I'm the Spider - Chapter 19: The Evolved One

The year was 2026, and the world wasn't what it used to be. Ever since the Abyss Gates cracked open three years ago, spilling monsters and dungeons across the planet, life had turned into a chaotic mess. Cities were half-ruined, half-rebuilt, and people clung to whatever normalcy they could find. Hunters—those brave or crazy enough to fight the monsters—became the new heroes. Everyone else? Well, they just tried to survive.Fin wasn't a Hunter. He wasn't a hero either.He was just… Fin. A lanky 19-year-old with messy brown hair, a chipped front tooth from a dumb skateboard accident, and a power that everyone called useless. Absorption. Sounds cool, right? Like he could suck up energy or steal someone's strength. Nope. All it did was let him “feel” things he touched a little more than normal. He could tell you the exact texture of a brick wall or how warm a coffee mug was—big whoop. No fireballs, no super strength, no flashy moves. Just a glorified touchy-feely trick.“Fin, you gonna eat that sandwich or just stare at it like it's gonna confess its life story?” Meg's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.He blinked and looked across the rickety table at his best friend. Meg was short, loud, and had a wild mop of dyed purple hair that she swore made her look “intimidating.” It didn't.

College was like a wake-up call for most people. Especially the likes of Christopher Owen, who spent the rest of his high school years messing around and pining for the boy he never had.Having had a frustrating high school year, he decided to dedicate himself to his studies in college.He flew many miles away from home, changed his looks, and hid his real identity from everyone. His plans were simple: study hard, pass well, no dating.But then he realized two things: life was anything but easy without the backing of his last name.And... he wasn't sure how long he could last before he jumped his roommate, who was obviously not gay.But lust wasn't love, right?Maybe he could indulge a little? Just a little, I promise.

Damien Crowell was just a regular high school student who took a regular tunnel on his way to school—until one day, that tunnel spit him out into a completely different world. Instead of his usual path, he finds himself in a dark forest that stretches on for days, running on nothing but sheer stubbornness and a tiny water bottle.Just when he thinks he's going to die, he stumbles upon a castle straight out of a fairy tale (or a theme park) and promptly passes out. When he wakes up, he's in a prison cell, surrounded by confusingly handsome men who speak gibberish—until a beautiful, horned beastman with perfect hair and a translator necklace finally lets him understand.Now, trapped in a fantasy world where every guy looks like they stepped out of a modeling agency, Damien’s biggest challenge isn’t just survival—it’s trying to figure out why *he* always looks like a mess in comparison. Can he make it back home, or will he end up staying just to admire all the beautiful faces?Join Damien as he navigates a strange new world, awkward introductions, and a whole lot of unexpected feels in this hilarious, fantasy adventure!