Hello everyone,
After long and serious consideration, I've decided to completely rewrite this novel from the beginning.
The biggest reason is the flaw in the core premise I introduced early on—specifically, the "Ancestor Tasks," where the protagonist had to father as many direct descendants as possible to gain power and complete tasks.
At first, it seemed like a fun idea. But as the story progressed, I realized how deeply flawed and limiting it actually was. The system created a powerful incentive for the protagonist to act in ways I found increasingly uncomfortable to write.
To be blunt: the setup pushed the story toward rape. With the powers I had given the protagonist, the most "efficient" path to success would have involved him traveling the world, raping and impregnating as many women as possible. That's not a story I want to tell. I don't enjoy writing about rape. I'm fine with morally grey or even villainous characters, but not that kind of evil.
To avoid going down that path, I had to make the protagonist act irrationally—deliberately holding him back, forcing dumb decisions just to keep him from crossing that line. Later, I even introduced a cloning spell to let him create female versions of himself to bear his children, but even that became disturbing and uninspiring to write.
In short, what started as a promising idea quickly became unsustainable. I misjudged the long-term consequences of the story's mechanics.
There are other novels with similar "ancestor" systems, where the protagonist gets stronger through offspring. But many of them suffer from illogical writing—MCs who aim to become gods but only marry one or two women and have a few kids. If you follow the logic of the system, the only rational path is mass reproduction. I've always prided myself on writing intelligent, rational protagonists, but that very commitment forced me into a corner I couldn't escape without compromising the story or my own values.
I considered editing the early chapters, but that wouldn't be enough. The entire system is too deeply tied to the plot and title. Cutting it would unravel everything.
So I've decided to start over.
The rewrite will feature Edric as the main character once again, and core elements like Silver Flower Island and parts of the original setting will stay. However, the "Ancestor Tasks" will be completely removed. I will also change the title of the story, though I haven't decided on the new name yet.
This version of the novel will be deleted, and the new one will be posted under a separate page. I'm aiming to finish the rewrite within one to two months.
This is not the end of Edric's journey. His story will continue more true to what I originally wanted it to be.
Thank you for your understanding, and for sticking with me through this. I truly appreciate your support.
—Author