Valkyrie's Shadow - Chapter 10Before the Storm: Act 8,

【The first emperor of the Alabasta Empire, Ryan Rowan】Life

685 – crossing;

690 – Eat the Shasha fruit and develop the fruit ability based on the [Desert Emperor] Azir;

695 – Meets close friend Neferutari;

715 – Establishment of the Alabasta Empire;

719 – Rowan died in battle, on the eve of the establishment of the World Government;

720 – the establishment of the world government;

A blank hundred years begin.

…

Eight hundred years later.

Haiyuan Calendar 1507——

Due to the aftermath of the battle of Crocodile, who was the shasha fruit power user at the time, Rowan, who was sleeping, woke up.

…

On that day, one million imperial soldiers stood in Marin Van Doo, and the huge desert disc locked the Holy Land Mary Joa!

Rowan declared to the world:

Your emperor is back!

- Description from novelbuddy

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.

I closed my eyes and let out a long, shuddering breath. The needle slipped through my numb fingers and clattered onto the rough pavement. Nothingness swirled around me, bringing the first peace I'd felt in my short, miserable life. No one would miss me, and if any did...? Well, there was always someone else to beat or rape. They'd move on quickly.But then...gods? Since when did nothingness have so many gods?Chosen by the goddess of Fate, I'm thrust into a world of magic and wonder alongside nine other heroes. A world where the gods reign supreme, and evil is vanquished before it can spread its blight.Can such a place truly exist? Could life really be worth living?I've heard that the brightest lights cast the longest shadows, but my life has been nothing but darkness. Perhaps this new world will be the chance I need to find the light, to see the other side.

People are inevitably troubled all their life by the things they couldn’t have when they were young, but if you were driving a Bentley in your youth, life would be like playing a game... ... ... In this era of information explosion, the struggles of ordinary people are like being placed under the spotlight, turning into monkey shows for entertainment displayed before everyone... However, while some people are watching for fun, even more are looking in a mirror... Gu Heng, who was pulled out of the mire by the system, began to experience the thrill of indulgence.