Stone Mage: Revenge of the Villain System - Chapter 161 The Past Can’t Be Washed Away

Elias “Grim” Kingsley, a nine-year-old orphan with a hardened heart and sharp tongue, dies alone from pneumonia in an overcrowded orphanage. Known for his perpetual scowl and biting remarks, he's labeled a “problem child” by caretakers and “damaged goods” by potential adopters. Years of rejection have built thick armor around his young heart.In death, he encounters the God of Balance who offers him a second chance at life in a different world—this time as Grim Van Ambrose, son of a noble house. Balance explains that every soul deserves to know love and connection, something Elias was cruelly denied in his first life.Promised the family and belonging he never experienced, Grim begins his new life only to suffer an immediate tragedy: his mother dies moments after his birth. This cruel twist of fate reinforces his belief that loss is inevitable, leaving him with a distant father and the mysterious voice of a “Guidance Assistant” in his head.As Grim grows into his new identity, he struggles with his dual nature—the emotional scars of his past life bleeding into his present one. His difficult personality and sharp tongue remain, now paired with noble privilege and expectations. Despite his outward brashness, he carries the deep wounds of his first life and the fresh loss that welcomed him into his second.What begins as one orphan's second chance evolves into an epic journey through a world of ancient beasts, elemental magic, and deadly political intrigue. As Grim uncovers the truth about the Ambrose Clan's fall from grace and the conspiracy that framed them for treason, he faces increasingly dangerous adversaries—both human and monstrous. His quest for revenge against those who destroyed his family's legacy will challenge him to master forbidden techniques, forge unexpected alliances, and ultimately decide whether to rebuild the Ambrose Clan as it was, or transform it into something entirely new.In a realm where power determines survival and ancient secrets lurk beneath noble facades, Grim must learn that sometimes the greatest battles aren't fought with swords, but with the choices that define who we truly are.

Hi guys, this is my second novel here, and for you that have been reading my previous novel 'Is this really A Game?!' this one will be quite different. First of all, the system elements are light compared to my previous novel as the world I am writing about is one that had magic and monsters before the system arrived and is available to all. You should expect a dark story with a protagonist that acts like a villain at times and is quite calculative in his endeavors. Anyway, hope you enjoy it, and here is the synopsis.

Lyle was an orphan, he knew not of who his parents were and only had memories of his mother from a long time ago. After being discovered by a mysterious man, Lyle joined the assassin organization and rose through the ranks thanks to his hard efforts, talent, and mysterious origin.

The world suddenly changed during one of his missions, what was supposed to be a slightly more difficult mission became a hard one, and then the change occurred.

Mana ran rampant and the many monsters of the world became stronger, more of them appeared and suddenly the inhabitants of the world that had suppressed monsters for so long were forced to fight the more powerful monsters once again.

For Lyle, it was a chance, however. The system came into his world and he received an opportunity to become more powerful.

Ding!

[ The system has scanned the host and has concluded that the bloodline can be activated. ]

[ Will you activate the bloodline? ]

[ The host will have to sacrifice all the power he has and will be back at level 1 upon doing so ]

“My bloodline, will I finally be able to track him down after doing this?”

“System, activate it.”

[ The host has activated his bloodline ]

[ The host has been marked by the Empress of the Night, it is advised that you become powerful quickly, otherwise, you might get captured ]

“Huh?”

……………………………………………………………

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“A cheat system? Do you take me for a fool? Nowadays, where can you find such a good thing falling into your lap? Scram from my head. Is this is new kind of fraud? Or is this a murderer training system of aliens that contains the ability of hypnotism?”

“No, I am the chaos that whispers from nothingness, the nightmare of all living beings in the Southern Ten Stars, the successor of the unparalleled God and… your elder sister.”

“…I only have a younger sister, I don’t have an elder sister!”

“No, you have one. I am an illegitimate daughter. It’s just that your dad didn’t inform you.”

- Description from Novelupdates

In a realm where even the faintest shadows whisper untold tales, I came to realize that the forgotten often hold the most powerful narratives.As an avid admirer of the world's most beloved series, I never imagined that one night's rest would pull me into its very fabric.“Why on earth am I stuck in this world? And why, of all people, am I him?”I had become Arthur Nightingale—Class A’s most unremarkable student. A magic swordsman barely worthy of mention, ranked 8th among the first-years. A mere footnote in the grand story.Still, with this body’s abilities and my own insider knowledge, I figured I could carve out a peaceful life. Or so I believed.“This was the only way,” the voice repeated, resolute. “The only way to stop her.”Little did I know how truly unique Arthur Nightingale was—or the path this journey would force me to take...