Rebirth of the Phoenix\_ - Chapter 31: Hidden City

“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.

When the spiritual barrier that has been intact for a hundred years is shattered by a meteor, spiritual energy that had disappeared starts to return.The mystical realm slowly begins its revival—magic, witchcraft, curses, supernatural lifeforms, strange and mysterious legends, monsters and gods from other worlds…The old world order collapses, yet the new order is mystifying and chaotic.Just before the unprecedented reformation is here, Tang Qi awakens and finds himself hung on the cross, having turned into an inferior demon and in great pain and agony…With his special ability to see through the nature of all things from the mystical realm and a sly and crafty mind, follow Tang Qi as he develops new skills and powers—as well as making new friends and allies—to battle and protect himself from never before seen supernatural threats in an unfamiliar world!

27-year-old Hisha, transmigrates into the body of a thousand-year-old overpowered supreme overlord who had everything at his disposal, except one–worthy companions by his side.

Hence, a tournament was held to choose the best out of the most beautiful, unique and strong women across the land.

These women don't follow the rule of coexisting women in a harem, they fight for the right to bed their lord and would stop at nothing but to use every opportunity to seduce, and fight on his behalf just to get his attention and favor.

Hisha never liked such a barbaric method of getting a companion.

'Why choose a few, if you can have them all?'

'If he can't have them all, he would try to work out coexisting the strongest for his pleasure and benefit.'

He realizes his 'Desire System' levels him up with every adoration gotten from his harem. The stronger they get, the higher his level and hold in his world.

As he continues to break his limits with the help of his harem, he finds out there are others that threaten his rule and the balance of his land.

'Let the tournament begin!'

“You will suffice.”Raizen heard those words the night something chose him to survive.He doesn't know what whispered inside his head. He doesn't know why. But ever since that night, his life hasn't been entirely his own. Something marked him.Now he walks a beautiful world built on even prettier lies, where Eon turns desperation into miracles, Luminite weapons twist the laws of what's possible and what's not, and where humanity has been fighting creatures of shadow - Nyxes - for as long as anyone can remember. Though sometimes, the cruelest of enemies aren't made of darkness at all...But Raizen is starting to realize: the monsters aren't the only things hunting him.Something primordial is watching. Waiting. Pulling strings he can't see.If he wants to survive, he needs to get stronger.If he wants answers, he must become someone even the nightmares fear....But to win?He may have to end anything in his path - and pray he doesn't give the whisper exactly what it wanted all along.