The Tyrant's Wife - Chapter 2 - Giving Up

The world is a sea of bitterness.

The mortal swims in the sea.

The body is the vessel.

The soul is the mortal on the vessel.

The vessel carries the mortal as it sails endlessly towards the other side of the sea.

Does cultivating the body strengthen the vessel enough to reach the other side of this sea of misery?

Or does cultivating the soul give the mortal on the vessel the ability to master swimming?

Cultivating according to the martial path allows one to become an Earthly Immortal.

Cultivating according to the immortal path allows one to become a Divine Immortal.

Which path should be chosen?

- Description from Novelupdates

Qu Mao, who hadn’t had time to cut his sister out of class and experience the degenerate university life, woke up and found that he had come to a strange and cruel new world, and it seemed that young people from all over the world came to this world together…

The world channel was full of shouts and curses. Except for a tattered lord’s order, everyone didn’t even have a whiteboard novice weapon at the beginning…

But Qu Mao is not worried or in a hurry, because he has a cheating system with him, and he just wants to save some cheating points. With cheating points, he has everything.

Who would want to cheat if they could win by cheating?

- Description from novelbuddy

Elia is a poor university student until the night she’s taken to the world of the Anima—ruled by humans whose ancient hearts pulse with the blood of animals. There she’s forced into a battle to the death. But when Elia survives, and refuses to kill her final opponent, the King must either kill Elia himself, or take her as his mate.

Reth, the brutal King of the Beasts with the blood of lions, shocks everyone when he chooses the weak, human Elia to become his Queen. He promises her every comfort of his wealth and position—but he is clear: She will not warm his bed. He chose her to defeat those that were trying to corner him into blending his Leonine line with the Wolves.

Elia needs the help of the Anima to become stronger and rule them well. But the vengeful Wolves see only a weak human that brought them shame. As Elia and Reth grow closer, the wolves are determined to destroy her. Will Reth and Elia admit their feelings for each in time to fight for the Kingdom—and their lives—against the villainous wolf-tribe? Or will the wolves kill Elia and steal the throne?

[Mature content - no sexual violence]

*****

He stalked towards her, chin low so the shadow cast by his hard jaw cut across the thick fur collar of his vest. His hair had fallen over his eyes in the scuffle, so he peered at her through it like a lion in the grass. With each step, his graceful, rolling gait reminded her of a predator stalking its prey. Despite the forest floor littered in twigs and leaves, he didn’t make a sound.

“Wh-who are you?” Elia stammered, backing away, her hands up. He met her step for step until she came up hard against the tree behind her—and didn’t stop until he loomed over her, so broad his shoulders and chest made a wall in front of her. She could feel the heat rising off his skin in the cool, night air.

“I am the Leonine King.” His voice was a dark, husky gravel. Behind him a chorus of wheezes, howls, and chirps of agreement rose from the people watching. “And you are?”

“Elia,” she breathed.

“Elia,” he growled, leaning in closer, bringing with him the scent of pine and rain and the musk of something distinctly male. “I am Reth.” He said the name with a strange, guttural roll in his throat. “I am King of Beasts. I am Clan Leader, and I am Alpha of WildWood.” Several snarls rose from the crowds behind him then, but he ignored them.

Elia swallowed as he leaned in until the scruff on his jaw rasped her cheek. “I am the King,” he said, “And you will be my mate.”

The forest behind him erupted.

Every family has that one person who is born as a sacrifice. For her family, that person was Selene Vale, who was to become a spare for her younger twin siblings success.Due to her innate shy and kind nature, she was not able to connect to her family every since she was young. So, despite her rich background, Selene Vale never felt like a part of the family and was often regarded as the 'First spare' or even 'defective'. That did not change even when the world fell and Apocalypses happened.Selene Vale's first life ended trying to protect her twin siblings, the only people who had yet to abandon her. That was her end......but it wasn't.Due to her sacrifice, Selene Vale awakened her system and innate power and was given another chance at life and survival. And this time, she vowed to free her siblings from their parent's cruel influence. If she was able to do that, then she would be happy with that.But unfortunately, that was not all she did. She also ended up attracting the attention of the big-boss of the Apocalypse, the only L-ranked hunter and the hope of humanity....and also, a long time friend she would rather forget about.