Demon King: Hero, don't run away! - Chapter 489 Tree Mother

How would you react to waking up in a completely new body—one pulled straight from a game you used to play?That’s the unexpected reality our protagonist, Licht, now faces.Trapped in the body of a character he once defeated and killed, Licht inherits not just the appearance, but the karma of the original. Branded a villain, he’s burdened with the consequences of sins he never committed.As a first-act antagonist in the eyes of the world, his fate is already written: to be exposed, condemned, and destroyed.But Licht refuses to accept that. He chooses to fight. To survive.Karma of the past be damned.Yet the deeper he falls into this world, the clearer it becomes—this is no game. It's darker, more twisted, and far less forgiving than anything he’s ever known.This isn’t a hero’s journey.This isn’t a warrior’s rise.This is a villain’s survival.

JAYDEForged in the crucible of Xi Corporation’s labs, Jayde—once known only as SN1098—is a genetically engineered super soldier, her body honed to a razor's edge through decades of fighting humanity’s brutal wars. Her rebellion against her creators sparked a desperate battle for her people’s survival, only to end in betrayal and a fiery death on Crypso 3Q3U, her sacrifice shattering the corporate chains binding thousands of GESS lives. Yet death is not her end. Jayde awakens, impossibly, in the tortured body of a young girl on a strange world untouched by the technology she knew—no starships, no replicators, no blasters, only the primal pulse of magic. Bound to an ancient artifact pulsing with secrets, she must navigate a realm of powerful mages, mythical creatures, and lurking monsters, her old instincts clashing with the arcane forces now at her command. Her soul, scarred by battle and betrayal, carries a darkness that threatens to consume or redeem her as she carves a new path.RENRen, the fierce demon king, stands as the last bulwark against his race’s extinction, his heart a furnace of primal fury. To save his people and halt the malevolent Zartonesh’s invasion of the realms, he must venture to the Lower Realm, where the Devil Wars first ignited. His fate entwines with a young woman—Jayde—whose soul, steeped in shadow, stirs the ancient beast within him. Her vast, untamed power could be the key to salvation or the doom of all he fights for, her presence a spark to his fire, a bond that could forge or shatter destinies.AN EPIC JOURNEY OF MAGIC AND REDEMPTIONJayde trades her blaster for a sword, stepping alone into a universe where magic hums like a Centauri war-chant, guided only by a mysterious artifact that whispers of forgotten truths. She journeys across dimensions, learning the art of spellcraft, forging alliances with unlikely companions, and facing enemies born of myth and nightmare. As she grapples with the darkness within her soul—a remnant of her past life’s pain and betrayal—she searches for her true-mate, a bond that could anchor or unravel her. Will she master the magic of this strange world and rise as its savior, or will the shadows she carries bring ruin to all she holds dear?WARNING: This tale unfolds as a slow-burning romance, weaving love and loss through a tapestry of magic, sacrifice, and defiance, as Jayde’s legacy burns brighter than any star.

Su Xue, a woman in her mid 20s, is struggling both in paying rent and finding her path in life. Her latest stint has her trying to become a popular League of Legends streamer, though to poor results. One day, she is interrupted in the middle of a livestream by a surprise visit from her landlady. She is informed that she will be having a new roommate. The landlady’s nephew, Lin Feng, a 18 year old boy who has just transferred over to Shanghai for his last year of high school.

Though initially opposed to it, Su Xue reluctantly agrees to the arrangement. She learns that the two share a common interest—League of Legends—and that he’s really amazing at the game. Lin Feng also reveals to her he wishes to become the best professional League of Legends player in the world.

The next day. Lin Feng attends his first day of school as a transfer student at High School 13. He meets Ouyang and Yang Fan, and the trio find a common passion in League of Legends. Lin Feng is then introduced to Ren Rou, the president of the esports club with a fiery personality, and Tang Bingyao, a quiet bookworm with a love for money and a surprising talent for the game.

A little about Lin Feng’s past is revealed. He was a once pro player, the youngest in history and a contender for the best player in the world. Until the finals of the Season 1 World Championship. There, he lost to his arch-rival, an equally brilliant Korean youth. That was the peak of his career, and also the turning point in his life. He stepped down from his team and disappeared from competitive play altogether. Now, after a four year long hiatus, he aims to make a comeback

Over the next couple of weeks, Lin Feng learns about the upcoming Shanghai 16 School Tournament, and that his school’s esports club had performed especially poorly the previous year. He agrees to coach the club’s team and help them win the first place trophy this year. And so, he starts the members of the club out on an intense training bootcamp.

Meanwhile, the Season 5 League of Legends World Championship is taking place at around the same time. Tian Tian, one of Lin Feng’s former teammates and best friend, is on one of the Chinese teams playing at Worlds. After a poor showing, he is on the verge of a mental breakdown. Lin Feng witnesses everything in a viewing party with the esports club members and becomes worried.

On the day of the Shanghai 16 School tournament, Lin Feng reunites with Tian Tian on the phone. He tells Tian Tian he’s going to return to the professional scene, that he’s making a new team and plans to invite him. But Tian Tian has to vow not to give up at Worlds and keep winning. Tian Tian agrees, and Lin Feng promises he’ll fight alongside him. Lin Feng then heads into his match with renewed resolve, to climb from the bottom all the way back to the top, and overcome the rival that defeated him so many years ago.