Rome Must Fall - Chapter 8: First Battle

In the world of cultivation, countless tales follow righteous protagonists, fated heroes blessed by destiny, or those chosen by heaven to walk the path of immortality.But what of those who stand in their way?What of the villains? The so-called obstacles to the hero’s journey—do they not bleed, dream, and struggle as well?Xiao Ning was never meant to succeed.From the very beginning, the Grand Dao wove him as a stepping stone—a necessary sacrifice to elevate another. His path, like that of all designated ‘villains,’ was doomed to failure by design.But what happens when that design is defied?After death, Xiao Ning awakens—not in the cycle of reincarnation, but in the cold silence beyond it. There, he is offered the Eternal Paradox Codex—a forbidden artifact containing the hidden truths of the Grand Dao System itself.Rules. Loopholes. Vulnerabilities.Knowledge not meant for those like him.With this power, Xiao Ning is granted a single, impossible choice: accept oblivion, or step outside the Grand Dao entirely—to abandon fate, sever karma, and cultivate a path unbound by heaven or law.It is Xiao Ning’s journey, from ashes to something beyond comprehension.Not to become an Immortal among men.But something even the heavens dare not bind.If fate is a chain…Then let him forge his own path in the void beyond.Welcome to this humble tale.The cultivation world is vast and unkind.Let us begin again—on our terms.

[House of Dragons, Game of Thrones Prequel] The heir prince known as the One-Day Heir should have died young, but Rhaegar stubbornly survived.Being born sick and weak cannot defeat him, and losing his qualification as an heir cannot make him give up on himself.Using the Explorer system, he will explore ancient relics and embark on a legendary conquest that will span the Seven Kingdoms.Explore the Skull of the Dark Terror Balerion: Dragon’s Legacy (50% Fire Resistance)Explore the White Hart: A desire for LongevityExplore Blackfire and Dark Sister: King’s Gaze and Knight’s Oath.Rhaegar tamed his dragon, took the Iron Throne, and destroyed all who stood in his way.Winter is coming, and I have ridden my dragon to meet it.*Important Note*In the original narrative (Lore), the one day heir prince was named Baelon, in honor of Viserys’s father.However, the author, disliking the name Baelon, opted for Rhaegar, inspired by the Prince Rhaegar in Game of Thrones.

The heavens and earth change when the blood phoenix descends.

The world ended.Zombies and monsters rose. Cities crumbled.And Merek? He woke up in the apocalypse with a job that lets him create armor for lingering souls—spirits without bodies, desperate for purpose.Turns out, the dead don’t rest easy. Some are angry. Some vengeful. Others? Just lost. When Merek binds them into steel warframes, they don’t just fight... they evolve.Now, he leads a legion of the undead—ghosts in armor, bound to him by oath and fate.Faction leaders call him mad. Warlords want him dead. And God? If He’s watching, He’s not talking.Merek was supposed to die with everyone else.Instead, he got a support type job no one’s heard of... and a shot at rewriting his pathetic Earth-life.In this world, only the fittest survive.And Merek? He’s got undeads in steel at his side.