Immortal of the Ages - Chapter 917: What in the World of Stockholm Syndrome Bul-?

Within the dream of the dreamer, the one who was dreamed of awoke.

… Borges

“I exist in the sunlight, the wind, between the heavens and the earth, and also in dreams.”

One night, Yu Hao, a college student who was at his wits’ end had an unexpected encounter with a mysterious visitor – “General” – who had dream travelled. He led Yu Hao in solving the countless riddles that abounded in the realm of the conscious, and lit up the fire beacons on the meandering Great Wall.

Thereafter, the darkness retreated, the sun rose, and when the long night was thoroughly lit up, the him who existed in reality was reborn.

The black dragon that roared, the lighthouse and demonic eye on the coastline, the rain forest before Chichén Itzá, the fierce beasts that wreaked havoc in the Colosseum…the bizarre projection of reality in one’s consciousness reflected the hidden place that the sunlight in reality couldn’t touch – the innumerable sins of the human heart.

The journey of seizing dreams continues, and one can only hope that the sun will continue illuminating the human heart.

…

Fire beacons on the Great Wall were lit up to signal a border invasion.

- Description from Novelupdates

The most dependable (sarcastic) assassin -- Gao Xuan.Developing himself with an inventory of powerful gear. A master of biding his time, backstabbing, and brutalizing weaklings.Don’t love me. Nothing would come out of this.I am an assassin without feelings.

In a world where power is dictated by gangs, cities, and families ranked from Tier 1 to Tier 6, only the strongest survive. In the Tier 4 city of Blackridge, fifteen-year-old Elijah struggles to find his place. With his mother working tirelessly and his younger sister depending on him, he has always kept his head down.Determined to rise above the chaos, Elijah and his best friend Kai decide to create their own gang from nothing. But strength in this world isn’t given—it’s taken. The gangs that rule Blackridge won’t tolerate competition, and even the weakest gang has more resources, manpower, and experience than they do. With no money, no reputation, and no clear allies, they must navigate a brutal world of betrayals, violence, and ambition, where every decision could mean life or death.But Elijah is different. He possesses a mysterious system that offers him power—at a cost. As he slowly uncovers its secrets, he realizes that survival is not enough. To protect those he loves, he must become stronger than anyone else. He must climb the ranks, crush the opposition, and seize control of Blackridge’s underworld.But in a world ruled by kings, warlords, and ancient families, the price of power is steep. And when the past comes back to haunt him—when whispers of a forgotten night resurface—Elijah must confront not only his enemies but the truth about himself.In the gang world, the strong rise, the weak perish, and only the ruthless reign supreme.And Elijah? He plans to reign at the very top

In the dawn of a new world, only six beings remained—witnesses of the cataclysmic war that reshaped existence.They were the Six Primordial Dragons, the architects of reality’s six fundamental forces, entrusted as guardians of this reborn world.But power breeds corruption.One of them—the Dragon of Chaos—succumbed to the madness of bloodlust and betrayal. His unrelenting thirst for conflict fractured the fragile peace, sparking a rift between dragons and humans. Distrust grew into enmity. War returned.And then, the Dragon of Chaos vanished.Among those who rose to resist the dragons was a young man named Hades—a prodigy among Dragon Slayers.Famed for his flawless record and unmatched resolve, Hades had never lost a single comrade on the battlefield. With the promise of becoming the youngest official Hunter, he was a symbol of hope.Until everything crumbled.A mission went horribly wrong.His closest friend perished.The world that once praised him turned its back. His comrades pointed fingers. His fiancée, once his anchor, returned his ring with silent condemnation.Abandoned. Shattered. Branded a failure.Standing at the edge of despair, with the world far below and nothing left to hold on to…He heard a voice:[I think it's about time you wake up.]°°°°°°°A/N:- Istg this was a cliche synopsis, but the novel isn't. Try a few chapters before you decide.Additional tags: Possessive characters, revenge, anti-hero protagonist, serious character development, broken engagement, betrayal, strong to overpowered.