Rebirth System: Blood and Ash
Aric Valerian, the fourth prince of the Valerian Empire, bears many titles: The Forgotten Prince, The Whore's Child, The King's Bastard—names that have been spoken more than his own. Born with a crippling illness and devoid of mana or ki, Aric was a disgrace, scorned by his family and the court. But when the gods cured him and gifted him the strength to fight, Aric dared to hope. He sought glory in battle, only to be betrayed by his brother and sent to die in a hopeless war. In his final moments, as death closed in, a mysterious text appeared before him… [Would you like to change your fate?] After being given another chance, Aric embarks on a ruthless journey to claim absolute sovereignty. [Ki Circulation Mastered: Strength +10] [System Upgrade: Advanced tactical planning unlocked] [Hidden Fortress Established: Stronghold security +15%] The forgotten prince claws his way through the treacherous landscape of imperial politics, he is forced to make impossible choices, each decision pushing him further down a path soaked in blood. He learns that true power demands sacrifice, and the price of vengeance may be his soul. ------------------ This book contains dark themes and depictions. The mc is a ruthless cynic, and is closer to being a villain than he is a hero. Main themes: Politics, Kingdom building, strategy, war
Power Handouts
The prince's carriage rolled into the cover of the mountains where the bandits had settled. As they approached, he could see some of them discreetly taking positions outside while others were within the mine, keeping themselves hidden.
When one of the bandits recognized the prince, he immediately went into the mine to fetch Borag and Twicher, their leaders.
Aric hopped off the driver's seat, where he had been sitting alongside Lerai. He walked back toward the carriage and swung open the door.
He then turned to one of the nearby bandits and called for him to approach.
The man, seeing Aric's gesture, rushed toward him.
"Yes, boss?"
"Bring these out," Aric instructed, referring to the crates.
"Understood." The man then called for some others nearby to assist him as they began offloading the crates. As this was happening, the remaining bandits began to flood out of the mine, including Borag and Twicher.