Merchant Crab - Chapter 135: The Peddler

For as long as he could remember, life had always been cruel.A young man in his early twenties—his name now lost to the past—was dealt a life filled with misfortunes.A cold, empty apartment, a soul-crushing job, and, finally, a terminal diagnosis.With nothing left to live for, his only comfort had been escaping into the fictional world of Path of the Elemental Sage, a story of heroes, magic, and survival.But fate had other plans.When death finally came for him, he didn’t fade into nothingness.Instead, he awoke in the world he had only read about—a world of chaos and danger where death lurked around every corner.The air smelled of magic, the sky was filled with possibilities.{«[Status Window]»}[Name: Lyrium Blackwood][Age: 16][Rank: D-][Skills: None][Elements: None}At first, confusion filled his mind.Who was Lyrium Blackwood?Why was he here?And why did this body feel so different?But as his memories returned, so did the realization: this wasn’t some blessing or second chance.He wasn’t reincarnated as the protagonist.No destined savior.No cheat abilities.No grand fate.He was just another mob, a face in the crowd meant to exist and die without leaving a mark.But this young man—the one who had left his old name and life behind—wasn’t the kind of person to roll over and accept his fate.“This world is dangerous. The protagonist isn’t the only one fighting for survival here,”he muttered, his red eyes deep and sharp.Unlike the naïve characters in the story, he knew the stakes.He’d read the web novel.He’d seen the carnage, the betrayals, the disasters that wiped out entire cities.And if there was one thing he refused to be, it was a pawn in someone else’s game.“I don’t care about glory. I don’t care about saving the world. All I care about is surviving—no matter what it takes.”Lyrium Blackwood wasn’t planning to live quietly or avoid danger.The only way to survive in this brutal world was to rise to the top.To be strong enough to stand above both heroes and villains.Using his knowledge of the story’s events and his iron will, Lyrium sets out on a relentless path to surpass the protagonist.Whether through clever manipulation, brutal training, or sheer desperation, he’ll climb higher and higher, leaving nothing to chance.But the deeper he gets, the more he realizes that this isn’t just the story he once read.As fate pushes him closer to the heart of the narrative, Lyrium begins to suspect that his reincarnation wasn’t an accident—and the world itself might be watching him.“I don’t care who or what stands in my way. If the story wants to kill me, I’ll rewrite the ending myself.”----------------------------------I apologize for any mistakes in this story, as it’s my first attempt at writing a novel.

“I will have the 1,000 people I have chosen go to a parallel world.”

Chaos spread once those words of God were displayed to the whole world.

Kurose Hikaru, whose childhood friend had been chosen, was killed together with her on the same day she was supposed to be transferred. However, for some reason, Hikaru didn’t die and, even though he wasn’t chosen at first, he ended up as one of the [Otherworlders that will have all their actions live broadcasted to Earth].

Transferred without any preparations at all to that accursed land, he faced threats innumerable times and somehow managed to survive with his Gift, the Dark Spirit Abilities.

“I must not die. I am sure the people on Earth are all rooting for me after all…”

This is the story of a young boy who is tossed about by the gazes of the viewers, yet eventually manages to raise his head and walk forward.

[ WARNING: EXTREMELY MATURE CONTENT ]“If I see you again, I'll ravish your body while you bleed, Prince!”Rosina, a woman haunted by a dark past, developed a dangerous obsession that led to a trail of blood and corpses. A predator that liked to enjoy her prey before taking their lives.She has always despised the idea of having a mate until she was compelled to attend the annual mating season. Harboring a deep desire for freedom, she detested any association with royalty.During the mating event, she encountered a mysterious man wearing a blood-red mask.Draco was portrayed as a carefree Third Prince who sought only amusement and avoided the responsibilities that came with the crown.However, his encounter with Rosina ignited a change within him. He realizes that in order to win her hand in marriage, he must become a King.That transformation set Draco on a path of self-discovery and growth as he strived to prove himself worthy of Rosina's love.Would their encounter change their fate or push them to ruin?

Would you play the universally disliked character in a romance reality show for a million? Xu Qingyan's answer is: Hesitating for even a second is disrespectful to money.Being cursed and trending online, Xu Qingyan says it doesn't matter; after all, you can't abandon money for the sake of saving face, right?Director: “Don't feel any psychological burden.”Xu Qingyan: “Director, I feel this line isn't mean enough.”Director: “Don't worry, just let loose and act.”Xu Qingyan: “No problem, Director. I'll act naturally, and show you what devotion means.”.......Xu Qingyan: You all see me messing around every day, but you don’t see my hardworking lifestyle, my late-night studies, or the way I kindly interact with others.You can't see it! Because I've never done it.Netizen: “What a satisfying read, time to be discharged from the hospital.”.......The rising pop princess, Lin Wanzhou, had a gap in her heart, a sorrowful little secret about an unrequited love. In the blink of an eye, the object of her affection was on a romance show, getting ambiguous with a rival she had once defeated.The washed-up pop princess, Mu Chan, initially wanted to just frustrate Lin Wanzhou, but didn't expect to get caught up...In the twenty-sixth spring of her life, she fell for someone, and could never let go since.May you be well, with a bright future ahead.