MTL - X- Epoch of the Dragon - ~ Chapter 405 - 407: Selection contest

It was the year 2169. The apocalypse finally arrived.

Global warming, zombies, nuclear war, all at once. Just one tipping point and the world itself would crumble.

Then, Nova Corp, a hegemon of the corporate world, seemingly convinced the global super powers into doing the impossible: Taking everyone online.

And they did. Everyone, poor or rich, was taken into the VRMMORPG: World Online.

A fantasy world where anything was possible. A utopia, unlike everything that the real world was.

But what was supposed to become a method of existence, became a battleground for supremacy. Companies, world powers, and the rich battled to become the greatest.

The disparity between the poor and the rich grew. There was no justice in this world. It took Darwin's words further than any other.

Jake, as poor as one could get, was caught in the rift, torn apart by the unfair system.

He was a dog of the Shadow King Guild, and even though he was absolutely loyal, in the end, the guild cut him off.

He was without an anchor and left in the cruel world. He knew no Utopia like the others.

But one day, when he opened his eyes, nothing was the same anymore.

Opening his eyes, he found himself ten years in the past. He was done being the henchman now. He was not going to let himself be used anymore.

Now, it was time for him to fight back. So what if the strongest were going to stand in his way? He was going to be unstoppable.

The year was 2026, and the world wasn't what it used to be. Ever since the Abyss Gates cracked open three years ago, spilling monsters and dungeons across the planet, life had turned into a chaotic mess. Cities were half-ruined, half-rebuilt, and people clung to whatever normalcy they could find. Hunters—those brave or crazy enough to fight the monsters—became the new heroes. Everyone else? Well, they just tried to survive.Fin wasn't a Hunter. He wasn't a hero either.He was just… Fin. A lanky 19-year-old with messy brown hair, a chipped front tooth from a dumb skateboard accident, and a power that everyone called useless. Absorption. Sounds cool, right? Like he could suck up energy or steal someone's strength. Nope. All it did was let him “feel” things he touched a little more than normal. He could tell you the exact texture of a brick wall or how warm a coffee mug was—big whoop. No fireballs, no super strength, no flashy moves. Just a glorified touchy-feely trick.“Fin, you gonna eat that sandwich or just stare at it like it's gonna confess its life story?” Meg's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.He blinked and looked across the rickety table at his best friend. Meg was short, loud, and had a wild mop of dyed purple hair that she swore made her look “intimidating.” It didn't.

Fu Qian gracefully removed his skull, as if a gentleman were taking off his hat to pay respects.…Everything began with a transcended-dimension invitation.It’s a story of a high-quality Thug turning the impossible into the possible.Of course, on that day, the great being behind the invitation was still unaware of what it had done.

Thirty years old—that was the age people often referred to as the time to stand tall and firm.At this age, some were splendid and dazzling, intoxicated in a world of wealth, while others were desolate and dim, confined to rope beds and clay stoves.Lin Mo belonged to the latter. At thirty, he was still a porter, toiling away to earn a living.His daughter was bullied by a male classmate at school—simply because his family was well-off, the school chose to turn a blind eye. His wife, already pregnant, was secretly working at a supermarket to supplement the household income without his knowledge.As he lay awake looking at his wife by his side and his daughter sleeping soundly in the little bed, Lin Mo felt so aggrieved he shed tears. Despite working hard every day until his back could no longer straighten, he still couldn't change the dire state of their lives.However, it was at this time that the Daily Intelligence System suddenly awoke.[Daily Intelligence has been updated][1. Neighbor Wang Youcai secretly used his retirement funds to tip 10,000 yuan to a beauty in a live stream under the nickname Black Chicken.][2. The police will perform a surprise inspection at the Red Romance Foot Bath at 12 o'clock tonight.][3. Victory Bird will launch a ground assault against Hass in three days.][4. The pet dog from 1402, Unit 1, Building 5 of Earth Garden Community is missing, and its owner Li Xiaoru is offering a 10,000 yuan reward for its return.][5. The pet dog belonging to Li Xiaoru that went missing is trapped in a sewage drain on Development Road.][6…]Initially, Lin Mo just wanted to use this system to make a bit of extra cash to alleviate his stifling life.