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The Last of Us: Kingdom of Ash

Oneiros_Saintcrow
In a world where civilization has long crumbled under the weight of infection, betrayal, and silence, one man wakes up in the ruins of a familiar nightmare—with memories from a world not his own. Armed with nothing but instinct, fragmented knowledge, and a mysterious System only he can see, Zane sets out to survive what’s left of the world. But survival is no longer enough. As echoes of the past resurface and new threats close in, Zane begins to build something no one dares to dream of anymore: A home. A future. A kingdom. Every decision he makes carves new paths—between strangers and allies, enemies and monsters, life and death. Trust is fragile. Loyalty costs blood. And hope is a dangerous currency in a land where nothing grows but violence. But some things—some people—are worth fighting for. Even at the end of the world. —————————————————— Author’s Note: Hey there—thanks for checking out this story. Just a heads-up: this is my first real attempt at writing, and I’m treating it as an experiment to see how far I can push myself creatively. English is my third language, so while I do my best, you might notice some rough spots here and there. I welcome feedback and corrections—I’m always trying to improve. I also work full-time, so I don’t have a fixed schedule for new chapters. Updates will come when I can make them the best they can be—quality first, always. If you’re here for the long run: thank you. This story is dark, emotional, sometimes violent, sometimes intimate, and always built with love for the world of The Last of Us. I hope it earns your time. [Oneiros Saintcrow]
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Forged in Chaos: A Transmigrator’s Tale in the DC Universe

Waking up in an alleyway in Gotham City was not how Ethan Reyes expected his day to start. The last thing he remembered was crashing on his couch after a long gaming session, only to find himself in a world he recognized all too well—one filled with gods, monsters, and vigilantes dressed as bats. It took him a moment to realize the city wasn’t just a detailed dream. The distant sirens, the oppressive skyline, and the neon flicker of a nearby ACE Chemicals sign confirmed it. This was Gotham. And that was bad. Then came the pain. It burned through his veins like molten fire before settling into his fingertips. A strange, instinctual urge filled his mind. His gaze landed on the dumpster beside him. Scattered around were a broken switchblade and a rusty pipe. Before he could think, his hands moved on their own, touching both objects. A pulse of energy surged through him, and suddenly, the two items fused—the broken switchblade now embedded itself within the pipe like a makeshift spear. "Holy—What the hell was that?" Experimenting further, he picked up a discarded smartphone and a pair of cheap sunglasses. Another pulse of power, and—bam—a pair of futuristic-looking AR glasses now rested in his hands, displaying HUD information in his vision. That was when it clicked. He had a power—an ability that allowed him to fuse objects together. The results? Unpredictable. Some combinations worked beautifully, while others... not so much. And in a world where Batman, Superman, and the Joker roamed, a power like this was both a blessing and a curse. Survival in Gotham Ethan quickly learned that Gotham was not kind to the weak. Without money or connections, he had to rely on his ability to survive. His first breakthrough came when he fused a lockpick set with a stolen smartwatch—creating a device that could crack digital locks. He used it to raid an abandoned weapons stash, arming himself with gear of his own making. He also experimented with weapons. A standard pistol fused with a flashlight? Now it fired tracer rounds that illuminated targets. A crowbar fused with an electric baton? A shock club capable of stunning enemies. But Gotham was filled with predators. And soon, they noticed him. The Underworld Calls Word spread fast about a "mystic craftsman" who could create bizarre but powerful items. The underworld took interest. First came the low-level thugs, hoping to use him for their own gain. Then came the bigger players. The Penguin wanted to recruit him. Black Mask wanted to own him. And the Joker? He just wanted to see what happened if Ethan fused a grenade with a rubber chicken. It was Batman who intervened first. The Dark Knight, ever the strategist, saw the potential of Ethan’s abilities. But he also saw the danger. In the right hands, Ethan could change the landscape of warfare. In the wrong hands? He could unleash nightmares. The question was—whose hands would he end up in? Survive or Be Consumed As the months passed, Ethan found himself walking a razor’s edge. If he wanted to thrive, he had to be smart. He had to stay ahead of both heroes and villains, mastering his power before someone forced him into a corner. Because in Gotham, there were only two kinds of people: Those who adapted. And those who became stories whispered in the dark.
helios300 · 37.3k Views