As far as her memories went, Rhea had always described herself by one word.
Useless.
It clung to her like a second skin, always there and suffocating. She recalled it started due to her mother thinking of her as no good.
It echoed in her mind when her mother’s sharp and disappointed voice cut through the air, berating her for not doing things right— burnt bread, uneven stitches, a clumsy fall that shattered a vase.
“You’re no good at anything,” her mo...
The process of creating the golem was anything but simple.
Each step had to be done with caution so that even a slight mistake could render all their efforts useless.
Kai watched Orion carefully.
The Golemanic Ichor, that volatile liquid derived from the larvae queen’s monstrous body, was being carefully funnelled into the golem’s core.
The man handled it with the utmost care, aware that a single misstep could spell disaster.
The liquid began to flo...
As time passed, Kai felt the strain in every muscle, a weight that grew heavier each day. The beast wave was a looming storm, and the city was a ship creaking under the pressure.
But it was also a hive of activity, with everyone working tirelessly to prepare for the impending beast wave.
The air was thick with tension, the kind that came before a storm.
Every citizen, guard, and Mage could feel it, driving them to work harder, train longer, and brace for what was coming...
Draft title - Dao of money
Synopsis - When Chen Ren transmigrated as a trouble-making young master in a world of cultivation overrun by sects, beasts and clans full of murderous people, he wanted nothing to do with it.
He simply wanted to make money.
After all, even in a world of magical murderhobos, money ran supreme.
Among the numerous martial daos, he chose the dao of money, using his brains and earthly knowledge to build businesses and acquire resources to re...
Chapter 100
Kai’s steady heartbeat continued to thrum in his ear as he felt a pang of nervousness rising in his throat. He was doing something he’d be planning for weeks— enchanting the wall.
His hands traced complex sigils in the air. As he did, faint arcs of energy— a glowing pulse followed his movements. He knew if he placed his hand on the wall, he could feel the Atheum stones embedded within them hum with a vitality.
Below, the construction continued, the w...
Okay, now the clickbait title out of the way. I'm wondering if you all would like to read chaps of a few ideas I'm working on. Early chaps obviously for each of my patrons. Will you be interested?
I will post a chap or two if you are.
Chapter 99
Kai sat in the room, feeling the thick tension in the air. They waited for Killian to arrive before beginning and as soon as the man appeared on the door after settling the others, the meeting started.
Francis, his expression gloomy, launched into the report.
“Like I mentioned before, the beasts have become relentless," Francis said, his fingers drumming on the table. “Our scouts report that they are massing in the heart of Vasper Forest. We are doing our...
Chapter 98
As they made their way through the estate, Kai's eyes scanned the grounds.
What had once been a peaceful, orderly estate was now teeming with life. People milled about, setting up makeshift tents and gathering around small fires. Most of them looked haggard with clear worry in their eyes.
Francis walked beside him, his expression grim but determined.
"These are the refugees from the nearby villages," Francis began, gesturing to the throngs of people. "...
Chapter 97
The journey back to Veralt was filled with an eerie stillness. But Kai took it as peaceful. After spending days in Hermil where he had been busy in one thing or another, the peace of the carriage was a welcome change.
He knew that he would be busy once again after reaching Veralt, so this was the only break he was going to get. So, aside from working on his fourth circle which in itself was much more complicated than the third one, he simply read the books that he ha...
Chapter 96
The restaurant was called the Sapphire hall, one of the costliest places in Hermil. It felt like luxurious confinement.
Excessive in all ways, the opulence stretched towards the crystal chandeliers that cast an otherworldly glow on the room. The light that reflected on it, danced on the polished marble floors. To add to the interior, soft instrumental music filled the air.
Edrian, Arzan’s second brother, reclined in a lavish velvet chair, a satisfied smirk ...
Chapter 95
Kai gave one last look at the fallen Mage, his mind already racing.
Ryke was sprawled across the floor, defeated and unconscious. Blood pooled around him and from the corner of his eye, he could already see healers running towards him.
His injuries were big, but they would heal with time. As for his pride, Kai wasn't sure about that.
He didn't like Ryke, but there was no animosity between them. He could only hope that the man would take a good lesson o...
Chapter 94
A cold sweat prickled at Kai’s nape.
He’d been living a lie as Azan ever since he got here, and even if he hadn’t done the best job at it, he knew it’d worked to an extent.
One of the few reasons it had worked well was that Kai hadn't met anyone from Arzan’s family. The closest thing he’d to deal with when it came to people who knew Arzan was Killian— the man who was a Knight and didn’t pay enough heed to things that didn’t concern him major...
Chapter 93
Kai sat on the edge of the bed of his room in the castle, his mind rising. Despite the situation with Princess Amara, he had been able to make out of the ball pretty quickly.
Although the princess hadn't tried to hold him back, he knew that she would be more than just a little interested in him from now on. In the next few weeks, she would probably get used to living without pain and would realise that whatever he had done to her had allievated what she had assumed t...
While Lord Arzan was busy with the ball and everything else that went on inside the palace, Killian was immersed in his things. Among them, practising and enhancing the techniques he already knew along with training the guards were his priority.
To do that, he had already gotten permission to use part of the palace courtyard as a training ground. Currently, Killian was in a mock battle with three guards and Gorak.
He knew only Ansel among the guards well as the man would repea...
Chapter 91
Amara had always felt a cold stone lodged in her chest. It wasn’t a heart, not really. It was an icy chasm, a void where warmth and emotion should have resided. Mages had confirmed her suspicions. Her heart was shattered.
From the moment she drew her first breath, her world had been in pain. The joy and wonder that painted the childhood canvas in vibrant paintings were absent in her world. It was a monochrome existence, devoid of the warmth that bathed others.
Chapter 90
Kai hadn't anticipated the public spectacle of his refusal. It was supposed to be a private affair where he would diplomatically decline and be on his way. Now, with a handful of pairs of noble eyes glued to him, the depth of his words grew heavier by the second.
With the nobles who clearly sided with Eldric right behind him, the entire situation became a matter of face and respect.
Eldric's face, moments before a picture of charming authority— the facade o...
Chapter 89
A ripple of commotion coursed through the ballroom as the prince and princess entered. Nobles, previously engrossed in their own social machinations, suddenly found themselves propelled towards the royal pair like moths to a flame.
Kai watched the scene unfold with detached amusement. It was a ballet of ambition and flattery, a desperate scramble for the prince's favour.
By how some people ran towards them, some looked like they’d been waiting for their arr...
Chapter 88
Kai stood before a full-length mirror, feeling the formality of his noble attire weighing heavily on his shoulders. He wore something suitable for the ball that was supposed to be held today and was checking if everything was in order— just in case.
His eyes took in all the details of his garb.
The crimson tunic, embellished with delicate silver embroidery that glimmered under the lamp, fit perfectly against his broad frame. The tailored trousers complimente...
Chapter 87
Once Balen threw his considerable weight behind their cause, things moved at an unexpectedly swift pace.
Unlike Kai's initial apprehension, Balen seemed downright eager to relocate. Of course, the gruff minotaur needed to shutter his dusty workshop and finish any lingering projects, but that wouldn't take long.
This suited Kai perfectly; a few days in the capital remained before his scheduled duel with Reyk and only after that, he would be able to return.
...
Chapter 86
Dead mana was a corrupting force that had ravaged and destroyed the world by the end of his previous life.
He remembered how it had spread everywhere while damaging species and their life forces. That insidious corrupting force left behind a trail of extinction in a lot of species including elves, stout dwarven holds, rarer species like naga and even minotaurs.
In these species, elves and dwarves left no evidence of existence behind other than possible theorie...
Chapter 85
Kai pushed his tray away, having finished the stew and basked under the rays of the midday sun filtering through the cafeteria window.
It was quite a large room, made to probably house all the Mages of the novice and apprentice ranks. Maybe, even adepts, but he couldn't be sure since they seem to have more privileges than the rest.
All he knew, they had a seperate cafeteria made or they might even have their own chambers to eat in.
He had walked in a ...
Chapter 84
The rhythmic scrape of Klan's boots echoed through the polished stone halls as he led the way.
"So, Lord Arzan," Klan began his voice, a hesitant squeak. "The exam structure… Well, it's fairly straightforward. Mages can test for any level they wish, though most aim to climb one rung on the ladder at a time."
He paused, glancing at Kai over his shoulder. "For example, novices take the exam to be apprentices. And apprentices, like myself, take the exam to beco...
The next day, Kai woke up early and got ready. He smoothed his robe and straightened up his posture.
It was his second morning in the capital, and he had already completed a few of the tasks he had come here for. He walked out of his room with the temporary library pass in his robe pocket and a thrilled mind.
He looked at the richly rune-carved, tall walls soaking in the sun that shone through the glass cubicles of windows.
Guards lined up in every corner, bowing to him ...
Hearing his words, Kai had no option but to smile as he wondered why Eldric wanted to talk to him about.
The latter was nonchalant about Kai’s smile as he continued to say, “The Heat Stones. I must admit, I was quite surprised by their efficiency. Personally, I liked how lasting it was. They far exceeded my expectations.”
So it was about the stones.
It wasn't a surprise that the prince had gotten his hands on it. It had already spread to a lot of nobles and it wasn...
Arzan's mother was a magus?
Veridia's words were like a bolt straight out of the sky and it took more than a second for him to register them. A lot of thoughts turned in his mind as he felt like the hidden piece of a puzzle he was looking for was finally revealed to him.
But it also brought out a lot of confusion with it.
Therefore he turned around, masking his confusion and vulnerability with a polite smile.
Archon moved forward and extended his hand— there wa...
A suffocating silence engulfed the room as Kai launched his final salvo.
He could feel his pulse everywhere as he became hyper-aware of his environment. A domineering aura clinged to his shoulders, pushing him down on the ground.
Had he overplayed his hand?
Maybe… maybe not; questions rose to his mind. He'd anticipated a hostile interrogation, perhaps even a touch of physical intimidation, but Veridia's sheer presence was a force he hadn't expected.
Still, re...
Chapter 79
Kai’s eyes lingered on Veridia’s form a beat longer as he stood up. His mana sense tingled with the potent raw energy that thrummed around her. Kai could feel it in his fingertips that she was powerful.
For the first time since he had regressed, he felt like he was standing in front of a Mage who he can't defeat with his current strength.
The magus calmly took a step forward, her purple robe flickering behind her. Maybe it was his brain playing tricks, bu...
Kai squinted up at the Archine Tower.
When he saw it yesterday, Kai couldn’t help but look fixedly at the structure of the tower. Today, there was little to no difference; the only thing was that the tower was extremely close to him. The details he saw through [Hawk eyes] were now an arm's distance away.
The runes that were etched to the surface garnered his attention immediately. The lines and arcane symbols on the tower were clearly protecting it from magical attacks and p...
The dusk settled after their long day, but something inside him said the night would be longer. He leaned against the plush interior of the carriage, glued to the passing tableau.
They passed a few roads, took a few turns and were finally at the mouth of the capital of Lancephil Kingdom, Hermil.
A steady stream of carriages choked the streets, each one a microcosm of its own. Opulent coaches emblazoned with noble heraldry glided past, their occupants shrouded in haughty indiff...
The main road wasn’t far from the path they came through after picking sufficient Blursage.
Ansel relished the feel of the wind whipping through his hair as his horse moved down the well-maintained but rocky road.
He nudged the horse to quicken the speed to get in line with the guards— soon, the rhythm and the peaceful wind that blew across his face put his mind to a calm state; he heard his thoughts shifting from the present to back when they were met with the barbarians.