Monarch of Darkness, Arsene - Chapter 212: Ploy

fter years of fighting a terrible disease, Amelia finds herself transported into a mysterious world, right into the quarters of a demon captain! Free from her years of suffering, Amelia decides to face this new reality with optimism and cheerfulness!Strangely, she seems to have a new body, retaining all the abilities of her game character she spent years levelling in the hospital! However, wasn't that character a demonic combat mage? Who's this pretty blond woman she's become!?Well, never mind! Better not let the demons know of her titanic combat capabilities, instead maybe her modest healing abilities could be provided as a service? Hang on, I'm not a spy, or an assassin!

Akiyo Oshima was a successful man, with wealth, status, and a perfect life. However, by giving in to the temptation of betrayal, he awakened the wrath of the one entity he should have never angered—his girlfriend, Sayuri, who turned out to be Death itself.As punishment, Sayuri cursed him. Akiyo was stripped of his identity, his form, and even his gender. In every world, a new body would be created for him, allowing him to inherit memories and a random aspect of personality. Now, he must live as Shizune Accursed. But her new existence was far from a second chance. Trapped in an endless cycle of reincarnations, Shizune awakens in different worlds, with no control over her fate. And in each of those worlds, there's always a Yandere she has met or will meet, whose obsessive love inevitably leads her to her death—whether by possessive love, madness, or simply the need to have her all to themselves.Condemned to die over and over in the arms of those who love her in twisted ways, Shizune, in an attempt to understand the burden of manipulating others’ feelings, finds herself on a dangerous path. Will she survive and break this curse? Or will she remain forever trapped in a cycle where love is uncontrollable and always leads to death?Whether in a fantasy, futuristic, or modern world, where anything can happen, the question remains: who is really on Shizune's side? Are they allies she can trust, or just more Yanderes waiting for the perfect moment to seal her fate? Among men and women, even within her own family, Shizune will need to figure out who she can truly trust… before it’s too late.

Japan – National News BroadcastThe polished news anchor sat upright, her gaze sharp as she adjusted the stack of papers before her. The newsroom behind her hummed with quiet urgency, the weight of the moment settling over the broadcast.“Authorities are baffled by a sudden and unexplained surge in sleep-related deaths across Japan,” she began, her voice steady yet tense. “More and more citizens are passing away in their sleep without any prior health concerns. Experts are working tirelessly to determine the cause, but no clear explanation has emerged. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and report any unusual symptoms before bedtime.”A graphic appeared, displaying the spike in fatalities over the past month. Behind her, unsettling photographs flickered across the screen—blurred images of individuals found in their beds, their faces frozen in expressions of terror.The anchor’s tone shifted. “Health officials recommend citizens avoid excessive fatigue and maintain healthy sleep habits. More updates will follow as investigations continue.”---United States – Paranormal PodcastIn a dimly lit podcast studio, the host leaned forward, his eyes wide with curiosity. Across from him, a rugged man in a worn flannel shirt, gripping a faded photograph in one hand and a beer can in the other, leaned back in his chair.“So, you're telling me you saw this creature firsthand?” the host asked, clearly intrigued.The man scoffed, shaking his head. “Damn right, I did. Ugly thing had wings bigger than my body—slow but sneaky. Thought it could steal my pigs again, but I was ready this time—camera in one hand, shotgun in the other.”He slammed the table for emphasis, then shoved the blurry image toward the host. The photograph depicted a small, red-skinned humanoid figure with large, bat-like wings, its eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.“Spit, the thing didn’t know what hit it when I fired!” the man chuckled, his voice full of excitement.The host held up the picture to the live chat. “Alright, what do you think? Mothman? Demon? Or is our friend here just seeing things?”The chat exploded with theories—some skeptical, others eager for the investigation to continue.---China – Liangyuan Street MarketSurveillance footage from a bustling night market in China captured a chilling scene. A woman in a red qipao walked gracefully through the crowd, her figure striking in the soft glow of lanterns.Suddenly, she paused. Her body flickered—like a glitch in a video—before vanishing completely, as though she had never existed.The footage zoomed in, replaying in slow motion. In the final frame before she disappeared, her face distorted unnaturally, her eyes hollow and empty.The screen cut abruptly to black.

As an anti-fan of the idol group, Starry Night, An Xiaxia is happy to spend her time online slandering lead singer Sheng Yize.