Gilded Ashes: When Shadows Reign - Chapter 3: Holding a breath

In a world where might was magic, it was a crime to be a noble and magicless. And for this crime, the punishment was death.I grew up frail, bullied by my older siblings, but I thought I could finally turn things around on my sixteenth birthday, when as a noble I was supposed to awaken my magical abilities. The awakening orb, however, turned grey—and condemned me a dud.My father, a duke, could not believe he had fathered such a pathetic specimen. Calling me cursed, he ordered my death and had me thrown into a raging river.I hit the water hard. For a moment I lost consciousness, certain I would never wake again.But some time later, I opened my eyes to the agony of drowning, my body battered by the current. In front of me floated a curious blue sheet of light.[Base Trait: Deathless Acquired][Condition met: You have experienced death.][You can sustain injury, drowning, burning, poisoning, and all forms of bodily destruction—but you will not die. Pain and damage will persist until fully healed.]Thus began my journey—gaining outrageous traits from the suffering that seemed determined to follow me wherever I went.

A festive day, a week have the kingdom of Polestin celebrated for their victory with the crimson general leading their army.The soldiers who served have been guaranteed a spot inside a local bar of the capital city.Clank!“The Crimson General despite being a woman is a talented warrior! Three cheers for the general!”“That woman saved me when I needed it! All hail the general!”“She's like a sister to all the soldier! All hail our general!”Every warrior kept on drinking as the news reached them that the war with their neighboring kingdom was over, the ruler raised their white flag as they asked for mercy- being beneath the crimson general.“General! Come drink with us!”“...”The Crimson General, for how she got her name is because of her crimson hair that became the trademark of her legendary name already spreading across the many kingdoms.“I don't drink.” she denies the invitation her comrades and just sat down on the table watching the others enjoy themselves.“Enjoy, general! You might even find a man here that suits to your liking! You know... your type I think...! The general would love a soft-spoken man!”“...No.”“Hah! That's a shame! In any case I heard that you'll be receiving a reward for helping win the war!”“A reward... I wonder what could it be.”...The reward:“You can choose any of my children to marry you. I have the finest royal princes for you to choose. That is my reward.” The King motions to his left side showing his sons who smiles, sitting in their throne meeting her gaze..“Eh?”“My liege, forgive me but this is...”“Are my children not good enough for you? General, I applaud your accomplishment. Isn't marrying into the royal family a good enough reward for the general?” The King asked the general who swallowed the lump in her throat looking at the princes in display.“I choose-!”Everyone stopped and waiting for the girl to continue.“I choose the princess instead!”

Without noticing it, a man called Bill passed away, but then he realized that his life wouldn’t end that way and soon he was reborn as Billy in another world. Billy was already satisfied enough that he retained his memories, but the surprises didn’t end there. He was born with a weird power that granted him the chance to convert mana into experience points and transmit it to all sorts of things.

Things were looking pretty good until he noticed that he was born in an impoverished and rustic village that was facing their imminent extinction in the hands of creatures that he had never heard of before and other tribes that had all sorts of abilities. Before he could learn how even to crawl, Billy had to find a way to help his tribe. Otherwise, they will be annihilated before he can even become strong enough to stand.

Billy’s journey will be much different than he had imagined. Much farther away from Earth than he had originally thought, Billy will have to adapt to a new environment where his tribe is at the bottom of the food chain. Will he be able to grow up safely and try to change things for the better for his new family and friends?

“I lost everything again...?”Kain had to work hard to feed himself, in a small village on the edge of the forbidden lands. Unlike the others, he hated Keepers, the only people capable of fighting the creatures from the Astral Dimension. Everyone saw them as heroes, but Kain blamed them for the greatest tragedy of his life - the death of his parents.Ironically, the sacrifice of one Keeper allowed Kain to obtain a Rune Brand - the key to begin a trial, the outcome was either power or death.Facing another world, Kain discovered that his blood was cursed, and misfortune would always haunt him.But death would avoid Kain, wanting to keep such a valuable sacrifice for a god. Only failure would await him, but if it was possible death would pass by.Now, Kain must break his curse and take fate into his own hands for the first time in his life or remain a nameless offering.