All the Dust that Falls - Chapter 1: Consequences of a Power Vacuum

Hunter woke beneath two moons with a System that wanted a hero and built a bandit instead.At first, it rewarded raids, recruits, and “efficient acquisitions.” His small crew became legends: raiders, thieves, and accidental conquerors who couldn’t stop winning.Every fight made him stronger. Every victory pulled him further from the hero he never wanted to be.Now, feared by sects and hunted by saints, the Bandit King laughs beneath the same two moons that started it all because when the System wants a hero, sometimes it gets a villain instead.Content Warning: slavery, graphic violence, and a protagonist whose system messages will hurt your sides.Join the official Discord: https://discord.gg/GRcKN8YV

Within the red tent, under the passionate eyes of the man on top, she was forced to make love and three thousand black strands turned to white.

In my previous life, I was a pawn, highlighting Henry Preston's deep affection for another woman, ultimately leading to a tragic end with a broken family and a desolate fate.After being reborn, I found that letting go and doing nothing felt the most comfortable, so I decided not to intervene and just wait for Henry Preston to propose a divorce.But the situation developed a bit strangely; the man who was never home in the past life started coming back frequently. He also seemed worried that I might cheat on him.“Do you believe that in the near future, you'll be eager for me to disappear?” I asked.“Stop dreaming,” he replied. “We'll torment each other to death.”I sighed, confident in my knowledge as someone reborn, that Henry Preston would soon meet his true love.Finally, he and she met, and I thought my freedom was just a step away.However, he quietly asked back, “Who said I was going to divorce?”Not only did he refuse to divorce, but he also started paying more and more attention to me, even abandoning his true love!

Shoved into the backseat of his father's car right after graduation, Riley Hale ended up marching toward a company building with a bagged lunch and a pen.Still in his toga, the fresh graduate never thought he’d land in the office of the continent’s top lizard, err, dragon, as his aide.And that would’ve driven any person wishing for a corporate career to tears. After all, who wouldn’t want to serve the fastest ticket up the corporate ladder: Kael Dravaryn, the infamously elegant, unhinged, and extremely overpowered Dragon Lord of the continent?Well, that would be Riley.The same Riley who didn’t expect to spend his days dodging fireballs, dressing his boss in robes more complicated than dark magic, and serving as a literal target during morning sparring.Now trapped in a job he never truly agreed to, the hardworking aide decided to hold out until it was time for his glorious resignation. But leaving a dragon’s clutches could never be easy, especially one with elemental mastery and a finger worth a private army.Yet, as Riley, who longs to quit, attempts to navigate ancient politics, wyvern threats, and other accidents (many of which are definitely not his fault), he might just hallucinate himself into seeing something beneath his boss’s arrogance and molten glares.Maybe he’d actually care if Riley got turned to ash.