Duskbound - Chapter 22

After years of exile, Marcus is coming back home. A powerful mage with few equals, Marcus lives in a world full of monsters and powerful adepts, many of which have bad histories with him. But he has not come back to pursue vengeance or start a fight. All Marcus wants to do is reconnect with old friends, build himself a house, and maybe train a successor or two.Alas, the world didn’t stop just because Marcus went into exile, and not everyone is content to let go of old grievances. Strange things are happening in the world at large, too, hinting at a looming disaster of unknown nature. Still, where there is a will, there is a way.If nothing else, Marcus has a lot of magical power to throw at problems.+++Zenith of Sorcery is set in its own original setting and isn’t related to Mother of Learning… beyond being written by the same person, of course. This is a more classical fantasy story than my previous one, with a lower level of technology and stuff like elves and dwarves, but it has a lot of worldbuilding effort put into it and its own complex magical system. The story has significant xianxia influences, but isn’t meant to be a xianxia story.For those of you not familiar with my previous work, I write relatively slowly. I intend to publish chapters at the rate of one chapter every three or four weeks, subject to further delays as life intervenes.

Ashok Kumar Maurya, a hardcore gamer, is shocked to find himself transmigrated to the world of his recent Open-World game. But the real surprise comes when he discovers his new body isn't any of the familiar characters he once controlled.The owner of this body is some exiled noble named Adlet. An Extra. An UNKNOWN THIRD-RATE EXTRA.Ashok is greeted by the “System,” which reveals he was chosen for his perfect game ending. However, due to angering the God of Fate with vulgarities, he’s stuck with an insignificant body. As a result, the System gives him a quest from the God of Fate to preserve his life.[Main Quest: Achieve the Best Perfect Ending again.Reward for Success: Any wish, including returning to the previous world.Failure or Rejection: Death.]Just because a Quest is assigned to me, does that mean I must perform well in the role I'm given, that of a Third-rate Extra?With all the knowledge I possess, I refuse to settle for the role of a Third rate Extra, so I chose a new path for myself—the role of a VILLAIN. After all, playing the Hero would only end up in repeating what I did in the game, which is far too boring.However, to fully embrace this new role, I must rid myself of the old one. To do so, 'I sacrificed the System and original Adlet's soul to the HIDDEN FINAL BOSS, a beautiful Goddess.'…………….Follow the journey of Ashok, or the new Adlet, an unknown extra, into a true Villain. Armed with his knowledge of the game world, Ashok uses it as his weapon to overpower the original main characters and even challenge the Gods themselves, carving his path to power and domination with a loving goddess by his side.................>>>>HAREM: YES>>>>Detailed Plot: YES>>>> NTR: NO>>>> System: Sacrificed

It is said that the second daughter of the Yu Family is an Unlucky Star who only appears once in ten years, born with a lowly status and astonishing stupidity.Everyone mocks and bullies her, avoiding her like the plague, except for Master Shi, the famously aloof and distant ice sculpture of the Imperial City, who believes he has found a treasure.The first time Yu Zhi met Shi Wei, she thought he was a cold and abstinent CEO.After spending more time with him, she realized he was actually a paranoid, cunning, possessive, and childish scoundrel.One day, while they were watching an idol drama together, Shi Wei suddenly asked, “Why have you never cried for me?”Yu Zhi replied, “My tear glands aren't very active.”Shi Wei said, “Really?”Later, every night when Yu Zhi was bullied into crying, he would whisper eerily yet contentedly into her ear, “Zhizhi cried for me, I'm so happy.”

Tristan never thought his life would lead where he would be signing all his freedom away, makeup masking his true identity, and walking toward a bond he never agreed to. All to protect his family and survive a world that thought little of him.Alpha King Mitch is powerful, feared, and completely uninterested in love. For him, this is just another duty—an arranged union meant to quiet the pack elders. But when their eyes meet, something shifts. Tristan feels it, even if he’s terrified of what it might mean.Tangled in secrets and bound by a lie, Tristan must navigate a fragile dance between duty and desire… all while hiding the one truth that could destroy everything.