Echoterra: Rise of the Verdant King - Chapter 53: Thorns in silence

When the admissions office of Witch Academy called, I was stunned—I had been accepted into a school I never imagined I could touch.Yes, I am a boy and it is an all-girls’ academy, but they did not mind, so I saw no reason to object. I had applied secretly, without telling my family, just to take a chance.But as soon as those striking seniors greeted us newcomers—pressing every boy against the wall with a knowing smile—I realized things were about to spin out of control.“Oh, come now, you sweet little freshman,” one of them said smoothly, her voice full of mischief. “Don’t make this difficult for me, your big sis. Swallow this core and transform into a witch like me, alright?”She held the glowing orb before us, half-threatening, half-teasing, almost inviting the new boys to react. It was clear she enjoyed it—the blend of fear and resistance in their expressions. Our unease seemed to be her personal amusement.After all, they only had this opportunity once a year.

An internet troll who wanted attention, the reader criticized his favorite web novel, saying: “The protagonist is dumb and the author is stupid.”

A young man, a modern-day history and war enthusiast, finds himself reincarnated in the body of an orphan — one destined to inherit a small, struggling barony from his dying uncle. But fate offers no easy path. Inside the family, greedy rivals lurk, eager to steal his inheritance. Outside, hostile neighbors eye his weakened lands, ready to tear it apart at the first sign of weakness.This is a tale of ruthless ambition, cunning strategy, and relentless struggle. From a powerless orphan to a baron, from the weakest barony to the mightiest duchy — he will rise through blood, steel, and fire.

This is a world filled with despair, teeming with hordes of corpses, mutated creatures, poisonous plants, demons, and gods.The human societal system has completely transformed, with no justice, no righteousness, only might and slaughter.The strong can oppress the weak at will, human order has utterly collapsed, and the law of the jungle reigns supreme. In this world, weakness is the original sin!Some lucky humans have awakened extraordinary abilities, becoming Evolvers, and have risen to the top, possessing wealth, resources, beautiful women, and status.Qin Jun crosses into this doomsday world, awakening the Great Villain System at the start. As long as you are villainous enough, SSS-level talents, gene serums, and potential points are all within reach.Perhaps in the doomsday world, only villains can climb step by step to the peak…