The Second Coming of Gluttony - Side Story 46. Dark Clouds 3

The Empire's forces retreated in desperation—trampled by faceless horrors bringing darkness and death to these once beautiful lands.Only the most courageous stood in defiance, forming a last defence to buy the people time to flee—fighting until the final embers of hope burned out.A man stands with a silver sword, like a beacon of hope to those around him. He roared with all his might drawing his blade against the overwhelming enemy!“You face Lancelot, Sword of the Empire! ”These horrors tested the Lord's grit and loyalty in the final moments.“Should my blade break, I will use my body!”The knights had fallen, broken swords for their tombstones, and lords fled, betraying the Empire to survive.“If my body breaks, I'll use my Soul!”Lancelot, the sword of the Empire, fought alone.All hope seemed lost.“And if my Soul fails...”What could a single man and his army do?He fights against the dark tide, blade in hand, heart on sleeve.“I will sell myself to the devil for revenge!”But he was too weak, too fragile.The last Lord of humanity stood against the enemy.Lancelot was a master of the sword, a mortal, neither a God nor a Saint.Miracles were beyond his reach.Now only a broken man impaled on his own destroyed throne.His blade shattered—now, like rose petals, it was scattered across the charred ground.Lancelot's soul was fated for the abyss as the light faded from his eyes.His last ounce of resistance used staring at the man who betrayed the Empire.Now with only the desire to kill, crush and seek revenge smouldering inside him.Now unwilling to die and desperate to fight once again.He desired to fight for the people who supported him.Lancelot refused to surrender, to fall like this.As quietly in the abyss, a voice whispered to him.It tried to entice the Lord, ignite his desire to win and fight again.“If given a second chance, to relive your life with a different choice... Would you Accept?”Blood gathered in his throat, forcing him to reply in his mind.A frail and broken voice'There is no reason to ask, of course!'“No matter the cost?”'Even if I were to lose everything...''If my people can live on. I would sacrifice everything I have!'“You will no longer be the same, a monster, twisted and vicious.”“Will you still accept?”The Lord's heart ached, taking great pride in his humanity.To lose that caused his mind to falter.Finally, out of power, unable to speak or reply with a trembling arm.Lancelot reached out.Towards the raspy voice.Towards the abyss.Towards a new future.[So you would accept after all...]'I must accept.''I must stand tall.''I must not break.''Because...''I am the Lord of humanity![Nay, you are the king of demons]

He was weak, he was depressed, he was a loser.
He wasn't even Lvl 10 in the game when Earth was destroyed in the Quake and the players of Redlands were transmigrated to the fantastic world of Zushkenar.
But he lived, learned, and died again.
Now, he was back on Earth, one year and three months before the Quake.
Deciding to rejoin the game earlier and with greater focus, what changes would he bring with his actions?
What life would he live?

*
paypal.me/JInDaoran

*
There's a map for the lands of Zushkenar posted on the DeviantArt website:
https://www.deviantart.com/kilrain/art/Hunters-Guide-map-cities-grid-b-877682076

It's not complete, but it'll give an idea of the general geography.

*
The background image for the cover is part of a landscape by moinzon taken from pixabay.com

Mercy Morgan was just an ordinary young man trying to make sense of his life, but fate had other plans. One fateful night while on the verge of death, he crossed paths with Michelle Elderblood, an ancient vampire whose bite changed everything. Now transformed into Merciless Minerva Elderblood II, he finds himself thrust into a hidden world of powerful vampires and dark secrets.In this realm, where myth collides with reality, Merciless quickly realizes he is caught in a dangerous web of many powerful creatures. Meanwhile, the vampires operate under a singular, formidable king, and every encounter reveals the treacherous politics and hidden agendas that dictate their lives. Yet, amid the chaos, a singular purpose ignites within him: revenge.Merciless barely a day old must face a harrowing exam that plunges him into the depths of forbidden knowledge, forcing him to confront not only the secrets of his new existence but also the gods who have forsaken him. The pain of his past fuels his determination, and as he navigates this perilous path, he wrestles with the question of whether he is merely a pawn in someone else's game before becoming a vampire, or if he is destined for something far greater.Driven by a relentless thirst for vengeance, Merciless must gather strength and confront the darkest parts of his new identity. With every step he takes, the stakes rise, leading him closer to a confrontation that could alter the very fabric of his world.Join Merciless on a gripping journey of discovery, power, and the quest for retribution. In a dark world filled with myth, danger, and relentless ambition, can one man's desire for revenge reshape his destiny, or will it consume him entirely?

【Pets】【Masters】【Summons】【Contracts】【Evolution】【Mutation】

This is a world of monsters. Demonic beasts, demons, angels, giants, elves, undead, fairies, witches, beastfolk, insectoids… countless races, endless divisions, infinite mysteries. Human masters can make contracts with familiars. Hence, taming, grooming, ascension, evolution, battles… is their daily life!

In the Great Qian Dynasty, a youth named the Bai Wushang unexpectedly became an autonomous awakener, and his life-bound pet was the… Moonrabbit?

——————————————————————

【Currently publicly known evolution forms】

■Mud Giant➼Sand Giant➼Stone Giant➼Black Iron Giant…

■Lesser Fire Sparrow➼Fire Sparrow➼Searing Godbird➼Inferno Bird…

■Quad-Winged Radiant Angel➼(Fallen Evolution)Six-Winged Dark Angel…

■Demon Ape➼Three-Eyed Demon Ape➼Dark-Golden Demon Ape➼……➼Eight-Armed Vile Dragon Demon Ape…

■Greater Ghost Fire➕Night Mare➼ (Fusion Evolution) Spectral Knight… ”