Vainqueur the Dragon - Chapter 60: Interlude: A Lich's Tale

You have unlocked the skill Money is Power (MAX)In an unknown land, where towering beasts, malevolent demons, and capricious gods reign supreme, a young man awakens in chains, his past erased from memory. He somehow knows that his name is Raiden, and he finds himself a slave for a ruthless group of bandits that buy war orphans.Raiden's days blur into a haze of toil and torment, his mind a void looking for answers. But beneath his exterior lies a dormant power, a skill that, when unlocked, promises to reshape his fate: Money is Power (MAX). This unique ability allows him to manipulate wealth in many ways, transforming it into strength, influence, and even magical prowess.As Raiden navigates the dangerous world, he discovers the true extent of his power. Gold becomes his sword and shield, enabling him to do pretty much everything he wants. With every coin he acquires, his influence grows, challenging the gods themselves and unsettling the very fabric of the world.

As a princess that could not wield magic, Princess Daphne’s only value to her kingdom was her arranged marriage. The task was simple, but when Daphne gets kidnapped and brought to the cold mountains of Vramid, she realizes that she’s in over her head.

She had heard of these cursed mountains before― rocky terrain, freezing temperatures, and the land was ruled by a man feared by many within the continent.

King Atticus Heinvres, the blood-thirsty ruler of the North.

Even though she had never met him before, tales were spread of King Atticus’s ruthlessness. Some said he was a monster, others claimed he was the devil himself, but whatever the story was, everyone knew of the man who had powers beyond anyone’s imagination. He could topple armies and crumble nations with just one wave of his hand, aided by what others rumored to be a cursed obsidian ring.

No one outside of Vramid had ever met the fearsome king before. Not until Daphne.

However, upon meeting the formidable man, Daphne found out that the king might not really be the monster others had claimed him to be.

In fact, what was hidden under that obsidian shield could just be a diamond in the rough.

―

[Excerpt]

“Now… where should I put you both?” he asked casually, not expecting a reply. “It’s regretful that I only have one chandelier.”

“Underneath my bed? No, no, too dirty. My dust bunnies don’t deserve this,” Atticus mused to himself. “The mantlepiece? How about the vanity table? I suppose if I lop off one of your heads I could mount it over… Wife, which head do you want to stare at while you do your hair?”

“Atticus!” Daphne screamed. “I don’t want any heads! Let them go.”

“Fair enough.” Atticus shrugged, and flicked his fingers.

There were two identical cracks as both necks snapped at once.

Daphne gasped, horrified. This man, her husband, had just killed two men with a flick of his finger, as though he was snuffing out candles.

“I told you to let them go!” Daphne cried out.

“Yes, I let them go,” Atticus said. Then, his eyes darkened. “To receive divine judgment from the heavens.”

―

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Chen Lun transmigrated to the year before the game’s public beta, becoming an NPC in the game world. Thus, a new version was born... Steam punk, Mysterious Objects, Church, Shelter, the pathways of the Sequences of the Seven True Gods... He placed his black top hat on his head, standing atop the ruins. Behind him stood the villain bosses from former game versions, the silent Nun Floey, Bloody Painter Noah, Swordsman Antonio, the delusional clown Alec... Chen Lun said, “Players grind monsters, I grind players, it makes perfect sense...” ... Also known as “How to Rationally Use Players as a Sustainable Resource,” “These Bosses Are Really Strong But They Are All My Underlings,” “No Way! So I Can Be A Deity, Too?!”

Just something I made to keep track of some of my favourite essences & powers from fics. {with personal twists}