The Desolate Era (Web Novel) - Book 43, Chapter 14 - The Calm Before the Storm

A War Without Casualties.The Republic of San Magnolia has long been under attack from the neighbouring Giadian Empire’s army of unmanned drones known as the Legion. After years of painstaking research, the Republic finally developed autonomous drones of their own, turning the one-sided struggle into a war without casualties-or at least, that’s what the government claims.In truth, there is no such thing as a bloodless war. Beyond the fortified walls protecting the eighty-five Republic territories lies the “nonexistent” Eighty-Sixth Sector. The young men and women of this forsaken land are branded the Eighty-Six and, stripped of their humanity, pilot the “unmanned” weapons into battle…Shin is the leader of a squadron of eighty-sixers. Lena is a “handler” who commands the detachment from the remote rear with the help of special communication technology.The farewell story of the severe and sad struggle of these two begins!

The century long war had just ended and humanity had managed to get their hands on alien technology, sending them years ahead in terms of technological advancement, fulfilling their hope of finding life outside their planet and their desire to dominate these extra-terrestrial existences. The effects of their technological advancement alone wasn’t capable of giving this result.The appearance of mutations which granted supernatural powers among humans was another boon giving them the chance to act out their darkest desires.Their joy took a dark turn when it was revealed that they were nothing more than livestock to the mysterious race, Xillthars, who cultivated them to that level. Like fattening livestock.Shortly before this dark turn of times was a forbidden creature, Kieran who had been born into the lowest levels of a society created by the greed of humans. To him, life had always been hard, but things got worse after the arrival of the Xillthars as he found himself on a trail of shocking discoveries about himself and the world around him.

After his village was destroyed by an E-Ranked demon horde, Augustus was titled the failed lord and mocked by other noble lords.Until, he died.Augustus regressed with the knowledge of the future and his SSS-Ranked skill “Talent Evolution,” fighting to change the D-Ranked village of Iona into an S-Ranked Empire.Need resources? His villager's 10x Resource Multiplier Talent was evolved into 100x! Enemies coming? His champion's Two-Hit Critical Attack was evolved into a One-Hit Critical Attack! Gods? He reared a couple in his courtyard.While other lords slept on their villagers’ talents, Augustus’s villagers transcended gods. While they mocked him for picking a dead village, he would transform it into an oasis.

In the bustling city of Eldoria, nestled between ancient forests and towering mountains, lies the renowned Celestial Arcane Academy—a hub of magical learning and the central setting of the revered fantasy novel, “Aetheric Chronicles.”Unbeknownst to the residents of Eldoria, a young Earthling named Alex awakens in the academy, a place he recognizes all too well from the pages of his favorite novel.Gifted with an OP ability yet unable to use it properly, Alex quickly realizes that he is not merely a student but a living embodiment of a character from “Aetheric Chronicles”, an extra or a side character to be more precise.As he navigates the grand halls of the academy, he's met with a surprising twist—characters deviating from the expected plotline, unforeseen events altering the carefully crafted narrative.Eager to maintain the balance between the known world of “Aetheric Chronicles” and the unpredictable reality he finds himself in.However, the unpredictable nature of his presence in the novel's universe sparks whispers of prophecy and conspiracy among the world's inhabitants.Guided by his knowledge of the novel's lore, Alex faces dilemmas that challenge the very essence of his character. Will he follow the prescribed destiny laid out in the novel, or will he forge a new path and risk unraveling the delicate threads of the fantasy world?Will he find answers to the questions he seeks for?Will he reach the ending of the story? If there is one...