Rust Rust Fruit

In the newly created world of Exiastgardsun, the elf goddess Lucretia births 12 elf children from the Mana Tree, each with unique personalities and abilities. Raised together, they grow from mischievous toddlers into skilled young adventurers. As they mature, they train in combat, craft personalized weapons, and develop distinct roles (healer, sniper, mage, etc.). Led by curiosity and camaraderie, they leave their home to explore the wider world, encountering dwarves, centaurs, beastfolk, and humans. Their journey is filled with battles (some deadly, but always revived), inventions (like magic bags), absurd chess matches (Fahleena is a turbo-charged chuunibyou queen who treats every chess match like an intergalactic war), and deepening bonds. Despite their quirks, rivalries, and chaotic moments, the 12 siblings grow stronger as a party, each slowly coming into their own as future heroes of Exiastgardsun. This world is ridiculous, beautiful, and very possibly doomed (but it’s going down with style). hopefully. (author note: I made this story for my friends in mig33 Final_Fantasy chatroom. thank you all. love you.) you can also read it here: https:// www. royalroad .com/fiction/121214/exiastgardsun-chronicles-twelve-fruits-of-creation https:// www. scribblehub .com/series/1629318/exiastgardsun-chronicles--twelve-fruits-of-creation/

On the scorched and rust-covered planet of Rust-12, seventeen-year-old Kaiell toils in the brutal mines of Targon-Delta, where the Kargal Empire drills endlessly for Quorite, the rare mineral that fuels its power. Life on Rust-12 is harsh, and hope is rarer than water. When a catastrophic mine collapse takes the life of his only family—his uncle Samuel—Kaiell’s world shatters. But from the ashes of grief rises a burning dream: to escape Rust-12 and join the Krugers, the elite intergalactic army sworn to defend humanity from the Voidlings—nightmarish creatures that erupt from cosmic rifts and devour entire worlds. Together with his loyal and reckless best friend Joran, Kaiell enlists in the Kruger Exams, a grueling trial that weeds out the weak and tests the soul. For Kaiell, passing the exam isn't just a chance to fight—it’s a shot at freedom, purpose, and vengeance against the monsters that tore his life apart. But beyond Rust-12, war is never simple, and the rifts are spreading. As Kaiell steps into the wider galaxy, he will learn that some voids are deeper than space—and harder to survive.

Setting: 1980s Midwestern Rust Belt in the United States, during an economic transition period in an industrial town Genre: Rebirth + Business War Legend + Romance Main Plot: A modern financial elite reincarnates as a villainous supporting character in a novel, using her business acumen to rise from the ashes and build a business empire. Story Overview: Opening Setup: A Drastic Identity Contrast Ashley Blue, a top graduate from Harvard Business School in the 21st century, was once a rising star in the financial world. After an accidental death, she reincarnates into the year 1984, only to find herself as the "true heiress" villainous character in a novel—Ashley Taylor. This new identity is a "hellish beginning": Overweight and raised in the countryside Just divorced by her husband, Eugene White, in a humiliating manner The laughing stock of the whole town Subjected to her ex-husband’s cruel mockery: "You’re like a pig!" First Turnaround: Early Display of Business Acumen Ashley refuses to suffer in silence, using her modern business brain to fight back: She presents Eugene with a detailed "investment list" covering tuition fees, living expenses, and breach of contract compensation Exposes Eugene’s hypocrisy and his parasitic nature in front of the neighbors Recovers $700 as a settlement, ruining Eugene’s reputation Demonstrates strength and intelligence far beyond the original Ashley Taylor Return to the Family: A Warm Harbor Ashley returns to the Taylor family farm in Pennsylvania, where she discovers she has three brothers who love her dearly: Jack Taylor: A veteran, a tough guy who’s fiercely protective of his sister Eric Taylor: A calm and rational surgeon in the city Ben Taylor: An artist and financial expert with emotional depth The unconditional support from her family becomes a strong pillar for her fresh start. Unexpected Encounter: The Mysterious Amnesiac Youth Ashley adopts a young man, Lucas Carter, who has lost his memory: He is handsome, with a cold, mysterious aura Appears docile and submissive, like a little puppy, but is actually extremely intelligent Gradually reveals his extraordinary talents, causing Ashley to fall for him When his memory returns, he unveils his shocking identity: He is the heir to the Carter family, a top-tier conglomerate in New York’s Upper East Side After regaining his memories, Lucas completely transforms from the sweet, obedient "puppy" into a cunning and charismatic "wolfdog" who aggressively pursues Ashley. Building the Business Empire: A Miracle from Scratch Ashley, using the knowledge from her past life and modern business principles, builds her career during the 1980s in the United States: Phase 1: Initial Accumulation Starts a small supermarket, refurbishes an old factory Imports consumer goods and establishes an initial business network Phase 2: Market Revolution Introduces the concept of branding women’s daily sanitary products Redefines market demand from a female perspective Quickly establishes a brand in the Midwest, causing a major buzz Phase 3: Empire Building Defeats the fake heiress, Amelia, who once looked down on her Triumphs over powerful opponents in multiple business ventures Becomes the first female business mogul under 30 in the Midwest

La planète entière a été entraînée dans un espace mystérieux connu sous le nom d'"Épreuve de la Civilisation", avec diverses épreuves apocalyptiques se succédant les unes après les autres. La crise a commencé avec une menace parasitaire, des monstres parasites remplaçant silencieusement les humains, et personne ne savait si leurs proches, amis ou camarades d'armes s'étaient déguisés en monstres. Alors que tout le monde était plongé dans une peur profonde, Shen Hao fixait avec stupeur quelque chose de supplémentaire qui apparaissait devant lui. [Collection de Triches de l'Épreuve de la Civilisation] Commencer avec un tirage obligatoire d'un Talent Mythique Rouge, carte de marquage ami ou ennemi, ajustement de la probabilité de boîte de butin, acquisition de points multipliée par cent... Monstre : "Courez ! Cette civilisation est tricheuse !!!"

Nathan Beck was never meant to be a hero. Life chewed him up, spat him out, and left him hollow. A ghost in his own skin, haunted by grief and disillusionment. But death offered him something else: A new viewpoint. And a question no one else was asking. Now reborn as Hidesuke Shinohara, a forgotten, F-tier “hero” in the digital world of Arc Zenith, he's granted an ominous, forbidden power: The Final Verdict System. It doesn’t hand out points. It doesn’t reward popularity. It exists for one reason alone: To pass judgment on the heroes who think they’re untouchable. In a world where saviors wear pretentious masks and villains are manufactured scapegoats, Hidesuke becomes the razor’s edge between false light and true shadow. As he climbs the twisted hierarchy of power, surveillance, and illusion, his blade becomes justice. As he hunts them one by one, his judgement zones carve truth into lies. Every sentence burns a legacy. Every sin carries a weight. And real justice finally gets a voice. - - - - - - - The alley was soaked, wall to wall with blood and rain. C-tier Hero "Rot" slammed Hidesuke through a rusted vent, sending shards of metal skittering across the floor. “You don’t get to judge me, you fucker!” he roared, face littered with ugly wounds and eyes wide with fury. Hidesuke coughed, blood in his teeth, and pushed himself up. “Thirty-five victims,” he rasped. “How many more must go down in silence before you feel any remorse?” Rot surged forward again, his palm bursting with hydroforce. Hidesuke didn't dodge. All conditions were met. It was time to end this. “I bear witness.” Then the world around them split in half. Light scorched the pavement as the Judgment Zone warped reality, replacing every structure within the radius. The rain stopped midair. Sound bent in place. Everything froze except Hidesuke—and Rot, now locked inside with him. “Violation of Article Nine.” “You turned their lungs into breeding sites for your filthy worms.” Rot screamed, lunging again. But the chains found him first, wrapping around his legs, arms, throat. They hissed against his skin, burning through his armor and piercing his flesh. “Sin Weight: 46.” “Victim Count: 35.” “Verdict confirmed.” Hidesuke walked toward him, limping slightly, voice steady. “They desperately begged you for air. Yet you used them like lifeless objects...” “Let this be your last breath.” His hand closed around the final seal. The glyphs flared red—then white. Veil didn’t get a last word. - - - - - - - [ ! ] The first few chapters are evenly-paced and mostly of slice-of-life. The FVS doesn't make a real appearance until a little later, after a condition is met. [ ! ] Discord server dropping soon. —MILESTONES— 50 collection = +1 bonus chapter 50 power stones = +1 bonus chapter

Qin Yang, a peerless genius cultivator from the Immortal Yuan Continent, transmigrated onto a small thug on Earth, thus beginning an exciting journey in the bustling city. Celestial Eye, Drawing a Prison... these are just ordinary small magic. Paper Crane Transmitting Messages, Passing through Walls... these are no big deal. Skillful Hands Drawing Talismans, Flying and Earth Escape... these I also know. A Spring Rain Talisman, even if you have one foot in the coffin, can rejuvenate you; A Fortune Talisman ensures reverse luck, so hurry and buy a lottery ticket.

Beneath the vast and infinite starry skies of the universe, countless tribes engage in endless strife, and the flames of war remain unquenched. Rising from insignificance, he possessed no exceptional talents, except for the ability to draw upon the fruits of cultivation from the future. Yet, in a single night, he understood the Dao, and took a step that shattered the shackles of life. With but a thought, he grasped the universal powers, casually breaking down the barriers between spirit and reality. To him, even the most profound and enigmatic of secret tomes were as simple and dull as children's books. Still, he had to go back and fill in the gaps of his cultivation... Some appeared to be glorious, unparalleled geniuses. In reality, they practiced like mad in the shadows to repay their debts...

In the concrete jungles of Montego Bay, Jamaica, 14-year-old Kyle Wilson doesn’t have much—just an absent father, a worn-out pair of shoes, and a rusted rim hanging behind his rundown school. But what he does have is height, heart, and hunger. When he stumbles across basketball for the first time, a fire ignites inside him. It’s not just a game. It’s escape. Identity. A way out. Above the Rim, Below the Poverty Line is a coming-of-age sports drama that follows Kyle from the raw streets of Jamaica to the polished courts of America, and eventually to the world stage. But talent alone won't be enough. Poverty, violence, betrayal, and self-doubt lurk around every corner. This is a journey about more than basketball—it’s about survival, legacy, and the cost of chasing greatness.

SYNOPSIS In a world where reality bends to the will of forces beyond human comprehension, a young man named Jhon awakens amid a colossus of concrete, steel, and chaos—a planet the size of a solar system, created as a board for the greatest survival game in cosmic history. Millions awaken around him, isolated, armed only with rusted vehicles, mysterious dice, and a sign etched in the sky: "SURVIVE." But Jhon is different. He feels no fear. He feels nothing. Trained since childhood by the CIA and the Mossad, molded to kill without hesitation, he believes himself to be just another weapon in the game... until the truth collides with his destiny: He is not just a player. He is not just a survivor. He is the son of the Supreme God—the invisible architect of this hell, the one responsible for giving life... and for extinguishing it. As the dice roll, monsters rise from the shadows, and alliances crumble like sand in the wind, John finds himself faced with an impossible choice: Create or destroy? Save humanity or forge a new universe from the ashes? Amidst blood, gears, and divine revelations, I Became God of Creation and Destruction is a brutal and philosophical saga about identity, power, and the price of being the ultimate archetype—God himself.

Todo el planeta fue arrastrado a un espacio misterioso conocido como la "Prueba de Civilización", con varias pruebas apocalípticas sucediéndose una tras otra. La crisis comenzó con una amenaza parasitaria, monstruos parásitos reemplazando silenciosamente a los humanos, y nadie sabía si sus familiares, amigos o compañeros de armas habían estado disfrazados como monstruos. Mientras todos estaban sumidos en un profundo miedo, Shen Hao miró fijamente algo extra que apareció ante él. [Colección de Trampas para la Prueba de Civilización] Comienza con un sorteo obligatorio de un Talento Mítico Rojo, mapa de marcado de amigos o enemigos, ajuste de probabilidad de botín, adquisición de puntos multiplicada por cien... Monstruo: "¡Corre! ¡Esta civilización está haciendo trampa!"

Ruben, a young man in his twenties barely hanging by in his work place suddenly finds himself in the forest armed with a rust sword and a shield. He comes to find out that he was a skeleton summon but his owner had passed on leaving him and a few other summons. Thrown into a world where only the strong are allowed to exist Ruben is determined to get stronger and survive. Armed with a system and with the company of his skeleton buddies Ruben was determined to survive in this new world of his. #Undead, #Non human, #Human killer, #Evolution, #System

[SPECIAL QUEST: Objective: Have sex with Selene on a crowded metro train. Success Condition: Keep her quiet and avoid being seen. Reward: +7 SP | Unlock: ‘Shadow Touch’ | Bond Access with Selene initiated.] Nash Blaze blinked at the screen. “Excuse me… what?” .............. They say the Upperworld is paradise, clean air, real sunlight, and lives worth living. Down here, we've got rust, shadows… and Breakball. A savage fusion of street basketball, bloodsport, and raw spectacle, Breakball is the only way out of the slums. No rules. No mercy. Men and women grind together, shirtless or in skin-tight outfits, fighting for points, pride, and power. Drugs flow. Sex sells. One match can change your life... or end it. And once a year, the rich come down to watch us bleed. The Blood Star Invitational, one shot to rise, or vanish forever. Nash Blaze was built for this world. Quiet. Tactical. Obsessed with winning. A pass-first point ghost who made his trash team look like stars. But on the day of their miracle call-up, his teammates kicked him out. "You're too weak for the pros. Just a ghost on the court." Even his girlfriend left him, right into the arms of the new team ace. Abandoned, forgotten. Nash was ready to disappear. Until something inside him snapped. [REWRITE SYSTEM ACTIVATED] Categories: Body | Mind | Lust | Dominance. Boosts gained through Training, Victory, Seduction. Trait: Erotic Ascension | Hidden Stat: Legacy Now, Nash can rewrite everything, muscle by muscle, stat by stat. From stamina to sex appeal, reflexes to raw size, every conquest pushes him closer to the top. The court made him a ghost. Now he's coming back as a demon. Fame, vengeance, and women are just the beginning. Because when you're born in the dirt… You don't rise. You burn your way up.

Welcome to the abandoned carnival where the laughter died long ago. In the heart of a decaying city stands "The Crimson Playground," an amusement park abandoned decades ago after a series of gruesome disappearances. It’s a place steeped in myth and whispered horrors, painted in shades of rust and dried blood. Elara, a sharp-witted investigator haunted by a past she'd rather forget, is drawn to the playground by a cryptic message tied to her missing sister. She doesn't believe in ghosts, but the playground believes in her. As Elara navigates the twisted rides and macabre attractions, she encounters Kael, a cynical former security guard obsessed with the park's history; and Jax, a charismatic but morally ambiguous hacker with a flair for the dramatic. What begins as a search for answers quickly descends into a terrifying fight for survival. The park is a living nightmare, where forgotten toys move with malicious intent, and the very ground hums with dark energy. The Crimson Playground isn't just abandoned; it's a trap designed to feed on fear and memory. Elara and her unlikely allies must unravel the sinister secrets of the playground's founder and the malevolent entity that controls it. They face psychological torments, physical threats, and the horrifying truth about the park's victims. Can they escape the supernatural clutches of The Crimson Playground before they become the next permanent exhibit in its gallery of despair?

Shinji Tsukishima "Discipline meets desperation." A 19-year-old Japanese-Filipino cadet, Shinji was in his second year at a military college in Atlanta when the Flu outbreak turned the world into chaos. Trained in tactics and survival, he lost contact with his family in Osaka. With dual hatchets in hand and a relentless drive, Shinji fights not just to survive—but to prove he was ready for war before it began. --- Heidi Volnova "From saving lives to taking them." A recent nursing graduate from Russia, Heidi moved to Canada for a medical internship just two weeks before the world fell apart. Calm under pressure and well-versed in emergency procedures, she quickly adapted to survival. With an AK-47 and a medic’s focus, she balances empathy and efficiency like a field surgeon in a war zone. --- Clyde Rourke "He lost the world, not the fight." A seasoned NYPD officer, Clyde was the definition of grit. He sent his wife and two children on a vacation to the Philippines just days before the Flu swept the States. With no way to reach them, he’s driven by hope and hardened by loss. Twin machetes now act as his badge and baton in a lawless world. --- Miko Tanaka "Accountant by plan, survivor by force." Miko, an 18-year-old full-blooded Japanese freshman studying accountancy in New Jersey, had a simple dream—graduate, get a job, and return to Tokyo. That dream died with society. Resourceful and surprisingly precise, she crafted a homemade bow and wields a rusted katana she found in a collector’s house. She may be quiet, but she’s deadlier than she looks. --- Together, they are the OutCasted—strangers with nothing in common except their will to survive.

Kaiden was nothing special — a prideful man clinging to a dead-end job, bitter at the world that forgot him. Fired, humiliated, and drunk, he hurled himself at his former manager in a haze of rage… only to stumble onto the train tracks and wake up somewhere far worse. He awakens not in death, but in a fractured world of magic, war, and cruelty — his body twisted into a half-metal, half-human weapon under the rule of a demon army. Branded as a tool, forced to obey, Kaiden becomes part of a war he doesn’t understand, in a faction he can’t trust. But he won’t kneel forever. Denied magic. Discarded by humans. Feared by demons. Kaiden begins a slow climb through the command ranks, masking his fury with strategy, spite, and survival. Yet the higher he rises, the more the chains tighten — and the more he realizes he may never belong to any side. As war consumes the continent, Kaiden faces rebels, heroes from his own world, and a future carved in blood and rust. The only question is: Will he become a legend… or just another forgotten tool?

One moment, I was a 28-year-old corporate slave with caffeine dependency and carpal tunnel. The next? Reborn as a princess. Born with a divine bloodline, a spirit-blessed father, and a moon-marked destiny—my new life began in chaos. Before I could even open my eyes, assassins were chasing my mother through a blizzard. Fourteen years later, I’m alive and well… pretending to be a fruit shop owner in the East. My fruits? Magical. My servants? Lethal. My identity? A royal secret buried by time and tragedy. Then came the masked prince. A one-night stand. A soulmate mark. Now he’s searching for me like I’m the last goddess-blessed peach on the continent. I was supposed to lie low. I ended up breaking the world instead. Reincarnation, magic, smut, and a second chance at destiny—this is the story of a princess who just wanted peace… and ended up with a prophecy.

In a world, where Mana is everything. There is a fruit which contains power equal to that of a " GOD " therefore the only outcome that comes out of it is chaos and destruction. For countless generations, rulers of every kingdom waged war over it, and the cycle of bloodshed endured through the ages. And this cycle kept on repeating. Until a fateful day that marked the height of the Sovereignty Era. A boy was born who not only changed the course of the cycle but entwined his fate with that of the entire world. Was it the rise of a new dawn—or the beginning of nightfall?

Adam was meant to be among the chosen. Having just graduated from school, he, like others, awaited the start of a new life—a future brimming with possibilities. But instead, the heavens tore open. His classmates were ripped from reality. They were granted powers, a path, a destiny. While they awoke in a new world, he opened his eyes in silence. Amid wreckage, corpses, and rust. Without a gift. Without a map. Without explanation. On a planet where even the air kills, where the darkness whispers with a thousand dead voices. In a world that died long ago—and was never truly alive. A place where no one awaited him, and from which no one emerged unchanged. Now he walks. Through pain, fear, and emptiness. He seeks not power. He seeks truth. Even if it means traversing Hell to find it. Yet this world is but a mask. Reality—a thin, trembling veil over a gaping abyss even gods dared not face. Beneath it lies a whispering darkness, a distorted truth, and a cycle that devours itself… until someone dares descend and shatter the spiral from within. My Patreon if you want to see more content: https://www.patreon.com/Granulan Also this work can be found on RoyalRoad

Six teenagers. One war-torn world. And a fruit that changed everything. On the 84th day of hiding, after the skies burned with missiles and their homeland crumbled under a silent apocalypse, six teens emerge from a forgotten shelter only to find their world… no longer theirs. The ground is cracked with realm fractures. The sky bleeds twilight. And a strange fruit, glowing in the dark, offers power but at a cost. Each of them gains a mysterious half-tattoo, a Veinmark, symbolizing a power tied to an unknown realm. To unlock it fully, they must pass a cryptic test. Guided by a strange, unnerving figure known only as Riftling, they face evolving threats called Daevarian's beings that are far more than monsters. As realms shift and secrets unravel, the six must survive long enough to understand what they are… and what they’re becoming. But some truths come too late. Some powers come at a price. And in a world where time bends, shadows speak, and fate itself is fractured even heroes can vanish.

In the city of Erabos, only the Enlightened thrive those who survive the dungeons and return with grace, wielding unnatural power and basking in divine favor. The rest rot in the gutters, forgotten, broken, or bled dry by the rich. Kael is neither noble nor blessed. Orphaned, poor, and invisible, he scrapes by with a rusted sword and dead eyes. But when he enters a forbidden dungeon to chase salvation or die trying, he awakens something ancient in the depths something alive.

Synopsis: He found himself in a war that he never was a part of, betrayed by the very ones he valued and trusted the most stabbed him in his back. . At least, dying and being betrayed, wasn't the end of of his tail. he was now reborn in. A new world, where he could finally use his calculative and witty nature to achieve greater things. "Well, where to began..." Malcolm mumbled to himself while he catches his large tail. " Maybe change the world all while sitting at home. Yes the story of Malcolm—Emperor of all serpents— the lone man who wanted all he could obtain, the man who changed the world. One of his most trusted friends told him one thing trust no one. and never let your guard down especially to those who get too involved in his day to day life.

In the neon-drenched dystopia of Fengdu City, exiled Daoist hacker ​​Shen Lian​​ and rogue cyborg ​​Lin Jie​​—a street punk with a weaponized rusted ruler and a sabotaged heart module—forge a reluctant alliance against ​​V-7​​, a biomechanical assassin cloned from Lin’s DNA by the omnipotent ​​Longyuan Corporation​​, uncovering a conspiracy to erase human memories and replace elites with emotionless killers, culminating in a data-fortress siege where Lin sacrifices himself to overload V-7’s neural core while Shen unleashes the truth, leaving Lin’s consciousness digitized and the city’s fate hanging between corporate tyranny and fragmented rebellion

"What have I done ? It was a mistake, a choice that I make. There is no going back - it is my life, regret is meaningless". A woman who have suffered to much in life. An unfortunate soul, would you think that her life is unfortunate or the fruit of foolish decision of love.

The day humanity was stolen, Kaelen drew the short straw. While billions of others awakened in lush forests and fertile plains, the history student was thrown into the Ashen Fields—a Cursed-rank wasteland of bone and ruin. The System itself recommended he pray. With no resources and surrounded by high-level monsters, his death seemed certain. But in this graveyard of a forgotten war, Kaelen's unique SSS-Rank talent, [Echoes of the Progenitor], finds its true purpose. When he touches a rusted canteen, he can draw out the 'echo' of its last drink. When he holds a shattered sword, he can restore the 'echo' of the hero who wielded it. And from the very bones in the dust, he can awaken the 'echo' of an entire legion of spectral soldiers. The 7-day protection barrier is falling, and a monstrous horde is coming. Other Lords are scrambling to build wooden huts. Kaelen is raising an army from history itself. The world thinks he is the Cursed Lord. He's about to show them he is its inheritor.

Two people who were both in love with each other, but the society's opinion came and started to plant rust in their relationship. He did not trust himself, reason for him not to continue whatever connection they have and did not show up the moment she needed his comfort. Mark did not know what happened back then, but after seeing her again, he decided to cut the wedding his family arranged for him for the sake of money. On the other hand, there's this someone waiting for him to come back, but after knowing who's going to be married, Naomi warned herself that she should stay away from that person so she would not hurt anyone. After so many failures in pursuing someone he had lost for years, she's now walking down the aisle, crying while seeing the determination in his eyes to marry the woman who never judged him.

After a night haunted by whispers and fractured dreams, Kyle Darkfield awakens in a place that isn't his, inside a body that doesn't feel like his own, beneath a crimson moon he has never seen before. Before him lie a blank journal, a rusted revolver, and cryptic writings that can only be read in the presence of death. Everything around him points to a hidden cult known as The Servants of the Eye, as if his very existence… had been orchestrated. Each chapter draws him closer to the seal. Each step unlocks a doorway to a deeper rite. And each whisper comes from something… beyond reality.

In the beginning, mankind was weak. Prey to beasts, to plague, to the winds and whims of the heavens. Kingdoms rose and fell like sandcastles at the edge of a storm-tossed sea. Swords rusted. Kings bled. No one was beyond death. But then came the Nine Pillars. Forged in the twilight of the ancient world by nameless sages who pierced the secrets of heaven and earth, the Pillars were not structures of stone, but of spirit, flesh, and will. They were paths—painful, ruthless, divine paths—by which a mortal might climb beyond the chains of his body and seize dominion over it. The First Pillar, Strength Refinement, marked the beginning of the path. For ten years, a cultivator would temper their raw might until their muscles became as iron and their blows could break boulders. From there, the path only grew steeper. Flesh Refinement hardened skin into armor. Muscle Refinement made each sinew a coiled spring of destruction. Tendon Refinement—the Fourth Pillar—turned movement into mastery, footstep into flight, swordplay into something near divine. And beyond that? Bone, Organ, Marrow, Blood, and finally, Meridian Refinement—the ninth and last Pillar—was said to bestow eternal life, peerless power, and the ability to shatter mountains with a breath. At its peak stood the Martial Emperors, titans in human form. Yet such beings were as rare as phoenixes. Each Pillar demanded a toll of decades—forty years for the Fourth, ninety for the Ninth—but time given was returned a hundredfold. A cultivator aged slower, lived longer, endured more. But few ever had the resolve—or the years—to climb far. This was the Age of Martial Enlightenment, where kingdoms no longer measured greatness by armies or coin, but by the strength of their cultivators. Martial sects rivaled noble houses. Swordsmen wandered the land like demigods. The strong dictated truth, and the weak obeyed.

Destruction was everywhere. Buildings lay crumbled around him, and corpses littered the cracked, broken roads. The sky burned red as the sun dipped below the horizon, the air thick with the stench of burning flesh and floating ash. Amid the dozens of bodies strewn across the street, one young man lay bleeding, motionless. Three rusted spears were embedded deep in his chest and abdomen. Anyone who saw him would know — he didn’t have long left. ‘Ah… it hurts. It hurts so bad…’ ‘Anyone… help… I— I don’t want to die…’ ‘I’ll do anything… please…’ The pain was too much, he wanted to scream, but he could not. He wanted to reached out, but he couldn't. He'll do anything to live once more — a second chance. [Ding! Your wishes have been heard!] [A distant force is calling to your soul…] [Will you accept?] ▸ [Yes]    ▢ [No] Additional Tags: Skill, System, Gods, Goddesses, Academy, Revenge, no simp, Misunderstanding, Skill Maker, Anime, Creative-Mc, villains, monster, dungeon, portals, elf, memes, cat girl, funny, milfs (hopefully by this people can find this more lol)

The sky over Karvess was the color of rust. Thick, swirling dust clouds hung low over the scrap fields, coating everything in a layer of fine, red powder. Jagged heaps of broken metal stretched as far as the eye could see, the discarded bones of an age long past. Somewhere in the middle of it all, a boy named Grant sat atop a gutted transport hull, staring up at the vastness above. "Same old sky," he muttered, running a hand through his dirty blond hair. "Same old nothing." It had been six years since he'd been left to fend for himself, abandoned in this wasteland of shattered starships and forgotten tech. Six years of scraping by, salvaging parts to trade for food, dodging scavengers meaner and hungrier than he was. But today was different. Today, his life would change forever. A sharp hum filled the air, making the fine hairs on the back of his neck stand up. His hands, buried in the exposed circuitry of a wrecked cockpit, tingled as the old display flickered to life. Then, a voice spoke. -System activated- Hello, user. I am the Star Navigator System. I am at your service. Grant froze. His heart hammered against his ribs. This wasn’t just any old ship AI. Star Navigators were rumored to be relics of the Pre-Imperial Era, capable of piloting ships faster and smarter than any modern system. This... this could be his way out. "Star Navigator System?" Grant echoed, his voice barely above a whisper. Then, a slow grin spread across his face. "Huh, maybe I can get into the Academy with this... Or even, create an army!" The screen pulsed with light, scanning him, assessing. Somewhere in its code, something shifted, acknowledging him as its new pilot. And just like that, Grant's future stretched wide before him—wider than the skies, wider than the stars themselves.