Steel and Mana - Chapter 42 – Settling In

“Elysia, why are you always subtly asking about how Michael's doing?”“Oh? Do I? Maybe it's because he was the only Herrscher in our era who fought for humanity! He was both the First Herrscher and a human named Michael. Yes! That's definitely it!” Facing Mei's question, Ellie just offered a faint smile.“What about Mobius?”“Tch!” The green-haired little girl snorted dismissively, turning her head away.“Who else?” Mei covered her face.“Pardo?”“W-w-what! Kalpas is clearly very concerned about Boss Michael too!”“Get lost!”“Kevin?”“It's not entirely what you think. He has a much more important meaning to us—a family member we promised to walk towards the future with.”-----True Love Warrior Protagonist, Not very Mental stable Protagonist, Pessimistic Protagonist, Anti-Hero Protagonist, Crybaby Protagonist, Michael x Elysia. Oh, Michael... Don't come here; I'm just writing nonsense.

Karl Adelheit, a self-proclaimed ordinary student returning from military service.

And a nobleman who enlisted as a soldier and received Medals of Honor.

Year 2035. A groundbreaking game—“Glory Lords: Arcane War”—takes the world by storm.With cutting-edge VR immersion, players can feel the pulse of magic, the tremors of battle, and the weight of every decision. But more than just a game, it becomes the ultimate stage for global esports. Elite teams rise, billion-dollar prize pools emerge, and the entire world is swept into the frenzy.But for Ethan Parker, this isn’t just a game. It’s a gamble with fate itself.Las Vegas. Midnight. A secret high-stakes game.On the table lies the world’s only Legendary-tier artifact—the Stone of Glory.Its value? Far beyond a billion dollars. Because hidden within it is a secret—one that can rewrite the very rules of reality.Ethan bets everything. And loses.In that moment, he doesn’t just lose the artifact—he loses his future.Then, the world changes.The game and reality merge.Earth is no longer the world it once was. Society collapses, replaced by a brutal new order where a person’s rank in “Glory Lords: Arcane War” determines their status in real life.The strongest players become kings.The weakest? Slaves.And the one who won the Stone of Glory—Griffin Musk—rises to absolute power, ruling over this new world as its supreme leader.As for Ethan? Once the #1 player in the world, he loses everything—his account, his status, his freedom. Reduced to the lowest class, he suffers, tortured until his final breath.But now—he’s back.Reborn with the memories of his past life, he returns to the moment it all began.This time, he wins the gamble.This time, he won’t let the world fall into Griffin’s hands.But fate has more in store for him…When he logs into the game, he realizes something is off.Not only is he the first player in the world to own private territory, but he also acquires something unheard of—the only Legendary-tier unit in existence: the Green Dragon.And then—something even more shocking.These two Green Dragons aren’t just powerful units. They’re heroes. With growth potential and combat abilities surpassing even top-tier players, they have the power to change the course of the entire game.At that moment, Ethan knows—his path to the top has begun.But the real world isn’t done with him yet.Governments, military forces, corporate giants, secret organizations—and even Griffin himself—are now watching his every move.This time, it’s not just about revenge.This time, he’s taking control of the future.The war of heroes has only just begun…

[You have been chosen as the new Lord.][You now hold dominion over your very own floating island.][Build your kingdom, summon legendary allies, and rule the worlds!][You have unlocked the SSS-rank Ultimate Gacha System.]Atlas Blackthorn was born with a miserable F-rank battle talent, certain he'd remain a background figure forever. But during a hunting trip, his teammate turned on him and hurled him into a deep ravine.That’s when the system chose him.Granted the Ultimate Gacha System, he gained the power to summon legendary warriors, rare artifacts, and, of course, waifus.With the system at his side and ambition burning within him, Atlas sets out to become the greatest Lord across all realms.How far will his dream take him?