Martial Arts Ain't Anything Special - Chapter 44: Plum Blossoms (2)

[Ding! You have stopped the Cromothean Invasion! You have unlocked the Adamantine Battle Armor (Level 3)][Ding! You have solved the Cosmic Formula! The cosmic entities have grown wary of your existence.]Years ago, way before I was even born, humanity was reminded that we weren't alone in the universe, and our world was invaded by a race of alien conquerors that called themselves the Ravemites.It was ghastly. And humanity was soon on the brink of extinction until, we were saved by an Intergalactic Organization that called themselves Starcore Nebula.Years later, in the middle of this chaotic relationship between mankind and alien, I, Eric Kaiser — a regular 18 year old kid who had always looked up to these heroes of earth, aspired to be just like them even without awakening any talent, lost my parents in the apocalypse.Since then, I lost any aspirations I had, any admiration I harbored towards these intergalactic agents. Till one day, I came across a strange system that changed my life forever, then I awakened a talent too.That Talent's Name was D.E.L.T.A.And because of it, I was linked to the greatest technological system in the universe, create state of the art weaponry out of thin air? Easy. Hack into the universe's most elite security system? Piece of cake. Being wanted by cosmic beauties across the galaxy? Child's play.But I didn't go unnoticed, soon enough rival galactic organizations and even alien warlords from all over the universe wanted me gone at any cost, so if they wanted to wage a war against me, bring it on.I have no desire to become a intergalactic hero, but with this system, I am justice.So the battle to save earth from these so-called conquerors? it wasn't just the planet's fight anymore, it was mine. They made sure of that the day they let my parents died.

Some crowns are forged in blood. Others are drowned beneath it.In a city strangled by smoke and silence, where children are shackled to machines and shadows rule behind gilded masks, Keiran is just another forgotten soul—until the mark appears.Buried beneath the factory’s foundations lies a world long erased from history. Ancient oaths whisper through stone and water, and something older than memory begins to stir. As Keiran is drawn deeper into the abyss, he uncovers a legacy not meant for mortal hands—a crown shattered in defiance, a flood sealed by sacrifice, and a power that demands a price.Hunted by tyrants, haunted by echoes, and bound to secrets he never asked for, Keiran must choose: drown in the tide of what came before, or rise against the current and reclaim what the world was forced to forget.But the deeper he goes, the more the truth unravels…And beneath it all, something still breathes.

“Pretend to be my lover and join the social circle.”

Selena, the top star that had the entire world’s attention, was suddenly warped to Northern Duke’s land during an accident while filming. Kalcion, the Northern Duke that saved her from the infernal beasts, offers Selena a chance to go back home in return for collecting information in various social circles by pretending to be his lover. Selena quickly accepts Kalcion’s offer, but…

“Why in the world can’t you do this!?”
“Don’t you think that the answer to that should be obvious to you, the actress, not to me, the duke?”

There was a critical problem. The Northern Duke’s acting skills are horrible!

“…Let’s change the plan. I’ll seduce you instead.”

And thus the contractual relationship between the two started. Will Kalcion’s acting skill improve first, or will he start to have true feelings for Selena instead?

Some exist with pride, others struggle with pride, some compete with pride, and there are those who fail with pride, but very few can walk away with pride.Congratulations, for as you read these lines, you have witnessed the whole lives of many great basketball players.This pronunciation was embodied when Stephen Curry, after facing defeat in 2021, claimed that no one would want to face them the following season; When Tim Duncan was convinced before the start of the 2014 Finals that they would not mess up; When Kobe Bryant promised at Old Buss's memorial to take the Lakers to the playoffs; When Nowitzki, shedding his label as a soft player, retreated to the locker room in tears at night; When Kevin Garnett let out a skyward howl after holding the championship trophy; When the 2004 Detroit Pistons won and the F4 Lakers lost…Our story begins in an era when pride still mattered.