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
Death, An old friend.
The long night had begun. The two men had dived deep into the numerous folders and started to go through each member of the King's council—who they were and how they thought, even their backgrounds.
Aric noticed something with each new piece of information: he received a system notification.
[Lord Orin info updated]
"So, Lord Orin... he is quite the person," the old man grabbed a folder. "He's stern and principled, and believes in law and order above all else. He has the King's respect but often clashes with him over matters of right and wrong."
As Hitoki explained, Aric could see the panel update in real-time with the council member's information.
Hours stretched through the night, and one by one, they went through each member of the council until they had covered every single person. Aric now had information on the council members—their personalities, their relationships with the King, their backgrounds, and even some of their well-kept secrets.