Illusions, Lies, Truth - Volume 2, Chapter 4: This Bookstore’s… Part 2—Talent of the Innerworld

Kaiden Tian’s aspirations of basketball stardom take a heartbreaking turn when a car accident not only claims his mother’s life but also robs him of his ability to walk. Undiscouraged, he settles for a role as the waterboy of a top high school basketball team, determined to stay close to the game he loves. However, he meets an untimely death and finds himself inhabiting the body of Kai Guo, a notorious troublemaker blessed with an ideal physical form. [Welcome to the Rise to Legend System!] With this second chance at life, Kaiden sees an opportunity to rewrite his destiny and fulfill the dreams that were once shattered.

In the year 2100, global warming has long since made the Earth's natural surface uninhabitable with a new ice age. Humanity takes refuge in huge, closed cities, but life is difficult. Video games are the opium of the people, letting them escape the chaos of life in immense metropolises.

In 2100, the first fully immersive VRMMORPG, "Horus," was released, and the world changed! Entirely coded by an independent AI, "Horus" made all other games look meaningless by comparison.

Megacorporations quickly monopolized on the wealth "Horus" allowed its players to amass, and soon people like Alexander were spending their lives slaving away to make money for the companies who employed them.

But on the day Alexander died of exhaustion, collapsing in his gaming booth...

...He woke up, alive, nine years earlier.

One day before "Horus's" launch.

"This time, I'll do it right! I know everything that's going to happen! I'll become the strongest, and no one will take advantage of me again!"


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///This work takes place in an MMORPG whose main goal is the exploration and conquest of space.///

///my two main inspirations are: The Reincarnation of the Strongest Sword God and the Legendary Mechanic.///

///I care about the coherence of the story, even if the theme of overpowering is present, it is thanks to the reflexive and opportunistic choices of the MC and not a chance to come out of nowhere. ////

Youyou is a mother’s precious daughter. The word she often talks about is: “My mother said…” Therefore, many people laughed at her for not being weaned, but Xu Youyou didn’t care, she still went her own way, determined to be the best mother’s baby girl.
In high school, Xu Youyou was pressed by the domineering school grass against the wall to confess. Xu Youyou frowned and refused: “No, my mother said that the most important thing for students is to study! Otherwise, they will become the scum of society in the future!” Someone who has a single-digit score and hates studying: “….”
In college, a rich and handsome president He wanted to use favorable conditions to help Xu Youyou, but got a contemptuous look from Xu Youyou: “My mother said, there is no such thing as getting something for nothing, if there is, there must be a conspiracy!” The president who wanted to find white moonlight substitute: “….”
*5874 is a system whose mission is to change the miserable fate of the abused heroine Xu Youyou and make her happy. But, look at the little beany who is only three years old in front of her, and look at the terrible environment of the orphanage. The system decides to tell a lie “Youyou don’t be afraid, I’m your mother.”
After fifteen years of conscientious teaching, the system fell into a deep sleep due to a lack of energy. When it woke up again and found Xu Youyou living in a beautiful villa with countless jewels and beautiful clothes. The system was heartbroken: “Baby, why are you still …” Xu Youyou is excited: “Mom! You finally woke up! You were right! The best money in the world is money earned from loving a brainy man! System: “… Did I say that?”

- Description from Novelupdates

Guys here is my pitch.....In the sprawling world of fantasy, we’ve often been treated to tales of heroes reincarnated with divine blessings, legendary powers, or cheat-like abilities, thrust into magical lands as shining saviors—or chaotic terrors. But what happens when the very concept of reincarnation becomes a curse? When the divine boon is a big fat joke, and the “cheat system” doesn’t quite… cheat?Enter John, the unluckiest reincarnate. Blessed by a god and thrust into a fantasy world, he dreams of glory, power, and adventure—only to wake up as a normal, utterly powerless bird. Not a mythical phoenix, not an ancient thunder eagle. Just… a bird.To make matters worse, this world is no ordinary realm. It's a land scarred by the devastating legacies of past isekai’d heroes and villains, whose reckless exploits piled skeletons into mountains and turned their cheats into harbingers of chaos. Fed up with these unruly intruders, the ancients of the realm banded together to create a world-shaking seal: all reincarnated souls are trapped in the bodies of harmless animals, confined to isolated sanctuaries that function more like fantasy zoos.Here’s the twist: this isn’t mercy. It’s a resource grab. The powerful beast tamers of this realm have turned these reincarnated souls into exotic pets, prized for their cheat-like potential.John finds himself at the bottom of the food chain in every sense. His cheat doesn’t work. His human form is gone. And his world is filled with predatory cultivators who see him as either a snack or a tool.But John isn’t one to give up so easily. What starts as despair quickly turns into cunning survival. With wings and wit as his only tools, John must navigate layers of misfortune, dodge fate’s sharp talons, and cheat his way through a world determined to keep him grounded.Get ready to join John on a wildly unconventional journey—one where reincarnation isn’t a ticket to greatness, but a death sentence he’s determined to rewrite. His story is one of humor, wit, and persistence, as he explores a world where he is the joke and his survival is the punchline.Main tags: reincarnation/isekai, beast taming cultivation system, comedy, action, adventure.Of course No-harem!