MTL - Iron Powder and Spellcasters - Chapter 398 The game of fox and cat (Part 1)

“W-w-w-welcome to the simulation zone.”“New user recognized.”“Proceeding to register...”“Please wait...”“Register complete.”“Welcome, user number 4956: Evan Rotewed.”In a world of mana, those without reserves for it gets left behind. Rules and regulations are set to categorize everything into neat piles, each promising the highest potential a person with mana can get. Starting his life at the rock bottom, Evan Rotewed swore he will rise above it all, even if he had to break the ironclad system the entire world holds close to its chest. Wave a hand to the broken reflection beyond the mirror of ones and zeroes. System Discord.

Aric Valerian was born a curse.The fourth prince of the Valerian Empire. A bastard. A cripple. A forgotten shadow in the court, mocked as a stain on royal blood.But when the gods reached down, healing his body and allowing strength into his veins, Aric tasted hope for the first time. He fought for honor, clawed for recognition—only to be betrayed by the brother he trusted most. Cast into a slaughter pit, abandoned to die.And in the moment when despair and death should have claimed him, the world offered something else.[Would you like to change your fate?]From that line, Aric Valerian was reborn—sent back to the past not as the forgotten prince, but as a weapon. A sovereign forged in agony, guided by a system of relentless ascension:[Ki Circulation Mastered: Strength +10][System Upgrade: Tactical Genius Acquired][Hidden Fortress Constructed: Security +15%]Every scar became a push. Every betrayal, a reason. With blood-soaked hands, Aric began carving a path through enemies, kin, and gods alike. The empire that spat on his name would kneel or burn. The brother who betrayed him would drown in his own crown.Yet with every victory came sacrifice. Every step forward dragged him closer to the abyss, until vengeance and damnation became one.But Aric does not care.Because the cursed prince has only one destiny left:To rise as the sovereign who will shatter gods, break empires, and tear fate itself apart.Or die trying—and take the world with him.