After Covid, my construction companies went bankrupt. "I want a divorce!" my wife yelled at me on the day we went bankrupt, blaming me for poor of money, the debts and the injustices forced upon us by others. In the turmoil, our daughter died due to a lack of money and other unbearable hardships. When I had lost everything, all I had left was my hollow soul. Then World War III erupted. Israel, Palestine, Russia, Ukraine, France, the USA, and other nations turned the globe into a stage for what seemed to be the final grand fireworks of humanity. Driven by a death wish, I joined the mercenaries. Ironically, the more I longed for death, the more adept I became at dealing death to others. I devised ruthless strategies, slaughtering countless enemies, always surviving, hoping that each battle would be my last. But somehow, I endured—war after war, year after year, just killing and surviving. After 20 years on the battlefield, I rose through the ranks and eventually became a Mar
In the muted confines of the school office, I stood before my classroom teacher, his eyes a blend of concern and disappointment. "Alex, what's gotten into you?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. "You're always the polite one, the brightest in class. Why would you hit Roger?" He leaned forward, earnestly trying to reach me through his words. ‘Who are you? A poor teacher from a small city with a low salary, always complaining about the low income, and experiencing the hardships of frugal life, yet daring to criticize this amazing Marshal?’ ‘Because I listened to you too much in my past life, I grew up poor like you.’ I clenched my fists, feeling a surge of frustration. "Roger has been bullying me and extorting money for two years," I said, my voice a low growl. "I just couldn't take it anymore." My teacher sighed deeply, his gaze softening. "Since this is your first offense, I'll only give you a warning this time. But don't let it happen again. We'll have to call both your
As I strolled out of the school gates, the familiar tune of a Bruno Mars song hummed softly under my breath. Thoughts wandered through my mind, pondering the possibilities of wealth through music. ‘I think I can sell them to some famous singer. But I need the internet. This damn small city of mine has no internet till now. I need to go to a bigger city.’ My worn backpack rested on my shoulders; it was old and ugly, as ugly as my shoes. I moved my arms rhythmically, wielding a stick as if to warm up my body. Suddenly, Roger's voice pierced the air, his finger pointing directly at me. He was flanked by ten of his friends. "Alex, don't you dare to run!" “Roger,” I yelled, “I spent last night with your mother. Fuck her hard. She screamed like a horny bitch. You might find yourself with a new stepbrother soon! Call me Step Daddy now you ungrateful brat!” Enraged, Roger commanded, “Chase him!” Assuming a defensive stance, I readied myself, holding two sticks in front of me, a skill hon
[Karma System] [Your status Health : 50 / 100 max Strength : 20 / 100 max Agility : 20 /100 max Intelligent : 60/100 max Handsomeness : 60 / 100 max First reward all status +2 Health : 52 / 100 max Strength : 22 / 100 max Agility : 22 /100 max Intelligent : 62 /100 max Handsomeness : 62 / 100 max] [New Health quest #2 Walk or run 5 miles. Push up 60 Sit up 60 Reward Strength +1] Great, as long as I can improve myself, little by little, slowly but surely, it means I'm still alive. Even a plant grows; how can humans not grow? Only the deceased remain stagnant. The seed will eventually grow into a mighty tree, and I too will someday transform into... ‘a loser….’ ‘I almost cried again; sometimes, knowing what I will become in the future, a loser, truly saddens me. There is also trauma etched into my soul.’ ‘When you live in poverty for too long, you start to believe that you cannot become rich anymore, and that is a sickness. It requires more money to pay the psychiatr
Roger's expression revealed fear, as he was used to pursuing me and giving chase. It hadn't crossed his mind that I would be the one approaching him. He remained seated at his desk, motionless, and his followers had not yet arrived. "Scared?" I closed in on his desk and delivered a sharp slap to his face with my right hand. "Are you frightened of me?" "Fuck you, Alex!" He stood in fury. "You better like this," I struck his nose a few more times, and students around let out sounds like 'oh,' 'ahh,' 'ouch.' Onlookers observed without daring to intervene. They were well aware of Roger and his followers. "You're quite audacious to invite high schoolers, aren't you?" "Summon them again, and I'll visit your class every day. Don't assume you can harm others without facing repercussions; people can strike back." I kicked him away from his seat and made him fall. I approached him, clutching his neck tightly with my arms, and uttered, "Don't assume that I won't actually kill you if you con
In a hazy daze and numbing of pain, I felt hands gently lifting me, their touch a contrast to the hot asphalt. I felt the sticky sensation of blood matting my hair and tracing a warm path down my neck. They hoisted me into a taxi, the chaos of the scene blurring around me. As the vehicle hurtled towards the nearest hospital, I could only focus on the rhythmic thumping of my heart, echoing my disarray. The taxi's journey ended abruptly, and I was met by a flurry of activity. Nurses, moving with practiced urgency, called for doctors while the world around me faded to black once more. When I next opened my eyes, the sterile, antiseptic scent of the hospital room filled my nostrils. A splitting headache gripped me, as if my skull was being cleaved in two. Alone in the dimly lit room, I surveyed my surroundings, the stillness of the night enveloping me like a shroud. Yet it was pain, an old acquaintance from my days as a soldier, that truly awakened me. It surged through me, a reminder o
Prostitution and gambling, two occupations that have persisted through the ages, remain unaltered by the march of time. These endeavors, frequently viewed as swift avenues to riches and equally rapid ways to lose wealth, maintain their hold on the human psyche, their appeal deepening with each successive era.It was June 10th, the onset of the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and though my knowledge of football was limited, I was certain of one thing: the final showdown would be between France and Brazil. These titans, I believed, would effortlessly vanquish their adversaries, claiming victory in every match.As high school commenced in early June 1998, I found myself wandering the familiar corridors of my new school. Despite it being my first year here, a strange sense of déjà vu enveloped me. I could navigate its halls with my eyes closed, knowing each hidden corner and secret rendezvous spot.A wave of nostalgia washed over me as I settled into this familiar yet new environment of my class. I
“Anyway, as a good uncle, can you give Hendrick $100?” I pleaded with Dave, my eyes locked onto his. “I promised him $100 to bring me here, to bet my only $1000. Now, I'm penniless.”Dave half-smiled, a mix of amusement and disbelief dancing in his eyes. “But that was your promise to him.”"I tricked him into coming here to bring you profits for your business. This is called a referral in business. Please, he is your good nephew, and he is trying to help your business grow."Dave shook his head, a reluctant chuckle escaping his lips. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a crisp $100 bill, handing it to Hendrick, whose face lit up with joy.“Thanks, uncle,” Hendrick beamed.“Now we're square, right?” I said, clapping Hendrick on the shoulder. He nodded in agreement. “Listen to me, invest your $100 in the 16 games I've picked out. You won't regret it.”Hendrick's expression soured, his brow furrowing. “I need the money for something else, brother.”I shrugged, a wry smile playing o
I stared at Sofia, puzzled. "Must I remind you that you were the one who asked for the divorce.”“You deserve it.” Sofia returned my gaze with a troubled look. "You're not selling any paintings. Everyone is talking about how poor are you.""They can hate me and talk about me all they want," I protested. "But why do you have to listen to them? I’ve never used any of your money for my daily living. I even buy and cook food for you and pay the bills. Remember, I never asked a single cent from you. Why must you judge me? Meanwhile, you freely use my money.""I make no mistake; my conscience is clear," I reaffirmed."You have no money," she shot back."So, I'm in the wrong for having no money?" A headache began to form. "Whatever. We're divorced already, and you were the one who initiated it.""Alex, I have given you many chances to prove yourself, to sell your painting, but you never want to sell any of them. You don’t deserve me.""Alright, whatever you say. Can we just finish this? I do
“I do not think that we are close enough for that relationship,” I said politely as I gently pushed her to one side.“So you are playing hard to get, Mr. Alex?” Sasha looked at me with a seductive smile. “You make me want you more.”She took out a card from her purse and handed me a golden card.“What is this?”“This card will give you all-access to all Powell Group's hotels and lodgings. You can enjoy all the food and service, on our lodgings without any payment. Just think of it as my treat to you.”“I don’t think I need this,” I replied politely, having more than enough money to eat and sleep wherever I wanted.“Please accept it, Mr. Alex. It is not a payment for your job; it's just our treat to our honorable guest.”Free stuff to eat and sleep? After not having a home, staying in a hotel for a bit wouldn’t be a problem until I found a new house. “Well, I accept this. Thank you very much.”Suddenly, I felt a killing tension around me. When someone is sensitive to energy, every tho
While I was deeply channeling my inner energy, I was so concentrated that I didn’t notice the chaos outside.I pushed the poisoned blood out of the needle, but when it was about 20% more to go, the needle was suddenly removed.Unable to retract my inner energy quickly, the blood had no exit and rebounded into Winston's body, causing him to convulse violently.Blood started gushing from his nose, ears, mouth, and every possible human outlet. His face turned an ominous black.Professor Calvin, taken aback by the sudden turn of events, exclaimed in shock, “What is happening?”I quickly tried to retract my inner energy, but the blood had already created a blockage, and Winston suddenly coughed up a clot of blood, hitting Professor Calvin in the face. Then, his body went limp.The other doctor, monitoring the medical machine, yelled, “We need to save the patient, professor!”Without delay, Professor Calvin, along with two doctors and a nurse, began emergency resuscitation to save the patie
“How many holy order members do we have ready in this city?” I asked as we walked toward the nearest park.The Holy Order had evolved into an international network of mercenaries or private armies, boasting around a hundred thousand personnel worldwide.They were now part of local underworld groups, working as private detectives, hired guns, and even assassins tasked with eliminating only the so-called bad people.They were the army I prepared to face the world in the inevitable World War III. With enough money, I could mobilize about a million soldiers globally.Taking down any country was a cinch, especially since I also owned a weaponry factory that collaborated with many countries.I had even begun developing a new nuclear weapon in collaboration with some countries, all under the radar.Weapons and soldiers were crucial if I aimed to conquer the world.“In Oxford, we have about fifty people,” Alfred continued, calculating quickly. “And we only need about thirty to execute the mis
Inside the house, as I looked around, I noticed Sofia, her mother, and Tina, Sofia's personal assistant came together.It is very rare for three of them appeared at the same time except there was an important stuff.Tina approached my table and placed a set of divorce papers in front of me.“Alex, these are the divorce papers, already signed by Ms. Sofia. I hope you won’t make this difficult; just sign them,” she said.“Divorce? What is the reason?” I asked, still looking at Sofia who remained silent letting Tina spoke for her.Tina continued, “You haven’t sold any paintings in three years. You’re a struggling artist with nothing to your name. Meanwhile, Ms. Sofia is a successful businesswoman, the new CEO of Anderson group. You two are not on the same level. Your presence merely tarnishes Sofia’s reputation. So, your marriage is over now.”“What?” I laughed in disbelief, staring at Sofia. “So this is how you see me now?”Tina stepped in front of me, blocking my view of Sofia, and sho
In the mansion of Anderson."You, a painter, what do you know about business?" Chris Wellington scoffed. "I suggest you leave now, or I'll need to call security to kick you out."Sophia grabbed my hand, her voice trembling with determination. "Alex, let's get out of here. I will never return to this family again.""Stop it, Sophia," her mother approached us, concern etching her features. But Sophia didn't care; she simply shoved her mother away."Guard! Take Sophia," Sophia's uncle commanded.I started to laugh, disbelief coloring my tone. "So, this is the meaning of family? You would sacrifice your daughter for a $100 million project?""Shut up," Grandma Anderson snapped. "Take Sophia and kick this guy out. He is not worth to be here."As a guard approached, wielding an iron baton, I launched a quick attack to his face, and he fell down.Causing shock to everyone there.The other guard who dared to come close received a kick to his stomach.As we walked to the gate, more guards came,
“Please don’t kill my son,” Vex Bolton pleaded. “Tell me want you want!”“Your son tried to kill me!” I yelled back the voice was echoing inside the mansion. “If he hadn’t started this, I’d be too lazy to bother him! I just want a peace, is it hard!”“I am sorry, so sorry. I didn’t know you are with Sicilia.” Jeremy stammered. “It won’t happen again.”I hung up the phone, pulled out my smartphone, and called Francesca.“What is it, Alex?” she answered.“I believe I had report about Vex Bolton trying to kidnap Sofia. Now, Jeremy Bolton, his son, is in my hands. Do you want him or not?”“What do you want in exchange?”“Nothing. Since he started by kidnapping my friend.”“Do you know we and Bolton are like water and fire?” Francesca asked.“It’s much better. When you want to kill Vex Bolton, I will help you.”“Great, send him to our place. We can try to use him for the negotiation; if it does not work, we will just go to war. Remember to take Vex Bolton's head for us.”“Don’t worry.”I w
Jeremy was shocked. "She really wants you to die? And doesn't care about you?"He clutched his head, feeling a slight headache."How can this be happening?" Jeremy threw a vase across the room."Where is Alex right now?" Jeremy demanded, pressing a knife against Miranda's stomach."At the university." Miranda said in fear."Alright, lead this girl to find the guy and bring him here. I believe she can find where he is," Jeremy commanded.The five men quickly moved, dragging Miranda away.***In my class, I was half-listening to the professor, drowsy, when a man suddenly entered the room with Miranda. "Professor, I'm sorry, but we need Alex here. It's an emergency."The professor looked around the class. "Anyone named Alex? Please, come forward."I stood and walked to the door."What's up?""Follow us," the man said. "It's urgent."I followed them to the parking lot, where only a few people were around. I found four people with Miranda's face was pale among them. Secretly, I noticed a s
At the Eden Group's painting exhibition, the initial plan was to showcase amateur paintings—a venue where people could make business deals and purchase art casually.The exhibition didn't start as an amateur painting showcase; it was solely for business deals. This change occurred when Alex used it as a cover to sell his own paintings and win a bet.As the first million-dollar purchase of a painting came from the Eden Group itself.Unexpectedly, the event escalated in seriousness when renowned art critics from around the globe flew in just to view the artworks.However, Alex clearly didn't believe anyone would genuinely want to pay more than a million dollars for his work."No one in their right mind would buy that painting," he thought.Yet, it seemed Alex had grossly underestimated the allure of art and the fervor of art investors.***I was still in Sofia's apartment when I received a phone call."The media want to meet the painter?" I was hesitant about revealing my identity as I