EPIC: Path of Demons and Dragons - Chapter 249: Assertion

You shall become king—

Ruling over all “serpents” in the world…

Become the man who bears the brunt of dragonkind’s fear and hatred.

A modern era when humanity is threatened by attacks from giant dragons flying from beyond the sky.

Controlling “leviathans”—serpentine spiritual beings created through magic—humanity is locked in a protracted war of resistance against the dragons.

Fortunately, there exist witches known as “magi”—battle maidens of salvation who formed covenants with “serpents” in order to combat dragons.

Nicknamed Hal, the young man called Haruga Haruomi makes his living through facilitating the covenants of these girls.

At the (partially coercive) request of his childhood friend Asya, one of Europe’s top witches, Hal returns to Tokyo New Town after an absence of three years.

Accompanied by the beautiful Asya whose appearance rivaled a fairy’s, Hal is running all over the place to secure his base of operations and taking care of matters related to school transfer when the elite dragon Soth suddenly attacks—!?

Life has been breathed into a brand new myth between dragons and dragonslayers.

A grand opening to the “birth” of a top-class battle epic!

In a world intertwining magic, knights, and burgeoning technology, young Leonard grapples with memories of a past life in the modern world after waking up reborn in this new, tumultuous reality. Separated from his family amidst a devastating conflict, Leonard's life takes a precarious turn when he is taken under the wing of Alfonso, a reclusive and somewhat deranged wizard. Under Alfonso's tutelage and the rigorous demands of a daily task panel that rewards him for mundane chores with experience points, Leonard finds himself thrust into a harsh survival regime, far removed from his previous life's comforts. His daily life oscillates between mastering arcane spells, learning the delicate art of Earth Ring meditation, and handling the meager sustenance at the prison-like estate where he and Alfonso reside.As Leonard's skills grow, so too does his awareness of the wider conflicts that plague this world, blend of industrial revolution-era technology and dark magical forces. The task panel becomes a strange companion, guiding him through tasks that blend the mundane with the magical, pushing him to grow stronger. Amidst the backdrop of this grim reality. The complex interplay of power, survival, and the echoes of his former life drives Leonard to not only master his new abilities but to unravel the mysteries of this world and perhaps find a way back to his family, despite the cold indifference of his master. Each experience point earned and each new ring formed in his meditation brings him closer to understanding this world's brutal truths and his own place within it.

I put all the warning tags to give myself creative freedom, but the story isn't filled with excessive gore or swearing.This is my first time writing other than for school projects. The gender-bender tag is only for the beginning because I wanted to try writing from a female's perspective and needed an excuse for why my MC reads a little tomboyish. The gender-bender fades into the background over the first few chapters; please don't let the tag keep you from trying out my story.Synopsis:Second chances are rarely earned and even rarer given. Follow a new life in a new world where anything is possible. Our MC wakes up, stuck as a baby, needing to decide how she will live her new life. Let's see what future she can forge when hard work rewards her with status points and skill levels.Author's Note: I'm currently slowly going back and rewriting my earlier chapters, so if you're starting to read this for the first time, try not to be alarmed if the quality suddenly goes down after reading a few chapters. I started writing this story almost three years ago, and I think I've improved as a writer since then. I appreciate your understanding; enjoy.

“Where do you think you are going with those bags?” Xander interrogated as soon as he cornered her.“Of course, I’m leaving you!” She said, standing her ground, despite the fear in her eyes.“Why?”“You forgot to mention how dangerous you were.”Xander let out a deep throaty chuckle. “Sweetheart, you didn’t ask.”“I don’t care! I don’t want to be a part of this anymore!” She insisted.Xander shook his head. “Too late. We are already married. You now belong to me, and divorce is out of the question.”—Aurora Swift’s world shatters when Owen—her boyfriend of five years—breaks up with her via text. The betrayal deepens when she finds out he’s also getting engaged to her half-sister, Olivia Swift on the same day.Heartbroken and filled with rage, Aurora has a one-night stand with Xander Scott, Owen’s enigmatic uncle and the youngest billionaire in the country. When the fling leads to a marriage proposal from Xander with a promise to help her get her revenge, Aurora finds it hard to refuse.However, Aurora soon realizes that this is anything but a whirlwind romance.Xander Scott hides more secrets than Aurora knows, and the dangers that follow his mysterious identity soon bring about complications in their marriage.When Xander’s secret identity comes to light, will Aurora choose to remain in the marriage as her love for him has grown in depth, or let it drive them apart?