Unluck Undead Op

Leon, an ordinary man, meets his untimely death only to be reincarnated in a mysterious realm where colossal towers reach beyond the sky. In this world, individuals climb these towers to gain power, wealth, and ultimately, godhood upon reaching the highest level. Each floor is a trial of increasing danger, filled with magical beasts, traps, and rivals. However, Leon is granted a special cheat ability: the Super Charity System. The Super Charity System allows Leon to receive incredible rewards for any charitable act he performs. Whether it's offering aid to struggling climbers, donating resources, or saving someone’s life, the system exponentially multiplies his gains in return, bestowing him with rare artifacts, strength, abilities, and many more. As Leon progresses through the tower, his rapid growth and benevolent acts draw attention. Some revere him as a hero, while others plot to use his generosity for their own gain. But as he ascends, Leon faces a profound question: in a world where power is everything, will he stay true to his charitable heart, or be tempted to exploit the system for himself? **** It will be R-18, you all have been warned and invited *cough*I meant warned.

"All Earth's knowledge, a boost to my brain, and to be unbound by magic capacity or affinity, those are my three requests" said Colt preparing for reincarnation. To reincarnate in another world, a wish he held dear, and now, he's heading to a world of monsters, magic, elves, and riches only he knows how to use . Sworn to not repeat the suffering he went through, Colt will use any and all means to ensure his new life is a good one.

The zombie apocalypse ended the world but the Zeno virus gave rise to a different kind of society where Zystem users rule the last of humanity! Zeth was supposed to die but he was given another shot at life when he somehow gained his own Zystem. Now, half dead and half ain't, he must help the Zoldier Forces uncover the mystery of his power and defeat the forces of evil that lurk! In this world, you're either zombie food or the Ultimate Undead Underling!

Welcome to NecroCorp – Where War is Always in Stock! "Now with 15% off main battle tanks, because peace is bad for business." Hello, traveler! Looking for a bone-forged sword? A modular mana cannon? Perhaps... a discounted main battle tank for your next kingdom raid? Oh wait, you're not a customer, you're a reader. Right. This is probably where I give you my "tragic backstory." Fine. I used to be human. Then I died. Now I'm a Lich with a factory in a dead dungeon, a skeleton workforce that doesn't need lunch breaks, salaries, and a magical system that rewards me for selling stuff. So, I did what any sane undead would do: I started an arms corporation. Now I sell weapons to orcs, goblins, elves, humans, anyone with a grudge and a pile of magic stones. Need siege engines? Got 'em. Crossbows that reload themselves? Yup. Flamethrower golems? In development. But here's the trick: you can’t sell weapons if there’s no war. So when the world started calming down... well, I may have encouraged a few border skirmishes. For marketing purposes. Nothing personal. War drives demand, after all. So, if you're here for drama, explosions, undead capitalism, and morally questionable business strategies wrapped in bone and steel, you’ve come to the right dungeon. Just don’t ask about the warranty. There isn’t one that lived to tell and ask about it.

Como uno de los primeros jugadores en acceder a World of Falan, el primer juego inmersivo del mundo, Roland crea su personaje como Mago. Sin embargo, jugar como Mago no es tan divertido y fácil como pensaba. Su cabeza incluso explota después de lanzar el primer hechizo en el juego. Aferrándose obstinadamente a su clase cuando la mayoría de los Magos deciden crear un nuevo personaje, Roland gradualmente descubre trucos del oficio y su talento inusual. Esto le permite cambiar los estereotipos de las personas sobre los Magos y explorar los secretos profundamente enterrados de este juego…

In a world where magic clashes with machines, one forsaken soul holds the power to end the vile conflict… or burn everything down. Lucian Azen Zane was cast into the world of Aarth 62 as a newborn with no past—only a name and a dangerous gift. Neither magic nor science will claim him. Feared by both realms for his power to destroy magic itself and wield a limitless system, Lucian walks a path no one dares to tread. His dream? To unite a world torn by centuries of war between sorcery and technology. But when his first love is slaughtered before his eyes by soldiers of the scientific empire, everything shatters. Peace becomes a distant dream. Vengeance becomes his purpose. And the line between salvation and destruction begins to blur. Now, the boy who once sought to end apocalypses may become the one who creates the deadliest one of all. Will he save the world—or scorch it under the weight of his grief and power? [ Genre Bending : Sci-fi, Dark Fantasy, Historical War ] [ Tags : Adventure, Action, System, High IQ, Magic, Dark, Overpowered, Antihero, Military, Advanced Technology, Undead, Apocalypse, Mecha, Doomsday, Mystery ] When Others End Apocalypses He Creates The Most Devastating Apocalypse Of Them All.

Everyday was the same for Skullius. An Undead minion of the lowest order like him, didn’t have to find a grand purpose… other than mining mana gems for his Lich master, of course. His peers thought so. They lacked ambition. To be fair, so did he. But there was just that something that kept nagging at him. A spark that no other skeleton seemed to have. Other than being the sassy bullshitter obsessed with mana that he was, why did Skullius vaguely remember being something other than a Moronic Undead drone once? What had come before his Undeath? In the end, it was this spark that allowed our atrocious hero to escape the clutches of his evil master and reach another world. And it is in this world, chock full of dangers – most beckoned by Skullius’ abnormally horrendous luck, to be honest – that the skeleton’s journey begins. In Aigas – the new world – he prepared for the greatest getback of an age armed with a power greater than that of the Liches of Deadmanland! ...... [Author’s Answers To Popular Readers’ Questions] Q: (IHateArjuun77) -Hey author, is your book trash?- A: (Author) -Haha, screw you dear reader. The answer is NO. The story has elements of comedy, action, magic, adventure and Brutality. Like it gets really dark sometimes. There’s a comprehensive story with characters that I tried my damndest to NOT make generic on top of a cool power system that’s for the most part easy to understand. So its not trash. Q: (IFreakingHateArjuun56) -Hey author why is your first volume so slow paced and... trash?- A: (Author) -Haha. It’s how I designed the First Volume to be. It’s a fun setup that doesn’t focus on many things other than the MC’s mentality, powers and route of progression. The next volumes are normal paced, focusing on the world, the villains and general expansion but all while still retaining the book theme and fun experience- Q: (ShadeIsAPervert001) -Hey author, I instinctively sense that I’ll hate this book, when should I drop? A: (Author) -Is this the same reader?! Anyway, I’ll give a range. Read a minimum of the first 20 chapters to a max of up to chapter 44 before you decide on anything too rash. I’ll hunt down this reader! --- Discord: [ https://discord.gg/8hcraTjzE9 ]

If you are into Overpowered Main character, this book is for you. This is the most overpowered character you would find who started from the bottom to the top. A thrilling journey and adventure on his path of power and to the absolute peak. ___________________________ Anthony was an orphan and has been through the hard life filled with suffering Working twenty four hours a day with nothing to show for it. He prayed everyday for a better day but god seem to not hear him He only read novels and other books in other to escape his harsh reality, because it was only in it he found solace He died one night on his way home from work after cursing god for the first time as a result of his frustration. He thought he would be heading to hell for cursing god. But a Unique being that even the universe couldn't fathom was intrigued with Anthony's soul. He decided to grant Anthony a wish after he had been through a hard life Follow Anthony as he vows to achieve whatever he couldn't in his past life. He shall stand above all with absolute power All tremble with just the mention of his name Overpowered✓ Handsome✓ NOTE: This is my first book. HAREM PASS: DENIED R-18: DENIED Support us with your power stone and gift. Check out my discord to know how to increase the release rate to three chapters daily from the one chapter daily rate. DISCORD: https://discord.gg/ZNUNmJEEVC .................................................................... NOTE: The book cover isn't mine, if the owner wants me to remove it, I will

A Young woman dies on her trip to Japan in the most anticlimactic way possible, buried by a pile of manga, light novels, and even lewd doujin after an earthquake. In her last moments, all the wishes she has suddenly become reality and materialize in all sorts of Special Abilities before she finds herself reincarnated into a corpse! Wait... Why is the corpse not moving? No matter how much she tries, it doesn't move, she's not even a zombie or something! Wait... Why is she stuck with the unmoving corpse? The corpse is actually not part of her anymore! Wait... Why is she not a physical being? Her hands are translucent, and so is her entire "new" body! "Huh... Am I a ghost?!" Accompany Maria as she survives as a ghost in a brand new and unwelcoming world, raises her own skeleton as her friend, and seeks the truth behind her second life’s death and how exactly she turned into a ghost. Not only will she have Phantasmal Powers and Dark Magic, but even the ability to raise her own Undead Army! Will anything be able to stand before her path for revenge? Over 100000 words (100 Chapters) available for free! Daily Chapters

Sinopse – “Sob o Ruído da Cidade” Em um mundo onde quase todos nascem com individualidades — habilidades únicas que moldam carreiras, status e sobrevivência —, ser forte não é mais uma escolha. É uma sentença. Kael Arashi não quer salvar o mundo. Nem destruí-lo. Com seus poderes — ele vive à margem da sociedade, longe dos holofotes da Associação de Heróis, longe dos vilões mascarados. Seu único objetivo? Tornar-se forte o bastante para viver em paz, sem depender de ninguém. Mas a cidade nunca dorme. Enquanto Kael tenta desaparecer nas sombras da metrópole, uma nova ameaça cresce em silêncio. Um homem sem poderes, nascido da dor e do abandono, constrói um exército a partir dos esquecidos — e jura apagar o mundo das individualidades, custe o que custar. Dois caminhos distantes. Duas ideologias opostas. E um confronto inevitável. Nesta história de ação lenta, suspense psicológico, comédia amarga e laços improváveis, a linha entre heróis e vilões é turva, e até mesmo a bondade pode ser uma forma de controle. Nem todo herói é bom. Nem todo vilão é cruel. E às vezes, a única forma de paz... é a guerra que você tentou evitar.

Aarav was a quiet boy, bullied, beaten, and forgotten. In a world where power decides your worth, he had none. One tragic night, his broken body gives in—but fate isn’t done with him yet. He wakes in the same body… but not the same soul. A mysterious being has taken over—one born from death, wrath, and ancient magic. Now wielding the powers of a forbidden necromancer, the new Aarav walks a dark path: to command the dead, crush those who once laughed at his weakness, and uncover the secret behind his mysterious resurrection. But in a world full of monsters, hunters, systems, and hidden realms… who truly controls life and death? From tears to terror—from victim to conqueror—this is the rise of one who was Reborn as Undead Overlord

“Is this a game or reality?” - Michael Norman ***** Apocalypse descended, and reality transformed into a game for a select few known as Awakeners. Between the ages of 16 and 18, every teenager had the chance to awaken a class and attain supernatural powers. Awakeners would then venture into a game-like world, the Land of Origin, seeking treasures and gaining tremendous strength. Michael transmigrated into this world at 18 and successfully awakened the Necromancer class. However, that was not all—Michael also unlocked a unique talent that allowed his undead summons to evolve infinitely. ..... [Little Skeleton has successfully evolved into Skeleton Soldier!] [Skeleton Mage has successfully evolved into Skeleton Summoner!] [Bone Dragon has successfully evolved into Undead Frost Dragon!] ...... With his powerful undead summons, Michael set out on a path to become a supreme legend. Tags: #Necromancer #Undead #Evolution #Armybuilding Join the discord: https://discord.gg/gVqqtyRe6b

Three centuries ago, reality tore open and parasites from another dimension poured through. They didn't just kill humanity—they consumed it, wearing human faces while spreading like a plague through every major city. The strong became Originals, commanding lesser generations in a hierarchy of monsters that humanity calls Bloodsuckers. Now they own everything. Governments, corporations, entire cities bow to creatures that should be myths. That's when the Shadowguard was born. They were humanity's elite hunters equiped with the skills and tools to put an end to the bloodsuckers. But they became nothing more than political tools, protecting the wealthy while the poor got harvested by Bloodsuckers like cattle. Kaine Cross was one of the best hunters alive until he walked away from the corruption. He decided to become a solo hunter. Unfortunately, going freelance got him killed by the very monsters he'd spent twelve years learning to destroy. Death was supposed to be final. Instead, Kaine awakens in an ancient tomb with a system that makes him something the bloodsuckers have never faced—a predator that grows stronger with every kill, commands armies of the dead, and turns their own kind against them. Every kill feeds his strength. Every corpse becomes a loyal soldier. Every battle expands his growing army until even vampire lords will bow or join his ranks permanently. [LEGENDARY WEAPON ACQUIRED: SOUL END - THE DEATH REAPER] [SKILL UNLOCKED: CORPSE DOMINATION - UNLIMITED ARMY CAPACITY] [MORTAL ESSENCE SYSTEM: ABSORB POWER FROM EVERY KILL] Zombies. Liches. Reapers. Wights. Revenants. And even monster girls; beautiful, deadly creatures once enslaved by the vampires now serve at his side, bound by Kaine’s will or by lust, vengeance, and freedom. He's not a hero. Heroes save people. Kaine Cross collects enemies and turns them into allies, whether they want to be or not. The vampires ruled through fear for centuries. Now they're about to learn what happens when death itself holds a grudge. Join Kaine as he builds an unstoppable army of undead and monster girls, and leads them on a path of blood-soaked revenge. Build an army. Claim your revenge. Rule the dead.

Samantha never expected to find magic in her hometown, let alone in a dimly lit bar on a rainy Tuesday night. Yet here she was, perched on a barstool at the Black Swan, her world about to tilt on its axis. The air thrummed with an otherworldly energy she couldn't quite place. Ethereal dancers moved like smoke across the floor, their bodies fluid and mesmerizing. As Samantha nursed her drink, she felt the weight of curious stares prickling her skin. That's when she saw him. Marcus. A name she didn't know yet, but one that would soon be etched into her very soul. Their eyes locked across the crowded room, and Samantha's breath caught in her throat. He moved with predatory grace, all lean muscle and barely restrained power. Their first interaction was as intoxicating as it was bewildering. One moment, he was her gallant protector, rescuing her from an overly aggressive drunk. The next, his eyes hardened to chips of ice as he snarled, "Stupid girl," before melting into the shadows. Samantha's mind reeled, but her body hummed with an excitement she couldn't explain. Little did she know, this encounter was merely the first step into a world beyond her wildest fantasies – a realm where vampires ruled the night and pain blurred exquisitely with pleasure. As she delved deeper into this hidden society, Samantha found herself drawn to the intoxicating blend of power, submission, and supernatural allure. The crack of a whip, the whisper of leather, the exquisite sting of fangs – each sensation pushed her boundaries and ignited desires she never knew existed. But with every ecstatic high came the sobering reality of danger. Vampire politics were as deadly as they were intricate, and Samantha soon realized she was a pawn in a game where the stakes were life, death, and eternal servitude. As she left the Black Swan that night, Samantha couldn't shake the feeling that she stood on the precipice of something life-changing. She had no idea how right she was, or how deeply she would fall into a passionate, dangerous dance with forces beyond her imagination. The real question was: in this world where pleasure and peril intertwined so intimately, would she emerge empowered... or lose herself completely?

Warning!: Blood pumping battles, Gore, dark themes and Comedy that will crack your ribs! ~[System Synchronization Complete!]~ [Listen up Host!] [Step 1: Get princesses] [Step 2: Train them to use their abilities] [Step 3: Receive 10x returns!] Wise was a regular pawn shop owner, not the extra scammy type, just the regular scammy type. That was until he was suddenly run over by a derailed train… The good news? He was reborn. The catch? He was not the hero, he was not the extra, he was not the knight. No, he was reborn as a legendary Dragon. A big bad Princess kidnapping Dragon. The last of a dying bloodline. Wise soon discovers that there are secrets shrouded in his Draconic memories, conspiracies best left unsaid and foes too powerful to fathom… But with a cocky smirk and an arsenal of OP skills by his side, he will not only prevail, but defy the powers of this new world. Ding! [New Mission!] [Obtain your very first princess!] [Reward: Skill Draconic Breath] Ding! [Princess Esme has advanced to level 10!] [Host shall receive 10x Experience!] Ding! [Princess Lenora has learned a new skill, Wind Surge!] [Host shall receive 10x benefits!] [New skill, Ancestral Tempest of Ruin!] Read as Wise raises regular palace princesses to country level threats, all while reaping 10x the benefits! ••• Additional tags: Action, Comedy, Dark, Gore, Dragons, Princess, Demons and Demon Lords, Elf, Monsters, War, multiple races. There will also be slice of life moments. Consider reading the author’s review if you still haven’t decided to read this novel.

"From death to becoming the master of death, that's my story" [... ] Jake never got a break. Born unlucky, lived cursed, and died alone—struck by lightning on a rainy night. That should’ve been the end. But fate had other plans. In the space between life and death, he meets the goddess of Karma and Fate, who admits his entire life was a mistake—her mistake. To make amends, she offers him a second chance in a brutal new world ruled by magic, martial arts, and monsters. Before he's sent off, Jake draws from five Legendary Cards—and chooses the most powerful of them all: The Legendary Necromancer. Now, Jake awakens in a world where strength decides everything. With his unique talent, he can summon undead endlessly—and harvest power from the souls of his enemies. [You have enough Soul Shards.] [Undead Dragon summoned.] But Jake is suddenly thrust into the Hundred Trials that comes once every hundred years in this new world, a deadly proving ground for the elite. To the others, he’s an outsider—unregistered, unknown, and unwelcomed. A threat to be erased. But Jake didn’t crawl out of death to get killed again Let them come. He has death on his side.

After the creation of Verdant Vail — mankind’s desperate attempt to cheat nature — Mother Nature strikes back with her cruelest punishment. Now, as a devastating outbreak turns their city into a green hell of the undead, Kyung Jisoo and his classmates must fight to survive the wrath they unknowingly unleashed. Amid the chaos, Jisoo embarks on a harrowing journey of redemption, haunted by the memory of his lost lover and driven by the hope that love might bloom even in the deadlands.

Bubbles… Soft, fragile, and fleeting. They drift without purpose, bursting at the slightest touch. They aren’t weapons. They aren’t threats. Just harmless playthings, forgotten the moment they vanish. But what if bubbles weren’t so innocent? What if, in a world of Hunters—where magic shatters mountains and fists split seas—someone awakened a Skill based entirely on bubbles? A joke. A death sentence. Goblins would laugh. The weak would pity him. The strong wouldn’t even bother to look twice. But powers can hide secrets. And some truths are buried in plain sight. When a nameless F-Rank awakens the “Bubble Skill,” no one expects him to survive. Let alone rise. However, the indomitable spirit of River Faelan refused to die. Step by step, he climbed to the top—shattering every limit placed on a “mere” Bubble Mage. He proved them all wrong. And he’ll do it again, Even if it means starting from the very bottom… for one more time. .... What to expect from this Novel: - Dungeons/Portals - Time Travel to the Past - Overpowered Protagonist - Creative use of Abilities/Skills/Powers - System/LitRPG - And more! Please send Power Stones/Golden Tickets/Gifts to support this Novel!

โรคระบาดยังคงอยู่รอบๆ ตัวเรา ไม่ได้หายไปไหน หมอทุกคนตายกันไปหมดแล้ว ความหวังดับวูบจนไม่เหลือแม้แต่แสงสุดท้าย ราวกับว่าตัวเองกำลังเดินอยู่ในอุโมงค์ไร้แสงสว่างและไร้สิ้นสุด พวกซอมบี้ต่างคอยจะได้กัดกินเนื้อมนุษย์อย่างกับเครื่องจักรที่ไม่มีวันเหนื่อย ไม่ว่าจะมองไปทางไหน ก็มีแต่พวกมันอยู่เต็มไปหมด  แต่ความหวังก็ยังไม่หมดไป เมื่อผมสามารถเอาชนะเชื้อไวรัสตัวนี้ได้ ทำให้ร่างกายของผมเกิดกลายพันธุ์และสามารถแปลงกายเป็นซอมบี้ได้ตลอดเวลา นั่นทำให้ผมวิวัฒนาการไปอีกขั้นเพื่อที่จะช่วยเหลือมวลมนุษยชาติได้

Abraham Ludacris was your average awkward librarian—introverted, overqualified in his own imagination, and emotionally allergic to human interaction. Your average day to day nerd. One fatal fall off a stepladder later, he wakes up in a world where everything wants to eat him, explode near him, lay eggs in his skull, or anything in between. His only lifeline? A surprise necromancer class and a giant ant he accidentally—or luckily to be precise—killed... and then brought back as his first undead pet. And a girl. It's more about the girl. His new life didn't offer him anything beside scream, pain, bleeding from nose, constantly-rotting world, and daily-basis near death experience. But he found something within. Thrill. An urge for survival, people to protect, a gigantic responsibility-boulder on his shoulders, and a tiny bit of happiness he never had. Love. Now, armed with foreign necrotic power, a clueless grin, and an increasingly unhinged urge to gather more undead, Abraham is stumbling his way up the food chain—one reanimated corpse at a time. Well, it's mostly for survival, but you got the idea. Welcome to The Lord of Beast Undead—a chaotic fantasy where the only thing more dangerous than the beasts undead (or beastling almost everytime)... is the nerd commanding them. ***

Leah Arias is a single mother trying to provide for her daughter after her husband betrayed her this is her journey of growth from broken hearted to strong and confident

You don't need to remember your name, your occupation, your life before anything else for a desire for freedom. Besides, walk long enough in a scorching wasteland tied together at the helm and it didn't matter what you'd been or who you were. Gods, anything but the procession was more than welcome, he could care less how it was done; as a matter of fact, the more chaotic the better. A forgotten soul basking in the reverence of a grand escape, freedom seems great but of course no convict lives a life in peace

Gamer Cristopher William gets trapped in RealmCraft Infinity, a kingdom-building simulator, with absurdly overpowered skills like Infinite Resources and Instant Build. What should’ve been a breeze turns chaotic as jealous rulers, magical threats, and a glitchy difficulty system throw his kingdom into constant turmoil. Now, Cristopher must use his broken abilities to defend his realm, expand his empire, and uncover the truth behind his strange new reality.

Cain Iskar was an orphan who clawed his way to the top—through willpower, cunning, and a touch of treachery. Rising from the slums to become a powerful CEO, he stood at the edge of uncovering the world's deepest secrets—The Mysteries. But just as he neared the truth, death claimed him. Only... death wasn't the end. Awakening in a strange but familiar realm, with a body not his own and a mind not fully his to command, Cain must rise again, this time not to run a company—but to become the zenith of this new world. Undead yet Unbroken—His journey begins.

After an apocalyptic incident triggered by the Final World War destroyed the Earth, it entered a dark age. Eisen, an elite ghost, was assigned to steal secret data from O.R.B.B.I.T Corp, a biotechnology corporation that conducted forbidden experiments. However, his mission failed. He was captured and turned into an experiment. Thirty years later, he awoke not entirely human. His body was filled with O.R.B.B.I.T's biological engineering, which granted him powers beyond comprehension but also robbed him of half his consciousness. Now, in a world he barely recognizes, Eisen lives without purpose. Trapped in a foreign, new world, He chose to join a revolutionary force fighting alongside the rebels, hoping to rediscover his purpose in life. Is there a future for someone who doesn't know who he is? What will become of Eisen's story in this chaotic new world?

I used to be the Supreme God of Everything—until I was reborn into the body of a pink-haired schoolgirl… wearing bunny slippers. Now, nine different cultivation systems are screaming in my brain, my teacher wants me to lead a harem club, and apparently, I'm married to the CEO of DaoMart? Oh, and the Heavens are calling. But I have memes to post, a midterm trial fight with a literal dragon, and a schoolgirl squad war to win. Who said reincarnation had to make sense?

Not your average D&D campaign.

Rexan Meadows isn’t your average high school senior. With a sharp tongue, an obsession with zombie theories, and a knack for surviving the social minefield of Royal High, she’s always lived with one foot in her own weird world. But when her fascination with the undead takes a horrifyingly real turn, Rexan finds herself kidnapped, experimented on, and transformed into something... more. Now a superior being at the heart of a zombie apocalypse, Rexan leads an army of the undead in a battle for survival. But when she’s captured, again, by the relentless Commander Ken Fury, the stakes are raised. Ken, a hardened soldier, is determined to destroy her and every zombie she’s created. Rexan, however, is equally determined to end humanity’s reign. But as the lines blur between enemies and allies, passion ignites where hatred once burned. In a world ravaged by chaos and betrayal, can a soldier fall for the monster he’s sworn to kill? And can Rexan trust a human with her heart while plotting the downfall of their species? Survival, love, and war collide in The Passion of the Undead, where nothing is as simple as black and white and the living and the dead must face the ultimate truth: they might need each other to survive.

June 22: Chronicles of the Undead Six months after the zombie apocalypse began, J.K. documents his daily fight for survival in a world overrun by the dead. Living with a small group in a crumbling farmhouse, every day brings new danger, hard choices, and haunting memories. When a distant smoke signal hints at other survivors, J.K. must decide: stay hidden or risk everything for a chance at hope? Told through gripping journal entries, this post-apocalyptic tale explores the cost of survival—and what it means to truly live.