Dancing on the golden ashes - Chapter 23: The Trial Begins!

“Hah..Hah..”

In the midst of what seemed like a battlefield, a young boy with white hair knelt on the ground, struggling to catch shallow breaths. A short sword pierced his heart, his arms and legs were broken, making him unable to stop the crimson blood from coloring the ground.

“That's what you get for betrayal,” a red-headed teenage boy sneered as he stood before him.

“A pathetic person like you could never be my brother,” added a purple-haired girl, her voice seething with anger, as she stood alongside the redhead.

With great effort, the young boy shifted his gaze forward. He could see many familiar faces in front of him—his so-called family, his so-called friends but his gaze remained fixed on her.

“Wh..y, A.nna,” he uttered with immense difficulty and sorrow in his voice, his vision blurring as he locked eyes with the blonde-haired girl, who regarded him with emotionless eyes.

“I did that so I could save you,” he said, his voice gradually growing louder.

“I DID THAT SO YOU COULD LIVE!” he shouted, making everyone present flinch in fear.

“I never asked you to do this” the blonde-haired girl replied, her words crushing the very soul of the boy.

“A...nn.a,”

the young boy whispered one last time, a small tear slipping down from his eye as he breathed his final breath.

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Neil survived eight grueling years in a post-apocalyptic world only to die and be reincarnated in the body of Eden Morton, a character from a game he

used to play as a teenager, by an unknown entity for unknown reasons.

Eden's life was a pitiable one, plagued by the constant manipulation and betrayal of those around him – whether it was the princess, the famed hero, or even his very own family. Eden died without ever experiencing genuine love. Now, as Neil took over, he was determined to embark on a new journey, seeking the one thing he and Eden never had : a life worth living.

In life, the most important thing is appearance.To compensate for his lack of good looks, he worked hard for years to reach the peak.However, the reality waiting for him at the end was nothing but betrayal and despair.[The system has been activated.][You have obtained the ‘Handsome’ attribute.]On the brink of death, he gets a second chance at life.Now his goal is clear.[Quest Completed]Reward: Talent obtained through the ‘Handsome’ stat.[New Quest]Task: Become more handsome.“I will become handsome.”

William and his college class are ripped from Earth and thrown into Aethel, a world on the brink of collapse. Everyone gains incredible magical powers – except William. Mocked and underestimated, he’s an outcast among heroes. But William has a secret: an SSS-ranked skill that lets him travel to Aethel’s past. Learning lost magic from ancient masters, he’ll surpass his classmates and become the true savior Aethel needs. But can he overcome the dangers of the past and present to forge his own destiny? While others studied about the first mage, William could go back in time and see the first mage himself! While others dreamed of seeing a dragon, William could go back in time, hatch a legendary dragon egg and turn it into his puppy. While others used common materials to craft their items, William could go back in time and mine materials that weren’t find anywhere in Aethel anymore. Is it unfair? Perhaps, but William was not the type of person to not use the powers the universe gave him.

[Warning: Mature Content]Shuri Lee never imagined her quiet, unassuming life would lead her to Noran Kingston, a world-renowned pianist admired for his brilliance. Despite her humble background and the Kingston family’s disdain, their love was pure and unstoppable. Against all odds, they eloped, creating a life of quiet joy—until tragedy struck.Shuri’s life was cruelly taken, leaving Noran broken and consumed by vengeance. In his grief, he destroyed those responsible before ending his own life, desperate to reunite with her.But fate granted him a second chance.Awakening years earlier at the peak of his fame, Noran vows to rewrite their story. This time, he will protect Shuri at any cost. “I’ll never let you go, Rin. Not again.”No longer just a pianist, Noran builds a global empire to shield her from harm. But as he reshapes their future, he discovers that Shuri carries secrets—hidden truths that could still tear them apart.