Picking Up Girls With My Pickup System - Chapter 18: The Cafeteria Spotlight.

At twenty‑nine, she was the youngest CEO in the tech industry—NetVault Security had gone from small startup to Fortune 500 in just six years. The media called her a prodigy. Her board called her unstoppable.Her therapist called her alexithymic.Unable to understand or describe her own emotions.The elevator chimed. Elara didn’t look up. Only one person had after‑hours access.“You’re late,” she said. “The investor meeting is in twelve hours. Did you review the—”“I’m not here about the meeting.”…“Ugh.”Elara lost her life that day at the hands of her mentor and adoptive father. By the next morning, the same people who once called her a genius and praised her to the sky were calling her a coward who killed herself to escape scandal.Then Elara woke up.Not in her office. Not in a hospital.In a different world. In a different body.She was now Elara, the Fourth Princess of this so‑called great kingdom—only to find that this princess was an utter pushover, completely useless in everyone’s eyes. No one feared her. No one respected her. Even her own palace was full of other people’s spies.How is Elara supposed to survive this palace battle, when seven princesses fight in the shadows and she’s known as the weakest one? And can she ever escape this place… or will she decide to win instead?……“Your Highness, please… ugh…”The leash of light around Mahir’s neck—the head of the knights—tightened with a soft pull. His face flushed red, and not from pain.“Princess, here.” Ken, the strongest beast knight, knelt closer and held out a small pill between his fingers, guiding it gently to Elara’s lips.“Swallow it,” he said quietly. “You used too much power today.”On the floor below the bed, three beastmen knelt in a row, broad shoulders tense, ears twitching, their eyes fixed on her with dazed focus. Thin, glowing leashes of magic ran from their collars to the bands at Elara’s wrists.“Please…” Ken’s voice dropped, rough and a little hoarse. “Put your foot here.” He touched his gloved hand to his chest. “On me.”Elara sighed, half annoyed, half amused, and rested her foot lightly on his armored chest. All three of them drew in a sharp breath at the same time, faces turning even redder as the magic between them flared.Their eyes—gold, amber, and deep brown—looked up at her with the same lost, devoted gaze.

“Football isn't just a game”—it's life.For 16-year-old David Jones, football is more than a sport; it's an escape, a calling, and the only thing that makes sense in a world full of challenges. The electric thrill of scoring a last-minute winner, the roar of the crowd—it’s the closest thing to freedom he knows.But David's journey is far from simple. Blessed with extraordinary talent yet burdened by fiery anger, he’s fighting battles on and off the pitch. Growing up as the son of a Nigerian immigrant and a British mother, David navigates the pressures of cultural expectations, the weight of his own ambitions, and the scrutiny of a sport that demands perfection.Passion drives him forward, but his temper holds him back. Can he channel his emotions and prove himself worthy of being football's next big star?David Jones: The Next big thing is a gripping coming-of-age story about resilience, identity, and the unrelenting pursuit of dreams.Disclaimer:This work is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. All trademarks, brand names, and other proprietary rights mentioned or depicted are the property of their respective owners and are used for illustrative purposes only. This work is not affiliated with or endorsed by any brand, company, or individual mentioned. All rights reserved to their respective owners.

The whole people came to the Supreme Continent, became the lord of one party, and participated in the struggle for hegemony among the lords of all races!

Some lucky lords will awaken their lord talents!

“Haha, my lord’s talent is the Hall of Knights, which can allow the lords to transfer to a special combat profession – fighting spirit knight!”

“My lord talent is the king of the abyss, and I can summon the demons of the abyss to become my subjects!”

“There are countless scientists among my subjects, and I want to develop black technological civilization!”

“My lord’s talent can refine Qi and practice, and it is up to me to become an immortal and an ancestor!

Zhou Zhou Awakens Top Lord Talent: 100% Explosion Rate!

Not only can you see the loot drop rate of the enemy, but you can also let the enemy drop all the loot after death!

Zhou Zhou: See if I don’t expose all your lord talents!

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Reminder group: 594039322. Welcome everyone to play~

- Description from novelbuddy

In the Wasteland Era, four grand circular walls separates the world of humans from the Exotic Species, which people also refer to as the Apocalypse Circular.Lu Luo has unexpectedly arrived in this world and, feeling somewhat helpless amidst the sudden crisis, has seen this prompt in his vision:[You are so weak it's suffocating, Although you have awakened Grade S-02-Devourer and Grade S-04-Fusioner, it's actually pretty useless.The only thing that can truly help you escape this crisis and lead you to the pinnacle of life is Sequence S-11-Observer.][The above evaluation comes from the noble Grade S Sequence-11: Observer's fair analysis.]Lu Luo: “? This evaluation, so fair huh!”