The Inner Odyssey - Chapter 62: Battered

220 years ago, in the legendary Dragon Demon War, Hero Azell ended the war by killing the evil Dragon Demon race’s King Atein. He was able to save the population, but as a consequence, he was cursed. While he was dying, the high magician suggested a gamble that might save his life.

Lilac has lived a life of suffering. From being forced to disguise himself as a girl to survive, to being labeled cursed after failing to awaken his heavenly gifts that everyone else could, he is shunned by all.To add salt to his wound, before he turns 18, his father vanishes, and his uncle seizes the throne that should've rightfully been Lilac's as the eldest son. Before Lilac could successfully flee, he is caught and traded to the monsters beyond the kingdom—beasts so feared that no one who sees them returns.But instead of death, Lilac is claimed by Sloan.Born cursed, Sloan is a prince of the Enwulves, an extinct hybrid wolf species. Even though he is a prince, he has lived life as an outcast due to his curse that causes him to forcibly transform every full moon, thus losing his humanity. His life has been mapped out for him, but when he finds Lilac—battered, freezing, and terrified—something shifts. For the first time, his rage stills. It was just a glimpse, a scent, a tiny whimper of fright.And that was it.Humans are meant to be slaves. Enwulves are forbidden from claiming them. Keeping Lilac means war.But Sloan has never followed rules, and Lilac has never belonged—until now.~~~ | ~~~“Are you afraid of me, little human?” Sloan husked out, cold lips grazing my bleeding fingers before his lips parted slightly to release hot breath over them. I trembled, rooted in the spot with fright and unable to breathe.Was this a trick question? Of course I’m afraid of him! Everyone is! Who wouldn’t be? Slaves are never supposed to be in his presence, except they suddenly desire a quick demise. Am I supposed to respond honestly or lie?When cold lips closed around my finger, I gasped in shock, a rush of fright and dread engulfing me. He was gonna bite off my finger right now, wasn’t he? Just because my stupid brain couldn’t come up with a response? The rumors said he was a heartless psychopath, but I didn’t think it was actually true!However, a hot tongue swiped over my fingertips and I sucked in a sharp breath, exhaling shakily while my chest expanded and my brain tried to figure out what was happening, and why my fingers weren't bitten off yet— or why I’m still breathing in his presence.Next, cold, long fingers wrapped around my wrist and my hand was being tugged upward, then a nose was digging into my pulse point, and I almost fainted when cold lips dragged over the sensitive skin there. The sound of a deep inhale filled up my ear next.“Fuck. You smell so good.”Oh heavens.This was worse than I thought.Instead of killing me, was he planning to… eat me… literally???! What the fuck?

He was summoned to save the world… but his greatest threat isn’t the Demon King — it’s the women who love him.Kai Veyron was just a delivery guy on Earth. But in the magical world of Aethria, he’s “The Chosen Hero” — gifted with ridiculous, godlike powers that he can’t control and didn’t ask for. He defeats monsters by sneezing, trips over relics that explode, and somehow charms every powerful woman he meets.Now surrounded by a beautiful, deadly harem — a tsundere princess, a cold-blooded assassin, a genius mage, a seductive demoness, and a broken childhood friend — Kai thinks he’s finally found purpose, friendship… maybe even love.But peace has a price.As whispers of prophecy grow louder, the women begin to ask the unthinkable:“What if the hero himself is the final calamity?”They laugh with him by day… and plot his death by night.And the worst part?Kai already knows.And he still protects them — even if it means his own downfall.

Lin Qi is an ordinary young man who suddenly arrives in a martial arts world and finds that he owns nothing but an abandoned Martial Arts Hall, which has been desolate for an untold number of years, and a Martial Arts Transmission System capable of summoning players.Using players as chess pieces, Lin Qi's life of puppeteer begins behind the scenes.“100% real virtual game, do you want to play?”“Battle of the Myriad Races, experience the most realistic epic battlefield, do you want to play?”“Get stronger in the game, and you will become stronger in reality too, just ask if you want to play?”