Start With Contracting Sprites - Chapter 16

Japan – National News BroadcastThe polished news anchor sat upright, her gaze sharp as she adjusted the stack of papers before her. The newsroom behind her hummed with quiet urgency, the weight of the moment settling over the broadcast.“Authorities are baffled by a sudden and unexplained surge in sleep-related deaths across Japan,” she began, her voice steady yet tense. “More and more citizens are passing away in their sleep without any prior health concerns. Experts are working tirelessly to determine the cause, but no clear explanation has emerged. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and report any unusual symptoms before bedtime.”A graphic appeared, displaying the spike in fatalities over the past month. Behind her, unsettling photographs flickered across the screen—blurred images of individuals found in their beds, their faces frozen in expressions of terror.The anchor’s tone shifted. “Health officials recommend citizens avoid excessive fatigue and maintain healthy sleep habits. More updates will follow as investigations continue.”---United States – Paranormal PodcastIn a dimly lit podcast studio, the host leaned forward, his eyes wide with curiosity. Across from him, a rugged man in a worn flannel shirt, gripping a faded photograph in one hand and a beer can in the other, leaned back in his chair.“So, you're telling me you saw this creature firsthand?” the host asked, clearly intrigued.The man scoffed, shaking his head. “Damn right, I did. Ugly thing had wings bigger than my body—slow but sneaky. Thought it could steal my pigs again, but I was ready this time—camera in one hand, shotgun in the other.”He slammed the table for emphasis, then shoved the blurry image toward the host. The photograph depicted a small, red-skinned humanoid figure with large, bat-like wings, its eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.“Spit, the thing didn’t know what hit it when I fired!” the man chuckled, his voice full of excitement.The host held up the picture to the live chat. “Alright, what do you think? Mothman? Demon? Or is our friend here just seeing things?”The chat exploded with theories—some skeptical, others eager for the investigation to continue.---China – Liangyuan Street MarketSurveillance footage from a bustling night market in China captured a chilling scene. A woman in a red qipao walked gracefully through the crowd, her figure striking in the soft glow of lanterns.Suddenly, she paused. Her body flickered—like a glitch in a video—before vanishing completely, as though she had never existed.The footage zoomed in, replaying in slow motion. In the final frame before she disappeared, her face distorted unnaturally, her eyes hollow and empty.The screen cut abruptly to black.

Cliché! Cliché! Cliché!OP protag? Check.Beautiful girls? Check.Standard plot? Check.Sub par writing? Yes.Sit back, turn off your brain, and stuff yourself with this junk food novel! I would also like to add that this novel is a touch more romance heavy! A touch!I also post on Scribblehub, the main site I update on. If you like what you see, consider supporting me on patreon!

Callius von Jervain.

A character who dies no matter what he does. A character who falls into a forced choice route where he can only die, no matter his choices up to that point. However, there is a single route where the character can live and play the game.

And I have to carve out that route somehow.

Because I’ve become Callius von Jervain in the game.

He was the Son of Dragon!

However, he was titled as the ‘Sinned Prince’ when he killed his mother.

She was supposed to marry her childhood lover but stepped forward to marry the Sinned Prince, whom every woman from the noble families has rejected.

With one motto in her mind— ‘To end the Qiu Royal Family.’

~~~~~

Qiu Lóng Wei is the youngest prince of the Qiu Kingdom. He was prophesied as the Son of Dragon, but his acts made him the Sinned Prince.

Xu Li Hua, the daughter of a Low-rank official, was forced to leave her town when her family was massacred on one deadly night.

The gentle and petite woman, who hardly has seen the world, enters the most dangerous place where a small mistake can take her to the door of death and get entangled with Lóng Wei.

~~~~~

Li Hua fell on the mattress while Lóng Wei hovered over her.

.....

“Whose ring is this?” Lóng Wei asked, looking at the red jade ring on her finger.

His palm went on her nape, and he pulled her face up, forcing her to look at him.

Li Hua pulled her hand back, but Lóng Wei didn’t let it go. Instead, he took out the ring from her finger.

“You are my official wife now. In your life only one man shall exist, and that’s me!” Lóng Wei authorized, clenching his fist which was holding the jade ring.

“The Prince cannot force his decision on me. Even if he takes my body, he can never take my heart,” Li Hua said, with a stern tone.

Lóng Wei clicked his tongue and twisted his lips into a smirk.

“Watch your words, Li Hua. Not only your body will be mine but your heart and soul too. I go crazy for the things that are precious to me. You are my wife, so my craziness for you is beyond description.”