Merchant Crab - Chapter 75: Green Deal

A conversation with a handsome stranger leaves Ariane chained in a cellar with a strange affliction. She soon discovers that the darkness of the nineteenth century’s Deep South hides many dangers. Mages, wolf shifters and the humans who hunt them play a risky game where to stumble is to die, all under the amused gaze of the apex predators of the supernatural world: vampires.

It is never healthy to attract the gaze of the aristocracy of the night. It takes much to survive in this merciless world, but Ariane will not let that deter her. The southern belle has a bite, and she is willing to learn and to grow in this hostile new world. She will use whatever means necessary to reclaim her freedom, be it guile, charm, or those intriguing new instincts that make blood so delectable.

This is a story of vampires as I believe they should be, with their strengths and weaknesses, with their remnants of humanity and the beast inside. Updates every Friday. Mind the tags.

Cover by Antti Hakosaari: https://www.artstation.com/haco

Special thanks to Svensonsen for getting me started, as well as Omi Nya, Hesketh, Rhaegar, Yaksher, Selkie and Raven for proofreading my stuff. Thanks to my patrons and you dear readers, for the support. I could not do it without you.

Journey is on Amazon, both in ebooks and audio. here is a link to the first one:

https://www.royalroad.com/amazon/B08DK6G8Y8

The story probably exists in your local marketplace as well of I can tempt you.

“Is this a game or reality?” - Michael Norman*****Apocalypse descended, and reality transformed into a game for a select few known as Awakeners.Between the ages of 16 and 18, every teenager had the chance to awaken a class and attain supernatural powers. Awakeners would then venture into a game-like world, the Land of Origin, seeking treasures and gaining tremendous strength.Michael transmigrated into this world at 18 and successfully awakened the Necromancer class. However, that was not all—Michael also unlocked a unique talent that allowed his undead summons to evolve infinitely......[Little Skeleton has successfully evolved into Skeleton Soldier!][Skeleton Mage has successfully evolved into Skeleton Summoner!][Bone Dragon has successfully evolved into Undead Frost Dragon!]......With his powerful undead summons, Michael set out on a path to become a supreme legend.Tags:#Necromancer#Undead#Evolution#Armybuilding

In a world where countless web novel universes collide, where soldier kings, mercenary overlords, god-tier tycoons, and even demons wage war against each other—where protagonists rise, seduce breathtaking heroines, seize endless opportunities, and battle for supremacy—there is one man who can suppress them all.A man who has finally crossed into another world.When he opened his eyes, he found himself in the body of a young man named Veil Lancaster.“A villain destined to be beaten to a pulp by the protagonist? Am I really just a side character?” Veil muttered to himself.But why should he accept that fate? His father held absolute power, his mother was a legendary business tycoon—what made the so-called protagonist superior to him?Fortunately, at that moment, he successfully awakened the Villain System.One day in the future—“Veil! You crippled me, stole my opportunities, and even took my woman! You damn villain! You’ll suffer divine retribution for this!”A protagonist roared in fury, coughing up a mouthful of blood.Veil smiled gently and said, “I didn’t do anything… This was simply your fate.”“A pawn has only one destiny—to be placed exactly where I want it.”Remember this.I, Veil Lancaster, only wish to be a charming and sinister villain.