This Damned Thirst for Survival - Chapter 154: The Rose

“A marriage contract determines fate for a lifetime.As the once well-to-do Sang Wan marries into the wealthiest Shi family of Qingzhou, she faces a suspicious and difficult mother-in-law, a husband who cherishes his childhood sweetheart instead, a harsh eldest sister-in-law, and a cunning younger sister-in-law. The diffident Sang Wan retreats and concedes until she ultimately meets a tragic and desolate end, dying alone in a secluded corner of the Shi Mansion.Reborn in the sedan chair on her wedding day, where should she go? At the starting point of tragedy, with a chance to start anew, can she change her tragic fate and create a life filled with harmonious melodies for herself?In this life, she only desires a leisurely and peaceful existence, to truly live for once.”

Akiyo Oshima was a successful man, with wealth, status, and a perfect life. However, by giving in to the temptation of betrayal, he awakened the wrath of the one entity he should have never angered—his girlfriend, Sayuri, who turned out to be Death itself.As punishment, Sayuri cursed him. Akiyo was stripped of his identity, his form, and even his gender. In every world, a new body would be created for him, allowing him to inherit memories and a random aspect of personality. Now, he must live as Shizune Accursed. But her new existence was far from a second chance. Trapped in an endless cycle of reincarnations, Shizune awakens in different worlds, with no control over her fate. And in each of those worlds, there's always a Yandere she has met or will meet, whose obsessive love inevitably leads her to her death—whether by possessive love, madness, or simply the need to have her all to themselves.Condemned to die over and over in the arms of those who love her in twisted ways, Shizune, in an attempt to understand the burden of manipulating others’ feelings, finds herself on a dangerous path. Will she survive and break this curse? Or will she remain forever trapped in a cycle where love is uncontrollable and always leads to death?Whether in a fantasy, futuristic, or modern world, where anything can happen, the question remains: who is really on Shizune's side? Are they allies she can trust, or just more Yanderes waiting for the perfect moment to seal her fate? Among men and women, even within her own family, Shizune will need to figure out who she can truly trust… before it’s too late.

In a world of swords and magic, where Dragon Knights and Grand Archmages wield powers capable of destroying the heavens and shaking the seas, the legends of their prowess echo throughout the ages.In this world, Sylvus, having crossed over from another realm, opens the Eastern Elixir Shop with a unique system that grants him mastery over ancient elixirs.Within this humble shop, elixirs from the eternal archives of Xianxia are available—each more powerful and mysterious than the last.A Nine-Star Saint Archmage toils away in the shop, working to repay his debt.A Nine-Star Platinum Knight pleads with the shopkeeper, desperately hoping to buy just one elixir.Even God Mages and Divine Knights engage in fierce battles just to secure the coveted Nine-Transformation Golden Elixir before others.

I put all the warning tags to give myself creative freedom, but the story isn't filled with excessive gore or swearing.This is my first time writing other than for school projects. The gender-bender tag is only for the beginning because I wanted to try writing from a female's perspective and needed an excuse for why my MC reads a little tomboyish. The gender-bender fades into the background over the first few chapters; please don't let the tag keep you from trying out my story.Synopsis:Second chances are rarely earned and even rarer given. Follow a new life in a new world where anything is possible. Our MC wakes up, stuck as a baby, needing to decide how she will live her new life. Let's see what future she can forge when hard work rewards her with status points and skill levels.Author's Note: I'm currently slowly going back and rewriting my earlier chapters, so if you're starting to read this for the first time, try not to be alarmed if the quality suddenly goes down after reading a few chapters. I started writing this story almost three years ago, and I think I've improved as a writer since then. I appreciate your understanding; enjoy.