Everyone is Young Except for Me - Chapter 120

Richard Santamo, a Jobless, idling bystander, stumbles upon a mysterious blue panel that grants him access to advanced technology and skills beyond human comprehension. With the power to shape his destiny, he must navigate his newfound abilities while balancing everyday life, friendships, and his mother’s expectations. As he sets his sights on business, innovation, and self-improvement, Richard quickly realizes that knowledge and power come at a cost. Will he rise above his humble beginnings, or will the weight of his ambitions pull him under?-----------[ DISCLAIMER ] -----------Please note that the entirety of this book is a work of fiction. All characters, names, businesses, locations, and events depicted within these pages are products of the author's imagination or have been used in a purely fictitious manner. Any perceived resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased, or to real-world companies, organizations, or institutions, is entirely unintentional and purely coincidental. The portrayal of any names, character traits, positions, or corporate entities in this narrative is fundamentally fictional and is not intended to represent, comment upon, or interact with their real-life counterparts in any way. Our aim is to provide an immersive story, completely detached from reality.Furthermore, neither the author nor the publisher intends to defame, discredit, or infringe upon the rights or reputation of any individual, company, or entity that may, by sheer happenstance, share a name or a superficial characteristic with an element found in this book. This creation is offered solely for entertainment purposes and should not, under any circumstances, be interpreted as factual documentation or a representation of real-life events, actual people, or existing circumstances. Its sole purpose is to invite you into a world crafted from imagination, with no ties to the factual world.

It is an era of artificial superintelligences, interstellar travel, gene medicine, and virtual reality worlds. Far into Earth’s future, 15-year-old Gu Ding is a student of Cerulean Military Academy by day, and tavern waiter by night. His ambition: Become the space pirate with the highest bounty offered by the Universal Federation Government. With the help of Neptune, a neonate super-intelligence, Gu Ding finds himself thrust into a galaxy of shadowy organizations, political underdealings, and otherworldly forces that lie beyond human comprehension…

In the land of the Xia Kingdom, every human being is born with what is known as a ‘resonance’, either to a specific element or a powerful, mythical beast. Unfortunately, Li Luo was born with an incredibly rare condition known as a blank resonance – as the name suggests, he doesn’t have one! Normally, this would be utterly crippling, but at least he has the advantage of being the young master of the mighty House Loulan, one of the five Great Houses of Xia. Unfortunately, his parents, the powerful masters of House Loulan, have gone missing for many years, and the other Great Houses are beginning to eye their holdings quite hungrily. For that matter, plenty are also eyeing his talented, beautiful childhood friend and fiancee Jiang Qing’e, who has been leading House Loulan in his parents’ stead! Li Luo would much rather keep a low profile and wants to call off the engagement – but Jiang Qing’e has flatly refused. What’s a ‘useless young master’ to do?

The most popular game worldwide is Ancient Arena Online, a high-octane PvP fantasy game where teams fight for supremacy in mythical arenas. Millions of fans watch livestreams, bet on matches, and follow their favorite players like celebrities. The game’s competitive scene is so fierce that professional teams are treated like esports royalty.At the heart of it all is Kai Ashford, one of the top players and captain of the pro team Phoenix Edge. With lightning-fast reflexes and strategic brilliance, Kai leads his team to countless victories. But success breeds jealousy. Sabotaged by a teammate he thought was loyal, Kai is not only kicked off his team, but also humiliated in front of millions of fans. With his reputation shattered and confidence at rock bottom, Kai retreats from the public eye.However, Kai's competitive spirit is not easily extinguished. He stumbles upon a group of amateur players—a ragtag bunch who show raw potential but lack the finesse needed to win at the highest levels. Their quirky personalities clash with his no-nonsense attitude, but something about their passion reminds him of why he started gaming in the first place. Deciding to put his past behind him, Kai agrees to train them into a professional team.Along the way, Kai builds unexpected connections with his new teammates, including romantic entanglements with a fiery mage, an eccentric hacker, and a mysterious assassin player, all while juggling his personal feelings and growing attraction for multiple women. As his new team rises through the ranks, they gain attention from fans and sponsors, putting them back on the radar of the professional scene.But Kai’s past doesn’t stay buried for long. His former teammates—now rivals—plot to sabotage him once again, while jealous contenders within the gaming world aim to tear him down. However, Kai's return to the spotlight will be on his terms this time. With a darker, more calculating approach, he plans to not only dominate the game but also to get sweet revenge on those who betrayed him.