A Soldier's Life - Chapter 3: Beaten but Not Broken

Cassian Ven Dyke, the bastard son of a powerful ducal family, grew up in the slums of Veldora under the care of his father figure, sword master Russel. When Russel passed away, Cassian was left with only a silver necklace as his inheritance. After putting it on, Cassian was attacked by three psychotic thugs who tortured him in an attempt to steal the necklace. Refusing to give in, Cassian was ultimately stabbed through the heart with the very same necklace. Instead of dying, he mysteriously vanished as the necklace lodged itself in his heart. Just before disappearing, he heard an eerie message echo in his mind:[True mana detected. Origin: Human...][Human detected. Compatibility with system: Confirmed.]

I died in an explosion—a betrayal engineered by the man I trusted most.But instead of the end, I woke up in a new body. A noblewoman’s body. Evelina, disgraced and hated, accused of poisoning the Crown Prince of a kingdom where werewolves rule the land.And worse?The man whose life I supposedly tried to end is now my fated mate.Damian, the Crown Prince, is as cold as the moonlight that binds us, his piercing silver eyes filled with distrust every time they land on me. He doesn’t believe my innocence, and frankly, I don’t care.My only priority is survival in this dangerous, medieval world—and figuring out why fate decided to shove me into the life of a traitor.But the longer I’m near Damian, the harder it is to ignore the pull between us—the undeniable heat of the mate bond that makes his touch electric and his presence intoxicating.Enemies lurk in the shadows, including the woman who thinks she should be his Luna. Court intrigue spirals out of control, and the person behind Evelina’s betrayal might be closer than I realize.Damian’s trust is my only shield, but when the truth of my transmigration comes to light, I’m not sure even that will be enough to save me.Because in this world, it’s not love that conquers all—it’s power. And mine might not be enough.

“You don’t want to be forced to match, right, Lin Changan?”

The delicate-looking girl asked softly, and pushed the “Personal Subject Relationship Contract” to Lin Changan’s eyes.

Lin Changan’s eyes were full of despair, but fortunately, he awakened the simulator system, which could simulate life infinitely.

After each simulation, you can choose talents, realms, combat experience, cultivation insights or some memory fragments.

[You rejected the “Personal vassal relationship contract”, signed an implication with a girl, was killed by a love rival in the dungeon, and you died. 】

[You chose to eat soft rice hard with talent. 】

[At the age of 22, the sickly junior girl confessed to you that she was rejected by you. Since then, she will poison you quickly because of love and hatred. 】

[You chose a talent that is invincible. 】

[At the age of twenty-four, the beast tide struck, and you were drowned in the beast tide. 】

[You have chosen the realm and condensed the power of the stars. 】

[At the age of twenty-four, the beast swarms attacked you. As a general, you were exhausted and drowned by the beast swarm. 】

[You have chosen an inexhaustible talent. 】

[At the age of twenty-four, you went to the front line to resist the beast tide, and your spiritual power is inexhaustible…]

After countless simulations, there are stars twinkling in your eyes, and every move is blessed by heaven and earth.

【The simulation starts! 】

【You are invincible, the universe is respected! 】

- Description from novelbuddy

After a shocking reincarnation, our hero opens her eyes to a new (and messy) world the last thing she remembers is reading Lady Viper’s Vow, a dark fantasy novel about a cruel, misunderstood villainess and her path of doom. But when our protagonist finds herself reborn right in the heart of an attack, she’s moments away from a second, way-too-soon death. Just as she’s about to face the end, a mysterious “system” pops up with a single mission: Level Up or Die Trying. It’s bossy, snarky, and her new best friend. As she levels up into a borderline-cheater powerhouse, she discovers her fate isn’t to be a hero, a princess, or even a sorceress, but to protect the one person no one ever expected her to side with: the villainess herself.