MTL - People Are Collapsing, Cheating is Bouncing - Chapter 8

Leon Vale’s world stopped when the chamber labeled him F-Rank, no spark, just Empty Core.One dozen sparks in a sea of a thousand chances. A near-miracle of failure, somehow flopped harder than flatlining.In Neo-Veridia, strength rules the game, no exceptions. Those who are tough get hailed as champions; others? They're stuck cleaning up messes. Might makes right here, plain and simple.Leon ended up on the ground. That’s where he landed, no surprise there.Later, the red moon climbed into view. Right after, creatures smashed past the shield. His siblings stood near death yet deep in his Empty Core, an old force stirred awake.[ SHADOW EXTRACTION SYSTEM ACTIVATED ]Leon takes energy from whatever he defeats. Each time a creature falls, he gains more strength. As shadows vanish into him, he drifts toward a mystery - something waits in a space beyond places: a seat atop no land, while a voiceless headpiece calls out to him through empty dark.Yet taking what’s not yours brings trouble.On top of everything else, the Evernight Alliance caught wind. Not just vampires - werewolves too. Old creatures that oughta be myths are poking at the city’s walls, messing up dungeon cores, chasing whatever’s pumping out that dark energy signal.Hunting for him.Leon’s stuck in a risky move, quietly getting stronger so he can shield his folks, hitting school while sneaking around to pull out shadows, acting powerless even though some old, grim force now names him successor.That F-Rank tag? Total fake. His Empty Core isn't broken, it fights. Each darkness he swallows drags him nearer to a reality he can’t face yetNot every seat of power fits a hero.Some crowns come from shadows, built on bones.Some kids just inherit stuff whether they like it or not.The Crimson Moon marked the start. What’s coming next? Things are about to heat up.

Keith, a regular office worker from Earth, suddenly transmigrates to the world of the novel he had been reading for the past decade. The new world, which was also called Earth, was slightly different. People with various powers existed who were called awakeners, making this world comparatively dangerous and also mysterious. While he was thrown into the novel’s world, he was also given a mystical ability to grant systems to other people. Armed with his special ability, he slowly climbs up the power ladder by taking “taxes” from the people he would give systems to. The only question that remained, was what would a realistic normal man, when faced with a similar minded protagonist, do when their goals opposed each other.

Other people's systems are all insanely badass, but Fang Chenyi's is all about picking up trash. But that's okay, because picking up trash can also yield all sorts of good things![Congratulations, Host, for picking up one toy car. You have been specially rewarded with a corresponding special item: one 'Lamborghini Sesto Elemento,' worth 23.12 million and one of only 20 in the world.][Congratulations, Host, for picking up a plastic bottle. The system rewards you with one hundred yuan.][Congratulations, Host, for picking up a dilapidated toy house. The system rewards you with a seaside villa.][Congratulations, Host, for picking up a Sun Wukong toy. The system rewards you with three magical monkey hairs.][Congratulations, Host, for picking up a dilapidated oil painting. The system rewards you with the authentic Mona Lisa.]

The Halfling says: curiosity is power.The Dwarf says: unity is power.The Elf says: Magic is power.The Gnome says: creation is power.The Beastman says: slaughter is power.Humans say: authority is power.The Dragon always says: knowledge is power.The Gods once said: faith is power.Lynch stands on the terrace of the All-Knowing Tower, overlooking the Anriel Continent, and gently says:“I”, am power.