Defiance of the Fall - Chapter 22: Scouts

The corridor was dark. Selene moved fast, barefoot against the cold stone, her heart thundering in her chest. She didn’t know how they’d gotten so close, how he had.But the moment she turned the corner, he was there, and he slammed her back against the wall.Her gasp was muffled by a rough hand clamping over her mouth. The other braced beside her head as his body caged hers completely. Heat rolled off him like a furnace. His scent hit her nose, faintly familiar. Like burnt cedar, cold steel, and storm.He leaned in, his voice a ragged whisper by her ear.“You’re Selene... my Selene.”Her blood ran cold. Her heart rebelled against her chest, trying to escape.“I’m not,” she hissed through gritted teeth. “You’re mistaken.”His fingers traced the curve of her jaw like he was trying to memorize it. “It’s you. I’d know your soul even if the world burned it from your bones.”“You’re mad,” she spat.But he suddenly dipped his mouth to kiss her hard, to confirm that it was really her.***Selene was the daughter of the cruel Alpha who ruled Moonveil through fear. Years ago, he wiped out an entire pack just to rise to power. But he made one mistake...he left behind four orphaned boys.Those boys returned as Alphas. They are stronger, colder and out for revenge.They took everything...his land, his title, and finally... his life. Selene was only seventeen at the time. She had no idea what her father had done. But that didn’t matter. To them, she was guilty by blood.They didn’t kill her. No. They did something worse.They marked her as a slave.In their world, even omegas had rights. Slaves had none. She became nothing more than property.But Selene still had hope. On her eighteenth birthday, like every werewolf, she expected her wolf to awaken. It was supposed to be the start of her new life.Instead, it turned into a nightmare.Her wolf never came. Her body remained cold and silent. And then… the bond appeared. She was mated to all four of them.The very Alphas who hated her.The ones who owned her.But the truth is Selene was never a wolf to begin with.As her body withers under the weight of the bond, a darker truth surfaces. She is not just a slave… she is the last living witch, born of the very bloodline werewolves have hunted for generations.Now, her enemies wear the mark of her mates...And the witch they thought they broke may be the one who burns them all.

“If she feels pain, then I'll make sure we all do...”As a purple and pink tailed meteor enters Earth's atmosphere, it begins “snowing” all over the planet.Humans are no longer on top of the ladder. A crystal ice dragon explodes from the space rock, creating Hell.Bringing along an ambush of bloodthirsty aliens, some large enough to demolish buildings, “Leviathan” has forced humanity into various locations of hiding around the world.Within three years after the initial invasion, humans have begun to not only fight back against the aliens, but some choose to become symbiotic hosts, acquiring “magical” abilities after slaying one of the unconventional extraterrestrials.Shortly before leaving their sanctuary/apocalypse training academy, two once drifted friends, Katsu and Saku, are reunited on the same scout team. As polar opposite personalities they are chosen by the only surviving “Creator of Humanity”.Both boys become 'blessed' to be hosts for their universe's contemporary forces and use those “God given abilities” to achieve their (secretly combative) goals.Accompanying them is Katsu's adopted sister, Shelly. Regarded as “The Beast of the Beasts” by her peers, she is the reincarnate of her grandmother. The greatest, most underrated female Scandinavian sword fighter to live before the 13th century.After learning of her destined lineage, and admiring the otherwise “mythical” accomplishments completed by her top tier, ass kicking Valkyrie grandma, Shelly is determined to retrieve all of the stolen blades from those who dishonorably stole them over 800 years ago.In order to do so she will have to defeat several members of a manipulative covenant of warrior witches. Each woman blessed with an undiscovered form of energy that has unknowingly coexisted with humanity. These 7 women usher in the POST-post-apocalyptic world as Mafia Bosses, Matriarch Socialist Dictators, Seafaring Conquerors, and a few just want to see this new snow covered world burn.To prove which unnaturally born creature is the Supreme Ultimate amongst them.Aliens, action, romance, betrayal of old friends, the gaining of trust from new, overpowered goofballs, magical damsel despots, righteous and nefarious humans gaining niche powers, not to mention a secretive psychopath using his God given abilities to preserve who he views as his sole purpose.In the end, will love truly conquer all, or will 'their' love conquer us all?“If you have a beloved purpose you can't live a day without, do you truly have any freedom to live?If you have complete freedom to act however, or say whatever you desire, do you truly have any purpose worth caring about to protect?”~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~[All character and cover art is not done by AI but by my good friend Amon-kun]~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~WARNING/DISCLAIMER: This series uses ætiological mythopoeism to spotlight coincidental parallels between various religious scriptures, and scientific theories but is in no way discrediting or belittling the beliefs of others whether that be Creationist or Evolutionist.The views, ideas, and conversations between characters aren't in any way meant to change anyone's beliefs.The conscious use of certain psychological elements from theistic ideology and out of context holy verses is only to support this fictional plot and it's characters. As well as aid the reader as to how one could theoreticize or philosophicize the plot. Instead of using various conflicting ideologies to shame or undermine those who believe, the intention is for deeper thinking and uniting those who believe peace and tranquility between humanity is most important above all.

In the age of Mecha for everyone, people could travel to the Endless Abyss to gather materials, enhance and forge their own Mechas, and thus wield the power to destroy heavens and earth.Jiang Chen had transmigrated and awakened the talent [Undying Barehand]. Once his Mecha shattered, he could permanently absorb its power and attain a multiple enhancement.…At the bottom of the abyss, the ancient demon god exerted great effort and finally broke the titan Mecha, but from the shards extended a hand that held down its head.“Congratulations, you’ve unlocked my restraints.”

Luxury cars, designer wears, watches, mansions, and penthouses worth millions, Aron had it all. To him, money was nothing but a number. He was so wealthy that he believed even God Himself couldn’t make him taste poverty.But everything changed when the one he loved, the only person he considered family, betrayed him. In a single moment, everything he had worked so hard to achieve was taken and destroyed, leaving him with nothing.Devastated and consumed by hate, rage, and hopelessness, Aron realized that no matter what he tried, he would never be able to get close, let alone take revenge, for all he had lost.That was until a notification appeared before every human in the world:[Your world has arrived at its waking brink.][You have awakened the talent: Talent Bank.]And so, the apocalypse began.