The Reticent Blade - Chapter 17 - Trade For Your Life

Ryan Carter, a die-hard fan of Russell Westbrook, tragically dies in a car accident after watching one of Westbrook’s most electrifying performances. But death isn’t the end—it’s the beginning. He awakens to find himself chosen by the mysterious Basketball Soul System, granting him a chance to be reborn in a parallel world with the abilities of any current NBA player. Without hesitation, he chooses his idol: 2016–2017 MVP Russell Westbrook, in his prime triple-double form.Now reborn in the basketball-obsessed world of the ABA, Ryan joins the Iron City Roarers. With unstoppable athleticism, relentless energy, and a hunger to win, he begins carving a new legend—one fast break at a time.

Mistaken by the system, Xiao Jinsheng, who transmigrated into an apocalyptic book world, becomes a malicious supporting female character who has competed with the protagonist since childhood.As compensation, the system promises to assign Xiao Jinsheng five handsome and mighty bodyguards.A mysterious and stunning snake-man with long violet hair, a proud and sharp-tongued cat-eared youth, a charismatic black panther youth brimming with raw energy, a gentle and thoughtful sheep-man 'mommy,' and an elegant, noble Dragon Sparrow Beast Husband ready to fly her to victory.With just one glance, Xiao Jinsheng recognizes these men as her long-lost husbands.The system tempts her: punch the first button and get five gorgeous husbands, letting you revel in a life of love and luxury.“11111!” Xiao Jinsheng frantically presses her fingers onto her 'husband’s' abs on the poster.But who would have guessed that even systems lie these days?Where are the promised gorgeous and devoted husbands? What she receives instead are five executioners!The enigmatic snake husband suffers abuse and is sold off to the black market; after escaping, he only lives to kill her.The cat-eared youth files for divorce daily, the dashing black panther youth terrifies her with bloody threats, the noble Dragon Sparrow avoids her like the plague, and even the seemingly gentle sheep-man 'mommy' turns out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.Xiao Jinsheng treads on thin ice, relying on the world’s mechanism where a Beast Husband must follow his wife in death to ensure these murderous husbands can’t harm her.She works hard to strengthen herself. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Mist Continent, a Demon Lord is deeply devoted to her, the King of the Deep Sea Mermaids falls for her at first sight, and even the Silver Dragon of Cloud Island stubbornly camps in front of her door.The five Beast Husbands, who were initially clamoring for divorce, drop to their knees with a slippery slide, now refusing to separate even in death.

“I don't want to die anymore, so I'll aim to be the strongest――!”After being stabbed by a random attacker, he was reincarnated in Japan, a place where 'demons' like yokai and monsters exist――and moreover, he was born into a family of 'exorcists' who exorcise these monsters!Exorcism is an important job that involves killing monsters, but it is also a dangerous job where people can die.Therefore, he――Itsuki, made a decision.In order to never die again, he would become strong.He aimed to be the strongest and practiced magic tirelessly since he was a baby――until he realized.“Huh? Isn't this too much?”This is the story of an exorcist who, despite being an ordinary person, became the strongest without realizing it due to excessive effort.

Eons have passed since the prophesied godslayer met his demise. Yet, in a world reborn, whispers stir of his return, of a new man born from the remnants of an ancient prophecy.Kallen, destined to master the delicate balance between chaos and order, light and darkness, emerges to defy the very fabric of fate.Existence is a tapestry, one whole, connected, and indivisible. It is woven by the fabric of fate, spun with the strings of karma, and stitched with the threads of causality.Yet, within this unity lies individuality, and this individuality is the essence of existence. The manifestation of essence is Will.But what is a sparked Will against one akin to a raging inferno? What is a child before a mammoth? The conviction of a mortal before the boundless Will of cosmic beings?The answer is defiance!.A defiant Will, is what Kallen needs to liberate himself from the suppression every mortal endures from apex lifeforms. To live his life free, unhinged and on his own terms.But it takes a bit of crazy to be brave, and Insanity to be defiant.This is the story of a mortal breaking limits to achieve Apexification, to walk with his head held high and free in every corner of the universe.It is the irony of a slave who holds the reins, even as their chains bite deep. It is the cry of a heart bound in servitude, yet refusing to surrender its essence.