The demons march on our last bastions, one by one. They exterminated us.

Zell was an average player who liked to collect beasts in the game and evolve them into humanoids, as they were primarily females.

He spent most of his life working two jobs to make ends meet.

Thanks to the excellent healthcare of his country, there were no crippling debts. There was only emptiness.

When the end came, he was powerless and alone. His only companions were his cute pets and Rika, his cherished Flame Rabbit.

She was the only beast he evolved to a humanoid form after his late start to the game.

He died saving the life of a strange girl with white wings and his pet Rika, the sad eyes of Rika and the girl’s sorrow floating through the air as he slowly passed away.

However, instead of dying, he awoke inside an empty white room with a single computer and a strange, game-like screen that allowed him to edit his IRL avatar and persona.

Who offered him this second chance?

For what reason did they help him?

Can he meet Rika again?

Zell could never know; he only knew his second life’s goal.

Survive!

What happens when a bored and hungry zombie woman who reads to fulfill her basic needs transmigrates into a dungeon apocalypse novel, the book that caused her accidental death?If she was a cannon fodder, it would have been better. Instead, she was the passerby who died after handing the female lead, the special ring- a great golden finger that ended the apocalypse.And she wasn't even mentioned by the female lead, who claimed all the credit for being the world's savior, forgetting her sacrifice.After understanding the situation and losing the ring, her first thought was to look for food and sleep.She doesn't want to be the hero of the world, she is kind to leave it for the female lead to hug all the glory.But the two men she saved randomly always hung around, unwilling to leave her alone, and a reborn female lead who kept staring at her with hatred.Update Time: Tuesdays and Fridays with two chapters each. (⁠〃ﾟ⁠3ﾟ⁠〃⁠)

Ken was about to take his own life, after he had experienced a very tragic emotion. However, he was stopped by a mysterious cyan screen before his eyes.“What is this?”The Cyan screen displayed a message. It called itself the Guarantee System, and told him that it would guarantee whatever mission he desires. And through these missions he was to earn a reward, and these rewards were to be massive if the mission he takes, is relating to a… female.Then the question followed…[What will be your first mission?]At that moment, Ken knew… just the right thing he wanted. With a smirk on his face he said.“I WILL GET ALL THE LADIES I WANT!”Hehe'Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and organizations are imaginary and any resemblance to real persons or events is purely coincidental. The narrative is intended for entertainment purposes only and does not reflect real-life occurrences or perspectives.Enjoy!

In the year 2057, the world has become a corporate-run utopia for the super-rich, and a hellhole for all the rest.

Catherine 'Cat' Leblanc is an orphan that is about as far from super-rich as one can be. When the Incursion alarms start blaring and the sky starts raining hungry xenos, it's just another blemish on an already piss-poor afternoon.

A cyberpunk magical-girl alien-invasion LitRPG.

It’s exactly as wild as it sounds.