The Devouring Dragon - Chapter 11: Execution

“Next, we have the most noble recipient of the Order of the Garter, the Grand Cross of Saint Michael and Saint George, the Grand Cross of the Bath, the Victoria Cross and the lower grades of Knighthood, the leader of the anti-colonial movement, the bell-ringer of the East India Company, the hero of the Crimean War, a Fellow of the Royal Society, a lifelong dear friend of literary giants such as Dickens and Great Dumas, a steadfast supporter of scientific luminaries like Faraday and Darwin, having served as assistant under-secretary, deputy under-secretary, and permanent under-secretary in departments of the Home Office and the Navy Department of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the inaugural Cabinet Secretary and head of the civil service, the first graduate and most distinguished alumnus of our school. Please welcome Sir Arthur Hastings to deliver a speech on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the University of London.”Arthur's gaze swept across the crowd before him, looking at the young faces and murmured, “Agares, what do you think I should say?”The Red Devil's wraith hovered behind him, saliva almost dribbling from the corner of his mouth, “Look at these ignorant souls; they still worship you as a hero. Why not say something they'd like to hear?”Arthur took a deep breath and let out a deafening roar, “Oxford is a bunch of whores' bastards!”“Oh!!!!”The audience erupted into thunderous applause.“Cambridge is the same!” he added immediately.The applause grew even more fervent...(The protagonist, possessed by a devil, travels through 19th-century Britain in a world without magic)

“Breaking News! A 28-year-old IT worker beats three university kids to death with a spiked bat over a dog!”***Following the revenge, John took his own life in stubborn resistance, but that wasn't the end. He and his dog, Alfred, found new life after making a deal with an Eldritch God, Chuthulos.The duo reincarnates in another cosmos where Humans live an intricately connected life with Monsters as Tamers.However, in this perilous journey where his exposure to higher powers can lead to not only his death, but of the entire Eldritch Cosmos, John is not without help, for he receives the Rune of New Beginning, a power shaped into a system made from Eldritch Ancestor, to aid him.“So I can inspect all Monsters, eh? Awesome.”“Evolution Pathways? Cool!”“A private world where I can create biomes and habitats for monsters? A Monster Paradise?! Holy Land!”“Hey, what new function are you going to add in the next level up of the Rune, Chuthulos?”With all stacks on himself, John is determined to make the most of his new life with Alfred and his Pet Monster companions and keep his end of the bargain.

On the dawn of a fresh New Year, an ominous figure emerged, shrouded in a guise of an angel but harboring the malevolence of a devil. With a chilling voice, it proclaimed, [Every month, you humans will be thrust into a perilous quest. Your survival hinges on overcoming 20 grueling rounds.]Suddenly, I found myself ensnared in this dangerous survival game, a grotesque merry-go-round where every turn carried the stench of death. Yet, I was not without any defenses. I possessed an unusual power: the power to regress 100 times, a chance to rewrite my fate.I stand on the precipice of my final regression, and I swear, ‘This time, I will conquer it. I will emerge victorious.’I’m no longer the insignificant shuttle that I once was. Today, I shed my former self, the one who had reached the pinnacle of power. Today, I am reborn for the last time as Black Scythe, a rookie player, a novice that once again will be become the Grim Reaper!

When college student Heather returns to her childhood sanctuary—her aunt's house—she never expects to find herself caught in a whirlwind of emotions. Tasked with caring for her aunt's newborn, she's transported back to the summers of her youth, where laughter and secrets filled the halls. But what she didn't anticipate was the rekindling of an old flame: her childhood best friend, now a renowned singer.As Heather and her childhood confidant navigate the complexities of adulthood, their undeniable chemistry simmers beneath the surface. Yet, fate has other plans. A new suitor captures Heather's heart, leading her into a relationship that feels right but lacks the spark of true connection.When circumstances tear Heather and her childhood friend apart, misunderstandings and heartache follow. Years pass, and destiny reunites them at a wedding. But the joy of reunion turns to shock when Rhys discovers Heather harbors a secret: amnesia has stolen her memories, replacing them with a life he never imagined. Engaged to another, with children of her own, Heather seems lost to him forever.As they confront the painful truths of their past and the bittersweet reality of their present, Heather and Rhys must decide if love can transcend the boundaries of time, memory, and circumstance. Will they reclaim what was lost, or will they be forever bound by the threads of fate?