Start With Contracting Sprites - Chapter 117 - The Second Stage of the Examination!

Swordmaster Karyl MacGovern.

He returned to the past, wanting to rewrite the future he was unable to change with his sword alone. And this time, he would acquire the power that once eluded him—magic.

This time, he would master both sword and magic, and stand on the peak.

Aiden Nightshade wakes up in a dark, unfamiliar forest with no memories of who he is or how he got there. The air is thick with danger, and monstrous creatures lurk in the shadows, watching him. Before he can even move, a glowing panel appears in front of him.[Welcome to the Ultimate Bond System.]A cold, synthetic female voice echoes in his mind. It tells him to tame the beasts, bond with them, and grow stronger together. But this system isn’t normal. When Aiden forms a bond with a beast, it doesn’t just become his companion—it transforms into a powerful humanoid woman, one who still has the instincts and memories of the creature she once was. They aren’t just allies. They feel his pain, share his power, and their devotion to him is absolute.As Aiden explores this strange world, he quickly realizes something—no one else can do what he does. Other tamers can control beasts, but they can’t make them evolve like he can. They do have a system but nothing like his.With his growing army of beast-women by his side, Aiden will carve his own path, breaking the rules of this world. And when he discovers that the deepest bonds unlock unimaginable strength, he understands one thing—this isn’t just about surviving.It’s about rising above everything. It’s about domination.In a world ruled by beasts, only one man will stand at the top.

Damien Crowell was just a regular high school student who took a regular tunnel on his way to school—until one day, that tunnel spit him out into a completely different world. Instead of his usual path, he finds himself in a dark forest that stretches on for days, running on nothing but sheer stubbornness and a tiny water bottle.Just when he thinks he's going to die, he stumbles upon a castle straight out of a fairy tale (or a theme park) and promptly passes out. When he wakes up, he's in a prison cell, surrounded by confusingly handsome men who speak gibberish—until a beautiful, horned beastman with perfect hair and a translator necklace finally lets him understand.Now, trapped in a fantasy world where every guy looks like they stepped out of a modeling agency, Damien’s biggest challenge isn’t just survival—it’s trying to figure out why *he* always looks like a mess in comparison. Can he make it back home, or will he end up staying just to admire all the beautiful faces?Join Damien as he navigates a strange new world, awkward introductions, and a whole lot of unexpected feels in this hilarious, fantasy adventure!

CONTENT WARNING:/This novel contains mature themes, explicit sexual content, strong language, and adult situations. Reader discretion is advised./---She ran from the devil who raised her…And married the one who wore a crown.After her parents’ tragic death, Lydia Andreyevna’s life became a nightmare. Stripped of her name, inheritance, and freedom by her uncle—Lord Alexander—she was treated like property and promised to a Count four times her age.Desperate to escape, she fled into the cold night… and straight into blood.A stranger. Wounded. Beautiful. Terrifying.She should’ve left him.But she didn’t.She touched him once—and fate branded her forever.Her uncle caught her the next morning. Her escape failed. But when she begged Queen Olga for protection, the Queen offered her a deadly bargain:Marry the masked Grand Duke of Zolotaria.The king’s hunting dog. The butcher of the East. The devil in a crown.The man feared by kings.The heir to the throne.The same man she once saved.Ivan Romanov.They say he bathes in blood. That he kills without blinking. That he conquered kingdoms with a smile behind a mask. That no one sees his face—and lives.Some call him the devil. Others call him Death’s favorite son.But behind the mask is the same man she found dying in the dark.The same voice that haunted her dreams.The same hands she once held.Now, he’s her husband.Her jailer.Her obsession.She doesn’t know if she’s his prisoner, or his weakness.Cold and untouchable, Ivan doesn’t share his bed. Doesn’t share his secrets. But she sees it—the hunger in his eyes. The pain in his silence. The way he looks at her like she’s the only thing keeping his demons at bay.She should fear him.She should hate him.But the moment she dares to take off his mask… it’s already too late.Because Ivan wants her—her fire, her body, her heart.And in his world, what he wants, he keeps.Even if it means burning down the kingdom.She thought she was running from hell.She ended up in his bed.And the most dangerous thing of all?She doesn’t want to leave.