Gardenia's Heart - Chapter 58: Combat Lesson

It seems that my previous synopsis was not very clear, so here is the clarification:An ordinary man dies and has the opportunity to be reincarnated, but after making a mistake in front of the goddess or basically desecrating her in his thoughts, he is punished by being reborn as a woman.But later, he discovers a method to temporarily recover his male body (legacy of lust).However, his endless desire will be the least of his problems.This world is nothing like the fantasy he dreamed.“As for genres, there's a little bit of everything: Harem, Romance, Comedy, Yandere, Yuri, MILFs, Lolis, Elves, woman-beast, Demons, Dragons, Gigantes, Priestesses, Androids, incest, Group Action, Futa, a little bit of SM, and much more. If it captures your interest, great!!!”.Here is the original synopsis>>>>>“Wait, you turned me into a woman just because I imagined that? I didn’t know you could read minds—that’s not fair!”(He had defiled her in his imagination in five different ways, each worse than the last.)After his death, a goddess granted him reincarnation in another world. But his uncontrollable lust angered her, and as punishment, she turned him into a woman.“Stop!... Don’t make that choice,” warned an old voice.Through an encounter beyond reason, he learns the truth: this world is nothing like the fantasy he imagined. It is brutal, merciless, and those who let their guard down don’t live long. He also discovers a method to temporarily regain his male form.Now, drawn into a battle for power where even the gods take sides, he fights not only for revenge, survival, and ambition, but also to protect those he holds dear—and everything he has built. In this second life, forged by sacrifices beyond his comprehension, he will carve his own path… no matter the cost.

The figure of the Armada seems to be still riding the wind and waves in the Atlantic Ocean, and the gold of South America still seems to flow in continuously. As Alfonso from the Bourbon family returns to the Royal Palace of Madrid where he was born, the story begins here…

- Description from novelbuddy

It’s the 3rd of March of the Immortal Martial era.Under the Sect Leader’s unremitting efforts, the Qingyun Dao Sect finally welcomes its eighth disciple, Ye Ping.In order to make Ye Ping stay and to earn his respect, everyone in the sect resorts to all sorts of tricks to deceive him.They boast and pretend to be peerless Sword Dao experts, geniuses in cultivation, alchemy, refinement, divination, alchemy arrays, treasure appraising, and sons of destiny.For the sake of maintaining the image of geniuses, they teach Ye Ping all sorts of nonsensical things.They make Ye Ping try to gain an epiphany out of a random sword mark.They take out a random big pot and make Ye Ping refine supreme-grade pills with it.They take out a random copper coin and make Ye Ping deduce the ultimate heavenly secret.They initially hope to just delay the time that Ye Ping discovers the truth so that he would stay in the sect for a while longer.However, to their surprise, their new little Junior Brother… manages to learn everything.

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!