Rebirth of the 8th-Circle Mage - Chapter 379: An Uncomfortable Reunion (4)

Ethan Blackwood wasn’t used to being defied. As the CEO of a global empire, he crushed obstacles with a single glance. But when Lily Anderson stood before him, her chin lifted in quiet defiance, and something in him snapped. “Sign the contract,” he said, his voice like ice. “30 days. You’ll obey every command. After that, you’re free.”She hesitated, her fingers trembling as she gripped the pen. “And if I refuse?”His smirk was cold, but his eyes burned. “Then you’ll spend the rest of your life paying off your father’s debts. Your choice.”Trapped, Lily signed. But she vowed one thing: she wouldn’t let him break her.From the first day, their clash was electric. He demanded perfection; she gave him rebellion. “You think you can control me?” she spat, after he criticized her for being late.Ethan stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “I don’t just control you. Lily, I own you.”But as the days passed, the lines between them blurred. Late nights in his penthouse turned into whispered conversations. His cold demeanor cracked, revealing glimpses of a man haunted by his past. One night, after a heated argument, he pinned her against the wall, his breath hot against her ear. “Why do you fight me so much?”Her voice trembled. “Because I’m afraid if I stop, I’ll lose myself to you.”Their connection deepened, but danger loomed. Secrets from Ethan’s past resurfaced, threatening to destroy everything. When Lily discovered the truth behind his obsession with her, she confronted him. “Was I just a pawn in your game? A way to settle an old score?”His eyes darkened with pain. “You were never just a game, Lily. You’re the only thing that’s ever felt real.”As the final days of their contract approached, their bond was tested like never before. Enemies closed in, and trust hung by a thread. Could they overcome the shadows of their pasts, or would their love crumble under the weight of secrets and pride?

“Breaking News! A 28-year-old IT worker beats three university kids to death with a spiked bat over a dog!”Abandoned at birth, and named John Wicked, he suffered a life of solitude and harshness. His only companion was a dog named Alfred who was with him since he was 8 years old.Alas, on his 28th birthday when he was returning home from the company with a gift for Alfred, what awaited him was three university students beating his dog senseless--the reason being that Alfred barked at them.They escaped after beating him, too, but John Wicked lost his only family there as the sky broke into tears as if weeping alongside John, holding his dear companion's lifeless body.After getting revenge and being put on death row, John Wicked felt no regret for his actions, and the public also didn't support him.If the world didn't understand him, he didn't need to understand the world. He took his own life because he didn't want to die by the so-called justice of this world.But that wasn't the end. That was the beginning of John's new life after making a deal with an Eldritch God.Join John and Alfred's journey in the fantasy world where humans tame monsters and live an intricately connected life.

A hero must be compassionate, selfless and courageous.But that isn't all. Because a hero must also be powerful.In this world, power is everything. Strength decides who gets to save lives and who's left with community service. That’s why I was nothing — a rank 50 E-Class reject, skating through the streets, saving what little I could while the real heroes battled gods and monsters.Then one day, I died. Almost.Dragged into the abyss, I was given a second chance: the Forever Core. An armor that evolves. A system that never stops adapting. Every battle, every hit, every mistake, I come back stronger.Now, the monsters that once crushed me can’t kill me the same way twice.I must adapt. Evolve. I must grow stronger and fight harder. Because humanity is worth fighting for.Even if I have to burn every villain alive to prove it.

Capital is power. The more you invest, the greater the power.

- Description from novelbuddy