On the first day Eve Sherman was taken back by her biological parents, she was forced to marry a man she had never met. After marriage, the two lived separately and didn't interfere with each other. Two years later, Eve Sherman got a promotion and heard that her company's CEO married young and spoiled his wife excessively. However, little did she know, the often-envied CEO's wife turned out to be none other than herself…

ANG UNANG AVATAR Synopsis Sa isang mundong nahahati sa apat na sinaunang kaharian—Aerwyn, tagapangalaga ng hangin; Pyrrha, tagapamahala ng apoy; Nerith, tagapagtanggol ng tubig; at Terravelle, tagapangalaga ng lupa—bawat tao ay ipinapanganak na may kakayahang kumontrol ng isang elemento lamang. Ngunit si Aira, isang ordinaryong dalagitang lumaki sa tahimik na nayon ng Lumen, ay natuklasang iba siya sa lahat. Sa isang misteryosong pangyayari, nagawa niyang kontrolin ang apat na elemento—isang kakayahang hindi pa kailanman nakita sa kasaysayan. Sa kanyang paglalakbay, malalaman ni Aira ang isang katotohanang magbabago sa buong mundo: siya ang unang Avatar. Hindi siya nagmula sa isang sinaunang linya ng mga Avatar, sapagkat wala pang nauna sa kanya. Siya ang pinakaunang taong pinagkalooban ng kakayahang pag-isahin ang apat na elemental na puwersa. Ngunit kasabay ng kanyang paggising ay ang pag-usbong ng isang matandang banta. Ang mga kaharian ay muling nagkakawatak-watak, lumilitaw ang mga mahiwagang nilalang, at isang lihim na organisasyon ang naghahangad na puksain ang Avatar bago pa niya matuklasan ang tunay na pinagmulan ng kanyang kapangyarihan. Kasama ang mga bagong kaibigan at gabay na makikilala niya sa kanyang paglalakbay, kailangang matutunan ni Aira hindi lamang kung paano gamitin ang apat na elemento, kundi kung paano pag-isahin ang mga taong matagal nang magkakahiwalay. Ngunit habang mas lumalalim ang kanyang paglalakbay, matutuklasan niyang ang pagiging Avatar ay hindi lamang tungkol sa kapangyarihan. Si Aira ang simula ng isang bagong panahon. At kung mabigo siya, maaaring wala nang susunod na Avatar na magliligtas sa mundo.

Going back to middle school days, when my father was still alive, and my mother had not passed away. Luo Ye made up her mind to become the pride of her family, the support of her lover, and the reliance of her friends.

The stars are beacons in the sky; they burn ever so bright, illuminating the universe. But with light there must come darkness. The world may seem like a beautiful place shrouded in brilliant light, filled with love and prosperity. But beneath that beauty, there is blood; beneath that light, there is darkness; and beneath that love, there is pain. The central world is known as Clara Astrum, a realm of adventure and mystery. A world full of marvellous sights, towering mountains, and vast oceans. A world where dreams were held, and legends were created. But that was not where I was born. I was born in the world below, the one known as Mortuus Lux, the world of decay. There was no light, no stars; all we had was the flickering heart. I suffered like the rest, I fought to survive, and I evolved by devouring my brothers and sisters. There is no such thing as companionship here, only one's own strength. The weak perish while the strong delay the inevitable. I embrace my demise because with death, I will be free. I embrace life because with every encounter, I shed a thread of weakness. My name is Luna, a demon born in Mortuus Lux, raised in blood and war, and burdened with my own destined death. Join my discord at https://discord.gg/eXdhfCarFd NOTICE: -I will be posting this story on other platforms, such as RoyalRoad. Thanks for your support! -Very Graphic(Gore) -I do not have an editor, and my editing skills are not the best, so there are probably some grammatical errors as well as certain writing mishaps! Thank you for understanding!!!

The Ye family’s foolish girl is reborn one day! With an omnipotent divine cauldron and a spiritual space in hand, she is no longer the good-for-nothing, abandoned girl that everyone bullies at sight! She is so invincible with both medicine and poison that even a divine doctor will be nothing beside her, Spiritual beasts beg her to make contracts… Oops, excuse her, even the Beast God calls her Boss. When her scumbag father dares to abandon his wife and daughter, she wrecks and destroys his family. When people dare to bully or humiliate her, she would return that favor a hundred times greater. Reincarnated as a human once more, she returns like a powerful sovereign. However, she never expects to be involved with the devilish and bloodthirsty him. Originally meant to be a decisive Ghost King, he ends up reincarnated into a ditsy, cute and harmless hostage prince in a neighboring rival nation…

[Doting Romance] After a spring dream that nourished all things silently, Gu Xiaonuan gained a cute baby and a new relative. "Marry you?" She felt like she had been struck by lightning and was moved to tears. Could it be that, in the prime of her life, Gu Xiaonuan was about to marry a man in a white coat who fancied himself a miracle healer but was actually a beast in gentleman's clothing? "From now on, you're not allowed to flirt around, be half-hearted, or have your eyes on someone else while eating from your own bowl!" "Yes, yes, yes, you're the one with the money, who would you be afraid of!"

just fics I read

Traveling through the world of American TV series, I gained a system for picking up attributes. At this point, the "protagonists" in American Tv shows have become targets for harvesting. Mike: Your king is coming! #Teen Wolf #2 Broke Girls #Young Sheldon #Men in Black (MIB) #17 Again #Wrong Turn #Mean Girls #The Blind Side #The Princess Diaries #Wanted #Jennifer's Body #What Women Want #Liar Liar #Blade #Wolf of Wall Street #The Mask (1994) #Underworld #John Wick #Forever (TV) #The Good Doctor #Gray's Anatomy #House M.D. #Home Alone #Catch Me If You Can #We Are the Night #Queen of the Damned #Vamps #Vampire Hunter D #The Vampire Chronicles #We Are the Night #The Unholy #Bruce Almighty #Evan Almighty #Twilight #Ghost Rider #Constantine #Good Omens #The Pursuit of Happyness my patreon is patreon.com/SleepingHostage, check it out if you have time to spare

a horny teenager writing whatever he wants join my p@treon Armaan887 for extra chapter

Jack thought he was just a normal kid in an Afro inspired futuristic generation, minding his own business, until everything changed when he found a cosmic map... Now he embarks on a journey of self-acceptance, embracing the chaos of the unknown and fulfilling his destiny as the son of legend in a world beyond the stars. Follow Jack as he faces tough challenges, both physical and metaphysical, on a fantastic adventure with epic twists and high fantasy A being is manipulating reality… [Text gl1tch3s. Revelation engaged.] "Wh#t happens if the only $in in this world is being anything other than y0urself?* *Wh#t happens if you can become whoever you want, unbound by rules or br@kes, but the cost is… l0sing yourself?* *Wh#t happens if you’re allowed to be br0ken and still ris£, but the journey could destroy you before you even b£gin?* *You don’t need to ch00se. You only need to look within.* *Welcome to the Forgerverse, where your story is your power, and every step reveals who you truly @re."

After being reincarnated in a world of Gods, Demons, and Great Emperors, Wang Wei embarks on a journey to bear Heaven Mandate, proves the Dao, and proclaims himself a Great Emperor--a Supreme Being that overlooked Myriad World and Races. However, his Dao involves despising fate and its encompassing glory. So what awaits our protagonist on his journey full of vicissitudes to defy and even control fate? While he controls the fate of countless races and worlds, is fate playing with him? Can he escape the very shackles of fate that he controls? Better Synopsys: After an unknown cosmic accident that enveloped the Earth, Wang Wei was reincarnated into a magical world of spiritual cultivation. This world was composed of powerful Demons, cunning and brutal Devils, ruthless and indifferent Gods, detached and ethereal Immortals. More Importantly, Great Emperors--Supreme Beings that stand above everyone and everything, even life and death itself. Despite being born in one of the most powerful sects in the world, Wang Wei was placed under tremendous pressure when so many expectations were placed on him by his sect due to the fact they have not cultivated a Great Emperor for countless millennia--an act which threatened the fundamental status of his family, friends, and sect. On top of that, Wang Wei was not one of the chosen few of this world that was granted special gifts by Heaven, thus further aggravating his circumstances. However, he did not retreat in the face of adversity. With the mindset that “If Heaven does not give me, I shall take it for myself”, Wang Wei begins to plan his rise to the top with a brilliant tactical mind and the help of his mysterious soul so that one day he will become a Great Emperor that not only control his fate but the fate of all lives in existence. This story has a similar setting as Emperor Dominion, I am a True Villain, and Scoring the Sacred Body of the Ancients from the Get-go. If you enjoy this type of story, then you will enjoy my story. The first 30 chapters or so have many problems story-wise, so please bear with it as I was just beginning as a writer. However, I promise the story gets better afterward. Discord:https://discord.gg/bnsezTApeY Go check out my Pa.tr.eon: .https://www.patréon.com/LazySageDao Or just go into the site and search for my author name (LazySageDao). So, go and support me if you can. Warnings: No Young Master and Face Slapping. Disclaimer: The image on the cover does not belong to me. If the original author wants me to take it down, just leave a comment in one of the new chapters of the book.

Summoning ceremonies can freely call forth even "those which lurk in the depths beyond the gods". One boy has top-level abilities even among the cutting-edge summoners who can use those ceremonies. He is Alice (with) Rabbit aka Shiroyama Kyousuke. But this strongest boy summoner has a single fatal weakness. Certain "cursed words" spoken by girls: "Help me." When Kyousuke hears those words from Meinokawa Higan, a girl brought to the verge of death, he throws himself into a city where three great summoner forces clash! I will be posting this on Royal Road as well

In a world on the brink of destruction a lone awakened desperately struggles for a place in these tumultuous times with his bestial strength. Through hardship and struggle he slowly finds his purpose and builds his strength. He must learn how to use his versatile ability to transform into the monsters he has killed to survive against nightmare creatures and people alike. This is a journey of self improvement for a very flawed person. Don’t expect an easy boost in power from this story.

I noticed the absolute lack of Code Vein content in here and dropped this since I remembered I had an account... Just the good ol' *original protagonist* is somehow replaced by *main character* Fanfic. But can the MC really rely on his meta-knowledge when a video game becomes his new reality? Let's see how our main character tries to secure a future where he can enjoy his new nigh-immortality in a messed-up world and do his best to get a happy ending!

Looking past the lady knight, she saw Podrick Payne and her breath caught in her throat. "No, no," she turned back to Brienne, tears stinging her eyes. "You've come to take me back." Brienne shook her head, "I swear I haven't, my lady. I swear, I am here to protect you. To help you however you need." "I know him," she said.... Support me at patreon.com/EpicTalesValut, So I can continue writing, You also get advance CHAPTERS..

What if everything was just a game? Kozuwa Kurisu is not a hero. Not a savior. Not even someone particularly serious. But when he wakes up in the body of Regulus Corneas—one of the most absurd and invincible beings in the world of Re:Zero—he realizes one essential truth… This world is no longer a story. It’s his playground. No justice. No grand morality. No heroic destiny. Just fun. Through provocations, manipulations, and unpredictable situations, Kurisu decides to live this new life his way: by trolling absolutely everything. Allies, enemies, the rules of the world—even narrative logic… nothing is safe. Every event becomes an experiment. Every encounter, a test. Every reaction, a spectacle. And most importantly… he is not alone. Somewhere above, something is watching. “Author-san.” A presence he can almost feel… almost influence. A strange connection breaking the boundary between fiction and reality—where Kurisu is no longer just a character, but a conscious player shaping his world. So why hold back? Why follow a story already written… when you can break it… and enjoy it?

"Special Admission, Rank 1." That was the title on the golden invitation I threw into the trash three months ago. Back then, I was the Crime Lord of Oakhaven. I had money, territory, and an ego that touched the sky. Why would a King lower himself to attend a school? I was arrogant. I was foolish. And I paid the price. It took less than an hour for a single knight to turn my criminal empire into a graveyard. He didn't just defeat me; he ignored me. I was an ant beneath the boot of a god. Broken and desperate, I used my last asset: a golden letter granting me entry to Zenith Imperial Academy as "Special Admission Rank 1." It’s a lie. I’m not a prodigy. I’m a fraud with no foundation, surrounded by the strongest heirs in the Empire who want to see me bleed. I can’t cast their spells. I can’t hold their weapons. But I can steal their lives. My Authority is [Usurper]. While they study theory, I steal reflexes. While they practice honor, I copy trauma. I am not here to learn. I am here to hunt. My targets are the "Four Calamities"—four women who hold powers strong enough to rewrite reality. They think I’m their peer. They don’t know I’m the parasite waiting to hollow them out. I’m going to make them mine. Discord: https://discord.gg/FK9GfrSjtb

"Absolutely not!" Petunia said, doing her best to keep her voice low. "I am not going to stand here and waste my time answering your stupid questions. You want him, take him! We never wanted him to begin with!" Releasing Harry, she stormed off taking Dudley with her. Harry was at a loss for words, torn between running after her and knowing that whatever was to happen now couldn't be any worse than living with his aunt and uncle. Wanting to learn more about his parents, Harry made to decision to stay with the man who suddenly seemed at a loss of what to do. With an unconformable cough, Kingsley bent down to Harry's level. "What's your name, son?" "Harry, sir. Harry Potter." The look on Kingsley's face would have been comical were the situation clearly not so serious. It took several moments of staring and stuttering for Kingsley to form a coherent word. "Harry Potter you said?" He all but whispered. Harry nodded..... Support me at patreon.com/EpicTalesVault, So I can continue writing, You also get advance CHAPTERS.. . Click the link to explore and become part of the journey, I truly appreciate your support! PATREON : www.patreon.com/c/EpicTalesVault

Yun Che expected many things after death. Becoming a thirteen-year-old blacksmith’s son in a cultivation world was not one of them. In the mountain city of Mistforge, strength decides survival. Sects recruit geniuses, beasts roam the frozen wilds, and ancient bloodlines hide beneath forgotten names. Yun Che has no legendary master, no divine treasure, and no interest in blindly following someone else’s path. What he does have is a blacksmith’s hammer, memories of another world, and a dangerous talent for turning impossible ideas into weapons. Armor. Rifles. Cannons. Puppets. Monster transformations. While other cultivators inherit ancient techniques, Yun Che intends to build his own road—one rune, one invention, and one battle at a time. But beyond Mistforge’s walls, the world is far larger and far crueler than he imagined. And something in the Abyss has already noticed him. First Part: Yun Che's Journey Second Part: Sect Establishment Slow Paced. Single Pairing

1941. War bleeds into Hogwarts. Tom Riddle seeks power; Lilith von Schwarzwald seeks survival. The last of her line, she offers quiet violence and kindness. Tom finds himself drawn to her shadows, a mirror to his fractured soul. But Lilith guards a secret older than Slytherin. As darkness rises, will she be his anchor or undoing? What truth in her blood could shatter Tom Riddle's fate?

Reborn in Konoha before the Third Shinobi World War, Ren awakens a strange system. The Ninja World Galgame System. But instead of dating girls… He has to build relationships with his ninjutsu. Talk to them. Give them gifts. Raise their affection. Confess during emotional story events. Only then will they evolve into powerful techniques. Soon, Ren’s ninjutsu begin breaking the rules of the ninja world. A Great Fireball that rivals elite jutsu. A Substitution Technique that looks like teleportation. And abilities that grow stronger the more he “cares” about them. When people question him, Ren only shrugs. “Have you tried treating your ninjutsu better?” The ninja world thinks he’s insane. But Ren knows the truth. In this world… ninjutsu have feelings too. ----------------------------------------------- Visit our Patreon for more: patreon.com/Samurai492

ANG UNANG AVATAR Synopsis Sa isang mundong nahahati sa apat na sinaunang kaharian—Aerwyn, tagapangalaga ng hangin; Pyrrha, tagapamahala ng apoy; Nerith, tagapagtanggol ng tubig; at Terravelle, tagapangalaga ng lupa—bawat tao ay ipinapanganak na may kakayahang kumontrol ng isang elemento lamang. Ngunit si Aira, isang ordinaryong dalagitang lumaki sa tahimik na nayon ng Lumen, ay natuklasang iba siya sa lahat. Sa isang misteryosong pangyayari, nagawa niyang kontrolin ang apat na elemento—isang kakayahang hindi pa kailanman nakita sa kasaysayan. Sa kanyang paglalakbay, malalaman ni Aira ang isang katotohanang magbabago sa buong mundo: siya ang unang Avatar. Hindi siya nagmula sa isang sinaunang linya ng mga Avatar, sapagkat wala pang nauna sa kanya. Siya ang pinakaunang taong pinagkalooban ng kakayahang pag-isahin ang apat na elemental na puwersa. Ngunit kasabay ng kanyang paggising ay ang pag-usbong ng isang matandang banta. Ang mga kaharian ay muling nagkakawatak-watak, lumilitaw ang mga mahiwagang nilalang, at isang lihim na organisasyon ang naghahangad na puksain ang Avatar bago pa niya matuklasan ang tunay na pinagmulan ng kanyang kapangyarihan. Kasama ang mga bagong kaibigan at gabay na makikilala niya sa kanyang paglalakbay, kailangang matutunan ni Aira hindi lamang kung paano gamitin ang apat na elemento, kundi kung paano pag-isahin ang mga taong matagal nang magkakahiwalay. Ngunit habang mas lumalalim ang kanyang paglalakbay, matutuklasan niyang ang pagiging Avatar ay hindi lamang tungkol sa kapangyarihan. Si Aira ang simula ng isang bagong panahon. At kung mabigo siya, maaaring wala nang susunod na Avatar na magliligtas sa mundo.

Just imagine peacefully minding your own business at your office—working tirelessly to get a promotion—and bam, you die without even seeing your brother's wedding. Talk about a plot twist. And then, just to add insult to injury, you get reincarnated into a RPG game? Life was not messing around with its plot twists, was it? Not to mention, now the hero and the villain are coming after you? You, the normal, non-magical office worker who was just trying to get a pay raise. That's a dramatic way to start a story! And you ended up in an RPG game? With heroes and villains? Sounds like a wild ride you didn't sign up for. The question is, how are you gonna get yourself out of this mess without getting too entangled in the plot? Stay focused on your peaceful life and avoid those dangerous situations! And maybe try not to run into any more heroes or villains for a while. You've had enough excitement for one reincarnation.

Alternative Title: The Second Male Lead’s POV (in an Otome World) ────────────────────────── SYNOPSIS: Starting a forbidden relationship with the duke’s daughter was the most reckless thing Lucian had ever done in his life. And he was a professional when it came to recklessness. It backfired, horribly, in every possible way. He almost died, fled his homeland, and then almost died again, but here he was, not really learning. "So dumb," the devil voice in his head whispered in disdain, "How more idiotic can you get?" "As far as idiocy goes deep," Lucian answered, accepting the new path of his life, one that might cost him his sanity, "And it goes deep. And wide." Goal: get wealthy and powerful enough to afford more idiocy Current arsenal: blood, sweat, tears, and pure wits Start point: gardener End point: unknown Method: whatever works "I'm a good person," Lucian claimed, "The 'whatever works' should be changed to 'whatever works morally and sensibly' and 'unknown' to 'a glorious victory'." The devil voice in his head laughed so hard he felt it in his bones, shaking him like a puppet on a string. ────────────────────────── THE CHARACTERS DO NOT BEGIN AS YANDERE, BUT THEY WILL SLOWLY FALL DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE AS THE STORY PROGRESSES. REMEMBER, THEY ARE PEOPLE FIRST, STEREOTYPES SECOND. TAGS: #twistedMC #manipulativeMC #YANDERExYANDERE #NO-NTR #loyalMC #loyalFL #insaneFL #evilFL #forbidden-love #you-can't-f‎ix-her-FL #NO-SYSTEM #pirates #secret-organization-building #territorymanagement #obsessive-love #comedy #conspiracy #businessman #moneymaking #mystery #Adult #Mature #extra TRIGGER WARNINGS: ROMANCE, Lovers to Enemies to ???, toxic love, conscious grooming, unreliable narration, trauma, self-aware hypocrisy, narcissism, superior complex, emotional manipulation, abuse ────────────────────────── Join: https://discord.gg/T8QQhdwunG

There are moments in history when kingdoms fall, families disappear, and hope is buried beneath the ashes of loss. Yet sometimes, from those very ashes, a flame is born that can illuminate generations. Tez was once an ordinary boy, surrounded by the love of his family and the simple joys of village life. But when a ruthless tragedy destroys everything he holds dear, he is left alone in a world that seems determined to break him. Homeless, heartbroken, and haunted by memories, Tez sets out on a journey with nothing but his courage and an unanswered question: Why must suffering exist? His search for answers leads him beyond the known world—through sacred forests, forgotten temples, towering mountains, and ancient gurukuls where the wisdom of India's greatest sages has endured for centuries. Under the guidance of enlightened masters, Tez learns that true strength is not measured by the sword alone, but by discipline, compassion, wisdom, and unwavering devotion to dharma. As dark forces rise to threaten kingdoms and erase the legacy of ancient knowledge, Tez must decide whether to seek revenge for the life he lost or become the guardian of a future greater than himself. Every trial tests his body, every loss shapes his spirit, and every victory reveals a deeper truth about the purpose of life. Blending thrilling adventure with the timeless philosophy of ancient India, TEZ: The Path of the Eternal Flame is an unforgettable epic of courage, self-discovery, sacrifice, and hope. It is the story of a boy who lost everything, yet found something far greater—the light within himself. In the end, Tez's greatest battle is not against an enemy on the battlefield, but against the fear, anger, and despair within his own heart. His legacy becomes a beacon for generations, proving that those who walk the path of truth can never truly be defeated. Some journeys create heroes. Others create legends. Tez becomes both.

Character travelling through different dimensions (Different Animes worlds). Season 1; Anime. Witness the rise of Eero in the Dimensions of Famous anime, movies and novels. 1st Dimension; Dragon Ball (Completed) 2nd Dimension; Danmachi (Completed) 3rd Dimension; Overlord (Completed) 4th Dimension; Naruto (Completed) 5th Dimension; One Piece (Completed) 6th Dimension; Bleach (Completed) 7th Dimension; Jujutsu Kaisen (Completed) 8th Dimension; Eminence in the Shadow (Completed) 9th Dimension; TTIGRAAS (Ongoing) All advanced chapters and dimensions can be found on my Patreon. Patreon.com/ChaosGray Join for Eero's most excited journey, ... Chapter Release - Schedule: 4 chapters per week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday)

The Russian Empire will collapse. War will consume Europe. Ukraine will rise… only to fall into chaos. In 1900, Pavlo Skoropadskyi wakes up with knowledge of the future. He knows how it ends. A puppet Hetman. A broken country. A lost chance. This time, he refuses. Decades before the storm, he begins to prepare — building industry in the south, forging alliances among nobles, and shaping a power base strong enough to survive the coming collapse. But history does not change quietly. Empires will fall. Wars will come. And the more he tries to rewrite the future… the more dangerous it becomes.

An isekai world that feels like paradise for introverts, where they can do everything and feel free. This world is called Dharti. But now, everywhere is under the control of the Demon Lord. The Demon Lord joined hands with a god and conquered Dharti. Whoever adventurers went to fight them never returned. The few who survived chose to side with the Demon Lord. Now, all adventurers rule over different regions of the world as his generals. They are divided into classes — the higher the class, the larger the cities under their control. Guilds no longer exist, and people fear becoming adventurers. No one dares to go against the Demon Lord. Everyone lives a life of slavery. Our hero is known as Jhed. He has been reborn into this world. Long ago, a prophecy foretold that a hero would come to save the world from the Demon Lord and the god. But many years have passed, and people no longer believe in that prophecy. Jhed must rise as the hero to save this world. He possesses the power of immortality, a gift once stolen from the gods. Can he restore Dharti to what it once was? On his journey, many people will cross his path…

Dawn Academy. An institution reserved for the best of the best. Within its towering walls, legends were forged. Stars, leaders, and many global icons once walked its halls, and all carried the name of their school like a proud banner. Yet the academy’s most popular yet dangerous courses had little to do with ordinary academics. They were based off human life. The Hero Course existed to shape those destined to protect humanity from the dangerous powers itself had produced… And the Hunter Course trained those willing to stand against humanity’s oldest nightmare — the creatures, monsters, known as the Mo. Over the years, Dawn Academy earned another name: The Highschool of Awakening. A place where students discovered hidden strength, surpassed their limits, and became something greater than they were before. But every so often… awakening came at a price. And this year, one student awakened into something else entirely.

A group of friends meets the new kid, full of mysteries with a hint of sinister, can the new town survive the weird things that are happening till the very end

Lucas transmigrates to a parallel world and is thrilled to discover that many of the classic, brilliant games from his past life don’t exist here. Eager to make his mark, he’s also burdened with an "Emotion Collection System"—where players’ emotions like joy, sorrow, excitement, fear, and anger from his games make him stronger. But why is it so much easier to harvest resentment than happiness? Staring at his point earnings, Lucas is utterly baffled. And so, his career as a game designer takes a… creative turn. In Undertale, players slam their desks and scream: "I’m the one being played by this game!" In Outlast, players shriek: "The locker moved! I quit—NOPE!" In Dark Souls, players cheerfully boot up the game, only to beg: "Leave the Fire Keeper and GET OUT! Take your damn flame with you—we refuse to link it!" In Call of Duty, Soap, Roach, and Ghost meet tragic ends; in Final Fantasy VII, Zack falls in battle and Aerith meets her fate; in Red Dead Redemption, Arthur and John are betrayed… Players collectively rage: "DAMN YOU, LUCAS, YOU SADISTIC OLD FOX! CAN’T YOU BE KINDA TO YOUR PROTAGONISTS?!" When asked by a reporter how he feels about players’ fury, LUCAS smiles faintly: "This isn’t hatred—it’s the world’s players urging me forward! This is LOVE! Thank you all; I’ll keep up the good work!"

“Oh, gods! You’re alive!” The voice was faint, far away, but Jaime recognized it as he would recognize no other. Tyrion. It was Tyrion. Had Tyrion died too? The acrid sting of tears pricked the backs of Jaime’s eyes at the thought that his little brother had died right along with him and Cersei. Tyrion had always been the best of them. If anyone had deserved to live, it was Tyrion. Jaime wished there was something he could do to save his little brother, but he knew it was already too late. There was nothing either of them could do now. Clackety, clackety, clack. The sound of bricks hitting stone grew faster, more frenzied, more urgent. Jaime tried to draw in another breath, and thankfully, this time, he didn’t choke on it. “Stay calm.” Tyrion’s voice sounded closer this time. “I’m going to get you out of there. Stay with me, Jaime. Please.” If you want to support, visit my patreon page, you will get advance chapters and early access to exclusive contents https://patreon.com/AureliaBlackwood