MTL - The Lord of the Rings: Lords of Middle-earth - Chapter 258 to choose

Set in the Shadow Slave world...a time before Sunny was born...this story follows a simple soldier who must survive in a dystopian, apocalyptic landscape where magic and gun warfare collide.In a far-off Quadrant known as North America, a young soldier named Hope is 16 years old when he gets infected by the Nightmare Spell. He passed! But...he feels a bit scammed...?A flaw that makes him fade from people's memories...A cursed attribute that makes him remember everything endlessly in eternal wakefulness...It's as if the Spell is twisting his future and existence into an almost improbable one.All he has ever known his purpose to be was to serve as a simple soldier. Not too powerful. But not so weak either. And maybe, just maybe like some others, become an Awakened. Although he never dreamt of being one.Now that his whole life is compromised after his First Nightmare, his first objective is to survive on his own. But as he tries to escape his fate, his actions seem to lead him further from his goal.He struggles against obstacles that slowly grow bigger and out of proportion.Maybe the Dream Realm and the Real World aren't so different than one may think.Hope's journey involves uncovering secrets and gaining knowledge about his true nature and his new role in the world.Is he fit to be a hero?Could he redefine it?***Please read the READER DISCLAIMER in Volume 0.This is my spin-off novel of “Shadow Slave” by Guiltythree.But please don't expect the same writing style, setting, and characters, especially the main character.This story reveals more about how people/cities/governments operate after the Spell’s arrival. I always find it interesting how maybe one country handles it fairly, but how others handle it with desperation to the point that you question humanity.There will be easter eggs pointing to the original novel either intentional for the plot or unrelated to it, but all for fun.I am a new author so props to all who bear with me and helps me improve my writing. If it is not for you, please don't leave outright hate comments. Eat wassabi instead if you want pain. Critique and advice would be great too.

A decade ago, the first dungeon gates appeared, but some vanished before they were ever conquered. The MC, a low-rank hunter, awakens the Lost Gate System, granting him access to these forgotten dungeons where legendary monsters and artifacts are trapped. Each completed lost gate grants him absurd power, but also reveals terrifying truths—these dungeons are prisons for ancient beings who want revenge.

I became a professor in a game by accident. To make matters worse, I even messed up the difficulty settings. Now, I’m stuck playing on Hell Mode. A world on the brink of war with the Demon King. An Assassin Department where mu*der is legal… as long as you aren’t caught. I thought I’d have to claw my way through just to survive in this wretched place, and that was the case at first. But nowadays… “No matter how hard I try, I can’t be like you, Professor… How do you do it?” “Please… become our god.” “What do you know? What is it you know? Why do you make me want to live…?” One by one, everyone at the academy began to obsess over me.

-Includes mature content/2chps a day-Eizkel Rhyse, a 21-year-old who dies unexpectedly—only to be granted a second chance at life in a parallel world that closely resembles Earth. Gifted access to a mysterious golden interface called the Record, Eizkel can now track his attributes, develop skills, and receive “quests” with real-life consequences. Reborn as an 18-year-old university student, he must adapt to a new identity, unfamiliar surroundings, and the subtle chaos of everyday life.As Eizkel begins building relationships, he learns that a second life doesn’t need to be extraordinary to be meaningful. A story that blends heartfelt humor with introspective moments, highlighting the beauty of genuine connection, personal growth, and the chance to start over.With witty dialogue, emotional depth, and grounded slice-of-life charm, all about the rediscovery of oneself, finding comfort in the ordinary, and learning that the small things often matter most.