The Sword and The Shadow - Chapter 5 – Mercenary Party

I was just your average student—no special talents, no grand dreams, and most importantly… no girlfriend. My days were spent grinding through life, with my only true passion being games, mangas, and web novels.Every day, I’d see couples walking by, holding hands, whispering sweet nothings, and I’d think, Hell yeah! When's it my turn?! I mean, I deserve a cute girlfriend too, right? Someone to hold, someone to kiss—just once, please!But, of course, life had other plans.One second, I was daydreaming about romance. The next? BAM! Truck-kun hit me with the ultimate rejection letter—straight to another world. When I opened my eyes, I realized I had reincarnated... but not as the hero, not even as the sidekick. Nope. I got stuck as some low-level villain—a total extra—the kind that exists just to get one-shot by the protagonist in the early chapters.The good news? I know this game inside out.The bad news? The whole world is out to kill me.But if they think I'm going down that easily, they're in for a surprise. Using my game knowledge, I'll dodge every death flag, exploit every loophole, and rise to the top! And hey, if I end up with a harem of gorgeous girls along the way? Well… let’s call it a happy bonus!This is my story—where I rewrite my destiny, break the game, and maybe... just maybe... finally get that kiss!Support this Shameless Author with Power Stones Gifts and Golden Tickets

This is a story of a transmigrator leading a small martial sect to rise. It is a fantasy tale set in a world of ordinary people cultivating and vying for supremacy, without the assistance of any system.

What to ExpectWelcome to this Martial Peak fanfiction, a respectful expansion of the legendary work by the original author. This fic follows the core events of the original, with a fresh twist in the form of a new protagonist who is an “outsider”—a modern reader reincarnated into the world of Martial Peak.1. MC Setup: A Cultivation Novel Reader in Martial PeakThe protagonist is NOT someone from the Martial Peak universe but a cultivation novel enthusiast from another world.No prior knowledge of Martial Peak, but vast experience with cultivation logic, tropes, and meta-awareness from similar novels.This allows for unique decision-making, unconventional strategies, and a slightly different approach to situations while still following the original storyline.He won’t be overpowered from the start, but expect fast progression due to his deep understanding of cultivation mechanics.2. Respect for the Original PlotNo major timeline changes—key events still happen as they should.All future arcs and climaxes remain intact to preserve the integrity of Martial Peak.What changes? The MC’s interactions, techniques, and relationships, providing a fresh perspective while saluting the original work.Expect some butterfly effects, but nothing that derails the core story!3. Large Harem (With More Depth & Development)Martial Peak already has one of the largest harems in cultivation fiction—we’re expanding on that.4. Smut Content IncludedLet’s not dance around it—explicit content will be featured in this fic.Balanced between romance, cultivation growth, and action, ensuring the story remains engaging beyond just smut.Cultivation-based dual cultivation, yin-yang balance, and ‘special’ training sessions will be explored in a tasteful yet satisfying manner.5. Fast-Paced UpdatesSince we’re not making drastic changes to the story, the pace will be fast and consistent.Updates will focus on the MC’s journey, harem development, and the occasional divergence to deepen character arcs.As long as there’s support and interest, the fic will keep expanding.Final NotesThis is a passionate tribute to Martial Peak, keeping the spirit of the original intact while giving readers a fresh perspective, expanded harem dynamics, and more in-depth character interactions.Are you ready to ascend to the peak once more?Let’s begin.

What does it feel like to find yourself inside the novel of an author you hated? How will you survive in a world that's filled with cliché? Well, something similar happened here.

Once there was an unpopular fantasy novel author. His life was pretty messed up—no, he made it messed up. And remember I said messed up, not sad.

Due to certain reasons, he ended up never having the life that an average teenage boy should have.

But soon he was freed from that life as he died due to a lovey-dovey couple. He was freed but he had regrets…after all, he didn’t make his life that way because he wanted to.

The things he did were the result of his condition and impulses.

It seems luck was on his side at that moment, seconds after he closed his eyes and died, those eyes opened again but this time they were gazing at a world different from his old one.

He got a second chance! Now he will live a new life, a life he wanted to live! This time he can live, grow old, and then die in a “normal” way! The way things should have happened in his former life.

Though it turns out he also had a good amount of bad luck on his side as well.

Later he found out that the world he reincarnated in was the same as the novel of an author he hated the most. The only person he never wanted to talk to again…he was reincarnated inside that very person’s novel.

This is his story! The story of the man who was known by the name “Zero” in his second life. The story of how he survived without plot armor in a world filled with cliché situations, only in the favor of the MC of that novel.

This is, Author’s Reincarnation in a Fantasy Setting!!