I Have Returned, but I Cannot Lay down My Gun - Chapter 767: New York (13)

“Heroes killed my parents. Now I wear the mask of one. Until I can bury them all.”At seven years old, Hernan Vale watched his parents — two powerful heroes — brutally executed in their own home by the very people they trusted most: the legendary super-team known as the Zodiac 13.They thought he was dead.They made sure the world blamed villains.They covered their tracks.But Hernan survived — and never forgot.Ten years later, under a false name, Hernan enters the prestigious Hero Academy, hailed as a prodigy. To the world, he’s a rising star. To his classmates, he’s charming, calm, unstoppable.But inside?He’s a weapon. Waiting. Smiling. Counting names.As he trains to become a licensed hero, fights real villains, and rises through the ranks, Hernan plays the long game — earning the trust of the Zodiac, learning their routines, studying their weaknesses. One by one, he’ll bring them down.And this time, he won’t hide in the closet.But the deeper he goes, the more blood he spills — the more he wonders if he’s becoming worse than the monsters he’s hunting.And when love, loyalty, and lies collide, Hernan may have to decide:Will he save the world like they think he will...or finish burning it down?

“Block him.”“He's technically still my boss.”“Then block him with dignity.”The call ended again.And then started again.I let out a sound somewhere between a growl and a sob, then finally answered with the enthusiasm of a snail crawling through salt.“Yes, Mr. Walton?”“Have you changed your mind yet?”I collapsed onto the towel and gazed at the sky as though it might consume me entirely if I pleaded sweetly enough.“Do you ever take a break?” I asked, shielding my eyes with one hand.“You're avoiding the question.”“Because it's a dumb question.”He exhaled, the sound sharp and irritated even over phone. “It's not a dumb question. It's a business offer.”“It's a weird offer-one that I already said no to.”There was a brief pause, and I could practically hear him clenching his jaw through the speaker.“You are acting unreasonably.”“ Unreasonable?” I sat up. “I'm not the one drafting fake girlfriend contracts like it's a normal Tuesday.”“Isabella-”“Certainly not, Mr. Walton.” I mimicked his tone perfectly. “I told you I'm not doing it. You need to find someone else to play pretend with.”SYNOPSISIsabella Miller thought saying no to her boss’s fake dating offer was the end of the story.But Adrien Walton doesn’t take no—especially not when he’s convinced she’s a gold digger.Suddenly, her student loans are piling up, her father’s vet clinic is on the brink of eviction and her brother is about to be kicked out of college. Coincidence? She thinks not.Adrien Walton is calm, calculating—and he's just pulled every string to corner Isabella into the perfect position.Now she’s stuck choosing between pride and survival.So she agrees to his offer: be his fake girlfriend.No feelings attached. No drama. Just business.Or so she thought.“Conference Room B. Fifteen minutes,” he said, passing by without a glance.The folder he pushed across the table landed with a thud.I opened it. The contract. All of it.---Enemies to lovers? Check.Slow burn? Hmmnyea.Banter so sharp it might file your nails? Yes.Delicious workplace tension? Of course.Tension that could melt steel?Absolutely.Smut?? Wanna find out?Welcome to corporate romance warfare. There’s no escaping this contract.

[The System has arrived on your habitable planet, known as ‘Earth.’][In five seconds, monsters from countless realms will invade Earth.][Remaining Time: 5 seconds.][You can now view your attributes, talents, abilities, and skills by simply thinking about them.][Kill monsters, and you might survive.]“Monsters?”Damian’s breathing quickened as the pain in his chest grew sharper.On the day of the Awakening, humanity was forced to defend against an invasion of countless monsters from the towers that connected realms across the multiverse.While billions of people died helplessly, billions more seized the opportunities hidden behind the horrors spilling out of the gates.Leveling up, growing stronger, awakening talents, learning supernatural skills, changing one's very race, and even achieving immortality all became possibilities.But for Damian, who was suffering from a sickness that would kill him within a few years, the Awakening was a curse.While other humans awakened powerful talents, hunted monsters, and evolved, Damian remained talentless, a liability and a burden the awakened had to carry.Damian never wanted to be seen as weak or useless, but what could he do?He was dying.If only he had awakened a talent or at least possessed a stronger body, he might have been able to level up and cure his sickness. But he couldn’t.All that would change when a mysterious figure set him on a path that would lead him to his true destiny.Witness the rise of a warrior who would make countless men tremble in fear.Witness the rise of a monster who would force every race, every being, and every existence to kneel.Witness the rise of the Champion.Tags: [System], [Towers], [level up], [Classes], [Monsters], [Vampires], [Werewolves], [Yokai], [Dragons], [Demons], [Angels], [Gods]. [Rare Bloodlines], [unique Abilities], [Regression], [Survival], [Mystery], [Time Travel], [reincarnation], [Overpowered], [Martial Arts], [Magic], [Cultivation], [Murim], [Hell & Heaven], [Progenitors].

Shi Li found herself transported into a novel, becoming the vicious female supporting character who had an unhealthy, obsessive love for the male lead.During classes, she was either scheming how to win over the male protagonist or pondering the fates of her classmates in the original story.[It seems that in the next few days, Director Wei will have a car accident]Upon hearing Shi Li’s inner thoughts, the young lady abruptly stood up.[However, after Director Wei’s death, his mistresses and illegitimate children will show up at the door, claiming a large portion of the family fortune]The young lady gracefully sat back down.A few days later, the chairman died in a car accident and was promptly cremated before his last breath had even faded.When the mistresses tried to storm in with their illegitimate children to claim their share, all that remained was a fresh, warm urn of ashes.[That new sister-in-law of the school bully seems to be involved in some serious trouble behind his brother’s back]The school bully thought indifferently, wondering how bad it could be – at worst, she’d be cheating on his brother.[She’s connected to human trafficking rings operating across borders]School bully: !The police cracked a major international case, and thanks to this incident, the school bully finally gained recognition from his family.Everyone assumed Shi Li was madly in love with the male lead. The academic genius helped her create “chance” encounters. The young lady even delivered the male lead to her bed.Of course, some people took a different approach.Class monitor: What do you think of my young uncle?Others who rushed over upon hearing this: You fool, what are you trying to do?Following the principle of “if you can’t beat them, join them”Other classmates: This is my 6’3″ athlete little brother, and this is…