Is this really a Game?! - Chapter 997: Drayce’s Words and the Queen’s Thoughts

Adam begins as an ordinary high school student whose life is shattered when his parents vanish. The police later declare their deaths a double suicide, a conclusion Adam refuses to accept.His persistent quest for a real investigation leads him into a dark conspiracy when two corrupt police officers kidnap, torture, and murder him. In his final moments, they reveal his parents were also murdered by an untouchable, powerful entity.Instead of dying permanently, Adam awakens with a new reality: he has been granted a 'System' and the supernatural ability of 'Return by Death,' forcing him to relive his final days.Confused, Adam tries to confide in his trusted teacher, only to be betrayed and killed once again. This time, he learns the staggering reason for his persecution: a $100 million bounty has been placed on his head, making everyone a potential enemy.Dying again and again is horrible. The pain changes Adam completely. The sad, normal boy he once was is gone. He becomes a cold and ruthless killer. He trusts no one. If he even suspects someone might be a threat, he will kill them without a second thought. His only goals are to survive this deadly game and get revenge for his parents.During one of his loops, while investigating, Adam crosses paths with a female classmate being tormented by bullies. He saves her in a moment of detached action and quickly forgets the incident, focused only on his own war. For the girl, however, this act of salvation ignites an intense and devoted love.This devotion becomes a tragic and recurring element in his nightmare. The girl, willing to do anything for him, repeatedly throws herself in harm's way to protect him, often dying in his place across multiple loops.Adam is now trapped not only in a fight against a vast conspiracy but also in a cycle of watching an innocent person die for him, further cementing his transformation into a hardened protagonist who has lost nearly everything, including his own humanity.

The more ruthless the Palace is, the more miserable the loser will end up—this he understands. But what he does not understand is, why the brother whom he lived together with peacefully in the past, would so heartlessly humiliate him today. Asking him to beg for mercy, asking him to succumb to his knees, and even… asking him to tactfully entertain him. “Yong Shan, ah, Yong Shan, as of today you are the one who qualifies to succeed as a Crown Prince, what exactly is it that you want?”

For the past 16 years, Yong Qi’s gaze was never set on him. Despite being twins with his younger brother, Yong Lin, Yong Qi has always been directing his smile and laughter towards Yong Lin, and to him, Yong Qi deliberately alienates him. He does not understand, they have the same features and looks, and he obviously is his brother too, but why won’t he be intimate with him… as if he is humiliating him. “Yong Qi, ah, Yong Qi, why won’t you understand, what I want is very simple…”

- Description from Novelupdates

Upon waking, Wang Shan finds himself in Room 888, the most luxurious accommodation in Cloud City, typically reserved for the wealthiest. Despite his complaints about the “”subpar”” room, five stunning women are waiting to inform him of his first-place assurance in an upcoming test due to his powerful father’s influence.A stranger to this world from the 21st century, Wang Shan learns that martial prowess is paramount, categorized into nine realms. Today, he must take the One-star Cultivator test, despite his supposed lack of innate talent. His father’s status as the ruler and a formidable Two-star Expert guarantees his victory, but the arrival of the gifted Zhang Bao poses a deadly challenge.As Wang Shan bathes, he hears a voice in his mind: “”System binding, binding successful.”” A powerful trading system allows him to trade anything he touches, enabling him to instantly advance his cultivation. With newfound power, Wang Shan contemplates his next move. Will he overcome the threats and rise to greatness with the help of his mysterious system?

Suddenly pulled into a world filled with Specters, Fang Xiu woke up with a unique ability: Reset. Every time he died, time would rewind to the moment before he was killed.In this strange and dangerous world, Fang Xiu could have chosen to hide. Instead he announced to the world, “Yes, I’m a prophet. I can see the future!” As his predictions kept coming true, his title of the Prophet spread around the world.His words became the truth. They became the future.“I have seen the future,” he announced, attracting people from all around the world.His followers took it to the extreme, declaring, “Should the Prophet decree your demise one day, don’t waver, don’t question, just obey. For hesitance only leads to a far graver fate.”During a B-level Specter event, known as [the Spawning]A teammate warned, “The creature is hiding among these villagers. We need to be careful.”Fang Xiu pointed to the last row and commanded, “The one in white. Yes, you. Come out!”In an A-level Specter event, called [Lantern Heads]One teammate warned, “This area is crawling with thousands of Lantern Heads. If they shine their light on you, your head will fall off. The scariest part is the Lantern Heads float unpredictably. It’s impossible for anyone to get across safely. Wait, where’s Fang Xiu?”Another stuttered, “He, he…he’s on the other side!”The first teammate exclaimed in disbelief, “What?! How did he get across?”The other replied: “He…he just walked over.”