What if you woke up inside the novel you were just reading?

Not as the overpowered hero destined for glory. Not even as the main villain commanding legions of darkness.

No, you wake up as the villain's disposable sidekick—the arrogant, foolish, and utterly pathetic character you despised the most, a character doomed to be betrayed and killed off just to advance the plot.

This is the new reality for Aiden Verne.

Once a college student living a gray, monotonous life, his only escape was the hit webnovel, Crimson Destiny. He was obsessed with its world of magic, knights, and warring kingdoms. Now, after a freak accident, he is a part of it. He is Lucian Greyfall, the loyal dog of the story's brilliant and ruthless villain, Damien Vrael.

Armed with nothing but his knowledge of the future, Aiden knows his fate is sealed. In a few months, Damien will sacrifice him without a second thought to escape a trap. He is a pawn in a game far bigger than himself, a footnote in a story that isn't his.

But Aiden refuses to follow the script.

In a world where power is everything and a mysterious 'System' won't be holding his hand, he must survive on his own terms. Using his knowledge of the novel to avoid death flags and find hidden opportunities, he begins a desperate quest for strength. His only advantage is a unique, undiscovered talent—Soul Resonance—an ability allowing him to feel the true intentions and emotions of others, turning deception and intrigue into his greatest weapons.

Forced to navigate the treacherous halls of a magical academy, he must play the part of the perfect lackey to the man who will kill him, all while secretly growing in the shadows. He must outwit the villain he serves, avoid the hero he's meant to antagonize, and carve his own path in a world that has already written his ending.

He was destined to be a shadow. But in the darkness, a shadow can learn to wield a blade of its own.

This is not a story about a hero saving the world. This is the story of a side character clawing his way out of his predetermined fate, one chapter at a time.

Hey guys, how are you all doing? I just wanted to say thank you for all your support. It really means a lot—especially to Yitayre, Dokja777, Shadow9876, and Sice09. Thank you.


So… I applied for a contract for this story, and it got rejected. I honestly don't even know why. The only reason I received was: "After verification, it has been determined that your work does not meet the signing requirements of WebNovel." I can't even apply again for this story—it's completely rejected.


And the thing is, I wasn't expecting this. I wasn't even expecting it to be approved, but I thought the application would at least be sent back so I'd get some editor feedback or something. That way, I could improve and apply again. We're supposed to get three chances, right? But no—it was just straight-up rejected.


Now I'm not sure what to do with this story. I still have the next 10–15 chapters drafted and ready to upload, so those will be released one chapter a day. In the meantime, please share your thoughts on what I should do. Should I continue this novel, or should I start working on a new idea?


I really like this story, man. I love the plot—this idea has been in my head for a long time, and I finally decided to write it. I enjoy writing, but I'm also a student, and one of the reasons I started posting on WebNovel was the hope of getting a contract. Now it feels like this story might not achieve that.


But I want to continue it. I have so many good ideas ahead—for Lucian, Damien, and Leonidas. So yeah, please tell me what you think. And please show your support with power stones—it means a lot, it shows that you like this story, and it motivates me more than you know.


Author's Note- Please Read