A Pawn's Passage - Chapter 39: Provocation

15 years ago the world discovered magic as well as mythical beings (basically beings from various legends) in another dimension. Humankind learned to summon these dangerous mythical beings and use their power to great effect. Seven countries formed contracts with these “mythical beings” and gained their allegiance as a result. The mythical beings will choose their summoners on their 14th birthday and give them a stigma. Schools have been set up to train summoners and magical swordsman (basically bodyguards that give the summoners time to cast their spell) as a result.

15 years later after the finding of magic Kazuki Hayashizaki is chosen as a summoner and given a stigma to indicate that. This is surprising since males aren’t chosen as summoners due to their low amount of mana compared to females. As the first male to be a summoner Kazuki is under a lot of scrutiny by almost everyone.

To complicate matters his sister (who’s a magical swordsman) is against him going into summoner school to train there as a summoner. Because summoners and magical swordsman have a cat mouse thing going on where summoners look down on magical swordsman as inferior so his sister naturally is against him going there. She’ll stop him even if it means going to war.

Kazuki however is determined to thrive in summoner school and has already determined to give it his all. Even if he’s the lowest ranked student (ranked E) and his fellow students intend to demean him he’ll prove himself as the strongest summoner.

This is the 40,000th year that the Empire has ruled the Milky Way. The glory of the Great Crusade has long been lost in the dust of history. Su Yu traveled through time and opened his eyes to see the ruined planet in front of him, with a confused look on his face.

On this planet, there are extremely dilapidated war machines that stretch for thousands of kilometers, alien behemoths whose roars can shatter mountains and rivers, and radiation that can cause further damage to the surrounding environment just by moving. Alien beast——

There is everything here except hope.

Regardless of whether he wanted to or not, Su Yu, who had struggled to survive for three years and was inevitably infected with radiation sickness in the end, seemed to be one of the desperate people.

Until his career panel, which allows for unlimited career changes, was finally opened.

“Ding!”

“It is detected that the host has met the prerequisites. Do you want to take up the occupation [Mechanic]?”

“After completing this profession, you can gain professional experience and improve your professional level from daily maintenance, recycling, and assembly of mechanical creations. With each upgrade, you can gain an increase in physical fitness…”

Looking at the old gun parts piled up in his repair room, Su Yu’s eyes lit up like never before!

Many years later, at the core of the empire, at the highest point of the Terran world, the mechanic from the Ruined Star, the Ghost Shadow Blade of the Dead Wasteland, the restarter of the Titan Weapon Plan, the Governor of the Broken Star Territory, the Lord of Mechanical Ascension, the Supreme Throne of the Forge World, Su Yu looked at the torrent of steel coming from below and waved his hand to give the order!

[Our goal is to make the (second) (crossed out) empire great again! 】

- Description from novelbuddy

From Thief to ChampionJavier Restrepo thought the heist would change everything. 400 million in cash, rare boxing memorabilia, and finally enough money to escape the streets. Instead, his crew lies dead in a burning car while police sirens wail through Brooklyn.Then the impossible happens.The explosion that should have killed him sends Javier five years into the past—back to seventeen, back to the Marcus Garvey Group Home, back to every choice that led him down the wrong path. But this time, something else comes with him: the ghost of Vicente “El Martillo” Morales, heavyweight champion murdered thirty years ago.Vicente's spectral presence offers what no living trainer can: the knowledge to transform a street thief into a boxing legend. With supernatural guidance tracking his every improvement, Javier begins climbing from amateur tournaments toward professional glory.But the boxing world harbors its own dangers. Corrupt promoters control the sport's highest levels, and some secrets are worth killing for. As Javier rises through the ranks, he must navigate a system where talent alone isn't enough—and where his criminal past might be the key to surviving boxing's deadliest truths.Second chances don't come free. And champions are forged in blood and sacrifice.Content Disclaimer:This novel contains mature themes including violence, crime, death, and the brutal realities of professional boxing. The story features supernatural elements within a gritty urban setting and explores themes of redemption, corruption, and moral ambiguity. Reader discretion is advised for scenes depicting boxing violence, criminal activity, and intense emotional content.Fiction Notice:All characters, organizations, events, and locations in this work are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, actual events, or existing places is purely coincidental. This story is a work of imagination and should not be taken as factual representation of boxing, law enforcement, or any real-world institutions.

Riven was a young man with dreams as vast as the horizon, but life demanded sacrifice. To support his struggling family, he gave up his education and ambitions, shouldering endless work to keep them afloat. Yet, his loyalty was met with the ultimate betrayal by his own father.As his life slipped away, Riven awoke in an unfamiliar world brimming with magic, reincarnated by a mysterious system. Gifted with a peculiar mana heart that pulses with untold power, Riven is thrust into a realm of mages, monsters, and ancient secrets.Determined to rise above his tragic past, Riven vows to become the strongest mage in this new world, uncovering the mysteries of his strange mana heart and the enigmatic system that guides him.