Paintings of Terror - Chapter 1: Entering the Painting

The Interstellar Fleet from the game appeared before the ordinary youth, Bai Zhongqi, and the player became the Chancellor of the Empire, opening a new chapter for his brethren and Earth as they set out for the vast sea of stars. The nations of Earth were engaged in cunning and fierce competition for the future of the Intergalactic Era. Bizarre and varied alien civilizations were waiting for Earth’s explorers to discover them. It was a cruel, dark jungle where only the fittest survived, and a world filled with opportunities and magnificent adventures. But for Bai Zhongqi, this was simply a laid-back story about leading Earth’s friends, furiously climbing the tech tree, beating up aliens, and dominating the Galaxy.

Lin Chuan, a struggling writer, finally got his golden finger—the Career Life Experience System.Randomly experiencing a profession, after the experience is over, novels will be generated based on Lin Chuan's experiences.But Lin Chuan found that the professions he experienced were all too sketchy!Swindler, Assassin, Hacker, Touch Gold Captain...Corresponding novels were born: “Swindler,” “Hacker Kingdom,” “Touch Gold Notes,” and others came into existence.Before he knew it, his works became popular.Selected reader comments:“This book describes things too realistically, this is definitely an autobiography!”“With you confessing and me confessing, Mr. Lin will end up in prison sooner or later.”“Author Lin Chuan (×), Suspect Mr. Lin (√)”Unexpectedly, the reader's prophecy has come true!The police showed up, “We suspect you're involved in serious illegal and criminal activities!”Lin Chuan, “Huh?”The police, “The crimes in your novels, they're your actual deeds, right?”Lin Chuan's vision went dark.Done for, I've written myself into the station, but I'm really not a criminal suspect!!!!!!

When Cheng Guang woke up, he realized he had traversed to another world.He had thought his transmigrated identity would be the esteemed Princely Heir to the Duke, but he hadn’t expected an additional (pseudo-) in front of it.It wasn’t tragic, but it definitely wasn’t great either, it was just very helpless.Cheng Guang had thought that being able to be a pseudo-Princely Heir was the biggest cheat in his life, but to his surprise, he was also bound to a system.This system was even more of a scam!It seemed to have bound him three thousand years too early!It started by telling him he had advanced to the Heavenly Human Realm and instructed him to confront the Empress of Great Zhou, who was also in the Heavenly Human Realm.But he was just a small potato!However, wait a second, the Empress of Great Zhou, years later, seems to be just a pushover right now?Cheng Guang became resolute and confident again, I got this!!!

Born and raised as a nameless shadow guard for his kingdom’s crown prince, his life’s purpose was to be used and discarded at the whims of his liege.

And his meaningless life ended when the gaze of a princess lingered on him for too long. The crown prince had him beheaded without a second thought, as if throwing out trash.

Transmigrating into the body of a baby girl, the nameless shadow finally had a name, a family, and a place to call her own. Throwing away his past, the shadow guard was now called ‘Emilia’, and walked on a new path to seek fulfillment.

It was not meant to be, however, as the girl whom she had loved with all her heart and soul ended up mercilessly plunging a dagger through Emilia's love-struck heart at the highest point in her life.

The crowd clamored at the ‘deserved death of the villainess’, and at that moment, the shadow could only wonder… why?

Why am I always the one to dedicate myself fully to someone, only to be thrown away like trash in the end?

And thus, as her soul floated away while cursing in resentment, ‘Emilia’ vowed to herself that in her next life she shall never be the one to fully dedicate herself.

Whatever she likes shall be held in her palm, and shall never escape.

The moment the vow was made, a self-proclaimed villainess system proposed to partner with her, to explore and conquer the worlds through their anchors—the heroes and heroines.

And by cultivating this energy, she shall one day go back. Back to the world she was born as ‘Emilia’ in, and face the so-called heroine once more.

The second time they meet, Emilia won’t be the one drowning in regret!

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Author's Note: The heroines are not just trophies she’s collecting, only to be forgotten once she collects them. Each of them will remain relevant throughout the story. And it won’t become a mess, promise!