I WAS The Rank–1 Hero - Chapter 176: It Tasted Like Cherries

[A Douluo Dalu 2: Peerless Tang Sect Fanfiction]He awakened a unique martial soul and forged unfair contracts with soul beasts.Born in obscurity, he rose as a formidable overlord amidst the chaos.He suppressed countless prodigies of his era, his talent unparalleled.He is the true Beastmaster King, the ruler of all beasts.In the shadows, he gathered strength, advancing step by step, until he reigned supreme, unifying the continent.Whether human or soul beast, he would make all beings submit and become the sole sovereign of the land.Ending the turmoil, bringing order to the world—he would ascend to the highest throne, standing above all in an era of chaos.[Multiple love interests, no simping, mastery of strategy, seizing every advantage]

Xia Mi traveled to a classic JRPG game and became a villager in Xinshou Village.

My biggest wish is to save money, then marry a woman from another race, live a safe and worry-free life, and finally die in bed.

On this day, the brave men defeated the Demon King.

【Name: Xia Mi】

[Occupation: Villager]

Added: [Occupation: The new heir to the Demon King]

[Devil King act quickly! Kill all the heroes! Revive the glory of the demon race! 】

Wait, is this a mistake?

In Xinshou Village, besides farming every day, Xia Mi, who is serving as a background board, suddenly has an additional identity board.

He is just a novice villager!

“Where is the devil king! Where is the devil king!”

The news of the Demon King’s birth spread throughout the mainland. Every brave man who came to defeat the Demon King could see a steady stream of monsters in Xinshou Village, but he never saw the Demon King.

Villager of a certain Xinshou Village: Demon King? I’m a farmer, so I really don’t know.

- Description from novelbuddy

For as long as he could remember, life had always been cruel.A young man in his early twenties—his name now lost to the past—was dealt a life filled with misfortunes.A cold, empty apartment, a soul-crushing job, and, finally, a terminal diagnosis.With nothing left to live for, his only comfort had been escaping into the fictional world of Path of the Elemental Sage, a story of heroes, magic, and survival.But fate had other plans.When death finally came for him, he didn’t fade into nothingness.Instead, he awoke in the world he had only read about—a world of chaos and danger where death lurked around every corner.The air smelled of magic, the sky was filled with possibilities.{«[Status Window]»}[Name: Lyrium Blackwood][Age: 16][Rank: D-][Skills: None][Elements: None}At first, confusion filled his mind.Who was Lyrium Blackwood?Why was he here?And why did this body feel so different?But as his memories returned, so did the realization: this wasn’t some blessing or second chance.He wasn’t reincarnated as the protagonist.No destined savior.No cheat abilities.No grand fate.He was just another mob, a face in the crowd meant to exist and die without leaving a mark.But this young man—the one who had left his old name and life behind—wasn’t the kind of person to roll over and accept his fate.“This world is dangerous. The protagonist isn’t the only one fighting for survival here,”he muttered, his red eyes deep and sharp.Unlike the naïve characters in the story, he knew the stakes.He’d read the web novel.He’d seen the carnage, the betrayals, the disasters that wiped out entire cities.And if there was one thing he refused to be, it was a pawn in someone else’s game.“I don’t care about glory. I don’t care about saving the world. All I care about is surviving—no matter what it takes.”Lyrium Blackwood wasn’t planning to live quietly or avoid danger.The only way to survive in this brutal world was to rise to the top.To be strong enough to stand above both heroes and villains.Using his knowledge of the story’s events and his iron will, Lyrium sets out on a relentless path to surpass the protagonist.Whether through clever manipulation, brutal training, or sheer desperation, he’ll climb higher and higher, leaving nothing to chance.But the deeper he gets, the more he realizes that this isn’t just the story he once read.As fate pushes him closer to the heart of the narrative, Lyrium begins to suspect that his reincarnation wasn’t an accident—and the world itself might be watching him.“I don’t care who or what stands in my way. If the story wants to kill me, I’ll rewrite the ending myself.”----------------------------------I apologize for any mistakes in this story, as it’s my first attempt at writing a novel.

Pirate World, Before the Summit War.Sengoku: “In this war, the advantage is ours!”Vice Admiral Tsuru: “Can we really win?”Sengoku: “We will win.”As the Summit War begins, chaos erupts on the battlefield.Above Marineford.Suddenly, Will appears in the sky with his crew, overlooking the entire battlefield.Sengoku: “What exactly are you here for? Are you planning to help Whitebeard?”“Don’t misunderstand.”Will scans the battlefield, his gaze sweeping over the powerful figures present. A hint of excitement lingers in his tone.“I’m only here for one reason—to kill all of you. That’s it.”Sabaody Archipelago.Will watches the Celestial Dragons strutting arrogantly through the streets, their eyes filled with disdain for the world. He can’t help but frown.“These are no ordinary Celestial Dragons… This calls for a heavy punch!”...Without hesitation, he throws a devastating punch, obliterating a Celestial Dragon on the spot, crushing the surrounding Marines and CP agents with overwhelming force.The survivors turn to a trembling communications officer clutching a Den Den Mushi and scream in terror:“Hurry! Notify Marine Headquarters! Call for an Admiral!”