Marked Ones: Advent of the Demon Prince - Chapter 28: New Normal [Part 2]

A few hundred years ago, Earth was affected by a mysterious force from the depths of the universe, triggering the revival of spiritual energy. However, things didn’t turn out as wonderful as humanity had imagined. The spiritual energy carried a strange power that caused the corpses of all living things to rise again, transforming into ghouls. And above these ghouls, even more terrifying beings existed…There were no ancient methods of cultivating immortality, nor any legendary awakenings of supernatural powers. But within the spiritual energy, there was also a presence of ghostly energy. This led to the emergence of Runes.Some people bore mountain runes, enabling them to move mountains and overturn seas, suppressing chaos. Others carried river runes, allowing them to reverse the flow of mighty rivers with a mere gesture. However, this process required a special profession to assist these rune cultivators—to constantly modify and engrave their runes, making them more refined and perfect.This profession came to be known as Rune Engraving.

Amid a world war, with his awakening to powerful special abilities (Soul Armor Abilities), Kamiya Yuusuke, conscripted into the military at the age of 10 due to this newfound power, continued to achieve numerous victories on the challenging battlefield. As a result, at the age of 15, he held the position of Brigadier General.Despite traversing battlefields worldwide, he finally managed to return to Japan. The joy of returning home was short-lived, as news of an underage boy in the military started to leak to the public. In response, the military high command ordered Yuusuke to attend a military school called the Special Operations Soul Armor Academy and undergo a revision of his military records.Yuusuke, secretly pleased at the prospect of reclaiming his youth, faced numerous troubles, whether due to the nature of the unique school or perhaps because he had been in constant battle since childhood. What will happen to his relationships with strong-willed girls such as his half-silver-haired childhood friend, the older sister officer who is his work partner, and the tsundere honor student of the same age?

Sergeant Xia Yao, born into a wealthy and renown ancestry, is a playboy who has turned over a new leaf. Yuan Zong is an ex soldier from the special forces who opened a bodyguard training company after being discharged.

When Yuan Ru, Yuan Zong’s sister fell for Xia Yao’s charms, but could not break down his erected barriers, she came to Yuan Zong for assistance. Little did she know, the moment Yuan Zong saw Xia Yao, this ex-special force knew no other person would ever catch his eye.

And so begins the battle between brother and sister for the most coveted price – Xia Yao’s heart.

- Description from Novelupdates

Some crowns are forged in blood. Others are drowned beneath it.In a city strangled by smoke and silence, where children are shackled to machines and shadows rule behind gilded masks, Keiran is just another forgotten soul—until the mark appears.Buried beneath the factory’s foundations lies a world long erased from history. Ancient oaths whisper through stone and water, and something older than memory begins to stir. As Keiran is drawn deeper into the abyss, he uncovers a legacy not meant for mortal hands—a crown shattered in defiance, a flood sealed by sacrifice, and a power that demands a price.Hunted by tyrants, haunted by echoes, and bound to secrets he never asked for, Keiran must choose: drown in the tide of what came before, or rise against the current and reclaim what the world was forced to forget.But the deeper he goes, the more the truth unravels…And beneath it all, something still breathes.