"Welcome, one and all, to the 10th annual Web Novel Awards! We hope you've enjoyed the food because we're now heading into the final part of tonight's main event!"
A thunderous round of applause echoed through the lavish banquet hall, filled with editors, illustrators, and writers alike. The air was alive with anticipation, glittering chandeliers casting shimmering reflections onto the rows of elegantly dressed attendees. Amidst the buzz, a woman in a striking red dress sat with a faint smirk, her sharp eyes scanning the dazzling lights and vibrant crowd. Around her, authors were seated at neatly adorned tables, their glasses brimming with drinks and plates stacked with gourmet food.
"We will now announce the nominees for each category—"
As the host launched into the list of nominees, calling out the names of notable web novel authors and their titles, one petite woman was entirely indifferent to the unfolding spectacle. She was focused on a far more important task: devouring the feast in front of her with reckless abandon.
Her author name was "Lilith", a name synonymous with scandalous villainess romance, dark reverse harems, and brooding tales of betrayal and redemption. Despite her fame, Lilith looked utterly out of place among the refined crowd as she unabashedly stuffed her mouth with whatever she could grab. The sparkling awards and speeches faded into background noise as she shoveled another bite in, her mind entirely preoccupied with squeezing every ounce of value out of the banquet.
But her one-woman feast was interrupted when the chair next to her creaked under new weight. She paused mid-bite, her scowl deepening as a man settled in beside her with a visible air of irritation. His bangs hung low over his face, and he adjusted his glasses, his lip curling as he watched her shovel food into her mouth.
"You're as revolting as ever, huh? Even I have enough self-respect to use proper table etiquette," he muttered, his tone sharp as the glare from his lenses.
The newcomer was another author, known in the web novel world as "Void." While Lilith ruled the realm of villainess romances, Void was the king of over-the-top power fantasies. His stories featured countless overpowered protagonists who could shatter worlds with a flick of their wrist. Critics often pointed out the absurd similarities across his works, but it didn't matter—his novels consistently topped the charts, leaving a trail of imitators in their wake.
Lilith leaned back in her chair, her fork dangling loosely in her fingers as she raised an eyebrow at him. "And you're as insufferable as ever, Void. Didn't know they let clichés like you into prestigious events like this."
Void adjusted his glasses, his voice dripping with smugness. "At least my clichés pay the bills. Tell me, how does it feel writing the same damsels and love triangles over and over again?"
The tension between them crackled like static electricity, drawing a few curious glances from nearby tables. But Lilith simply grinned, leaning forward slightly.
"Oh, Void, I'll take my 'damsels' over your testosterone-fueled power trips any day. At least my readers don't need an instruction manual to tell my protagonists apart."
Void bristled, opening his mouth to retort, but the sudden roar of applause cut him off. The host had reached a climactic moment.
"And the nominees for Best Ongoing Series are…"
Lilith and Void fell silent, their bickering momentarily drowned out by the names being announced. Their rivalry might be fierce, but for tonight, the question lingered: which of them, if either, would take home the prize?
As the night progressed, the tension between Lilith and Void ebbed and flowed with each category announced. They traded a few more barbs under their breath, but both were secretly watching the stage with hawk-like focus, their pride tied to the results of their respective nominations.
"And the winner for Best Romance is… Lilith for The Duchess' Descent: A Villainess' Redemption!"
The crowd erupted into applause as Lilith's name was called. She shot Void a smug grin, wiping her mouth with a napkin and tossing it onto the table.
"Disgusting and talented. What a combo," Void muttered as she strutted past him to collect her award.
Lilith ascended the stage gracefully, her red dress gleaming under the lights. As she accepted the award, she gave a brief, self-assured speech. "Thank you to everyone who supported my work. This just proves that villainesses always have the last laugh." She winked at the crowd, earning a wave of laughter and applause before returning to her seat, the golden trophy glinting in her hand.
Void rolled his eyes. "Of course, the drama queen makes it all about herself."
Before Lilith could retort, the host called for silence again.
"And now, the winner for Best Power Fantasy is… Void for Ascension of the Eternal Sovereign!"
Void stiffened at the sound of his name, his face immediately turning pale. He adjusted his glasses nervously, tugging at his collar as if the room had suddenly become unbearably hot.
"Well? Aren't you going to show us how it's done?" Lilith teased, a mischievous grin on her face.
Void gave her a glare but said nothing, rising hesitantly to his feet. His hands fidgeted with the hem of his jacket as he made his way to the stage, avoiding eye contact with anyone in the audience.
When he reached the microphone, he cleared his throat awkwardly, his voice coming out barely above a whisper. "Uh… t-thank you," he stammered, adjusting his glasses again. "I, um, I appreciate this honor… and, uh, I want to thank my readers… and, uh, my editor. Yeah. Um… th-thank you."
He hurriedly bowed and practically fled from the stage, clutching his trophy like a lifeline as he returned to his seat.
Lilith raised an eyebrow. "Wow, Void. Riveting speech."
He glared at her, his face still flushed. "I don't see you standing in front of a crowd without cracking a joke to hide your nerves."
"Touché," she said, leaning back with a smirk.
Before their bickering could continue, the host returned to the microphone, his voice booming. "And now, the moment you've all been waiting for: Novel of the Year! This award goes to the story that captured the hearts of readers across genres, demonstrating unparalleled creativity and storytelling."
The audience leaned forward in their seats, the tension palpable. Void glanced at Lilith nervously, and she casually sipped her drink, though both were clearly invested.
"And the winner is…" The host paused dramatically, letting the tension build.
"Feathers of the Forgotten: A Victorian Tale by… ChickenQuill!"
The applause was immediate, though it was accompanied by a ripple of confusion and murmurs. Who is this? A newbie?
On the screen above the stage, the winner's avatar appeared: a crudely drawn cartoon chicken face, grinning with a monocle and top hat. The room froze for a moment before an awkward laugh escaped someone in the back.
"What… the hell?" Lilith whispered, her brow furrowing.
Void adjusted his glasses nervously, his voice barely audible. "Is this some kind of joke? A chicken?!"
The host continued, either unaware or unwilling to acknowledge the confusion. "Unfortunately, ChickenQuill couldn't be here tonight, but they've left a message for us to read."
The audience waited as an assistant handed the host a piece of paper. Clearing his throat, he began:
"'Thank you to everyone who believed in this ridiculous dream of mine. To those who doubted a story about a Victorian orphan who communicates with ghosts via cursed feathers, I guess the joke's on you. Here's to breaking conventions and ruffling feathers—literally. Yours cluckingly, ChickenQuill.'"
The crowd erupted into a mix of laughter, applause, and stunned whispers.
Void shrank into his chair, mumbling, "This has to be a prank. How does a stupid sounding concept like that beat a power fantasy?"
Lilith, however, was staring at the screen with a smirk tugging at her lips. "You have to admit, Void, that's bold. A Victorian ghost story? Beats another overpowered protagonist or scheming duchess any day."
Void fidgeted with his glasses, looking both annoyed and uncomfortable. "I-I guess… but it's so weird."
Lilith leaned back, her smirk widening as she swirled her drink. "Weird sells, Void. Guess we're not as untouchable as we thought."
Void muttered something unintelligible, his cheeks tinged pink as the applause for ChickenQuill's victory continued. For tonight, the faceless chicken with the ridiculous avatar had stolen the spotlight, leaving Lilith and Void to sit in the shadow of the most unconventional winner of the year.
The Web Novel Awards came to a close with all the glitz and glamour expected of such an event, but as the lights dimmed and the formalities ended, a new atmosphere took hold. The banquet hall transformed into a lively drinking party. The clinking of glasses, the hum of laughter, and the chatter of authors filled the air, but the tension between Lilith and Void remained palpable, lingering in the corner of the room like a storm cloud waiting to burst.
Lilith, still holding her golden trophy, casually strolled over to the bar. The bartender, a tall man with an eyebrow raised at the sight of her, poured her a glass of red wine without a word.
She took the glass, swirling it slowly, her eyes scanning the crowd. "Well, Void," she said, glancing over at the far side of the room where he was standing with his own drink in hand, "looks like you're just another cog in the machine tonight, huh?"
Void stood awkwardly near the bar, adjusting his glasses and his collar. He had a cocktail in hand, but it was only half-sipped as he avoided making eye contact with anyone. When Lilith's words reached him, he stiffened, his eyes narrowing beneath his glasses.
"Right back at you," he muttered under his breath, but she didn't need to hear it to know what he meant.
She could tell he wasn't enjoying himself. But then again, she wasn't either. Not that she would admit it, of course. She was Lilith, after all.
Before Void could escape further into his bubble of discomfort, Lilith walked over, effortlessly weaving her way through the crowd. She reached him, lifting her glass. "I think we need to celebrate."
He blinked at her in confusion. "Celebrate? What exactly are we celebrating?"
"The fact that we just got dethroned by a chicken," she replied, her voice dripping with sarcastic amusement. "Come on, Void. You have to admit, that was unexpected. I might even be a little jealous of the creativity."
Void rolled his eyes, his posture slumping slightly. "You're enjoying this way too much."
"And you're sulking too much," she shot back. "What's the matter? Too shy to talk to anyone? Don't worry, I won't bite." She paused, taking a slow sip of wine, watching him with amusement. "Not tonight, at least."
He gave a short, awkward laugh, then quickly took a larger gulp of his cocktail as though trying to drown the conversation. "You're… impossible," he mumbled.
Lilith smirked, feeling the warmth of the alcohol beginning to settle in. "Impossible? I'm the one who won, remember?" She held up her trophy, letting it catch the light. "You could take a few lessons from me in charm."
"Yeah, because nothing says charm like gorging yourself on food like a pig," Void muttered, his words slurring slightly.
Her smile only grew wider, amused by his growing discomfort. "Oh, we're bringing that up again, huh? I'm sorry, but you've got to admit, watching you stand up there with your hands shaking was a little hilarious."
Void flushed a deep red, but before he could respond, Lilith set her glass down on the counter and grabbed his drink out of his hand.
"Hey!" he protested. "I'm still drinking that!"
She grinned, her voice just a little more playful than usual. "Not anymore." She took a long sip from his glass, making sure he saw every drop disappear. "You need to loosen up a bit."
"Loosen up?" Void repeated, his eyes widening. "What do you mean by that?"
Lilith's eyes sparkled as she set the empty glass back in his hand. "Loosen up. Have some fun. Otherwise, you'll be stuck being the boring, uptight guy who writes about overpowered protagonists and gets beat by a chicken with a monocle."
She turned on her heel before he could say anything else and returned to the bar, where she ordered another glass of wine. Void, now somewhat unsure of himself, followed reluctantly.
"I'm not some kind of party animal like you," he said, his voice a little less defensive now and more passive.
Lilith chuckled. "That's the spirit, Void. I knew you had it in you."
The drinks kept flowing, and both Lilith and Void were quickly becoming the kind of drunk that made everything seem funnier than it really was. The noise around them, the clinking of glasses, and the buzz of inebriated chatter barely registered as they leaned against the bar, exchanging jabs.
"You know," Lilith began, her voice slightly slurred but still sharp, "I've been thinking about my next work. If I'm being honest…"
Void raised an eyebrow, his own drink wavering in his hand. "Oh no, this can't be good. What are you going to do now, Lilith? Add another villainess to the mix?"
She grinned widely, her eyes slightly glassy. "Actually, yes. But it's different this time. She's silver-haired. And—wait for it—she's so evil, so mean, that even her own kingdom kicks her out. Classic, right?"
Void's eyes narrowed, clearly unimpressed. "So, basically, the same as every other villainess story you've written? Just with silver hair?"
Lilith chuckled, shaking her head. "Oh, it's not that simple. She's kicked out, but here's the twist: someone gets reincarnated into her body—her very own soul—and now she's determined to avoid that horrific fate. She's got to change everything. Rewrite the script. But here's the kicker: she's still just as cruel, just as manipulative, only now… she's got a chance to win."
Void blinked, looking slightly skeptical. "Hmm. Still sounds like a typical villainess story, with just a little more 'I have a chance to win' nonsense. You're basically making her the hero now."
Lilith shrugged. "Eh, that's the point. It's a villainess who gets a second chance. Who says they can't be the heroine of their own twisted story? Besides, who doesn't love a good redemption arc, even if it's just to make everyone else miserable?"
She took a sip of wine, waiting for Void to speak. His fingers tapped nervously on his glass, and he sighed heavily.
"You're not the only one trying to mix things up," he muttered, his face flushed from more than just the alcohol. "I've been working on my next story too, and I swear, it's going to blow everything you've written out of the water."
Lilith gave him a sideways glance. "Yeah, right. What, is your next hero some sort of invincible god again?"
He shifted, clearly uncomfortable, but after a second of hesitation, he finally spoke. "It's about someone who gets reincarnated into a game world. And he knows everything about it. All the plot, all the characters, every twist, every turn."
Lilith stared at him, unimpressed. "A reincarnation story with a game setting. Real original."
He groaned, looking away. "It's not like that! I mean, yes, the guy's overpowered, of course. It's a power fantasy. But that's not the point. He knows exactly what's going to happen. The entire story's laid out for him, and he has the power to change everything. And he's trying to do it. He's not just playing for fun or for power, he's avoiding the bad ending. He's got all the knowledge, but even then…"
Lilith leaned in closer, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. "Even then, what? Even then, he's going to save the world, defeat the final boss, and claim all the glory?"
Void winced, rubbing his temples. "Maybe… but I'm doing it differently. He knows what's going to happen, but he's still fighting against it. It's not just some random, unbeatable hero who doesn't care. He has to confront everything he already knows will go wrong. It's like… a strategy. A mind game, but with swords and magic and all that cool stuff."
Lilith raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile on her lips. "So, a power fantasy where the hero still acts like he has a choice in the matter? Nice."
Void shot her a glare. "It's more complicated than that, alright?"
"Oh, I'm sure," Lilith replied, voice dripping with sarcasm. "A reincarnated, all-knowing, overpowered hero who still thinks he has to struggle for a happy ending. How innovative."
Void's face flushed, but he didn't back down. "At least I'm trying something that's not just a rehashed version of the same old thing. You're the one who keeps recycling the same plot, over and over, just with different hair colors and slightly more evil characters."
Lilith chuckled, her laughter bubbling out of her like it was second nature. "You're right. I am recycling. And guess what? I'm going to keep doing it because my readers eat it up. They love the drama, the scheming, the backstabbing. Why fix something that's not broken?"
Void's shoulders slumped. "I guess we're both doing the same thing, huh? Just dressing it up differently."
Lilith nodded slowly, setting her empty wine glass down. "Yeah, guess so. It's like we're both playing a game, just rewriting the rules a little bit to make it feel fresh. Or… I guess to make ourselves feel fresh."
"More like fooling ourselves," Void muttered under his breath, but Lilith caught the words and smirked.
"Well, at least we're both in it together," she said, raising her glass. "Just another round of recycled plots. Cheers to that, huh?"
Void hesitated, then raised his own glass in a mock toast. "Sure. Why not?"
They both clinked their glasses together before downing the remaining contents. Neither of them had noticed just how much they'd drunk until the dizziness hit them both at the same time.
Void blinked rapidly, trying to focus, but his vision swam. "I think I've had too much…"
Lilith laughed, but it sounded more like a hiccup. "You think? I'm almost drunk enough to start writing the most ridiculous villainess story of all time…"
She slumped against the bar, her head spinning. Void did the same, leaning against the counter with a groan.
"Same here," he muttered, his speech slurred. "But maybe tomorrow… we'll write something totally new. Or maybe just pass out."
Lilith smirked as her vision blurred. "Yeah, let's go with that."
And with that, they both collapsed into their chairs, drunk, exhausted, and somehow a little more comfortable with their shared mediocrity than they'd been all night.
-
Lilith woke with a pounding headache that pulsed in rhythm with the rapid thudding of her heart. She groaned, opening her eyes to a room that immediately felt wrong. It was too grand, too ornate, too… regal. The heavy scent of incense hung in the air, mixing with the faint smell of roses wafting in from the open window.
Panic prickled at her as she sat up, her hands brushing against soft, silken sheets. Her movements felt strange, too delicate, too graceful—and when she looked down at her hands, she froze.
They weren't her hands.
Her skin was pale and flawless, her nails a perfect crimson red. Lilith bolted out of bed, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps as she turned to the full-length mirror in the corner of the room.
The sight staring back at her stole the breath from her lungs.
Silver hair cascaded in soft waves over her shoulders, framing a strikingly beautiful face with sharp, cold eyes. A black dress hugged her slender figure, adorned with jewels that sparkled in the light. She knew this face. She had written this face.
"No," she whispered, stepping back, her voice trembling. "No, no, no. This can't be happening."
The reflection didn't change. It was still her. Or rather, it was Seraphina Valmont—the villainess from her story.
Her mind reeled. She had spent weeks creating this character, a noblewoman so cruel that her kingdom eventually turned on her, leaving her exiled and forgotten. And now, somehow, she was looking at her in the mirror.
"This isn't real," Lilith muttered, shaking her head. "It's just a dream. It has to be."
Desperation took hold. She turned to the window and pushed it open, staring out at the sprawling gardens and towering palace walls. The drop wasn't too high. Maybe if she climbed down, she could—
Her foot slipped as she tried to maneuver onto the windowsill. A startled yelp escaped her as she tumbled forward, the wind rushing past her ears.
Before she could hit the ground, strong arms caught her mid-fall.
Lilith gasped, staring up at her rescuer. He was clad in full plate armor, the sunlight glinting off the polished metal. His helmet obscured his face, but his voice was deep and commanding.
"Are you all right, my lady?"
Lilith blinked, too stunned to respond immediately. The man set her down gently, stepping back and removing his helmet.
Her breath hitched.
Black hair, piercing blue eyes, a chiseled jaw—she knew this man. He was the protagonist of Void's power fantasy story. The overpowered, all-knowing hero who had reincarnated into the world of his favorite game, armed with the knowledge to dominate every scenario.
"Void's character?!" she blurted, her voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and horror.
The man—no, Void—stiffened. His brows furrowed, and his eyes darted around as if checking for anyone else. Then he leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"Lilith?"
Her stomach dropped.
"You're here too?" Void's expression shifted from confusion to shock, and then to something bordering on panic. "You're… wait. Don't tell me…" He trailed off, looking her up and down. "You're Seraphina?"
Lilith stared at him, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to find words.
"And you're the hero from your story?" she finally managed.
Void nodded slowly, his expression equal parts bewildered and incredulous. "How is this even possible? This is—"
"Insane," Lilith finished for him.
They stood in stunned silence, the gravity of the situation settling over them.
Void was the first to break it. "Wait. If I'm here, and you're here… that means—"
"Our stories are combined," Lilith said, the realization hitting her like a ton of bricks.
Void groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Of course this would happen. Our drunken nonsense last night was probably cursed or something."
Lilith shot him a glare. "Oh, so this is my fault now? You're the one who kept bragging about your overpowered protagonist being 'the ultimate genre-defining masterpiece.'"
"And you wouldn't stop talking about how 'utterly unique' your villainess was!" Void shot back, though there was no real heat in his voice.
Lilith's head was spinning. It was bad enough that she was stuck in the body of the doomed villainess from her story, but now Void was here too, in the body of his annoyingly perfect hero. And if their worlds had merged, that meant…
She groaned, burying her face in her hands. "This is a disaster."
Void sighed, looking up at the sky. "Well, at least we know the stakes. You're the villainess destined for exile, and I'm the overpowered hero who—"
"Who is supposed to defeat me," Lilith finished grimly.
The two of them stared at each other, the weight of their shared predicament sinking in.
Void scratched the back of his neck. "So… any ideas on how to get out of this mess?"
Lilith gave him a flat look. "Do I look like I have a plan?"
Void smirked, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I guess we're winging it, then."
Before Lilith could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed from the palace.
"We should probably get inside," Void said, his tone serious.
Lilith hesitated, but the sight of approaching guards made her decision for her. She followed Void toward the palace, her mind racing.
Void adjusted the weight of his enormous sword, its edge gleaming in the dim palace light. His armor, though imposing, made no sound as he moved. He cast a sidelong glance at Lilith, who was busy pacing in frustration, her silver hair trailing behind her like a cascade of light.
"You're going to wear a hole in the floor," Void muttered, his voice low.
Lilith shot him a glare, her corset visibly straining as she crossed her arms. "Excuse me if I'm a little tense. In case you've forgotten, I'm playing the role of Seraphina, the villainess who's supposed to get exiled, humiliated, and probably killed. Meanwhile, you're still the overpowered poster boy with a cheat sword."
Void sighed, his grip tightening on his weapon. "I didn't ask for this either, you know. And for the record, I'm Void now. We're living in my story's mechanics, so it's not just about your bad ending anymore."
Lilith raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
As if on cue, a shimmering prompt appeared in the air before them, its glowing letters casting a faint blue hue.
Narrative Objective: Do Not Let the Villainess Fall to Her Doom, or She Shall Be Slain.
Lilith stared at the words, her face pale. "That's not ominous at all."
Void grimaced. "It means that if you hit your bad ending—exile, doom, whatever—you die. Permanently."
She froze, her fingers curling into fists. "You've got to be kidding me. This isn't just about avoiding Seraphina's humiliation anymore. If I mess up, that's it?"
Void nodded, his voice grim. "Welcome to the stakes of my world. The mechanics don't pull punches."
Lilith groaned, pressing her forehead into her palm. "Great. So now I have to survive your insane rules while navigating my own story? Just perfect."
Before Void could respond, another glowing message appeared:
Sub-Narrative Objective: Protect the Villainess at All Costs. Failure Will Result in Narrative Collapse.
Void's jaw clenched. "That's… new."
Lilith narrowed her eyes at him. "What does that even mean? Narrative collapse?"
"It means this whole merged world falls apart if either of us screws up," Void said, his tone clipped. "Our stories aren't just mashed together—they're balancing on a knife's edge. If one of us fails, the other goes down with them."
Lilith let out a bitter laugh. "So not only am I stuck as a doomed villainess, but I'm also shackled to you. Fantastic."
Void ignored her jab, his gaze scanning the dim corridor. The sound of boots echoed closer, the guards clearly searching for them. He motioned for Lilith to follow.
"Let's move," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Lilith huffed but followed, clutching the skirt of her ornate gown to avoid tripping. "Where exactly are we going, genius? Because unless you've got a secret exit written into your overpowered world, we're trapped."
Void's lips twitched in what might have been the ghost of a smirk. "I wrote plenty of secret passages. The trick is finding one before they catch us."
They ducked into another corridor, the lavish décor doing nothing to ease Lilith's rising panic. She glanced at Void's broad back, irritation bubbling beneath her fear.
"This is all your fault, you know," she muttered. "If you hadn't insisted on cramming every over-the-top mechanic into your story, we wouldn't be in this mess."
Void glanced over his shoulder, his blue eyes narrowing. "Oh, please. Like your endless scheming and tragic backstories weren't overdone."
"At least my story had nuance!" Lilith snapped. "Your characters are just walking cheat codes with no personality!"
"And your characters are so busy plotting they forget to actually do anything," Void shot back.
Lilith opened her mouth to retort, but the sound of footsteps cut her short. Void grabbed her wrist, pulling her into a shadowed alcove.
"Shh," he whispered, his voice dropping into a commanding tone.
She glared at him but kept quiet as the guards passed by, their voices fading into the distance. When it was safe, Void released her wrist and stepped out of the alcove.
Lilith followed, brushing off her skirt. "You're lucky those guards are as dumb as the ones you wrote. Otherwise, we'd both be dead already."
Void sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Look, arguing isn't going to get us anywhere. We need to figure out why this is happening. Why our stories merged."
Lilith smirked, some of her confidence returning. "We'll see how long that lasts."
As they moved deeper into the palace, the weight of their situation pressed down on them. Two authors, trapped in a merged world of their own making, bound by stakes higher than they'd ever imagined. If they were going to survive, they'd have to master not just their own stories, but each other's as well.
They didn't know how they had ended up here, or what merging their stories would mean for either of them. But one thing was certain—this wasn't going to be a simple rewrite.