The Return of the Condor Heroes - Chapter 35 – Three golden needles, Part 4

“Hah..Hah..”

In the midst of what seemed like a battlefield, a young boy with white hair knelt on the ground, struggling to catch shallow breaths. A short sword pierced his heart, his arms and legs were broken, making him unable to stop the crimson blood from coloring the ground.

“That's what you get for betrayal,” a red-headed teenage boy sneered as he stood before him.

“A pathetic person like you could never be my brother,” added a purple-haired girl, her voice seething with anger, as she stood alongside the redhead.

With great effort, the young boy shifted his gaze forward. He could see many familiar faces in front of him—his so-called family, his so-called friends but his gaze remained fixed on her.

“Wh..y, A.nna,” he uttered with immense difficulty and sorrow in his voice, his vision blurring as he locked eyes with the blonde-haired girl, who regarded him with emotionless eyes.

“I did that so I could save you,” he said, his voice gradually growing louder.

“I DID THAT SO YOU COULD LIVE!” he shouted, making everyone present flinch in fear.

“I never asked you to do this” the blonde-haired girl replied, her words crushing the very soul of the boy.

“A...nn.a,”

the young boy whispered one last time, a small tear slipping down from his eye as he breathed his final breath.

================================

Neil survived eight grueling years in a post-apocalyptic world only to die and be reincarnated in the body of Eden Morton, a character from a game he

used to play as a teenager, by an unknown entity for unknown reasons.

Eden's life was a pitiable one, plagued by the constant manipulation and betrayal of those around him – whether it was the princess, the famed hero, or even his very own family. Eden died without ever experiencing genuine love. Now, as Neil took over, he was determined to embark on a new journey, seeking the one thing he and Eden never had : a life worth living.

In the wake of the Battle of Katze Plains, the banner of Ainz Ooal Gown flies proudly over the city of E-Rantel. The Sorcerous Kingdom has entered the world’s stage to the clamour of death and devastation; the surrounding nations fearfully prepare even as they reel from its calamitous debut. Within the borders of the newly annexed realm, its Human subjects cower in their homes as the Undead openly walk the streets and stalk the lands. Yet, when a destitute noble finds herself under the auspices of an unlikely benefactor, events are set into motion that will resound over the world for ages to come.A kingdom builder based on the events and setting of Kugane Maruyama’s Overlord. In a fantasy world where beings of matchless power are transmigrated from the arbitrary existence of a game, Valkyrie’s Shadow chronicles the lives of the natives whose reality has been turned upside down by their advent. It is the tale of a nation created by the whims of a supreme sovereign, and his unstoppable servants who each have their own, often twisted, interpretations of their Master’s Will. There is no victory in strength; no miracles wrought from magic that will save them: only the inexorable advance of a new world order where those who secure a place of service within will find themselves turned against the world that they once knew.[Slow buildup. Methodical storytelling with a focus on well-rounded kingdom building and character development.]

No matter how twisted the world becomes, humans will always remain humans.In the face of their doom edging closer, their greed doubles instead of fading away. Their selfishness is unwavering—they simply want everything, even at the cost of endangering those closest to them.For that is the truth of humanity.So, if everything is linked to iniquities and sins, then unlike them, I won’t shy away from these possibilities—I will embrace them.---Synopsis:Kael, a young man from Earth—a dimension renowned for its technological advancements and brilliant minds—returns on a tour sponsored by his school.But fate has other plans.A Dimensional wave crashes into Earth, mutating the entire world into a grotesque landscape of unexplored horrors.Those who survived the dimensional impact awakened to newfound strengths, while those who didn’t perished—or worse—transformed into monstrosities far more fearsome than any beast.The world has returned to the law of the food chain. The strong will endure and rule, while the weak are devoured.Kael must cling to his sanity and navigate this nightmarish new world with a mission: to protect all he has left.But things take a darker turn when the system he acquired reveals an unexpected and horrifying backlash:{Consume human flesh}{Or perish within the next 24 hours}The clock is ticking, and Kael is left to grapple with an impossible choice that could seal his fate—or his humanity.