Industrial Strength Magic - Chapter 278: Friends and Family

WSA 2025 ENTRYIn the Grand Land of Baltalaha, the Awakening Ceremony is the most anticipated event of the year, where 15-year-olds from across the kingdoms discover their innate powers. Morvane, an orphan raised by a healer grandmother, eagerly joins the celebration with his best friends, Luna and Esmael, each dreaming of the abilities that will shape their destinies.As rulers from the six kingdoms display their awe-inspiring powers, the arena buzzes with excitement and wonder. One by one, children receive marks signifying their newfound abilities, the crowd erupting in cheers with each display of elemental magic, healing, and unique gifts.However, when it’s Morvane’s turn, silence falls over the arena. No mark appears on his shoulder. Confusion ripples through the crowd, and Morvane’s heart sinks. In a moment meant to define his future, he faces an unimaginable question: What does it mean to have no power in a world where everyone else awakens?Unbeknownst to all, Morvane’s fate is tied to a mystery that could reshape the balance of Baltalaha forever.

Being a nobody from a poor district of the Federation, Nick is a sixteen year old boy just trying to find his place in the world. When he finally gets his shot to enter the Beast Domain upon turning sixteen, he jumps at the opportunity to finally make something of himself — to carve out his own future.His goal? Survive. Hunt. Earn enough money to finally support his little sister back home and bring them out of poverty.But to a naïve young boy like Nick, the world is far more sinister than it seems — leaving him no choice but to adapt or die.To a poor young man like Nick, though, there was only one choice he could make.Follow Nick as he navigates these obstacles and carves out a future for himself and his sister, all while uncovering the various mysteries that shroud his worldview in darkness.

One day, two forum posts titled “I Seem Unsuited for Dating” appeared on Promontory Forum’s Feelings board nearly at the same time.

User A: 「I have a severe case of mysophobia and possessiveness. I cannot accept it if my girlfriend has had relationship experience. I went to see a psychiatrist, but I haven’t improved. I might truly be unsuited for dating.」

User B: 「I think I might be unsuited for dating. I very much enjoy the ambiguous phase of sounding out each other’s feelings, but after becoming official, if they want to hug me, or perhaps kiss me, I will immediately feel nauseous.」

Internet User: 「I beseech that the two of you be together. Don’t go and harm anyone else.」

- Description from Novelupdates

After being expelled, the ace soldier Chen Feng returns to the city and inexplicably becomes the fiancé of a cold and aloof campus belle.His life as an extraordinary figure begins by stepping on arrogant second-generation heirs and embracing the goddess campus belle.