MTL - The Years When I Disguised As a Man at the Noble Academy - Chapter 23

For as long as he could remember, life had always been cruel.A young man in his early twenties—his name now lost to the past—was dealt a life filled with misfortunes.A cold, empty apartment, a soul-crushing job, and, finally, a terminal diagnosis.With nothing left to live for, his only comfort had been escaping into the fictional world of Path of the Elemental Sage, a story of heroes, magic, and survival.But fate had other plans.When death finally came for him, he didn’t fade into nothingness.Instead, he awoke in the world he had only read about—a world of chaos and danger where death lurked around every corner.The air smelled of magic, the sky was filled with possibilities.{«[Status Window]»}[Name: Lyrium Blackwood][Age: 16][Rank: D-][Skills: None][Elements: None}At first, confusion filled his mind.Who was Lyrium Blackwood?Why was he here?And why did this body feel so different?But as his memories returned, so did the realization: this wasn’t some blessing or second chance.He wasn’t reincarnated as the protagonist.No destined savior.No cheat abilities.No grand fate.He was just another mob, a face in the crowd meant to exist and die without leaving a mark.But this young man—the one who had left his old name and life behind—wasn’t the kind of person to roll over and accept his fate.“This world is dangerous. The protagonist isn’t the only one fighting for survival here,”he muttered, his red eyes deep and sharp.Unlike the naïve characters in the story, he knew the stakes.He’d read the web novel.He’d seen the carnage, the betrayals, the disasters that wiped out entire cities.And if there was one thing he refused to be, it was a pawn in someone else’s game.“I don’t care about glory. I don’t care about saving the world. All I care about is surviving—no matter what it takes.”Lyrium Blackwood wasn’t planning to live quietly or avoid danger.The only way to survive in this brutal world was to rise to the top.To be strong enough to stand above both heroes and villains.Using his knowledge of the story’s events and his iron will, Lyrium sets out on a relentless path to surpass the protagonist.Whether through clever manipulation, brutal training, or sheer desperation, he’ll climb higher and higher, leaving nothing to chance.But the deeper he gets, the more he realizes that this isn’t just the story he once read.As fate pushes him closer to the heart of the narrative, Lyrium begins to suspect that his reincarnation wasn’t an accident—and the world itself might be watching him.“I don’t care who or what stands in my way. If the story wants to kill me, I’ll rewrite the ending myself.”----------------------------------I apologize for any mistakes in this story, as it’s my first attempt at writing a novel.

Super-genius Ellen Young, creator of countless tech products, retires.At the height of her career, she turns down numerous high-paying offers, yearning only to return to the countryside and lead a peaceful, laid-back life.Unexpectedly, her long-lost family comes looking for her, and a celebrity sister requests to live-stream their countryside life online.Ellen Young: ?A big, fat no!Netizens around the world think that this newly found daughter in the celebrity’s family is illiterate, lacks manners, is completely crass, and without any redeeming qualities.Becoming a laughing stock of the internet.Until.....Why is a world-renowned professor calling her teacher online?Why does a well-known CEO furiously comment 'If you don't come back, I'm not managing this company anymore'?Why are numerous consortiums sending barrages online, appealing for lower patent fees?—Isn't this just a country girl selling radishes online and making ads?

Every trace of my entire youth is engraved with the same name.

When I see the trees on the street and the clouds on the horizon, I will think of him unconsciously.

I remember the bubble tea he ordered for me, and the sparklers he lit up for me.

Those memories supported me through difficult days and made me think I was special at one point.

When I was young, I often wondered, is it possible? Even if it is one in ten thousand, what if I am the heroine in his story?

I have said goodbye to him countless times, on the phone, on WeChat, face to face, every time without pressure, because I know there will be another meeting.

But this time is different, Xu Jiamu, this time I really want to say goodbye to you.

“Goodbye, Xu Jiamu.”

- Description from Novelupdates

Set in a Pokéverse where the remnants of our civilization's Earth lie buried under the resurgent human/Pokémon societies, this epic Saga follows the protagonist through his journey to the heights of Pokemon Training and beyond, across a planet that was only saved from ecological disaster by an act of Arceus. As Humanity and Pokémon coexist in this fusion of settings, the story will explore themes of war, oppressive cults, and Shadow infusion, in a world where Pokémon healing and battles echo the anime in realistic, but not overtly graphic ways. Pokémon do not rip each other apart in Battles, though it can sometimes happen in the wild.This is a very long journey fic that's kind of a Crossover with everything. But with Pokémon. So you might see characters like Shaggy Rogers, or Izuku Midoriya, but with Pokémon teams. Pokémon legends like Red, Gary Oak, and the reigning World Champion, Ash Ketchum, are also, naturally, present in the setting. Think of this slice of the Pokéverse as one where it's all coming together.