Commonwealth Essay Competition Winning Essays

[DEATH GAME ALERT] [DEATH GAME ALERT] [Reach 50 points and you can escape this place.] [Reach 100 points and we’ll grant you a wish.] "Do you have any dark secret you would never reveal to anyone?" "How far would you go to protect that secret?" "Would you sacrifice others just to keep it hidden?" Welcome to Purgatory's Games, a sinister arena where your worst fears and desires become reality. To escape this cursed place, you must survive deadly games that will test your loyalty, morality, and your ability to outlast others at any cost. Each challenge is not just a physical trial, but a psychological battle that will expose who you truly are when desperation takes over. Join Edmund Vexley, a young man with a dark past and a controversial personality, who, along with his friends, is forced to participate in these infernal games. With each step, they will be forced to confront their own secrets and fears as paranoia and betrayal take hold. Will they manage to escape together with their lives? Or will they fall into a spiral of panic, betraying each other to protect their secrets and win? One rule remains: in Purgatory's Games, trust is more dangerous than any deadly threat.

``` En traversant dans un autre monde, Zhang Xuan se retrouve à devenir un honorable enseignant. Avec sa transcendance, une mystérieuse bibliothèque apparaît dans son esprit. Tant qu'il a vu quelque chose, que ce soit un humain ou un objet, un livre sur ses faiblesses sera automatiquement compilé dans la bibliothèque. Ainsi, il devient redoutable. "Monarque Zhuoyang, pourquoi détestez-vous tant porter vos sous-vêtements ? En tant qu'empereur, ne pourriez-vous pas faire un peu plus attention à votre image ?" "Fée Linglong, si vous ne parvenez pas à dormir la nuit, vous pouvez toujours me chercher. Je suis doué pour les berceuses !" "Et toi, Monarque Démon Qiankun ! Peux-tu réduire sur l'ail ? Tu essaies de me tuer avec cette odeur ?" Ceci est une incroyable histoire à propos d'enseignants et d'élèves, éduquant et guidant les plus grands experts du monde ! Groupe de Discussion Discord : https://discord.gg/ATHVehx ```

Fifteen-year-old Martis dies in a tragic accident, only to awaken in a celestial realm where gods and their champions compete for control of many worlds. Chosen for the competition, Martis must navigate the dangerous and complex game, where victory doesn’t depend on power alone, but on the ability to influence others. Bound to a demon lord—Rias, the seductive and vengeful ruler of Lust and Wrath—Martis faces not only the challenge of gaining her trust but also of surviving the deadly stakes of the gods’ competition. As Martis grows closer to Rias, he uncovers the truth behind the competition: a cruel ritual that keeps the gods’ worlds thriving through bloodshed. With his past guilt weighing on him and his future uncertain, Martis must decide if he will play the game to the bitter end or defy the gods entirely. Divine Gambit is a dark fantasy series of survival, strategy, and redemption, where alliances shift, trust is fleeting, and every decision could mean the difference between life and death.

Crown Prince Yun Chi chose as his consort the youngest daughter of the Hua Family, Hua Yan, and the news shattered the hearts of countless ladies in the Capital City. It was said: the Crown Prince could write poetry at three, compose essays at seven, debate with the greatest scholars at ten, shoot arrows with precision at twelve, oversee the examinations of all scholars at fifteen, and was regent by the time he was sixteen. He reached the pinnacle in letters, the extreme in martial arts, his looks were world-shaking, and his presence unrivaled. Hua Yan felt as though a gigantic pie had fallen from the sky, landing squarely on her head. From then on, was she to compete with the entire world for this man? -------------------- Yun Chi: Standing at the pinnacle of the Azure Clouds, he learned the art of balance, practiced the strategies of an emperor, envisioned the land and skies in his heart. Within the nine-layered royal palace, he could turn his hands to clouds and his palms to rain, holding sway over the court and the nation, trimming himself into a figure free from desire and henceforth unyielding. Hua Yan: She viewed herself as beneath the dust, with all her emotions and desires, disliking the Son of Heaven's court, preferring the ordinary alleys, treading on ten feet of soft red and experiencing all facets of life. She believed that nothing was better than green mountains and clear waters. "If you promise me a lifetime, I will accompany you for an eternity."

When hard-working office worker Zara wakes up in the body of Lavinia Ruthbell, the most hated villainess in the empire’s most popular romance novel, she has one goal: to avoid her death flag at all costs. In the original story, Lavinia was the fiancée of the cold and powerful Duke of Clyne, Adrian Valmont. But Lavinia’s obsession with Adrian and her schemes against the novel’s heroine led to her public execution. Zara is determined to rewrite Lavinia’s fate and live a quiet life far from the spotlight. Unfortunately, Lavinia’s reputation is already ruined, her engagement is still in effect, and the System that governs her new life has an annoying obsession with romance quests. To survive, Zara has to win Adrian’s favor—or at least ensure he doesn’t want her dead. But when Adrian starts acting unexpectedly kind and the System’s quests take an unexpected turn, Zara begins to wonder: is she playing the game, or is someone else pulling the strings?

Witty FL x Adorkable ML + a cute bun + a talking crochet fox ---------- After the sudden death of her boyfriend, Leslie Song has been single-handedly raising her precious little daughter Calliope. It’s a difficult life, but it’s a happy one. A freak accident puts an end to that. As Leslie lies dying on the road, watching Calliope breathe her last, she curses her helplessness. Calliope’s crochet fox seems to hear her. It opens its mouth and asks, “Do you want to see your daughter again? If so, follow me. Her soul has already left for another world.” Leslie agrees. That’s the last thing she remembers before losing consciousness. When she opens her eyes again, she finds herself—or rather, her soul—standing beside her unconscious body on a hospital bed. “How is this supposed to help me find Calliope!” she exclaims. “This is not your body. Your body is dead. This is my original host, Charlene Li,” explains the toy fox. “You can possess her body to find Calliope, but if you do, you must finish her uncompleted mission for her.” “And what mission is that?” “To marry the second most eligible CEO in the city.” ‘This,’ Leslie concludes, ‘is a scam.’ But she has no other choice. ********** Meanwhile, the second most eligible bachelor in the city, Calix Xu, is patting himself on the back for thwarting his grandmother’s attempts to marry him off. After exhausting all of his tricks and excuses, he has resorted to marrying the comatose daughter of the Li family. Calix smiles, pleased with himself, "Aren't I smart? Grandmother can do nothing now." But… why is he seeing his newly-wedded wife hovering beside her own body? Before he can react, his wife—the moving one—floats towards him. "Husband! Help me find my child!" “Your child?” Calix asks weakly before doing the only reasonable thing he can do in such a situation. He faints. ---------- WSA 2024 entry! Commissioned cover and character images by yuuri_e (Instagram)

[Ding! You've gained 1 million views! The city’s most beloved heroine has fallen for your mysterious charms!] [Miss Mercury is obsessed with your streams. She’s on her way to meet you!] [Heroic factions are closing in on your location, but the Mindbender Heroine is aiding your escape!] [Ding! 10,000 views! You've gained 5,000 Credits and unlocked Stealth Mode (Tier 1)] [Ding! 1 million views! Rope Girl has noticed your mysterious charm and can't get you out of her mind!] [Ding! You’ve saved the city’s lower districts while taking down three corporate-backed heroes. Lady Fortress is secretly watching your stream, intrigued.] In Metro City, where huge corporations and flashy superheroes rule the skyline, everyday people are just bystanders in the ongoing battles between heroes and villains. At the center of this chaotic city is Scott McQueen, an average guy with one big dream: becoming a cool, shadowy antihero. Scott fantasizes about scaring off criminals while serving justice from the shadows. But there’s a catch—this world is full of flashy, attention-grabbing superheroes who hog all the spotlight. One night, everything changes for Scott. He stumbles upon the Harem Streamer System, a strange, almost-living program that offers him a shot at fame. With this system, Scott can live-stream his nightly antihero activities, gaining views and donations from fans all over the world. The catch? The more viewers he gets, the more heroines fall for him. Plus, with the growing fanbase, he earns rewards like money and powerful gear, boosting his chances of becoming the hero he’s always wanted to be! “Bahaha! The whole world is going to bow to me very soon!” He's not only wanted by the Hero Agency. He's not only wanted by mega-corporations. He's not only wanted by enemies he's destroyed. He's also wanted by superheroines! Discord Link: https://discord.gg/REyZdhpd

Reeling from the shame, anger, embarrassment of his break up with the love of his life publicly, Kieran White had gotten involved with a common waitress at the pub he visited. They had hit it off and soon had a one night stand that led to them signing a contract marriage of five years so Kieran could head his family's business. What Edwina Hall had thought was a dream come true soon came shattering with a reality so blindly forced into her face when her husband asked her to sign the divorce papers he presented to her. Devastated, she had signed the papers and had left her cold-hearted ex-husband alone only to realize that she was pregnant with his son. Five years later, the duo crossed part in the most unlikely places and this time, the tables had turned as Kieran would do anything to get Edwina to notice him and most importantly, be with him again. Would Edwina continue to feign indifference to the man who had her heart and the father of her son or would she ignore him and move on with someone else?

Story of a 17 year old, French/Japanese boy called Theo Kenpachi who thrives to challenge his brothers Lucas and Marcus for the World Cup. With his determination, he will later on face his brothers in a thrilling Competition called European Super League with their own respective teams. Later on, The World Cup will take place, as his brothers take on the French badge whilst Theo takes the Japanese badge, which of the brothers will win? Lappnant or Kenpachi!?

Magic and divine artifacts have returned, bringing chaos to the world. Gods have descended, enslaving humanity and forcing them into a deadly competition called the “God Games.” In these twisted games, humans are mere pawns on a living chessboard, controlled and manipulated for the gods’ amusement.

By unknown means and for unknown proposes the planet Earth is ripped from its orbit around the sun and placed in a near perfect, synchronized orbit around a mysterious purple star. The Earth isn't alone; 16 other planets underwent the same ordeal. Dubbed the Papuru Star, the G4 sized ball of energy was viewed with fear and awe by the inhabitants of the kidnapped worlds. The leadership of the planets form an uneasy Coalition to understand what the star is and find a way to put the planets back in their original spaces. Now, over a 1000 years later, the 100th annual Coalition Carnage Competition is about to begin. Held every ten years, the year long, galaxy spanning martial arts tournament is the special event the inhabitants of nearly every planet eagerly await, cheering their planet's chosen champion. The tournament is fame and fortune for the superstars who compete, entertainment for the masses, and "blessings" for the winning planet but holds dark secrets within its shadows, secrets that if exposed, could lead to the destruction of all life within the Papuru Galaxy.

Takumi Usui, a naturally gifted yet self-doubting midfielder, has just joined Skyline FC Academy, a world-renowned institution known for producing football legends. Though his passing range and tactical vision set him apart, Takumi struggles to find his place among the country’s brightest young football talents. On his first day, he’s immediately thrown into intense competition, facing the brutal reality of a system that demands not just skill, but heart, mental toughness, and relentless perseverance. In Skyline FC, the bar is set impossibly high. The academy’s legendary coach, Sora, pushes every player to their limits. The players are talented, but Takumi quickly learns that talent alone won’t make him a starter—he has to command the game, control the tempo, and become the midfield general his team needs. But it’s not just the football field that challenges him. Off the pitch, he navigates the complexities of friendships, rivalries, and a blossoming romance with Saki Hoshino, a kind-hearted girl from his school who offers him emotional support even when he feels like giving up. Surrounded by fierce competition from rivals like the hot-headed striker Shinji Tanaka and the cocky midfielder Kai Kuroda, Takumi’s journey is one of personal growth, grit, and relentless training. He will need to master advanced football strategies—like the "Triangle Passing System," "Quick-Tempo Transitions," and "Counter-Pressing"—to rise through the ranks. But it’s not just about winning on the field; it’s about transforming his mindset, overcoming self-doubt, and discovering what it truly means to lead from the heart. From the first whistle to the final goal, Takumi must learn that being a hero doesn’t always mean scoring the winning goal—it’s about creating the opportunities, setting the pace, and most importantly, never giving up. Will Takumi become the midfield maestro he dreams of? Or will he falter in the face of overwhelming odds? The beautiful game isn’t just about skill—it’s about heart.

One day, four people are suddenly kidnapped by a strange being. It is then that the four meet and attempt to escape the being's control.

When an unexpected soul arrives in a world that seems both familiar and strange, what kind of storm will it unleash? Will they blend into the past, becoming a paragon of knighthood, or carve their name into history on the battlefield? Perhaps they’ll tear through the darkness, bringing forth the first light of dawn. But for Norn, the choice is simple: Why choose, when you can have it all? Transported from the modern world to the Middle Ages, the Mike Bai experiences a dramatic shift in time and place, facing both immense conflict and a sense of wonder. Armed with modern knowledge, ideals, and skills, they step into a world starkly different from anything they've known, triggering a series of extraordinary and unpredictable events

The Blind Pianist Lucas Arden, loses his sight in a tragic accident but gains a heightened ability to perceive the world through sound. As he deals with his new reality, he discovers his music has the power to heal and even manipulate emotions. When Lucas is thrust into a prestigious competition against a ruthless rival who seeks to sabotage him, he must rely on his unique gift to prove that vision isn’t the only way to see beauty. --- Zombie's Gambit In a world where zombies retain fragments of their former selves, Elias Cross, a chess prodigy turned undead, attempts to reclaim his humanity by challenging the living in a high-stakes tournament. Each victory restores a piece of his soul, but losing could mean permanent death. As Elias faces skilled opponents and confronts his fading memories, the question hangs over: is winning worth the risk of losing what’s left of his humanity? --- Professor Vampire At an esteemed university, Dr. Sebastian Blackthorn, a mysterious and charismatic professor, captivates students with his brilliance and charm. What they don’t know is that he’s a centuries-old vampire hiding in plain sight. When a curious student uncovers his secret, she becomes entangled in his world of ancient feuds, forbidden knowledge, and his quest to uncover the cure for his immortality. Their alliance could rewrite history…or destroy them both. — contains 3books

Seeing the tree of raging waves, the tower is about to collapse Revival of spiritual energy, competition in all realms Who can excel in martial arts and immortal cultivation? Everything starts with a small simulator. Wizarding world, Immortal world, Demon hunting world, Gods world

A young sickly boy meets his untimely demise alone and cold. His last wishes as he gazed at the moon was to befriend and help give the protagonist of his favourite novel a happier ending. Now, he’s been given the chance to do exactly that, but will things go as planned or will he have to readjust his plans? Readers Discretion Advised This novel has elements that may be inappropriate for younger readers. May contain themes of Violence, Descriptive Gore, Profanity, Fictional Violence, and other Mature Themes. Please take note that this is a novel created years ago on a whim that I picked up..on a whim. No experience writing outside of the occasional essays. I say this to (hopefully) prepare you for mistakes that will inevitably occur such as typos(most likely going to just be words and/or phrases that don’t make sense or seem random), straying or weak plot, over complicated or otherwise confusing descriptions, as well as other things. Most errors will be corrected over time as I will be going back to the beginning to make changes as needed(whenever I have time to do so), but it may take time. Some chapters may also be deleted or edited over time(if they haven’t already been deleted.) if I believe that they aren’t so necessary or useful to the novel as a whole. Now for the Genre and Elements of the novel! The original tags I had in mind for the novel were as follows: Action Adventure Comedy Drama Fantasy Romance School-Life War Then, the sub-tags are: Reincarnation, Handsome protagonist, Genius protagonist, Weak-to-strong, Strong-to-Stronger, Levelling system, Gods, Demons, Elves, Hybrids, Magic, Mana, Undercover protagonist, Tragedy, Harem, unrequited love, Noble, companions, other It is recommended that readers keep in mind that there will be profanity, Suggestive content, descriptions of gore and more as stated previously, please read with caution.

The "Real Game" is this game, the world itself. There, shut-ins strive day in and day out without knowing why they are the target of attacks. The real reason might actually be the fact that there is an open competition in this world. A battle royal of some sort and shut-ins are the strongest players that can beat them. That is why this is a "Real Game Shut-in".

It's absolutely free. Please support my work as I'm a rookie writer and it's my very 1st work. Anna Woods gets pregnant at the age of 16 so she gives up all her dreams & time to her new born baby . But after 9 years when she gets to know that she has a blood cancer. She decides to find the real daddy of her daughter to give him her responsibility and joins a beauty pageant competition to fulfill her last dream. But the things gets very complicated for Anna because on one hand her time gap , age and motherhood gets in the way of her beauty competition and on the another hand James Watt (the biological dad of Anna's daughter ) is a gangster + womanizer and doesn't believe in love and responsibility.

After losing her husband, Queen Ana Sofia seeks a new king through a grand tournament. Amidst the competition, she finds unexpected love with a mysterious contestant. But as their romance blossoms, political intrigue and betrayal threaten to tear them apart. Will Ana Sofia choose love over duty, or will the demands of the kingdom force them apart?

Jin is transferred to a world of superhuman. This world also have gifted people who hold superpower. How will Jin survive and thrive to get a place he deserves in this world with genius and gifted person everywhere. How will Jin live in a academy full of competition will jin be able to make a place for himself and find a position he diserve. or he will be lost in the competition. This is my first original novel. the cover do not belong to me.

"I came to reclaim this," she said as she pointed to his heart. "It has been a while, have you forgotten me, Orig? Or let me say, my husband, Governor Orig," She whispered as she placed her hand on his chest. Her breath was close to his lips, as if challenging him to resist the urge to throw her onto the bed and teach her a lesson until sunrise. Her hips swayed as she got closer to him, and he couldn't take his eyes off her. Her presence was powerful. He pulled her until she was pressed against his chest. Her fingers finally managed to touch him, and she felt the heat of his body. 'Damn it, are you joking? Your image is still engraved in my mind and heart for those four years, seven months, and five days and...' When he didn’t respond to her words, she decided to speak with her lips, for a few moments. Everyone watched in silence, even he was surprised by her boldness. "No, my dear Taya, it is you who will regret this." Can Taya win back her husband? Will he free himself from the control of his stepmother, confess his feelings for his wife, and correct the mistakes of his past? Read on to discover the secrets between the flames of their love...

Life is like a deck of cards, we have an ace- the excellent ones, the jack-the constantly bullied one, a queen- everyone's beloved, a king- oh the ruler, queen's sweetheart, or anything you call under breath- the fucking cheater! But, rest we are common cards- yup, the number cards which come and go, who cares?! However... There's one card rarest of all, in a deck of 52 only one to be found- the joker! This card has been a show-stopper, which was be anything- I mean ANYTHING- a king, queen, Jack, ace, or a common number! However, many people underestimate this very brutally! Until they know it's worth... But that's a long way, isn't it?! **** The story of a Joker, but a hidden one! Sleeping 20 hrs out of 24! "How is he even human?! " But... A master inside with a brain so strong and work like horsepower stuffed inside his thick skull, yup, he wasn't human, He was beyond human! The human, the joker who is the missing link in the game of survival in the apocalypse that has been settled 17 years ago, Now it's returning at a greater pace, Wait that's in the game! Well, the game has entered the red human realm, expecting blood and a forsaken planet And he... "You can't be serious with this sleepy head!! " Who said he can't win a game?! "Okay, would you prefer sleep or life, the most?! " "Sleep" he answered in certain confidence rubbing his sleepy eyes. Eh... let's see if he...survive or sleep?!

After winning a competion Yu lon had found herself a night with the Emperor

A human being is at its core a fragile being, tormented by bitter truths that he prefers to ignore. I was promoted.. But I don't remember being an employee originally at these Fighting people and fairy beasts, learning magical martial arts, eating competition… clothes design for the emperor of Russia ! What the hell creator is going on. I wake up, taking the memory to find myself in a series of strange games and tests. I do not know its purpose or meaning. All I know is that I must win until I continue to live. It won't be easy but I'll do everything even if it means breaking the rules and becoming the villain in the story. My Twitter account for support: Ilies Tenni

Fu Youngchan is an award winning actor. He was known as 'The Multifaceted Genius' in the entertainment circle due to the variety of roles that he played in every movie or series. Every character that he plays, struck to the hearts of many people due to the genuine feeling that Youngchan was able to make them feel. He reached the peak of his popularity at the age of 31. And is currently receiving the Grand Slam title for winning all 3 of the major film awards. He said his carefully written speech on the stage accompanied by the claps and admiration of the people around him. He then left the stage carrying the trophies contentedly. When the awarding ceremony finished, he came home and slept with a smile on his face. But when he woke up, he was in an empty white room with an overly enthusiastic system with him. Eh?

Within the Roku Tribe Union is a competition between the six tribes to select the heir for the High Priestess position simply known as the High Priestess Selection. Amaterasu, an ordinary girl born in the Eclipse Tribe suddenly became the candidate for her tribe for the High Priestess position after her twin sister, Tsukuyomi caught herself in a terrible accident that put her in a coma three days before leaving! Amaterasu now finds herself having to compete against the other five candidates that are leagues ahead of her! Amaterasu now must try to catch up with her competition, or catch up just enough to survive and not embarrass herself.

Katsuhira Kazuomi had always hated the idea of coincidences. Sometimes, they work in his favor, but most of the time, they make him miserable. Entering middle school, Kazuomi refused to give in to his misfortunes through effort. Of course, this ended in tragedy. Still, while Kazuomi is sick of these unlucky coincidences ruining his plans, he never blames anything on another person. Now, Kazuomi is just your average high schooler. Wanting to spend an eventful and enjoyable high school life, he puts all forms of pressure off his shoulders going forward. What could this entail for his journey as he continues to forge his previous relationships while forming new ones?

Jeong-Ho was deeply engrossed in writing an essay about Earth when a package arrived, which he initially assumed was sent by his brother. He placed it in the living room and returned to his work , after a week passed and summer break started Curiosity piqued, he eventually opened the box to discover a video game inside. Intrigued, he read the game’s description and quickly logged in to explore its features, immersing himself in the rules and mechanics. Before long, he found himself captivated by the gameplay, which revolved around a realistic simulation where players assume the role of a scientist tasked with saving the world from a perilous fungus outbreak. During his adventure, he encountered an abandoned experiment known as 560, a rare specimen believed to be a potential weapon against the fungus king, although previous attempts to utilize it had failed miserably. Determined to assist 560 in its quest for survival, Jeong-Ho formed a bond with the creature, but their journey took a dramatic turn following a catastrophic incident that changed everything. *This novel is inspired by a Chinese novel titled "Raising Little Monster" which i recommend you read it. *