Xyrin Empire - Chapter 242 - Post-war Interlude

For as long as he could remember, life had always been cruel.A young man in his early twenties—his name now lost to the past—was dealt a life filled with misfortunes.A cold, empty apartment, a soul-crushing job, and, finally, a terminal diagnosis.With nothing left to live for, his only comfort had been escaping into the fictional world of Path of the Elemental Sage, a story of heroes, magic, and survival.But fate had other plans.When death finally came for him, he didn’t fade into nothingness.Instead, he awoke in the world he had only read about—a world of chaos and danger where death lurked around every corner.The air smelled of magic, the sky was filled with possibilities.{«[Status Window]»}[Name: Lyrium Blackwood][Age: 16][Rank: D-][Skills: None][Elements: None}At first, confusion filled his mind.Who was Lyrium Blackwood?Why was he here?And why did this body feel so different?But as his memories returned, so did the realization: this wasn’t some blessing or second chance.He wasn’t reincarnated as the protagonist.No destined savior.No cheat abilities.No grand fate.He was just another mob, a face in the crowd meant to exist and die without leaving a mark.But this young man—the one who had left his old name and life behind—wasn’t the kind of person to roll over and accept his fate.“This world is dangerous. The protagonist isn’t the only one fighting for survival here,”he muttered, his red eyes deep and sharp.Unlike the naïve characters in the story, he knew the stakes.He’d read the web novel.He’d seen the carnage, the betrayals, the disasters that wiped out entire cities.And if there was one thing he refused to be, it was a pawn in someone else’s game.“I don’t care about glory. I don’t care about saving the world. All I care about is surviving—no matter what it takes.”Lyrium Blackwood wasn’t planning to live quietly or avoid danger.The only way to survive in this brutal world was to rise to the top.To be strong enough to stand above both heroes and villains.Using his knowledge of the story’s events and his iron will, Lyrium sets out on a relentless path to surpass the protagonist.Whether through clever manipulation, brutal training, or sheer desperation, he’ll climb higher and higher, leaving nothing to chance.But the deeper he gets, the more he realizes that this isn’t just the story he once read.As fate pushes him closer to the heart of the narrative, Lyrium begins to suspect that his reincarnation wasn’t an accident—and the world itself might be watching him.“I don’t care who or what stands in my way. If the story wants to kill me, I’ll rewrite the ending myself.”----------------------------------I apologize for any mistakes in this story, as it’s my first attempt at writing a novel.

As a Beta, Ning An’s goal in life was to work hard, make money and get rich. However, his own dear father changed his aspiration and made him become a military academy student. Initially, he wanted to spend his days lazing about. What? The first place in the year gets a generous scholarship? Then staying up to study and train my body is nothing at all! The first place scholarship is definitely mine!

The A in the opposite dorm: So you’re actually an O.

Ning An: Ah?

The A in the opposite dorm: I know. You’re risking it all to prove that an O is not inferior to an A.

Ning An: You know my ass. Laozi is a B.

The A in the opposite dorm: You need to correctly recognise your own gender ah.

Ning An: …. Teacher. Report. I’m afraid this person is stupid.

note: Pretending to be a B’ is 装B (Zhuang B). 装B also means to boast or show off

- Description from Novelupdates

Ryoma Kogure, a high school student, is surprised when his childhood friend and best friend, Hirasawa Reo, who has always been popular yet indifferent to romance, suddenly confides in him about a love matter.However, when Ryouma learns that Reo’s crush is their quiet classmate, Otsuki Shizuku, he decides to help him out.While personally gathering information on Shizuku for his best friend, Ryoma is unexpectedly summoned by the school’s most beautiful girl, Asahina Alisa!She, being Shizuku’s best friend, mistakenly believes that Ryouma has feelings for Shizuku…!?Caught in Alisa’s misunderstanding, Ryoma scrambles to sort things out…As they began supporting their best friends for their own reason, Ryoma and Alisa grow closer——A romantic comedy that starts with friends supporting each other’s love!

“Hurry up and take them off!” she demanded with her eyes tightly closed.

His eyebrows lifted up. “No! Only my wife can see me naked!” he replied firmly.

Opening her eyes, she complained, “But you said I could look for the marks?”

She saw a playful smile on his face and she could tell that something cunning was brewing in the man’s mind.

She growled, traces of impatience evident on her beautiful face.

She had been trying to coax him, to seduce him to get her wish, but somehow it all ended up with her naked and him enjoying the view.

“Fine! I will be your wife! Happy? Now just strip out your clothes!”

Her words made his full lips curve into a cunning but alluring smile. He immediately reached into his drawer and grabbed the marriage contract he had prepared in advance and said, “I need to be sure before I let you take advantage of my body. So, if you will just sign here, now!”

Her jaw dropped hearing his conceited words. 'That sly wolf.'

She looked at the paper and her eyes widened. It was really a marriage contract.

“You’ve got to be kidding me?” she unconsciously uttered.

“Well, I told you. I’ve never been more serious in my life. I have been waiting for you to accept my marriage proposal but you are always insisting on seeing me naked. I’m a bit conservative in this matter, you see. I think I already told you numerous times that I will only allow my future wife to see my nude body.”

She picked up the pen and scribbled her name and signature on the contract and then handed it to him.

“What are you waiting for now? Just strip, will you?”

Hearing her command, he smiled viciously, and stepping closer to her he whispered, “Huh! Why don't you do the honors and satisfy yourself? This body and my whole existence are now all yours!”

“.....”

Brione Yu had everything one could ever want. She had always been an over-achiever who was good at everything she did. She was famous in the entertainment industry as a phenomenal model and actress.

She had everything which included a special person on whom she could rely for anything. Her best friend… her first love… Gavin Wu.

But she had lost him before she could confess her true feelings to him, that she was ready to take a chance and turn their friendship into love.

While she was missing him and longing for him, she had an unexpected encounter with a recluse Prince. He was the heir to the throne, in a foreign country. He was a cold and ruthless man who was feared by many. There were rumors that he was cursed and so he rarely came out of his palace which was situated on a secluded island.

But Brione could not explain her attraction for this Prince? Why did he remind her of Gavin every time she set her eyes on him?

The Prince resembled Gavin substantially but their characters were contradictory.

Was fate playing some kind of cruel game with her? Or was she being played by the Prince?