Substitute Bride Phoenix, The Tyrant's Pampered Demon Empress - Chapter 496: Waking Up

[WSA 2025 Entry]Ivan Mendoza, a world-renowned robotics engineer, met his end at the hands of those who feared his genius. But death was not the end. Awakening in the body of Kael Valtieri, heir to a destitute border territory in the magical kingdom of Ardania, Ivan finds a second chance in an unfamiliar world driven by arcane forces.In this realm, magic reigns supreme, yet it is woefully inefficient and bound by antiquated traditions. Armed with the knowledge of advanced robotics and engineering from his past life, Kael sets out to merge science with sorcery, aiming to revolutionize the very fabric of magic. His quest? To uplift his impoverished territory and safeguard it against the lurking dangers beyond the border.But Kael’s journey takes a thrilling turn when he stumbles upon the remnants of an ancient, forgotten civilization. Hidden within their ruins lies golem technology—astonishing constructs far superior to anything Earth’s science could fathom. Driven by curiosity and ambition, Kael deciphers their secrets, melding ancient ingenuity with his modern intellect to forge unprecedented defenses.As Kael uncovers the dark history of this world, he learns of rifts that once unleashed monstrous beings from other dimensions, nearly annihilating humanity. Though a powerful artifact sealed these rifts, its strength is waning, and an impending cataclysm looms.Now, with time running out and the continent teetering on the brink of another monstrous invasion, Kael must wield his hybrid mastery of science and magic to confront the rising tide of darkness. Can one man, armed with the knowledge of two worlds, avert a catastrophe and carve out a new destiny?Prepare for an epic tale of innovation, mystery, and survival in a world where the past and future collide.

Three years ago Conquest was released, redefining virtual reality and gaming.

Xu Jiayan is sick, suffering from a condition where he can't stand to see Jiang Yuan cry. Whenever the young girl sheds tears, he just can't help but feel weak in the knees.However, one day, after accidentally catching a glimpse of her slender waist, he feels his condition has worsened.He finds himself wanting to make her cry,yet he has no desire to seek a cure—How fatal!One-liner:A pseudo-sweetheart vs. a true scholar;Childhood friends turn lovers with a twist of love and war;From school uniforms to wedding gowns, only accompanying you.

The definition of a villain according to Kim Sangmin: The person who has to die for the story to end.But his story had just begun when the villain of the book he was reading died in the end, and he woke up to start the story again.As he uncovers the hidden, untold truths behind the cascade of a villain, the more he leans towards becoming a true villain—only in pretend, of course! He has a little brother to take care of, he can't just die and leave him alone. He's also his baby brother's role model, so he has to teach him how to live a long life by becoming a hero instead!And how does he plan to become a hero?Obviously, by stalking the actual main character of the book and overtaking his spotlight at every chance. Step by step, he would overthrow the 'real' hero of the book and change his status to one with praise.Easy, right?