DEFYING FATE - Chapter 43: Ancient coin at a roadside stall

In a world where the very fabric of reality is held together by fragile threads known as the Veil, humanity faces an ever-present threat from the void—a dark, consuming force that seeks to unravel everything. The ancient Guardians once stood as protectors, weaving powerful Knots to keep the void at bay, but their knowledge has faded, and the Knots are beginning to fray.Cole, an unlikely Weaver with the rare ability to sense and manipulate the threads of the Veil, embarks on a perilous journey alongside the skilled warrior Selene, the stoic guardian Marcus, and the enigmatic scholar Elara. Together, they must navigate a land ravaged by void-touched creatures and discover the forgotten secrets of the Guardians to repair the Knots and stop the void from consuming their world.But the deeper they delve into the mysteries of the Veil, the more they realize that the void is not their only enemy. Hidden forces work from the shadows, manipulating the fraying threads for their own gain, and ancient powers thought long buried are stirring beneath the surface. As the Knots unravel and reality itself begins to fracture, Cole and his companions must face not only the void, but the dark truths of their own world—and themselves.withHeart is a gripping, character-driven epic of survival, sacrifice, and the delicate balance between light and darkness. The series explores themes of destiny, power, and the fragile threads that bind us all together, weaving a story where every choice could mean the difference between salvation and oblivion.

Time travelling from the majestic era after the Recuperation of Reiki, he became Kimura Kazuki, a 16-year-old high school student in Japan, one year before the Reiki Recuperation.

Tentatively, he set out to hone himself to the bone, burning candles at both ends to stockpile resources in preparation for the imminent Recuperation of Reiki. His goal was to be many steps ahead of all humanity when the time comes.

However, it seemed like fate had decided to play a cruel trick on him.

One year later, the Recuperation of Reiki… did not happen as expected.

- Description from Novelupdates

Ashley Gusman, a determined young Filipina, was driven by her sole ambition to provide a better life for her family. She was willing to go to great lengths to achieve this goal, even taking on the role of a surrogate mother for a Billionaire Heir.***~***CEO Tanaga Jones, who needed an heir for his empire, was adamant about not wanting a wife. Ultimately, he contracted with a woman to bear him a child.