From Skid Row to Superstardom: An Idol System Novel - Chapter 22: Deal

After his parents died, Alex Roth had a plan: become a wizard. Through hard work, he was accepted into the world’s greatest university of wizardry—but fate had another plan.

On his eighteenth, he is marked as one of his kingdom’s five Heroes, chosen to fight the land’s great enemy. But his brand is 'The Fool', worst of the marks.

Rather than die or serve the other Heroes like Fools in the past, he packs up his little sister, his childhood friend and her cerberus, then flees for the university in hope of refuge, magic and to unravel the truth about his land’s evil.

There’s one small problem: The Mark tries to ruin magic while enhancing skills outside of divinity, combat and spellcraft.…

…that is, unless he can learn to exploit the hell out of it.

In a realm where power is determined by affinities—elemental forces that shape magic, combat, and survival—Ethan is an anomaly. While most people are born with a single affinity, Ethan stands apart, wielding a vast range of abilities granted by a mysterious Ancestral-line System. This unique system taps into the untapped potential of his vampire and dwarven bloodline, unlocking ancestral powers far beyond the norm.At just 18 years old, Ethan's journey begins when he accidentally awakens this system, discovering that he is the heir to a forgotten lineage that blends the strength, resilience, and mysticism of both vampire and dwarven ancestors, a perfect hybrid of both. Though he must awaken and evolve to harness their power. However, the more power he gains, the more he learns about the dark secrets of his lineage—secrets that others would kill to possess.Unlike everyone else, Ethan's affinities are not innate; they are granted by the system based on his bloodline’s ancient heritage. As he levels up, he acquires abilities that no one in the current era has ever seen: the Psychic powers of telekinesis and telepathy from ancient vampire lords, the earth-shaping skills of dwarf warriors, and a host of hidden abilities that challenge the world’s very understanding of magic.But power comes with a price. Ethan quickly finds himself targeted by powerful factions and hidden enemies who fear what his bloodline could mean for the balance of the world. Ancient forces tied to his ancestry awaken, each with their own agenda—some seeing him as a threat to be eliminated, others as a tool to be used.Accompanied by a diverse group of companions, each with their own affinities and secrets, Ethan embarks on a perilous journey. Together, they traverse beast-filled forests, ancient ruins, worlds and perilous dungeons, all while facing foes who seek to exploit or destroy Ethan’s unique powers. Along the way, bonds are forged, fates are entwined, and the line between friend and foe blurs as Ethan learns that his destiny is far greater than he ever imagined.But with every new ability comes a deeper question: What is the true purpose of the Ancestral-line System? As he battles monstrous creatures, rival affinity users, and ancient curses, Ethan must confront the reality that his bloodline holds the key to either the salvation or the destruction of their world or something else entirely.In a world governed by affinities, Ethan’s unmatched power sets him on a path that could change everything—or lead to his downfall.Will he master the secrets of his ancestry and forge his own fate, or will the weight of his heritage drag him into the depths of a history best left forgotten?

A man played an immersive game that he started playing thanks to his brother. With his brothers help, he got an overpowered build on his character. Unfortunately, his brother died and he stopped playing the game alltogether because it reminded him of his brother.One day he hears that the game is about to get shut down, and he goes there to say farewell to the thing he and his brother spent so much time on. But when the moment where he was supposed to be logged out, he finds himself still in his character. Strangely the NPCs start talking more freely and that the capital city where they were on was suddenly in a strange forest.What will he do in this new environment? What kind of people will he meet?(Note that the setting starts kind of like Overlord, the anime/novel. Don't take it to mean that it is anywhere near that level.)Surprisingly many parental figures appear in the series, mostly fatherly, though not exemplary.

Li Muyang had transmigrated, and the good news was that he had a system. The bad news was that this system could only be used to play games. Oh well, if it’s playing games, then so be it. It’s better than having nothing. In the game, he was powerful and mysterious, causing the extraordinary fairies to be shaken to their core. Since it’s just a game, there’s no problem in aiming for the full compendium route, right? It wasn’t until one day that the fairies from the game showed up at his door that Li Muyang was truly startled. What was supposed to be just a game, how did it become real? “So... listen to my excuse!” I was really just playing a game!!