Check out my other book: King of Film 
Synopsis:
 Jiang Cheng a screenwriter is reincarnated to 2001, into the seventeen-year-old body of another Jiang Cheng.
Clutching onto the dreams of his previous life he attempts to succeed where he previously failed.
He starts from scratch, as a small-time screenwriter writing television shows and movie scripts.
Filled with dreams of becoming a generational entertainment legend and establishing an entertainment empire he takes the road to become the King of Film.
....
First Volume of the book:
Amazon- https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FDK6N1P
Google Play- https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=6KtjDwAAQBAJ
....
Second Volume of the book:
Amazon- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FZCSXY5
Google Play- https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=87tmDwAAQBAJ
....
Wanna take this chance to thank Yuumei who very kindly gave me permission to use her illustration it as my book cover. She has some breathtaking pieces on her site, honestly they look so realistic, check them out : https://www.yuumeiart.com
You can also check out her graphic novels: https://www.yuumeiart.com/graphic-novels/


Zhang Xiaohua was a washed-up artist who tragically passed away in a car accident after heroically saving a child’s life. After his death, Zhang Xiaohua’s soul was transmigrated into a parallel universe where the entertainment industry has become sluggish. 

With a group of small musicians, memories and just his wits about him, he is forced to create something for himself in his new environment, working hard to sustain himself and his mother, while also trying to regain control of his father's company.

Follow his journey as he attempts to become a world-class entertainment mogul and conquer the entertainment world by storm.

_____________________________________________

*Get the first volume of the book:
Google Play-https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=6KtjDwAAQBAJ
Amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07FDK6N1P 

*Get Volume 2 of the book:
Amazon- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FZCSXY5
Google Play-https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=87tmDwAAQBAJ

Discord: https://discord.gg/TeTKhzp

Get Some Merch: https://teespring.com/stores/huaxiang-entertainment
_____________________________________________

Book Cover is by Yuumei Art who very kindly gave me permission to use it as my cover. She also has loads of other amazing pieces if you wanna check them out at: https://www.yuumeiart.com

Why not try my new books: Angel of Death, King of Sports and King of Film

"What took you so long?" Callea complained as Deive get off the car. "I am bored here waiting for you."

Torque left with Marina and Luna for a joy ride. Her cousin wanted her friends to go someplace else. While she was left at Villa Celesta alone. She also wanted to leave the villa for a while and see new sights. It has been a long time since she left Nagcarlan. Her destination was always Villa Celesta and the mansion. It was starting to become a bore. But she wanted a place that has no people around. She just wanted the view and nature.

"Do you want to attend a cosplay event?"

"Cosplay?" She clasped her hands and she saw stars as she thinks about people wearing different costumes. It didn't matter who they were because they were in character. They were not obliged to show their real self. What's important is they could represent the character well and could show their creative side. "I love that."

"There's a cosplay event in SM Mall of Asia. It is still early. We can get there on time." It was eight-thirty in the morning.

"As in right now?" She didn't know what to do. She was excited. It was her first time to attend that kind of event. She wanted to ask her cousins to bring her to those kinds of events before but they were killjoy. They said that it was only for teenagers. She ran inside the mansion to change into a costume that Pipay, her friend designer, sent her recently. She stopped suddenly when she remembered Deive. "H-How about you? Will you wear a costume?"

He nods his head. "Yes. I will be Shadow Knight. Pipay gave me a costume for me as a gift. She said that she wants you to have a partner when you feel like being on the character. I might as well use it." Shadow Knight was a character in one of her graphic novels.

"Then I will be Calliope so we can be partners." She stood in her toes and kiss his cheek. "Thank you, Shadow Knight."

In less than five minutes, her costumes and makeup kit were packed. Good thing Marina prepared it near the treasure chest and her knee-high boots were waiting for her as well.  Calliope's costume was perfect. It had a veil that covered her face. Nobody would know what she looked like behind it.

 At the car, she already wore the veil. Her body was buzzing with excitement as I answered Deive's questions about his character Shadow Knight. She didn't notice how long their trip lasted.

He said that he owned a condo near SM Mall of Asia so they changed their clothes there. It took an hour to fix her hair and the makeup. Calliope was a Gothic Lolita character. She let her hair down. She was wearing a long back tulle dress with petticoat. She also had a black lacy fan that could dispel evil spirits. She decided not to put on makeup since she would be wearing a veil.

Her breath hitched when she saw Deive in his Shadow Knight costume. He looked like an aristocrat vampire. His elegant black cape collar coat was perfect for his lithe body. Even the black lacy baroque pants were so on point. She never thought Shadow Knight could be this sexy until Deive personified it. Unlike her, he ditched the mask and it showcased his beautiful face. He didn't even need his jeweled sword because his piercing eyes could easily melt souls.

She was so amazed when she entered SMX Convention Center. Cosplayers were milling around and they were wearing costumes from her graphic novels. Her heart was about to burst. To see her characters come to life and loved by many was heaven.

But she was there as a cosplayer and not as Xylara, the mysterious author.

She suddenly got cold feet when she saw the tarpaulin hanging above the escalator and the entrance to the convention center. Xylara's Book Signing.

She blinked several times. That was her pen name unless there was another Xylara she was not aware of.

She looked around the convention center's lobby once more. All of the cosplayers were wearing her character's costume. Some were even holding copies of her graphic novels. The event was for her. Exclusively for her.

She felt trapped. She would be forced to talk to all those people. Strangers. A lot of strangers had come to see her. They were taking each other's photos and for sure they would take her pictures, too. What if they insist to see her face? What if they tried to hurt her? No. She couldn't do this.

She started running out of breath then stepped back. What would she do with those people?

Deive blocked her with his body before she could retreat some more. "Stay, Callea."

An arranged marriage to a perfect bride.

To keep him in line, playboy Deive Hontiveros needs to marry Callea Lopez so he could start his own business. He thought he got lucky when he sees how beautiful and caring Callea is.

She lives in a haunted mansion though and he got plagued by a mysterious ghost of a woman and her cat from hell.

He must protect his bride at all cost. 

But what if Callea is one with the darkness?

I plan to post about 5 or more chapters today. 

Vote power stones up to 200 or more power stones and you get more chapters! 

Let me know what you want to see more of in this story and how many harem members there should be!

[WARNING]: The next chapter will be extremely graphic, [Use of clones] Trigger warnings. Remember there is no NTR in this novel. I don't write that shit. I am a true Harem God. 


DISCORD: https://discord.gg/vRcGCsy


ALSO REVIEW! VOTE AND REVIEW! LETS GET TO THE TOP OF HAREM NOVELS! FUCK EVERYONE ELSE!

A pro gamer is thrust into an advanced fantasy world full of powerful gods, demons, heroes, legends, and mythical beasts. This new world is a brutal one full of hierarchy, corruption, and power. One ruled by rank and status. He starts off with a reset System of his highest Pro Gamer Loadout. Awakened not as a hero, but as the heir of the Demon King! Archer must find out the cold truth if he was reincarnated or summoned into this new world? And what is his true bloodline? Both the VR and fantasy worlds collide into the most epic adventure; full of legendary loot, big battles, and of course kingdom building.  Archer will grind his way up to become the apex of this new world. 

[The seven deadly sins will devour all!]

[ Welcome to the Inferno! To Grimmsal! Hell awaits you!] 

"I will change my destiny." 

"I am Archer Asmodeus." 
____________

[Tags]: Overpowered MC, System, Anti-Hero,Harem,Monster Girls ,Reincarnation, Netori, Action,Grimdark, Kingdom Building, R-18, Extreme Gore, Harem, Polygamy, BSDM, NSFW, Incest, Dual Cultivation, Dark Magic, Mature, Dungeon Thrones, Slice of Life, (Slow-Build Harem), Drama, Epic, Hidden Gem, 

>WARNING!

If you didn't know, the first volume of this series is published on Amazon and Kindle with all art scenes done by Jourd4n. 

currently, volume 2 is coming closer and closer to being completed but from now on I'm doing all the art scenes myself for all my other novels.

[ Sadako The Demon Of Neodeka ] still has a long way to go but when this story is completely done I'm planning to publish it as a full blown hardback book. Definitely going to put a little more pazzaz into the final product for this one. 

BUT THE BIGGEST NEWS OF ALL 

As a Halloween special I'm posting the first chapter of Welcome To The Afterlife (graphic novel version) on Instagram in full color. Look for it on Thursday @lyranichi

The difference between life and death is a fine line. 

  Evan Shadows; A 19 year old boy who finds his way into another world after dying in a tragic accident.
      
  In the world of Neodeka there are horrifying monsters, dragons, and ofcourse pretty girls. 

  Though, after getting scratched by a terrifying creature, it seems he must set out on a quest with his new friends to find something called a 'Life Crystal' before he starts to turn into one of those monsters!


---------------------------------------------------------



Continuing In Volume 2




Evan Shadows and his friends finally defeated the evil dragon Atsuko the world of Neodeka broke apart. Everyone was separated in the fall, ending up in yet another strange world.

The world of Jigoku. A kingdom preparing for war under their king Goliath A.K.A Sadako's father. Evan, Sadako and Basa are alone on their journey thus getting to know one another and becoming trusted allies. 

Avery Volk has been on a rampage in the world of the living for 2 years, torn up over the loss of his beloved Blair. Until one fateful day an old friend shows up with news for hope, a way to save Blair, revive her from the Phantom realm. Unfortunately, Avery will have to face Goliath himself in order to get Blair back. Though, Goliath seems to know Avery even though they never met before, or so Avery thought...

Lyran Ichihara comes into contact with a handsome boy with wings. Though they get along just fine, he doesn't want to tell Lyran his real name for some reason. Instead, he goes under the alias 'Angel'. They travel the wasteland in search of the rest of Lyran's party into the town of Selina which is cut off from the overbearing rule of the demon king Goliath. Until news comes one day that shakes Lyran to her core, Angel helps her on her mission to infiltrate the king's castle.

Read to find out what happens as some relationships form and some tear away. Also, a new life is created.

------------

[ Sadako The Demon Of Neodeka ]

The tale of the life of the daughter of the king. She was cast out of the castle at a young age and forced to work as a slave. 

This poor lonely girl would one day become the powerful demon known as Sadako Gravestone.

This is GhostyZ. The author of many fanfics and some originals on this site. I am using this account to enter into the Fantasy contest for Thrones and Kingdoms. Since my other account already has some other novels saved and I couldn't post this novel. 

>>There will be some graphic content. Just to let everyone know<<

This story will have a system but I won't overdo it with the stats. There will mostly be action and drama as well as other themes. There will also be classes,ranks, and tiers  which I will later list. 

This story is in its project stage. But I hope I can make it good each day. I will try my best to edit each chapter and add more content each day. 

Prologue will be uploaded today. All info chapters will be posted in the Aux section.

If you have any questions ask away. I will try my best to answer each question about this story.

Also I will show some pics of how the MC looks like.

A college student is reborn in a fantasy world that is fused with Magic and Cultivation. Myths, Legends, and Mythical Creatures all exist in the world of Zareth. Clans and Kingdoms filled with Harem Lords roam these lands which are inhabited by the most radiant Maidens and Goddesses of all races. But this world is a brutal and unforgiving one, in which only the strong thrive. Dragons, Spirit Beasts, and an ancient darkness lurk in the shadows. 

Will he rise up the ranks and become a Harem God? Conquer the Divine Lust. 


Support: https://www.patreon.com/ghostybones

[Tags]: Overpowered MC, System, Anti-Hero,Harem,Monster Girls ,Reincarnation, Netori, Action, Kingdom Building, R-18, Extreme Gore, Harem, BSDM, NSFW, Dual Cultivation, Summoner, Mature, Sex, Dungeon ,Thrones

>WARNING!<  Incest, Mind-Control, Hardcore, Hidden Tags


Novel also being posted on Royal Road and Scribblehub.

6

Talin hesitated outside his bedroom door, his gaze on the breakfast tray he'd made.  He'd burned the toast a bit, but it was edible.  Pushing the door open, he entered the bedroom to find Dimitri sitting up.  Ignoring his heart's little skip, Talin took the tray to Dimitri's side of the bed.
"I brought coffee," he said banging the tray slightly on the bedside table.
Dimitri helped him steady the tray.  Once it was safe, Dimitri took his left hand.
"I hope you're not leaving me to disappear downstairs," Dimitri said.
Talin laughed.
"No, I called Lori; she'll handle opening the club."
"Good," Dimitri tugged on his hand until he sat on the side of the bed.
"You took my rose," Talin said, shifting until he sat legs crossed on the bed facing Dimitri.
Reaching for the tray, he placed it on the space between them.  He took Dimitri's cup of coffee and held it out.
Dimitri took the cup with a small shrug.
"You don't need black roses, Talin.  I'll get you vibrant red ones if that's what you want."
"But, the black one was unique.  I don't even know where it came from."
Dimitri pressed a finger on his lips.
"Don't worry about a dead rose, my dear.  I'll get you a whole plant."
"And where will I put a rose plant?" Talin asked putting jam on Dimitri's toast.  "I don't have a garden out there."
Dimitri nodded to the windows and the little balcony built in there.
"We'll put a flower pot there."
"What about when it snows?"
"We'll wrap it up." Dimitri grinned.
Talin shook his head.
"You have a solution for everything."
Dimitri nodded.
"That's right."
Talin scoffed.
"It gives you a big ego."
Dimitri bit into the toast with a small happy sigh.
"I want to eat breakfast with you everyday."
"I doubt that," Talin said applying marmalade on his toast.  "You have Kat cooking for you."
"I'm a third-wheel in that house."  Dimitri grinned.  "She and Lukas have eyes for each other in the morning."
Talin laughed at that picture.  He doubted Dimitri would ever be a third-wheel in any situation.  His personality brought him up front and center.
"You don't believe me," Dimitri said.
"I think they both love you too much to make you feel like a third-wheel.  You're whining," Talin said.
"Jeez, there's no joking with you."  Dimitri sipped his coffee.  "Still, I prefer having toast with you to any fancy breakfast."
Talin felt warmth burst inside him and he took a bite of toast to hide it.  They ate in silence for a few minutes.
Talin reached out to wipe away toast crumbs caught on the corner of Dimitri's mouth.  Dimitri took his hand and pressed a kiss on his fingers.
"What are you doing today?" Talin asked.
Dimitri sighed.
"I have to go to the marina.  Lukas needs help with one of our charter boats.  Something's wrong with the engine."
"You like working with engines.  The day I went to your place, I found you working on a pump engine.  Is that what you do all day?"
"I do a lot of things in a day," Dimitri answered.
"Things like what?" Talin asked, wanting to know all he could about Dimitri.
So far, all he knew was that the man had insomnia, and liked to sleep in Talin's bed.
Dimitri put his coffee cup on the bedside table.
"Lukas and I own the marina together, but he does the administrative work and dealing with customers.  Kat helps but she has her restaurant to deal with.  I work behind the scenes.  I check the charter boats, do maintenance and if anyone needs help with their boat, I handle that.  We offer warehouse space, so I make sure shipments are in order.  My job gives me a flexible schedule and I get to work with my hands."
"And your men, those guys you hang with, what do they do?" Talin asked.
"Sean and Tomas help me," Dimitri said.  "They handle all the warehouse problems which can be trying."
Talin met amused blue eyes.
"Satisfied?" Dimitri asked.
"Nope," Talin shook his head.  "Where did you go last night?  I saw your car in the parking lot before I fell asleep.  You weren't in the club, I called Lori to ask."
"A friend picked me up," Dimitri said with a slight shrug.
"What friend?"
"Business friend," Dimitri said.  "He had an emergency to do with a shipment and needed my help."
"Is that why you didn't sleep?" Talin asked with a frown.  "Dimitri, you have to take better care of yourself.  I know how it is to overwork."
"Don't worry about me," Dimitri said.  "I don't sleep that much anyway.  Besides, I slept the whole day yesterday."
"Still," Talin moved the tray to the bedside table.
Dimitri pushed the sheets away and moved closer, reminding Talin that he was still in his boxer shorts.  They hadn't done anything beyond a few kisses and holding each other.  Dimitri sunk his fingers into Talin's hair, tilting Talin's head back so that they could kiss.
All thoughts of what Dimitri did or didn't do disappeared.  Dimitri tasted like coffee, strawberry jam and toast.  Dimitri's tongue stroked his, Talin pressed closer, his arms moving up Dimitri's strong upper arms to his shoulders.  He could kiss Dimitri all day.  Their kisses were drugging, heated...he sighed when Dimitri broke away to trail kisses along his jaw to his neck.
His fingers sunk into Dimitri's mink black hair, and a moan escaped when Dimitri bit at the curve of his neck and shoulder.
"I've dreamt of holding you like this," Dimitri said sucking on the sensitive spot.  "I can't believe it's finally happening."
"Why do you keep saying that?  Am I really so unapproachable?" Talin asked leaning back to meet Dimitri's gaze.
"I—," Dimitri pressed a kiss on his jaw and let him go.  "It seemed better to look at you from a far."
Talin sighed and got off the bed.  "Well, seems you're still looking from afar."
"Why do you say that?" Dimitri asked in surprise.
"Nothing," Talin said, picking a knitted sweater he'd thrown over an armchair beside his bed.  "I have no clue what we're doing, so—, it doesn't matter what I say."
Talin wore the grey sweater and tugged it over his t-shirt.
"Talin."
Talin tried…he tried…to fight that sexy voice, alas he was mortal and weak.  Dimitri's low voice was tempting; it felt like expensive silk stroking his cock, arousal slammed him hard.  He wanted…meeting pale blue eyes, he sighed, berating his body for wanting a man with secrets like Dimitri.
"What?" he asked.
Their gazes locked.
"I want in," Dimitri said, "all the way."
Talin forced himself to look away from Dimitri.
"Ah…well, if it was sex you wanted, you could have asked that first day," Talin said, trying to joke through the intensity of Dimitri's words.
He had no idea what to say.  He didn't know if he could handle someone getting to know him.
Isn't that what Dimitri was implying here?
It had to be…he frowned.
"Sex is easy, I want more than that.  I need it, Talin," Dimitri stated.
Dimitri got off the bed in a fluid motion and closed the distance between them with a few steps.
Talin couldn't help the gasp when Dimitri held his shoulders, turning him, so they faced each other.  Unable to resist, Talin touched Dimitri's stomach, his fingers tracing soft hair dusting down to the waistband of black boxer shorts.
Dimitri ran his fingers through Talin's hair, stroking the long messy strands.  Talin leaned into the touch.  It was so new, yet so familiar: comforting, he let out a shaky breath and looked up to meet Dimitri's gaze.
"Can we take it slow?" Talin asked
His chest felt tight, fear creeping in at the thought of allowing someone in…again.
Dimitri's smile was slow, roguish…sexy…jeez, everything the man did linked back to sex.
Talin's cock hardened, pressing against his jeans.
"Whatever you want, Talin," Dimitri said leaning to touch his lips to Talin's, "as long as you let me have breakfast with you."
Talin chuckled.
"And have my bed for sleeping?" he asked.
"Yep," Dimitri said his fingers bunching in Talin's hair gently.  Using the hold on his hair, Dimitri tilted Talin's head back, "for sleeping…and other pleasurable activities, hopefully soon."
Talin closed his eyes when Dimitri finally kissed him, this time leaving no doubt what type of pleasurable activities Dimitri wanted.
***
The trash pick-up truck showed up at around one o'clock.  They were two days late.  Talin stood at the back door watching them clear the trash area.  He'd been worried the health officers would show up and find the trash area messy.  Health officers were a pain…not to mention the fines…he sighed and stepped back into the building.  He needed to call the removal company and straighten the schedule.
Instead of going to the main club floor where Lori was dealing with late deliveries, Talin went to his office.  He'd spent the past thirty minutes compiling a list of potential waiters for hire.  Settling behind his desk, his gaze fell on the card Detective James left him.  He'd brought it down here by mistake.
Picking it up, he touched the number with a frown.  Dimitri thought it was a good idea for him to keep the card.  When he'd asked why, Dimitri had smiled and told him to let the detective know if Ken Luther showed up at the club.
Dimitri.
Now there was a man with secrets.
Talin opened the top drawer of his desk and dropped the card inside, his thoughts firmly on Dimitri as they had been through the week.  They'd only spoken for four days, and it felt like he'd always known Dimitri.
It had to be the epic kisses, Talin thought with a smile, though the secrets intrigued him too.
Like last night, he'd glanced out the living room windows to see Dimitri's car in the parking lot.  Talin wondered why Dimitri would leave his car in the parking lot when he'd need it to get to the marina.  Then there was the Caleb Barnes saga, and the two men who followed Dimitri around.  Then there was this morning…why had Dimitri looked so stressed when he'd shown up?
The questions were many, but then the kisses filled his thoughts and the questions rather took a backseat.
He was in lust with Dimitri's kisses.
Talin touched his lips and couldn't help smiling at the memory of Dimitri pressing him against the front door before he left two hours ago.  He hadn't wanted that kiss to end.  He'd instead wanted them to go back to his bed.
Dimitri, however, had broken the kiss, patiently held him until they both could breath easier, and then he'd left with a devastating smile.
Damn Dimitri, he frowned, the man had insane self-control.
"Talin," an amused deep voice broke into his thoughts.
He glanced up to find a tall thin black man smiling at him.
"Carl," Talin said, pleasantly surprised.
Getting up, Talin walked around the desk to meet Carl and give him a tight hug.  He laughed when Carl patted his back and tugged on his ponytail.  Carl Brown was his oldest friend.
"I knocked twice, but you seem preoccupied," Carl said stepping back to study him.  "I see smiles, visiting the land of the living again, Talin?"
Talin chuckled and playfully punched Carl's arm.
"It's great to see you, Carl.  Did Terry kick you out of the house today?  I haven't seen you in a while."
Carl laughed and moved to take a seat on the armchairs set before Talin's desk.  Talin joined him, moving his chair so that it faced Carl.
"She's driving me crazy," Carl said, his voice soft, dripping with fondness.
Terry was Carl's wife.  Talin had been Carl's best man at their wedding six years ago.  They had one two-year-old boy they both doted on.  Carl was madly in love with his little family.  Happiness radiated from deep within.  It brightened Carl's dark brown eyes as nothing else could.
Talin was jealous.
"You haven't come to visit the Turnip," Carl said studying him.  "We worried.  Terry asked me to come here and drag you out to lunch."
Talin smiled at the mention of Carl and Terry's eclectic bookshop.  He missed that place; the couple had a knack of stocking the bookshop with the best of books.  They'd let Talin name bookshop when they first opened it.  Talin still couldn't believe Terry had agreed to call the bookstore the Turnip.
"That woman," Talin smiled.  "She's so bossy."
"She worries about you," Carl said leaning forward, elbows on his knees.  "Although, I have to say, you're not as depressing as you usually are.  What's changed?"
Talin scoffed.  "What are you talking about?"
"Secret smiles, happy eyes, hmm…" Carl grinned.  "Anyone I know?"
Talin shrugged.
"Not really," he said not ready to mention Dimitri's name.
Carl gave him a knowing look and stood.
"Guess you're not ready to share.  Come on then, I'm not taking no for an answer.  We're going to the steakhouse down the street.  We need to get some meat on them bones."
Talin gave the list of names on his desk a wistful glance.
Carl took his arm before he could launch any protest and led him out of his office.  Talin barely grabbed his jacket on the way out before Carl closed the door.
It was wonderful to walk down the street with Carl.  He listened to Carl talk about his son, and watching him grow.  Carl talked about Terry, love in his every word.  He'd forgotten what this was like, just listening…Carl could talk for hours…somehow it had always seemed like the best thing about Carl.  He'd never needed to talk, Carl did it all…Talin just listened.
"How's your store, Carl?" Talin asked as they settled in their seats at the Steakhouse.
Carl picked up his napkin giving him a surprised look.
"Doing great, Terry ordered new graphic novels, you could come over and check them out."
"That sounds like a plan," Talin said studying the menu.
"Really?" Carl asked sitting back.  "She's kept stuff for you for months."
"I'll drive to the bookshop later."  Talin looked up to find Carl staring at him.  "What?"
Carl took the menu away from him.
"Okay, what have you done with the real Talin?"
Talin laughed.
"I'm the same old Talin."
"No you're not," Carl shook his head.  "You're definitely not the same Talin I've seen the past four years."
Talin held Carl's gaze for a moment, before he looked away.
The past filled the silence between them…too close…too hard…yet now; Talin took in a deep breath and let it out slow.
"I'm sorry," Carl said his tone regretful, "I've ruined it."
"No," Talin shook his head.  "There's nothing to be sorry about.  I-I checked out…"
Carl studied him, and then reached out to squeeze his hand.
"Don't think about it.  I'm insanely happy to see the icicles melting.  Please, let's go to the bookshop after this.  It will be like old times."
Talin watched Carl pick up the menu, a small grin on his lips.  He wondered why he'd never seen how much his self-imposed exile worried Carl.
"I feel like having barbecue short ribs," Carl said grinning at him.  "What do you say?"
Talin laughed.
"Sure, definitely feel like getting sauce all over my face.  Why not?"
Carl nodded and called their waiter.
****
Hours later, Talin drove back to the Talon from Carl and Terry's bookshop feeling happy.  He'd strapped in a box full of new copies of fantasy graphic novels on the passenger seat.  Terry knew his tastes well, and she'd kept the best titles for him.  Glancing at the box, memories came back, happy memories.  He'd always loved graphic art, the more conceptual the better.  Carl and Terry had helped fuel that love through the years, encouraged him when he'd created it too.  Thinking about his art skills brought back memories.
Memories…the vault in his head clicked open.
Gabriel.
Talin remembered afternoons in the sun, seated under a huge oak tree, the grass so green…gorgeous green, but not as gorgeous as Gabriel's green eyes.  He remembered sketching those eyes, trying to put them on paper, and capture the light just right…but never quite getting it.  Kisses under that tree, giggles of delight…followed by…emptiness.
On coming headlights blinded him, and Talin jerked his car to the side of the road, his foot heavy on the brakes.  He came to a stop with a jerk as the driver behind him honked his irritation.
Glancing at the box on the passenger seat, Talin wondered when the past would stop hurting.
His cell phone buzzed.  Glancing at the caller ID, he let out a soft sigh when he saw Dimitri's number.
"Where are you?" Dimitri asked when he answered.
"On the way back to the club," Talin said adjusting his seatbelt.  "I went to see old friends.  Are you at the Talon?"
"I stopped by to drop something off, you weren't there," Dimitri said.  "Are you alright?"
Talin glanced at the box of graphic novels.
"Yeah, I'm fine.  Are you coming over tonight?"
"Later," Dimitri said, his voice filled with promise.
Talin smiled.  "I'll wait."
"Drive safe," Dimitri said then.
Ending the call, Talin placed the phone on its holder on the dash.  Holding the steering wheel with both hands, he let out a steadying breath and eased back into traffic.
"Steady, steady…," he whispered.
***
Back at the club, Talin helped Lori clear tables for the night.  It was almost three o'clock in the morning, Dimitri still hadn't shown up.  Picking up the last stool, he overturned it on the table and stretched his arms above his head.  His shoulder muscles complained and he dropped his arms.
"Did you have fun with Carl?" Lori asked as she filled out the daily forms.  "I saw him drag you out of here earlier."
"Yeah," Talin said taking the rag he held to the counter.  "I didn't realize I was neglecting them until I saw him today.  Their son is walking and everything.  It was surreal, I remember a small tiny baby who had to be carried with care."
Lori chuckled.
"Boss, you haven't noticed much these last few months.  Working, working," she shook her head.  "I guess you've turned on a switch in there.  I can't wait for the new employees you're hiring.  It will mean day offs."
Talin frowned.  "You get day offs."
Lori scoffed.
"From where?" she asked looking around the empty club.  "I'm pretty sure the bulk of the work has been between you and me."
Talin picked up the dirty rags and went around the counter to dump them in the washing machine.  He put in the right amount of soap and started it.
"Dimitri came over earlier," Lori said as she put away the daily forms.
She went back to his office and brought back a package wrapped with delicate green netting.  She placed the package before him with a wide smile.
"Unwrap it, I've been dying to see what's inside all night."
Talin undid the green string holding it all together, and the netting fell away.  He grinned when he saw the small potted plant, the thorns unmistakable.
"A plant?" Lori asked.
She touched the earthenware pot with intricate designs on its surface.
"The pot is expensive.  I don't get it."
Talin touched the leaves carefully.
"It's a rose plant."
"A rose plant?" Lori frowned.
Talin ignored her confusion and instead reached for the card tucked into the plant.  He opened it and found Dimitri had written a note.
>>>For your balcony, water it everyday. D
Talin placed the card on the counter and went to the sink.  He picked up a beer mug and filled it with cold water.  Lori gave him an amused look when he returned to water the plant carefully.
Twenty minutes later, he carried the box of graphic novels, with the rose plant carefully balanced on top, upstairs.  Stopping at his door, he got his keys and unlocked the door.  Ignoring the lights, Talin went into the living room to place the box on the coffee table.
He went back to close the door and turn on the lights.  That's when he saw the white envelope on front door rug.  Frowning, he picked it up, as he locked the door.  Opening the envelope, he pulled out a picture with a note on the back.
'Dimitri Sedlackov is dangerous.  He's not what he seems.'
"Well, that's ominous," he said under his breath turning the picture.
There was Dimitri holding a bundle of…money?
Talin frowned.
***

#BLNovel #boymeetsboyworld
Talin focuses on work, barely giving anything else attention. One encounter in his club's parking lot drags him out of his dull life. 
Dimitri has watched Talin for so long, when Talin storms into his workshop, Dimitri decides he won't stay in the sidelines any longer. Dimitri decides he wants Talin for life.

The butler served the dishes in the dining area. Laurice was hesitant at first but the moment she smelled the aroma of the food, she suddenly felt hungry her mouth instantly watered. 

Her eyes swelled when she saw the table filled with sumptuous dishes. There was a steaming lamb stew which is according to the butler a traditional irish stew, colcannon which is also an irish dish that pretty much resembles that of a potato mash only with kale and spring onions, and a pub salad with a tangy tarragon dressing. 

She gulped. 
'Looks yummy! and hearty!'

Sid was pleased to see the look on her face and immediately pulled her a seat on the table. He was feigning his hunger from the beginning but looking at the woman beside him with her bright and shiny eyes he was starting to feel hungry himself. 

He just could not decide what is it he was actually craving for.
...

Laurice was surprised with the sudden gesture and thanked him rather shyly.

'Oh! What a gentleman!'

She wasn't aware that another person was in fact more surprised than she was. Butler Han was starting to feel giddy from his young master's actions. He did not expect him to be such a gentleman especially towards the woman. Back at the villa, he has already seen some differences from his young master but thought it was just out of respect and a way to appease his son and that he was only being hospitable to a guest but now that he was seeing another side of his young master, he was starting to realize that the man has really become quite odd but absolutely gentle and caring and may be a little too bold, towards Laurice. Only towards Laurice.

The butler thought the man was indeed interested with this beautiful woman. 
'Oh! He had finally found the answer! He will inform the madam right away! Such good news and great luck indeed!  

He thought that finally atleast one of the brothers was beginning to show some interest with the opposite sex. He sure hopes to be able to help the madam plan their wedding soon! 

...

On a certain part in Dublin, Capital of Ireland.
An old but beautiful woman was doing her early morning yoga routine sneezed three times in a row.
'Who is it? Who's cursing me? Ruining my zen time.'

If only the woman knew about a particular butler's good news, she might forget doing yoga for the rest of her life and book a flight back home immediately.

...
Back at Woodville Homes.

Both Laurice and Sid was eating quite happily on the table while chatting. It seemed Laurice was indeed a food enthusiast and could not help but keep asking him about traditional irish cuisine. Sid might not be a good cook but atleast he knows his roots well so he was able to respond to her queries. 

"Can you teach me how to make these?" She asked while pointing at the dishes. "And more?" Her eyes was pleading as she bit her lower lip.

Sid really likes it everytime the woman bite her lips whenever she was getting shy or nervous and excited. Her eyes will always complement those feelings. 
It was rather cute and he did not find it annoying at all.
He was even getting curious if she was actually the clingy type when in a relationship.

When he thought of her being in previous relationships already, he was somehow feeling remorseful and envious. 
His eyes deepened.

Sid cleared his throat and said, "You can come at the villa if you want to. I'll have the chef arrange a special demo for you."

'So smooth young master, why don't you just let her live at the villa to save us all the trouble. Everybody happy.' 
An eavesdropping butler was chanting inwardly. 

"I'd love to! Thank you!" Laurice said happily, her eyes were gleaming. She did not realize that her agreeing will not only let her learn how to cook irish in the future but will also make her indebted to the man himself with a high price forever.

...

The two finished off their meal and Laurice insisted on washing off the dishes herself but the servants did not allow her so and just took charge of it and even handled the sorting of the groceries themselves. They just asked her to rest a bit together with the young master at the back porch instead.

Laurice could not refute and could only sigh in submission. She went out of her way to the back porck after she bid her thanks to the servants.

Her lanai was an extension of the living area separated by a floor to ceiling transparent glass sliding door. She went out and saw Sid who was already sitting on the single couch with a book on his hand. 

The moment Sid felt her presence, he immediately asked, 
"You like graphic novels?" 
Laurice noticed that it was her book on his hand that he was skimming.

"Yes, very much. I actually love reading fiction in general better than watching films." She said. Laurice felt there was no harm on telling him about her hobbies and such.

Sid: "Hmm. I see. You also write, don't you?"
Laurice lightly chuckled.
Laurice: "What made say so?" 
Sid: "Just a guess. Well?" 

Sid looked straight to her eyes. Her heart seemed to have missed a beat when she saw those electrifying deep cognac brown eyes. She remained rooted to the ground.

Laurice let out a breath out of her chest and averted his gaze before replying, "I do. I'm into prose and poetry. I do write novels when i'm in the mood. And my favorite so far is actually writing children's stories with graphic arts."

Sid: "You can also draw?" Sid knows the woman was already extremely talented and hearing everything that she was fond of and interested about, was making his heart even more proud of her. 

Laurice was stunned for a second and replied with a 'Hmm'.

She did not say anything else afterwards. 
She just remained standing there. She seems so near and yet so far from him it was making his heart swell.

Sid continued to blatantly look at the woman while she stare blankly in space. There was a hint of sadness in her eyes that's making his heart ache. He hated seeing her like that. 

He rose from his seat and went up to her. 

...

Laurice did not notice that Sid was already right next to her and did not know how long he was standing there for. She just felt a sudden weight on her shoulders. 

She tilted her head to the side and saw that the man was actually leaning on her shoulder. Her eyes flew wide-opened. Her heart started pounding. His face was so close to hers she could almost hear his even breathing. She was caught momentarily by his stunning features and could not help but stare at it. 

The man's eyes were shut. 
'She thanked the heavens for that else she might not have the guts to scrutinize the godly man before her.' 
His lashes were long, His brows were dark and full and arched rather handsomely. His straight greek nose and his full and moist lips are so attractive as if carefully sculpted to complement his gorgeous face. And his hair, his short hair ... his soft-raven black hair which was surprisingly smooth as it gently brushes along her nape was giving her tingling sensations down to her feet. Her toes curl. 
" ... !!! "
The man was sinfully sexy. 

'If only she could touch his face.' She thought while unconsciously lifting her free hand towards the man's seemingly sleeping face only to stop mid-air. She retrieved the hand and gently pat her chest.

'What am i doing?! Calm down heart!' 

She was having difficulty on what she should do at the moment as her heart rate increases until the man leaning on her finally spoke, "Im sleepy." 

Laurice: " ... "

He said he was sleepy?! 
'What the he*l is she supposed to do?!' 
...

Inside the living area, a certain butler was also shocked by what he saw. His jaw dropped.

Butler Han: " ... "

UNTIL I FALL INLOVE AGAIN
Romance, Comedy, Drama, Modern

(Graphic Warning: With Mature Content)


SYNOPSIS:


Laurice Ledesma Azul

Had an artistic temperament.
A shrewd femme d'affaires.
With a sheltered past. A broken home. Thwarted passion.

She possessed an unrivalved beauty that is envied by women and coveted by men. An exquisite woman of her youth with a vulnerable character.


...

With her sanity on the line, will Laurice eventually succumb to the temptation of the gorgeous stranger with a son playing as his wingman? Sid Walsh was relentless.

Another Walsh however came in play. Laurice's interest is perked up. Will there be rivalry between brothers? 

An old flame returned as well. It was the most disturbing one.

But if an ex-boyfriend's appearance wasn't chaotic enough, a tenacious fiance revealed himself claiming his rights as the future husband!

The battle among lovers is on!
Laurice was somehow caught in between.

But she still had a missing person to find and a career to foster. 

Will she ever find the courage to be free from all control, abandon herself to her desires without reserve and trust wherever fate leads her to be? 


...

20th of March, Year 20XX

At that serendipitous moment, Laurice was certain she saw something in his cognac eyes - something akin to love.

...

Extra Scene: 

"I like you." 

The man was still lost in his thoughts when he heard the words. It was almost inaudible. Like a careless whisper.

"Y-you like me?" He uttered.

"W-well, i don't h-hate you." Laurice stammered. 

The man arched his eyebrows in amusement. He grinned at the woman who was being defensive. A playful glint flashed past his eyes.

"Can i kiss you, then?" Sid asked.

Laurice: " ...???!!! " A kiss?

Kitty Mercenary Association 
Kitty Mercenary Contract 
Enforced by the God of Promises, & backed by the God of Gluttony 

Every Great Hero needs a Kitty Companion~

Rules:
1. The client is not allowed to abuse or kill the kitty. 
2. The client must always give the kitty the best available living conditions. (If you have a room with only one bed, the kitty gets the bed, and the client gets the floor.)
3. The client must always give the kitty the best available consumables. (If you drink wine, the kitty can't drink water.)
4. The client is not allowed to sully the dignity of the kitty.
5. The client is not allowed to send the kitty to certain death.
6. The client is not allowed to rob the kitty.
7. The client must pay the association XXXXX lbs of Catnip at the start of every year (the equivalent in human currency will also do). Otherwise, this contract will be terminated. XX% of this payment will be paid to the kitty as wages. Advanced payment is allowed. 
8. If the kitty dies, the client must die as well... 

Contract duration: __________ years  Start date: __________

If both parties agree, then sign here:

*______________________________  *______________________________

Congratulations! May the newly born pair of kitty and master have a wonderful adventure!

…

Back when kitty first read that contract, kitty thought that only an idiot would sign it. 

Kitty used to be a common, peace-loving kitty. After graduating from kitty school, kitty went back home, slept, ate, and slept all day. Every ordinary, non-changing day was a day of peace, a day that kitty would be satisfied with. 
Walking no further than to the doorway to pick up the graphic novels that kitty ordered online, and turning on the television while stuffing kitty's cheeks with delivery sushi, kitty lived a very efficient life. 
Kitty was satisfied, but mama kitty was not. Mean mama kitty kicked kitty out, telling kitty not to come back until kitty gets a job. How awful! What kind of mama kitty is she!? 

Left with no other option, before kitty starved to death, kitty went to the most well-known kitty job placement association, otherwise known to all the kitties in Kitty Paradise, as the Kitty Mercenary Association. 
The kitty mercenary association does not care for your credentials, as long as you're above a certain age. Whether male kitty or female kitty, educated or uneducated, citizen or convict, thin or fat, the kitty mercenary association accepts them all. 
Free job training, free catnip, and free lodging. They guarantee to never give up on you until you get a job! ...It was hell. 

The comfortable dorm life that was advertised on television was definitely pirated from some school drama. The reality? It was a ****ing kitty boot-camp. 
Every morning, kitty would be forced awake by a sounding gong. All the kitties in the dorms would be force to run. No run? No food. 
Even worse was that the kitty instructors would sometimes bring out a "prize" for the fastest kitty, an entire fish on a fishing hook! That's right, it was on a fishing hook, connected to a fishing line, to a fishing rod held by the kitty instructor running alongside us kitty mercenaries-in-training. Us kitties, whom have only the lowest grade of catnip every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, drool at the sight of said fish. Every kitty would run faster, and the first kitty to get to the fish would have it all to himself... or so you'd think. After that kitty takes the first bite, all the other kitties would leap at him, and start a kitty tussle. The brutality of it all scared kitty very much. Kitty didn't dare to take part. 

Breakfast really was just plain catnip. Kitty doesn't have anything against catnip. Catnip is the common currency and staple food of Kitty Paradise. But eating the same kind of catnip every day, every meal, can't help but make kitty feel it go stale...
There wasn't even any milk to go along with our meals, only water. Apparently, all the vitamins and minerals we kitties needed were infused into the catnip. No wonder the catnip tasted different from the catnip back home.

After breakfast would be our daily punching routine! We kitty mercenaries-in-training would line up standing, and thrust our fore-paws forward, shouting "Meow! Meow! Meow!", until our throats go hoarse. 
Squats, push-ups, sit-ups, dragging along kitty milk barrels... filled with sand! We kitties had to do them all. 

Then, still all sweaty, we kitty mercenaries-in-training would have to shout out the kitty code of honor, ten times for each verse. It was a code of honor filled with patriotism, designed to rehabilitate former kitty criminals. But the thing is, kitty is not criminal. Why does kitty have to shout all this...

After lunch is weapon training, and weapon maintenance. After the founding of Kitty Paradise, the ancestors of we kitty-kind adopted the same weapons used by those stupid fur-less animals called humans. What were our ancestors thinking, kitty wondered. But kitty didn't dare to say that out loud, or else, the kitty instructors will scold kitty for being an unfilial descendant. 
Sword, shield, spear, axe, club, bows, guns, bombs... kitty used them all. 

"Why can't kitty just master one weapon and be done with it?" One day, kitty was stupid enough to ask that.

"You stupid kitty! What if you one day lose your weapon and have to use whatever you find on the ground? Will you then complain that it isn't a weapon you are good with!? Go give me another 100 push-ups!" The kitty instructor so berated. 

After the weapon maintenance was a shower, then dinner, then chores, and then sleep. All of this sounds like it takes a short time, but in reality? We kitty mercenaries-in-training only had a mere 8 hours of sleep per night. Only a MERE 8 HOURS! For a KITTY! Isn't that awful? 

Days passed. Then weeks. Months went by. 
Just as kitty was getting despairingly used to this kind of torturous everyday life, when kitty thought that it couldn't get any worse, our weapon training courses got replaced by self-defense courses. 
It does not sound that bad? Kitty laughs at your naivety. 
If it was just sparring with your kitty comrades and instructors, it would have still been fine. But do you know that game in the arcades? The whack-a-mouse game? Mm. Us kitty mercenaries-in-training had to go through that... except we were the ones playing the role of the mice. 
A giant human-shaped robot raises it foot... and then stamps it down at us kitties at increasingly high speeds. How awful! This is kitty-abuse! 

It was at that moment that kitty decided to quit!
But kitty was not allowed to quit...
Kitty was chased by starving dogs...

"**** ****ing dogs! Why are those evil animals in Kitty Paradise!? This is a breach of national law!" 

"Don't worry. This isn't a dog. It is a toothless, claw-less, hairless, castrated... 4-legged big land fish." 

"Woof!"

"It barked just now! Kitty heard it bark just now!" Of course, kitty's complaints fell on deaf ears. Kitty went back to training. 

After training in how not to get stomped to death by wicked humans, next was projectile training... where kitty was targeted by bullets, from handguns, to sniper rifles, to gatlings. Then, it was artillery training, where kitty was targeted by ballistae, falling missiles, homing missiles. Disaster training, where kitty had to disarm bombs, swim against a flood, survive a fall from the top of a building, survive a fall from aircraft, survive an avalanche at Mount Olympuss...

Everything was for our own good, they say, so that kitty can survive in the work-world, they say. But kitty felt... it was hell.

After a year in that hell, kitty graduated, having gone from the late levels of the second stage of the monster cultivation stages, the stage of Salvaging Enlightenment, blazed through the third stage, the stage of Honing Perception, and entered the early levels of the fourth stage, the stage of Feral Instinct. 

This miraculous cultivation speed, was just as advertised on television!

Kitty cried on the day of graduation. Whether it was tears of joy, or tears of release, even kitty did not know.
After signing a confidentiality agreement, forbidding kitty from saying anything about the kitty boot-camp, kitty was given his kitty mercenary certificate from his squad's kitty instructor. The always mean kitty instructor looked at kitty with a proud smile on at that moment. Kitty thought he was a different kitty. 
Every kitty in our kitty mercenaries-in-training squad, or at least the ones that graduated on time and didn't have to take remedial lessons, took a photo together to take home as a souvenir. Every kitty, except our kitty instructor, was crying in the photo. 

Our kitty instructor told us a few more things about the job, told us to be careful out there, and then we left. The next time Kitty would come to the Kitty Mercenary Association would be when the association has found a client for kitty. Naturally, kitty is not allowed to decline. For the next hundred years, according to contract, kitty would have to accept jobs from the Kitty Mercenary Association, in return for the torture, scratch that, training, that the association provided to kitty. Hopefully, kitty does not get a client for the next hundred years.

Officially, kitty had gotten a job. Thus, the satisfied mama kitty finally let kitty back into the house. Kitty resumed his peaceful life, of eating, sleeping, flipping through the pages of graphic novels, watching anime, and sleeping. 

The peaceful life did not last very long. Kitty got a client sooner than kitty expected. 

It was a stupid human male with a stupid smile plastered on his face.

...

The first thing he felt was wind.
Shin's consciousness faintly grapshed the feeling of the warm wind blowing on his skin.
What he felt next was a hard sensation on his back, and faintly, a sweet smell tickled his nose.
Was the reason his sight was dark because his eyes were closed?

"Mmn…"

Shin opened his eyes as he sat up.
What spread across his field of vision was a broad meadow, dotted with tree groves.
White and pink flowers bloomed where Shin had been sleeping. It seems that what Shin smelled earlier were these flowers.

"This is…"

To solve the mystery of why he was here, Shin worked his mind.

(Today I fought Origin, the boss monster at the Depths of the Gate to Another World, and won. Right, I cleared THE NEW GATE. Because of that, we could log out, everyone was released, and in the end it was just me…)

Gradually, his mind became clear.
The scene Shin had seen at the end; that was,

"The doors… opened?"

Right, after defeating the final boss mosnter [Origin], logging out became possible, and just as he was about to do so himself, the closed doors had opened, and he lost his consciousness.

"The heck was that? And this is…"

Even looking around again, what he say was a broad meadow, and groves of trees. There was nothing else he could find.

"Could it be, I'm still in the game?"

Shin wasn't sure whether or not he had managed to touch the words Log Out in the end. Wondering if only he hadn't logged out because of an event, he made sure by calling up the menu.

"…Oi, oi."

Translucent screen behind his eyes, and the menu items lined up there; it was unmistakably the menu screen of THE NEW GATE.

"What, I was still in the game?"

Man, that was shocking, thought Shin, as he brought his gaze down the menu.
There, the words Log Out were――

"…Gone."

The words Log Out that should have been between 'Owned Gold' and 'Help', were nowhere to be seen. The six letters that he had made sure were there when he had defeated Origin, had disappeared.

"Oioioi, this is a lie, right!?"

He opened up every menu item from start to finish, but as expected, the words Log Out were nowhere to be found.
It was like when it was a death game.

"Tch!! Right, what about everyone else!?"

Was there anyone else besides himself? Thinking about that possibility, Shin look out the Survivors List from his item box. If there was any other player left behind, the list would show it.

"What… the hell?"

The only one on the list was [Shin], but below that in the white space,

――――『Cannot display due to lack of network connection.』

was written.

The Survivors List was a way of having the avatar that used the item, access the network of THE NEW GATE, and checking which players still survived, said his alchemist friend.
Considering that, it meant that at present, Shin's avatar was disconnected from THE NEW GATE's system.

 


"Can't connect to the network. Then why can I move my avatar?"

Even though he couldn't log out, he was connected to the system―――― was something like that possible?

In this situation, Shin shouldn't have been able to move his avatar. It wasn't as though Shin was well-versed with VR technology, but at any rate, that was how THE NEW GATE worked. Thinking about it normally, being disconnected from the network, yet being able to move your avatar was contradictory.

"I don't get it. The heck is happening."

The feeling of relief he had up until a while ago had disappeared in one go, and Shin once again lay down on the ground.
He didn't feel like getting up, and he worked only his mind, but no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't come up with an answer.

(It's no good, huh. In these situations, I should empty my mind for a little.)

It was Shin's way of calming down when the inside of his head was a mess. When there was something he couldn't understand, he'd temporarily let go of everything, and then rebuild this thoughts.

① He couldn't connect to the network.
② It was possible to manipulate his avatar.
③ The two points above were not reconcilable.

① could be confirmed through the Survivors List program, and the message that appeared on the list.
② was also confirmed since he was certainly moving hsi avatar.
As for ③, it was a reality that a network connection was essential for the act of moving ones avatar. There was no mistake that players who had lost connection to the network due to a bug found themselves unable to move their avatars.

Then, what would have to happen to reconcile these two facts―――― what Shin came up with was this.

There was the possibility that the Survivors List had malfunctioned, and there really was a network connection. It wouldn't be strange for something like this to happen.
The next possibility was that he couldn't connect to the network, but it was possible to move his avatar. That kind of technology might ahve been developed.

"The last possibility would be that… Fantasy."

Shin smiled wryly at the thought that had by chance crossed his mind while he was thinking seriously.

Shin was a pure net-gamer. He was bad enough that his friends called him a net-game addict. And at the same time, he also reached out to anime, manga, light novels and web novels.
Stories where the protagonist ended up in a world exactly like the game had already become a staple for such fiction, and he had also read a number of these. The reasons for this were varied, but Shin had read many stories where they came to the world of the game with their menu intact.

What had come to mind just now was exactly that. He had suddenly wondered if the place he was in now wasn't the game, but the real world of THE NEW GAME.
Losing his network connection, and being able to move his avatar; both of these could be explained by it.

'As if', thought Shin. He decided to stop thinking for a while, and looked up at the sky. The wide blue sky filled his vision, and small clouds slowly moved by.
He could see the groves of trees in the corner of his eyes. Turning his sight that way, he could clearly see each leaf.

"......"

He could see them. He could see them clearly. He could see them distinctly.

He could see too much.

He could see more clearly that when it was a game. It was as though they were the real thing.

With the development of VR, certainly they could create a world that was the spitting image of the real one. Not only in sight and sounds, but it was possible in touch, and taste as well.
However… However possible it was to reproduce these things, technology still hadn't reached the level of the 'real thing' yet. Technology was only at a level where if you'd seen it in reality before, you'd know for sure that these were affected fakes. In the end, they were just pretty graphics.

However, what was reflected in Shin's eyes were the movements of clouds, the colour and gloss of leaves, the figures of flowers blooming in the field; all of this looked like nothing but the real thing.

"......"

Shin slowly held his own hand above his face. There were wrinkles and fingerprints that hadn't existed when it was a game.

"Is this… the real thing?"

After noticing this one thing, he started to understand things one after another. The scenery before his eyes, the rustle of the leaves, the feel of the wind on his skin, the smell that tickled his nose; all of these were different from how they felt in-game.

"After a death game, is a trip to another world…"

Shin experienced two VRMMO player urban legends in succession. Depending on the person, it might've been a delightful situation, but Shin was thinking that he'd have preferred some time in-between them. The only indication that he bore these thoughts that were pretty far off the norm, was his calm expression.

"Ahhhhhhhh… What the heck is going on~~?" lazily said Shin, as he rolled around on the ground.

Just where had the valiant figure from the fight with Origin gone?
On top of the fatigue from the fight with Origin, just when he thought he could log out, unbelievably he ended up on a trip to another world. At any rate, his mind sought rest.
If you had to describe it in one word, he was languid.
He was a little bit burned out as well, so for a while the feelings of wanting to take it easy filled Shin's heart.

"Ah~~~… Hahh…."

For a while he'd roll about as though he had reverted to infanthood or something, and then stop that, endlessly repeating the two. Little though it may have been, perhaps because he had abandoned the act of thinking for a while, his weariness had become somewhat better than before, and he began to think again.

The situation was filled with unknowns. There was nobody else around, so he couldn't gather even a little information. Still feeling a little heavy, whilst he sat up he considered what he'd do from now on.

(At any rate, I don't have enough information. For now, since the menu still appears, I'll check my status and items, and then shall I search for a place that would have people?)

Summoning the menu, he displayed the status menu.
On the left hand side was a 3D graphic that displayed the avatar that was Shin's other self, and on the right were entries like [Ability Points], [Equipment], [Gifts], [Skills] and the like.

The displayed avatar had black hair and black irises, with no notable traits outside of some slightly sharp looking eyes; the face of a young man you could find anywhere.
The face on the avatar was Shin's real one, and because the physique was made to reflect that, though it was 180cm tall, it gave somewhat of a lanky impression. Shin's friend in real life who had been in an athletics club [at school/university] had always told him to train his body more.

When he made to confirm his [Equipment], he found that they had changed a little since his fight with Origin, and his muffler, his arm guards, and his leg guards had been unequipped. What he still had equipped was the red-lined black long coat, [Overcoat of the Dark King], the pants that had become a set with it, and accessories.
In the weapons column were the words [Shingetsu [True Moon]]. It seemed that his beloved and prided blade was in good shape.
When he checked his inventory, the equipment he had worn to fight Origin was in there. He had verified his items and money at the same time too, and it seemed there was no problems with his belongings.

Next was [Ability Points].
Originally all stats except LUC were maxed out with 9s, and he prayed that he hadn't weakened.

01 01stats
"…Nonono"

He looked away from the screen, and for a while gazed far away before returning to the screen.
There was no way that doing something like that would change what was being displayed before him.

"Hangon, just hangon!"

Once again, he looked away from the screen, and gazed into the distance. Furthermore, he rubbed his eyes, and then having made sure there was nothing blurry about his sight, he returned his gaze to the screen.
It was like he was in a frame of a manga where the character couldn't believe their eyes, Shin thought.

"…I didn't see wrong… huh?"

In the end, having looked upon it for the third time, Shin finally accepted that he hadn't seen that wrong.
The reason was simple; except for LUC, those ability points were very different from what his stats used to be.

The VVMMORPG [THE NEW GATE] was different to other MMORPGs, and if you spent a long time, you could raise every stat except LUC to the maximum.

Shin who had spent massive amount of time on it since the Closed-β days, on top of aiming for maximum hunting efficiency, and who would repeatedly use the rebirth[reincarnation] system, was the only player who had capped all stats.

There were other players who had almost maxed out, but none of them could reach Shin.

When it was a game, Shin's HP and MP were 9999, and besides LUC which was 36, all other attributes were 999.

The reason LUC was low was because on top of it having a cap of 99, it was determined and fixed from when the character was created.

But right now, all of Shin's statuses save for LUC were displayed as over double their original values.

"The game's specs have been… smashed by this…"

There was already nothing left he could do but be amazed.

The numerical values were too large, and right now he had no idea how great his own strength was.

"…As you'd think, I'm exhausted from the surprise…"

Because of all the surprises he'd had recently, he was sure that he looked hilarious, he thought mockingly about himself.
Even so, staring at the menu was unproductive, so for now he'd move on to other entries.

(There are things I've never seen before, huh.)

Looking at it from start to finish, he found out that new Gifts and Skills had been added.

The Gifts [Limit Breaker], [Accomplished One] and [Liberator], and the Skills [Wave of the Dark King], [Focus Wave] and [Scattered Wave] had been added.

He should have heard it when he defeated Origin, but Shin had completely forgotten.

To find out what effects they had, he chose the three new Gifts from the menu.

[Limit Breaker]
With this power, you can exceed the limit.
The upper limit for all statuses has been removed. Statuses will rise according to how many ability points were discarded prior to limit removal.

[Accomplished One]
Blessings to the one who has reached the ends of Samsara.
The moment this Gift was received, all ability points were doubled.

[Liberator]
You are the hopes of those who have been imprisoned.
Acts of restriction and subordination are restricted. Forbidden magic, traps, items etc. are made invalid.

"…The heck?"

Every one of the Gifts he had gained were beyond expectations. Even Shin who knew of almost every Gift in the game didn't know of such balance-breaking Gifts.

It was fine that he had solved the mystery of his increased statuses, but these were basically cheats. They weren't even in the dimension of having a rare item, or starting on a high level.

…Having said that though, that LUC was still the same as ever (in accordance to the game's setting), it kind of felt like he was being mocked.

"Stories where they go from an MMO to another world usually have cheat characters but… this really feels like they're overdoing it, huh…"

Shin, whose original statuses could be called cheats, had been enough to demolish a group of max level Lv.255s once (a group of 12, with no rebirths). He was strong enough that when he killed them all, they screamed "You freaking cheater!" as they died.
Against players who had rebirthed dozens of times and almost capped their stats, even Shin wasn't undefeatable, but even so, he could fight on par with 4 of them at once. In the first place, players who fought with Shin head on were rare though.

Those stats had now been even further increased. As long as he didn't suffer an instant death from an ambush, in fights against people he probably couldn't lose anymore. Of course, this was assuming that there were other players in this world in the first place.

Whilst thinking about needless worries, Shin prayed that these titles weren't possessed by heaps of other people.

“THE NEW GATE”, an online game that trapped its players and turned into a death game, was now releasing the thousands of players that had been dragged into it, thanks to the efforts of Shin, one of the most powerful players. But after having defeated the last boss and freed everyone, he was swallowed up by a strange light and found himself inside the game world 500 years in the future and unable to leave.

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