Zenith of Sorcery - Chapter 20. Ranks, the Planes and Everything

Notice: This story contains R18+ themes, including violence, sensual and sexual content, blood-related addiction, and dark psychological elements. Reader discretion advised.I died in a library, crushed under centuries of forgotten knowledge. Fitting.Now I’ve woken up in a coffin, starving, undead, and very much not human.They call me a Fledgling—a bottom-feeder vampire barely above a ghoul. I’m weak, hunted, and tethered to a world straight out of a cursed tabletop campaign. It’s a classic fantasy realm—elves, knights, guilds, and dungeons—but twisted by a dark, rotting magic. The moon shines red, the gods are silent, and every town smells like fear.To make matters worse, I’ve been bound to a LitRPG system called the Blood Codex.Level up by draining blood.Unlock skills by embracing your monstrous nature.Resist Corruption... or don’t.There's no prophecy. No chosen one nonsense. No noble title. Just fangs, rot, and whatever I can steal, trick, or kill to survive.But the deeper I sink into this world’s underbelly, the more I realize something is watching me through the system. The rules are breaking. Dungeon bosses are going mad. Entire towns are disappearing.And I think I’m supposed to fix it… or maybe finish the job.

Lancelot Haier came from a dynasty of politicians who had ruled with tyranny and oppression. Despite those origins, he despised his family and was willing to help the citizens who had long suffered under their rule.However—before he even had the chance to change his country, the people revolted. His entire family was executed, and he was killed along with them. In his final moments, he wished for a second life—one where he could redeem himself and carry the sins of his bloodline.Unexpectedly, that wish was granted.He was reincarnated into another world as the crown prince of the Kingdom of Aragon. But in this world, everything felt backward.The country was ruled by an absolute monarch. Feudalism was the norm. Technology resembled that of the late 1700s.Fortunately, in his past life, he had earned degrees in both mechanical engineering and political science—knowledge he once hoped to use to reform his homeland. Now, it seemed he would use them here instead.He would use his modern knowledge to transform the lives of his people, industrialize his territory, gain the upper hand in technology, and form alliances with foreign nations—all while navigating the treacherous waters of internal affairs and politics.P.SWhile Reincarnated as the Crown Prince draws inspiration from historical settings, political systems, and technologies of the late 17th and early 18th centuries, this work is entirely fictional.All characters, governments, names, and events—although some may resemble real-world history—are products of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictionalized, altered form for narrative purposes.This novel is not a historical account. It should not be interpreted as a factual representation of any real monarch, nation, revolution, or political figure.Lancelot Haier, his backstory, and the alternate version of different kingdoms portrayed here are entirely original creations. The inclusion of familiar concepts like feudalism, industrialization, and political reform serves the plot and world-building, not historical documentation.Readers seeking accuracy in history are encouraged to consult verified academic sources. This story is a creative work meant for entertainment, character development, and speculative exploration of “what-if” scenarios rooted in alternate history.Thank you for reading, and I hope you will enjoy the journey.

Trample over the proud, suppress myriad paths!To vie for the ultimate way, only I, the Sword Sovereign, shall stand supreme!My sword may seem ordinary at first glance, but rest assured, it will be your end!

[MATURE CONTENT]He wanted to ruin her by every means but what happens when he is the one who becomes her protector in an enemy kingdom? Can she survive in a kingdom where nothing but hostility awaits her?Synopsis: In the year 299 of the Lunar System, a mysterious red streak fell to Earth, landing in unclaimed territory between the kingdoms of Eldoria and Selvarys. The discovery of magical red stones sparked a decade-long war between the two nations.To end the bloodshed, the kings of Eldoria and Selvarys arranged a marriage between Princess Cynthia, whose reputation in high society was marred by scandal, and Prince Lucian, the illegitimate son of Selvarys’s king.Princess Cynthia, known as a villainess and troublemaker, had recently faced a broken engagement. Despite her notoriety, she agreed to the marriage to stop the war and save her people.Prince Lucian, recently returned from the battlefield, despised the thought of marrying an enemy princess. However, as an illegitimate prince, obeying the king’s command was his only way to survive the palace conspiracies.In a marriage marked by mutual disdain and distrust, can they put aside their hatred and learn to live together? Or will the hostility surrounding them in the enemy kingdom be too great to overcome?Excerpt:“Your Highness, why do you always avoid looking at me when you speak?” Cynthia asked, her tone firm as she tilted her head curiously.“Is it because you can’t keep eye contact with me?” she added her words carrying a subtle edge.To Lucian, her remarks felt like thinly veiled criticism he heard countless times. He clenched his jaw, then raised his eyes, meeting Cynthia's gaze with his striking green-emerald eyes.“Are you mocking me, Your Highness?” Lucian asked quietly and lifted Cynthia's chin, leaning in closer, his eyes reflected his irritation at the princess’s harsh remarks, their faces nearly touching. “Well, it doesn't matter to me. As long as you perform your duty as my wife properly, I will have nothing against you. But the moment you fail in your obligations,” his hand slipped on her shoulders as he stared deeply into her eyes. “It’s the moment you will regret this marriage. You will regret marrying into an enemy kingdom where you have no one to protect you from harm. Where not even your husband is by your side.” A soft chuckle escaped Cynthia, confusing the man before her.“I will not regret any of it. You will regret it when you fall in love with someone you don't even wish to see,” she mumbled.Disclaimer: This is enemies to lovers. Read only if this is your cup of tea!