Don't be So Proud - Chapter 2.2 — “Guan guan!” Cry the Ospreys, On an Islet in the River

In the distant Eldrathis Galaxy, a vast and uncharted frontier teeming with ancient ruins and deadly secrets, humanity is a small fish in an ocean of monsters. But that doesn’t stop treasure hunters like Clara Dravenmoor, a brilliant and reckless archaeologist, and the Safira's crew, from chasing lost relics buried in the void.Her latest mission? Recovering a priceless artifact from the ruins of Zhaaros, a hostile planet plagued by nomadic warlords and nightmarish creatures. But what she finds isn’t just a relic.It’s him.A pale, otherworldly man, locked away for centuries in a high-tech sarcophagus, covered in mystical markings and dripping with an aura of power that defies reality.He looks confused. No memories. No idea why he was trapped there.But he doesn't look angry.He looks eager.Excited to follow Clara in the Safira through the vast and magnificent galaxy.

Poisoned by his wife, betrayed by his best friend, and abandoned by his children—Matthew died broken and alone. But when he wakes up thirty years in the past, trapped in his eighteen-year-old body, everything changes.Now, the halls feel haunted, memories from a future that may never come keep popping into his head, and something strange is growing inside him—something he can’t explain. Sadly, this second chance isn’t a blessing. It comes with a price.But this time, he won’t be the victim. This time, he’s the one in control.

Raelis Varekan was born into royalty but treated like trash. With 0% bloodline purity, he was branded a failure, framed for treason, and executed without a second thought.But despite his expectations, he had come back to the time he was twelve years old, standing in front of the same bloodline testing orb. But this time, something changed.His former 0% bloodline purity was gone, replaced by a 1% result.And with it came something no one else could see: a system that let him grow stronger.[Ding!][+1% Bloodline Purity][Total Bloodline Purity: 2% (Ash)][Next Bloodline Rank at 10% Purity: Ember]With the future burned into his memory and a strange system tracking his growth, Raelis wouldn't make the same mistakes twice. He would become strong and he would use every tool he had to survive the academy and outmaneuver his siblings and the nobles who once betrayed him.And most importantly...Raelis would rise through the ranks and become the one who rewrites the Varekan Empire’s history.

Lin Ran was transmigrated to a fantasy world and was the top scorer during the martial arts exam.

He was assigned to protect the empress, but because he did not give presents to the general director in charge of the palace affairs, he was demoted to a guard at Mount Sword.

His only job was to clean the swords stored on the mountain.

[You have cleaned the broken sword, Fire Stream. You have been rewarded with 50% proficiency of the Heaven Fire Sword Will.]

[You have cleaned the heavy sword, Dragon Elephant. You have been rewarded with the inner energy of the Dragon and Elephant Divine Art.]

[You have cleaned the demon sword, Dark Wind. You have been rewarded with the Grade 9 method, Phantom Step.]

[You have cleaned the spirit sword, Heaven’s Chance. You have been rewarded with the Eyes that Peek into Heaven.]

“Isn’t this way better than working as the empress’s guard?” Lin Ran quickly decided to remain on the mountain until he had become invincible.

He spent the next 100 years without leaving Mount Sword until the day the barbaric knights from the north invaded the central plains and started to mercilessly slaughter citizens, hoping to break the peace that was obtained through a lot of sacrifices over 100 years ago.

Lin Ran had no choice but to descend from the mountain.