Royal Bastard's Bloodstained Regression - Chapter 50: The City of Mirrors

Japan – National News BroadcastThe polished news anchor sat upright, her gaze sharp as she adjusted the stack of papers before her. The newsroom behind her hummed with quiet urgency, the weight of the moment settling over the broadcast.“Authorities are baffled by a sudden and unexplained surge in sleep-related deaths across Japan,” she began, her voice steady yet tense. “More and more citizens are passing away in their sleep without any prior health concerns. Experts are working tirelessly to determine the cause, but no clear explanation has emerged. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and report any unusual symptoms before bedtime.”A graphic appeared, displaying the spike in fatalities over the past month. Behind her, unsettling photographs flickered across the screen—blurred images of individuals found in their beds, their faces frozen in expressions of terror.The anchor’s tone shifted. “Health officials recommend citizens avoid excessive fatigue and maintain healthy sleep habits. More updates will follow as investigations continue.”---United States – Paranormal PodcastIn a dimly lit podcast studio, the host leaned forward, his eyes wide with curiosity. Across from him, a rugged man in a worn flannel shirt, gripping a faded photograph in one hand and a beer can in the other, leaned back in his chair.“So, you're telling me you saw this creature firsthand?” the host asked, clearly intrigued.The man scoffed, shaking his head. “Damn right, I did. Ugly thing had wings bigger than my body—slow but sneaky. Thought it could steal my pigs again, but I was ready this time—camera in one hand, shotgun in the other.”He slammed the table for emphasis, then shoved the blurry image toward the host. The photograph depicted a small, red-skinned humanoid figure with large, bat-like wings, its eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.“Spit, the thing didn’t know what hit it when I fired!” the man chuckled, his voice full of excitement.The host held up the picture to the live chat. “Alright, what do you think? Mothman? Demon? Or is our friend here just seeing things?”The chat exploded with theories—some skeptical, others eager for the investigation to continue.---China – Liangyuan Street MarketSurveillance footage from a bustling night market in China captured a chilling scene. A woman in a red qipao walked gracefully through the crowd, her figure striking in the soft glow of lanterns.Suddenly, she paused. Her body flickered—like a glitch in a video—before vanishing completely, as though she had never existed.The footage zoomed in, replaying in slow motion. In the final frame before she disappeared, her face distorted unnaturally, her eyes hollow and empty.The screen cut abruptly to black.

“Look at him,” someone snickered from a few rows over. “Smells like he sleeps in a dumpster.”“Probably does,” another voice added, louder this time. Nox just stared at his textbook, the words blurring. He had heard it all before.Then, Mark, one of the main reasons his life was a living hell, swaggered past his desk. Mark always had a smirk on his face. “Oops,” he said, not even trying to sound accidental, as a full cup of bright orange juice tipped over, splashing all down the front of Nox's already ruined shirt. The cold liquid soaked through instantly. Laughter erupted around the room. It was loud, clear, and mocking. Nox slowly looked up. His eyes landed on Ms. Joy, who was watching the whole thing. She had seen Mark deliberately pour the juice on him. He raised his hand, a small, tired gesture. “Ms. Joy,” he said, his voice flat. “He just poured juice on me. Are you just going to ignore it? Again?.” Ms. Joy looked at him, then at Mark, who was now theatrically wiping his hands. A small smile played on her lips. Then she chuckled. Just a little airy laugh.“Oh, Nox, don't be so dramatic. Boys will be boys, right Mark?” Mark puffed out his chest. “Yeah, Ms. Joy. He's just sensitive.” The class laughed even harder at that. Ms. Joy joined in, her laughter ringing out with theirs. Hearing them all, hearing her laugh, something in him finally snapped. It wasn't a loud break, more like a quiet, final click. He realized it then, with a cold, hard clarity. No one was coming to save him. No teachers, no police, no parents he never had. No one cared. If he wanted this to stop, he would have to be the one to stop it. He was the only one who could.His face remained blank, but his mind was suddenly very clear. He reached down slowly, his hand going into his worn-out school bag. The laughter died down a little as a few students noticed his deliberate movement, a strange stillness about him. He pulled out a gun.The classroom went silent. Utterly, completely silent. Mark's smirk vanished, replaced by wide, terrified eyes. Even Ms. Joy stopped laughing, her face paling. “What… Nox, what are you doing?” she stammered, her voice suddenly shaky. He didn't answer. He looked around at their faces, one by one. Fear. He saw fear now. Good. He was ready. He was going to make them all pay. He was going to end it, all of it.Just as he was about to raise the gun properly, a bright blue screen appeared right in front of his face. It was translucent, and only he seemed to see it. [Congratulations! You have met the requirements!] [1st Player Chosen!] [You have won the System!]

The interview begins:“Boss Gu, what is your view on pursuing women?”“The most important thing is loyalty and protection.”The man turned his head to look at the petite woman beside him, his deep-set eyes glowing with utmost affection.“He's obviously cunning and shameless, relentlessly dealing with both friends and in-laws, without any limits...”Shang Xixia's smile was brilliant, but her slightly twitching lips betrayed her silent complaints.“Boss Gu, why did you choose to inherit and manage the Gu Group?”“There are many ways to live life, I want to...”Gu Jingchen's lips curved slightly, exuding a calm elegance.“If I couldn't be at home all the time,”Continuing her inner complaints, Shang Xixia glanced with great grievance at the man beside her....The most beautiful love is when, after growing up, you are still my beloved childhood sweetheart.

Xiao Yu was humanity’s greatest genius, a scientist whose intellect surpassed all others. He saw the signs of Earth’s impending doom a decade before it happened, warning the world of the catastrophe to come. But instead of being hailed as a savior, he was ridiculed, dismissed as a madman by his peers, and ignored by society.Realizing that nothing could change humanity’s fate, Xiao Yu made a decision. He turned his brilliance toward survival. Using knowledge decades ahead of human science, he constructed the first true interstellar battleship—not for humanity, but for himself. And when the end came, he did what no one else could. He abandoned his mortal body, fusing his very soul with the ship’s central computer and escaping into the endless void.Now, drifting through the vast and indifferent cosmos, he is the last remnant of a dead civilization. But he refuses to let humanity vanish without a trace. Why was Earth destroyed? Was it truly unavoidable, or was there something more sinister at play? To uncover the truth, he must push beyond the limits of human science. His battleship is just the beginning. Through relentless technological advancement, he will evolve, forging a warship that can traverse the stars, a fleet that can reclaim humanity’s lost legacy.The universe is vast, filled with unknown civilizations, ancient mysteries, and dangers beyond imagination. But Xiao Yu will not stop. He will find answers. He will ensure humanity’s flame is not extinguished.The journey into the unknown begins now.