NXT_MARVEL

Our MC was an extreme introvert in his past life — a bookworm who avoided people like the plague, focused only on his studies, and had zero interest in anime, games, or romance. The only time he ever touched anime was when his one and only friend forced him to watch a single episode of some fantasy academy drama — and he hated every second of it.
So when he wakes up in an unfamiliar, lavish room and finds himself in the body of Lucien von Zephyr— a rich, handsome academy student — things seem… pretty okay. That is, until memory floods in and he realizes who  Lucien is: the pervy, obsessive side character doomed to die in Episode 7 for going too far with the main heroine!

Survive the Death Flag! (Or Die a Simp)

Lucien sat at his desk, his head in his hands. The classroom buzzed with excitement — today was the start of the academy's assessment duels. Every student would fight to showcase their abilities. A passing grade meant survival. Failure meant expulsion. And for Lucien von Zephyr, expulsion meant… well, death.

[Good morning, sunshine! Ready to get beaten into a pulp?]

[Oh, come on. Where's your fighting spirit? Or did you leave that behind when you jumped out of a window yesterday?]

Lucien groaned. Just as the teacher walked in, the student pairings for the duels were announced. And then…

"Lucien von Zephyr versus… Leon Ainsworth."

Lucien's entire body went cold. His blood drained from his face. The room fell into a stunned silence before the whispers began.

Lucien slumped in his chair. (Why me?! Of all the people—why him?!)

[Because the universe hates you. And so do most people here. I mean, you did try to get a little too close to Cecilia. Remember Episode 6?]

Before he knew it, Lucien was standing on the training field, facing Leon. The sun overhead seemed far too bright for this grim occasion. Leon was already grinning — a dangerous, predatory grin that promised pain.

The teacher raised his hand. "Due to the academy's protection spells, no lasting injuries will occur. However, be warned — you will still feel every ounce of pain. Fight well!"

Lucien swallowed hard. (I'm so dead.)

[On the bright side, if you die here, at least it's fast. Better than whatever slow, painful death your family has planned for you if you're expelled.]

[Because I'm the only one who listens.]

Leon dashed forward immediately. Lucien barely had time to dodge, rolling to the side just as Leon's sword slashed where he'd been standing. He stumbled to his feet, sweat already dripping down his face.

(Okay, okay! Think, Lucien! You're smarter than him. Use that!)

He raised his hand, focusing on his magic. Flames burst to life around his palm. "Fireball!" he shouted, hurling it at Leon.

Leon batted the fireball aside with his sword like it was a mere nuisance.

"Shut up!" Lucien hissed aloud, then realized too late that he'd said it out loud. Leon's grin widened.

"Talking to yourself, Zephyr? You've really lost it."

Lucien kept moving, firing smaller bursts of flame, trying to stay out of Leon's reach. He was fast, but his stamina was already draining. Leon wasn't even breaking a sweat.

[You know, I'm starting to see why everyone thinks you're pathetic.]

Leon suddenly closed the distance, slamming the hilt of his sword into Lucien's stomach. He crumpled to the ground, gasping for air.

"Is that all you've got?" Leon sneered.

Lucien forced himself up, flames flickering weakly in his hands. He had one last shot. He charged, aiming a desperate burst of fire right at Leon's face—

Leon deflected it effortlessly and slammed his foot into Lucien's chest.

Lucien hit the ground hard, and the world spun.

The teacher's voice barely registered through the ringing in his ears. "Match over! Winner: Leon Ainsworth."

As he lay there in pain, Lucien glared at the sky. (Why did I even reincarnate into this world?)

Lucien closed his eyes. He wanted to cry.

A Fight I Can’t Win