Established Pinnacle: The Enigma - Chapter 72 Extra: A Bitter Couple

[Mature Content:]Alaric was too close to Nicolette.Her mouth was just inches away from his.He could smell the lavender on her skin, the heat radiating from within her.But he held back, refusing to be carried away by her charm…“Mr. Allens…” she purred, and he looked down at her.Her eyes widened with desire, and he knew, in that moment, that if he wanted to kiss her, she would let him.The last thing he wanted was commitment. He knew that Nicolette didn’t want that either.But why was she this tempting?So willing?It was that willingness that confused him.She blinked, then swallowed as she pulled the jacket off her shoulders. His eyes lingered on her exposed neck.God.He just wanted to bury his mouth in that hollow spot.“Here,” Nicolette said calmly, extending the jacket to him.He took the jacket, his hand brushing hers just a second. She flinched, her face turning pink as she clutched the towel against her chest.His stomach flipped at the sight.If only that towel would give way to…Before he could stop himself, Alaric pressed his arousal against her stomach, pushing her against the wall, cornering her.She gasped at the sudden movement and for a moment, he lost his mind.“Cole…” he breathed, crushing himself against her.Her eyes gleamed with desire and a vulnerability that rocked him to his core.He would be foolish not to give in to this feeling.But he would also be a fool if he did.She had chosen to marry him.Not her boyfriend.And definitely not Lucian Crawford.Yet, he couldn't help it.She was only his for a year.But still…***************When her business and the gallery she inherited from her mother burn to the ground, Nicolette Voss is determined to rebuild—and get revenge on her father.She turned to her father’s rival, Alaric Allens, for an alliance.Alaric is willing to help, but on one condition—she must be his wife for a year.They called him Ruthless Alaric after an infamous incident 6 years ago. Alaric is back in town, and so are the crumbs of his past. But he is determined to change everything with a wife.He has his hidden agenda.She needs her revenge.But will this marriage between storm and steel survive the heat? And what will they do when deep secrets threatens to destroy them both?

“Even if this universe is truly nothing more than a brutal bloody shadowy forest, we Cultivators will burn all that we have just to give off a single weak flickering spark in the darkness!

At the end of the world, a legendary hero gave his life to save a dear friend, only to be reborn as a four-year-old orphan with 'Crab Affinity'.The apocalypse has come and gone, claiming humanity with it. All humans have had their 'Souls' stolen and claimed by monsters - vampires, demons, zombies - you name it.Reborn as Barnacles (Barns for short), the once-legendary hero claws his way back to strength under the tutelage of the gluttonous King Crab, a sentient crustacean with more vice than virtue in his shell.Follow Barns' journey as he rediscovers his power of rebirth, which when combined with a little 'crab magic' has the power to reset humans back to their original selves.It's time to take a crack at resetting the apocalypse.

In a world where darkness was always a step ahead further and the light was late and bleaker, “Grim Dark Online” has become a well acclaimed VRMMORPG, drawing players into its thrilling depths. But when hackers breach the game's firewall, players including Kenji find themselves trapped in this virtual reality after an abrupt system shutdown.As chaos unfolds, the World Soul Barrier collapses, unleashing a horde of demon gods and their minions upon the realm. The Cult of Black Snake, the Silent Nightstalkers assassins, and the slaughter of the Immortals threaten their very fabric of existence. With the World Soul and the World Tree corrupted, Kenji must navigate this perilous landscape armed only with his last playthrough’s knowledge as a Warrior and several other Classes.Previously, he had conquered the God of Death, a necromancer villain, and earned the title of God of Slaughter. But now, faced with the onset of devastation, he is thrown back to the beginning of this nightmare.Desperate to reclaim his former power as a warrior, Kenji discovers that fate has other plans. Instead, he is bestowed the class of Necromancer—the very embodiment of his past fears. This transformation offers him an unexpected opportunity to rise above his previous limitations. With the unique ability to summon minions that mimic his battle instincts, Kenji possesses greater firepower and tactical versatility than ever before.Now, he must embrace his newfound abilities and confront the demon lords and gods that threaten to consume his world. As a warrior trapped in the body of a necromancer, Kenji’s journey is one of survival, adaptation, and redemption in a realm where darkness reigns. Will he harness the power of his newfound powers? Or will the very darkness succumb them all?