Start With Contracting Sprites - Chapter 150 - The Freshmen’s Victory

In a world of endless star fields and interdimensional wars, the wizards' floating city conquered one world after another.At the wizard academy, through blood-stained exams, the towering wizard tower sent wizards batch after batch.Becoming an apprentice wizard, Richard activated the miracle furnace deep within his soul, where constant refining of materials granted him knowledge and skills...The veteran's weapon could be refined into legendary martial arts techniques.The ancient wizard's encrypted notes could be refined into lost knowledge.The remains of brutal monsters could be refined into monster bloodlines.In this era of great voyages in the wizarding world, Richard was destined to become a leader of his time.

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.

“What does it feel like to be a shadow?”People say it's bondage — the absence of light, of freedom. But what is freedom, really?The ability to choose whatever you want?Or... just a beautiful illusion masking the void?Strange question, I know.But you'll understand soon enough.Because my lives?They've always been a little... enlightening.— Kaiser

“Where do you think you are going with those bags?” Xander interrogated as soon as he cornered her.“Of course, I’m leaving you!” She said, standing her ground, despite the fear in her eyes.“Why?”“You forgot to mention how dangerous you were.”Xander let out a deep throaty chuckle. “Sweetheart, you didn’t ask.”“I don’t care! I don’t want to be a part of this anymore!” She insisted.Xander shook his head. “Too late. We are already married. You now belong to me, and divorce is out of the question.”—Aurora Swift’s world shatters when Owen—her boyfriend of five years—breaks up with her via text. The betrayal deepens when she finds out he’s also getting engaged to her half-sister, Olivia Swift on the same day.Heartbroken and filled with rage, Aurora has a one-night stand with Xander Scott, Owen’s enigmatic uncle and the youngest billionaire in the country. When the fling leads to a marriage proposal from Xander with a promise to help her get her revenge, Aurora finds it hard to refuse.However, Aurora soon realizes that this is anything but a whirlwind romance.Xander Scott hides more secrets than Aurora knows, and the dangers that follow his mysterious identity soon bring about complications in their marriage.When Xander’s secret identity comes to light, will Aurora choose to remain in the marriage as her love for him has grown in depth, or let it drive them apart?