MTL - Age of Empires From Scratch - Chapter 31 Crazy Maloney

[Science Eliminates Immortals] Fake Qi Practicing Phase cultivators: Casting fire and water magic, controlling flying swords to decapitate enemies from several tens of steps away, and possessing a shield magic tool for both offense and defense.Real Qi Practicing Phase cultivators: Driving a Type 99 main battle tank, equipped with a 125mm magic tool main gun pulled by Divine Sense, two 12.7mm anti-aircraft and anti-field magic tool machine guns corrected by Divine Sense, nine assorted electromagnetic missiles suspended at the rear of the tank, drawn together by Divine Sense, and four reconnaissance drones, bombing enemies to ashes from 20 kilometers away.Even more real Nascent Soul cultivator: Operating an Air-Space Mothership cluster, with a combat range spanning thousands of miles...

The world’s largest VRMMO, Conviction, was almost like a second world for humanity. It had integrated itself into the real world’s economy, with both corporations and individuals seeking their fortunes through the game.

In this game, Nie Yan prided himself in his Level 180 Thief. He could barely be considered among the top experts in the game. Though, that was the only thing he could take pride in. He was penniless and unable to advance in life; a situation he was forced into by the enemy of his father. If it weren’t for the little money he made by selling off items in Conviction, he would’ve barely been able to eat. In the end, he chose to settle his matters once and for all. He assassinated his father’s enemy. He lay dying shortly after being shot in the pursuit.

However, that wasn’t the end of his story. Instead, he awoke moments later to find that he had reincarnated into his past self. Armed with his experience and knowledge of future events, he sets out to live his life anew.

In a tyrannical world, what is evil? What is benevolence? All living creatures are brutal. Passing through the heaven road to find one’s purpose in life. Struggles to be stronger is not an easy path. The whole journey thistles and thorns, one blade chops open a path, I alone will be supreme!

- Description from Novelupdates

Working as a henchman for his childhood crush hasn't been great.

But Sam is a hopeless romantic. Even though she's a failed supervillain, he decided to work with her so that he can at least stay by her side.

Although things began to change when Kiara, his childhood crush, started developing feelings for a particular young man.

Now if it was just any other guy, he would've met with some unfortunate 'accident' already but the guy in question was none other than the son of the strongest superhero himself.

Starboy aka Anthony Willburn, the reason for all their failures up until now; and she decided to fall for THAT guy!?

Sam couldn't accept this absurdity and decided to ruin his love rival's life by embracing his destiny and rising as a supervillain himself.

Set in a distant future where only the chosen few are graced with superpowers, the story will mainly focus on the perspective of our protagonist as he will enroll in an academy of superheroes to get close to his love rival and find his weakness all the while maintaining his life as a supervillain.