Margrave's Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 5

In the wake of the first wave of shadow creatures, the world was plunged into ruin, a desolate yet enchanted wasteland. Humanity, driven underground, clung to survival while desperately plotting to reclaim their shattered world.But from the abyss of darkness, something miraculous stirred—a mysterious tree, shimmering with ancient power, appeared overnight. It chose only the strongest of heart, those with unbreakable will, gifting them extraordinary abilities. With these powers, humanity rose from the depths, waging war against the shadows.Yet beneath the surface of their heroic deeds lay a hidden rot. Corruption seeped into their ranks, and arrogance clouded their judgment. As their powers grew, so did the whispers of betrayal. The true battle may not be against the creatures lurking in the shadows—but against the darkness festering within their own hearts.A question lingers: When heroes fall, who will rise to take their place?

What if you could live your life over again, with all the knowledge of your failures?For Raghav Roi, this isn't a fantasy; it's a shocking, second reality.In the year 2035, at the age of 42, his life ended abruptly with a heart attack while watching a cricket match—a bitter end for a man whose own dreams of cricketing glory dissolved into a life of mediocrity and regret.He closes his eyes in a sterile hospital room, only to reopen them in his childhood bedroom in Chhaygaon, India.The year is 2005. He is twelve years old again, his body weak and unathletic, but his mind is armed with thirty years of future knowledge and a singular, burning purpose: to not waste this miracle.His second chance comes with a mysterious guide. A holographic interface that only he can see declares the activation of the [World's Greatest Cricket System].Few Years Later:Newspaper Front Headlines:[ The Youngest Player in World Tournament][The Record Breaker — ROI ]

I came home from college expecting to deal with my emotionally unavailable father, an empty fridge, and a summer full of boredom.What I didn’t expect was to walk into the kitchen and find a barefoot, stunning woman in my dad’s shirt stirring eggs like she owned the place.Spoiler: She does.Her name is Elena, and apparently, she’s my brand-new stepmother—seven years older than me, way too cheerful, and totally off-limits.But try telling that to my brain when she’s bending over to grab orange juice or accidentally falling on top of me in the laundry room. Try telling that to my heart when she’s laughing at my jokes, defending me at dinner, or wearing my hoodie because “it smells like comfort.”My dad doesn’t see her. Not really.But I do.And that’s the problem.Now I’m stuck in a house full of tension, sarcasm, and slow-burn chaos.She’s married to my father.I’m supposed to be focusing on my future.But somehow, I’m falling for the one woman I absolutely, definitely, 100% should not be falling for.Oops.

A cultivation story about how a declining sect is restored by a narcissist, a troublemaker, a meanie, an idiot, and a wimpy kid.

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