Status: Main story completed + Extras ongoing
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Returning with accolades after securing victory for his empire, Great General Ning Wei is faced with the arduous task of dealing with the imperial court and its petty schemes. As frustration over his situation mounts, the prestigious Yan household offers an unexpectedly favorable alliance.... more>>

Ning Wei finds himself intrigued by the young head of his newly-allied household, Yan Yixuan. But Yan Yixuan’s words seem to have hidden meanings and his behavior with Ning Wei too indulgent for an ally. After schemes are concocted and hurdles passed, will the great general finally find the answers he seeks from the one who waylaid him?
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While establishing the pact between their households—

Yan Yixuan: I will protect and support your household for you. Any injustice done unto you will be as if done unto me, and any favors you owe will now be mine to repay. Do you agree that you will show me the same regard?

Ning Wei: ……

Why does it sound like a marriage vow?! No, he's thinking too much.

Ning Wei: Yes, I agree.

Yan Yixuan smiles brilliantly as if having obtained something priceless.

Ning Wei, inwardly: Why do I feel like I just signed over my soul? I must be imagining things again…

Yan Yixuan, inwardly: I can finally be close to my Ah-Ning! Let’s see who will dare to bully him now.

The other court officials: We don’t dare, we don’t dare!

Soon, the entire capital is flooded with the news of their flamboyant courting (the oblivious Ning Wei: Our flamboyant what?!) and then blinded with their shameless displays of affection (the smitten Ning Wei: I’ve been corrupted by a certain irresistible little fox).

The bullied officials: If that demon of a duke told us his intentions earlier, would we have offended the general?! Great General, forgive our insolence!

Ning Wei, looks at his lover: Did you do something for me behind my back again?

Yan Yixuan: *smiles innocently*

Ning Wei, chuckles and rubs his head affectionately: Cheeky little fox. <<less

This is a story about the villain's rise from street rat to tyrant, and his ill-fated romance with the golden-eyed hero.... more>>

Rin the Rat is destined to be the villain, the black-hearted monster who the righteous hero must conquer. He's got a nasty bite, a filthy mouth, and a beautiful façade that hides a lethal madness. 

Fifth Lord Hwan Jun is destined to be the People's Lion, the righteous hero who must war with his heart to save the world. His healing hand and gentle temperament is the only power in the world that can tame his beloved monster.

When fate draws hero and villain together, there's an unlikely and undeniable connection. They are destined to be devoted lovers. And destined to be mortal enemies. 

This is their story. From their first meeting in the Imperial city of Hanjuyang to their final confrontation on the bloody battleground. Spanning across four nations, the realms of the living and the dead, and over twelve beautiful and painful years.

AN: I am currently doing a rewrite and update of earlier arcs.

For the most up to date version of the novel, please check it out at:
https://chrysanthemumgarden.com/novel-tl/rin/

***

Book I: The Rat & The Little Lord (Current)
Book II: The Rebel & The Knight
Book III: The Tyrant & The Hero

***

CW: All characters are 18 and older in this story! Please be aware that this story contains difficult themes that may be triggering to some readers. I will always post a content warning at the start of every chapter when relevant. Themes include: graphic violence, gore, physical/sexual/emotional abuse, graphic sex scenes, trauma and mental illness, personality disorders, substance abuse, drug use, self-harm & s*icide, r*pe & sexual assault, gaslighting/manipulation, domestic violence, and MANY other difficult adult themes.

Cultural Representation: This is set in a fantastical amalgamation of East Asian countries (namely Korea, Japan & China) with heavy Western/European influences. There will be names that are real and fake as well as references to various Asian cultures. I will generally only stick to East Asian cultures and references as this is my own cultural heritage. Any other culture I reference will only be done after extensive research. If you find I am stepping out of my lane in any way, please let me know.

***

Cover Art: woodjabean
Check them out @ https://ko-fi.com/woodjabean

***

© 2023 Iseul Hwangbo, All Rights Reserved <<less

Elizabeth Gray has just lost her job, as she walks slowly in the rain, wondering how she will pay for her sister's medicine a glimmer of hope shines down on her.
In the gutter is a discarded raffle ticket for 'Vight', a popular gaming store. Wishing to prolong having to see and disappoint her younger sister, she decides to visit the store.
Despite the looks she garners for her ragged appearance she wins the 3rd prize: A copy of the newest VR game, 'Everlast Online', set to be released the following day and a high-end 'Voyager' visor to play it with.
ELO is the newest leap in gaming technology as a game rendered entirely by... more>> an AI known as GAIA, supposedly containing endless possibilities and adventure. But what catches Liz's eye is how the Unified World Bank (UWB) has agreed upon its in-game currency having IRL value, presenting a money making opportunity for her.
Liz decides to take advantage of the opportunity and plans to enter the game in hopes of making enough money for her sister to live happily.
But after a series of random lucky moments Liz finds herself quickly gaining power in this new world.

In her quest for a comfortable life, will Elizabeth become one of the strongest players within Everlast Online?

==================

Hey viewers.
I’ve recently had some issues with someone stealing what i’ve written and uploading it without my permission.
Below is a link to my patreon, please feel free to go support it as it really helps me out :)
Please read and hopefully enjoy

https://www.patreon.com/CassReyes?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator <<less

For as long as anyone can remember, humans have been preyed upon by Harbingers, living nightmares which devour dreams and passions and souls, and defended by Keepers. These children alone hold the gift of magic, the wild and wondrous ability to impose emotions over reality and empower their frail bodies with the splendor of their souls. Under their protection, humanity was able to survive and thrive.... more>>

While modern Keepers have come to enjoy a social position somewhere between celebrities and religious idols, very few accept the mantle simply to be a hero. The Messengers of the Goddess Claiasya, spirits charged with awakening the magic in suitable souls, promise that Keepers who consume and purify enough Harbingers will obtain the power to change themselves or the world in nearly any way they wish.

It’s for this purpose that Liadain Shiel, a young girl born terminally ill, throws herself into life as a Keeper when her opportunity comes, hoping against hope to rewrite her fate and save her life while she still can.

But magic wants its wielders to grow and change, not simply continue living, and the secrets swimming beneath the sea and behind the sky have lives and designs of their own.

Nowhere Stars is an ongoing fantasy-horror web novel about traumacore magical girls, nightmares clothed in ribbons and lace, alienation from reality, and broken children twisting the world into whatever shape they must to make their dreams come true.

This is a mirror of Nowhere Stars' home site, located here: https://nowherestars.net/
Updates will be posted at the same time, currently every other Wednesday.

Please be aware that my writing trends quite dark and disturbing. If you're looking for more detailed content warnings, there's a list that should be considered to apply to the story as a whole here: https://nowherestars.net/content-warnings/

Discord: https://discord.gg/UPYYpcvfqX
Topwebfiction: https://topwebfiction.com/listings/nowhere-stars/ <<less

After a fatal accident, Kenji Oshimoto and Misumi Ishikawa are cast into the world of Rune.
Monsters, magic, and dungeons are everywhere, and those who seek fortune and fame become Adventurers.
But one dungeon stands above them all: the Spire. Reaching past the clouds, the greatest treasure in existence awaits them on the tenth floor, for it is rumored that whoever can conquer the highest level of the Spire will have a single wish granted.
Thus, as they say goodbye to Tokyo, there is no choice but to seek the one chance they have at returning home. They must throw away their inhibitions and become Adventurers, then climb to the Spire's tenth floor and claim... more>> their prize, but it will by no means be an easy journey.

For fans of KonoSuba, DanMachi, and Fairytail.
I do not own the cover artwork. <<less

In the world of Lundeir, no creatures are known to be more powerful than the mighty and ancient Dragons. When a Dragon's scale is one day shattered, its shards scattered across the land, that power runs rampant.... more>>

For Misha, a mousefolk and dutiful guard of a forest village, life is simple and familiar. But when a stranger appears with news of something amiss in the forest, that familiarity is threatened.

[New chapters every other Friday.] <<less

Lilith Von Allistar has a singular goal she pursues with the fervor of a mad scientist. Immortality. She wants to see the end of the world as she knows it. See what the end of all humanity is like. She wants to see civilizations rise and fall with the times. ... more>>

Most of all she wants to see humans develop. Ever since she was a child she always wanted to know what it would be like at the end of the human race. Will they become deities? Creating their own universes and controlling the power of the sun with metal spheres like some of the history books attest they could.

Will humanity crash and burn before the finish line? If so how and why? Before everything is destroyed, Lilith wants to learn everything the world has to offer.

She wants to learn every skill, have every experience at least once and ideally interact with all the greatest figures of humanity. For that reason Lilith cannot die. She refuses to die.

Yet now she finds herself embroiled in a succession dispute between her siblings. Their fight over some gaudy chair is enough to endanger her life and that's too important to lose.

Yet Lilith finds herself in a pool of her own blood soon after the conflict starts. She was weak. Born with the curse of albinism Lilith can do nothing as she is murdered.

Lilith wasn't satisfied yet. She still needed to survive. She claws and scrapes at the floor leaving bloody hand-prints in her wake as she desperately tries to think of a solution. Any solution will do. She doesn't care what she has to become. She will see everything this world has to offer.

Which is when she's given a second chance. Upon her death she is contacted by Cognitionis a supposed sub-routine of some system. It notifies her and the rest of humanity that the isekAI project has finally begun to enter it's final stages.

Lilith is reborn as everything she wanted to be. Now she's strong, she's immortal and she's the progenitor of vampires. Lilith soon realizes she will need all the helpers she can get. She doesn't mind sharing immortality so long as she gets to see it all herself.

These new instincts though. Blood being the most delectable meal she ever ate and having the smell of a 5 star restaurant is fine by her. Why is her vampire side so arrogant and prideful though? What happened to never spending on vanity? Why is bowing her way out of a situation suddenly not an option? Lilith never cared about appearances or pride or 'the good of the race'. Why is she now forced to consider such things when they make staying out of trouble remarkably more difficult?

Even as a walking corpse Lilith can't just peacefully watch the world progress. The succession conflict is far from over, new forces are emerging and Lilith is apparently one of them. She'd do anything to survive yet her instincts tell her she should never bow to anyone, make a show of how powerful she is and spread her kind across the world like a plague.

She must now protect her immortal life, appease these new instincts and make sure she doesn't miss important events along humanity's journey. She doesn't want to be too distracted or this will have all been for naught. <<less

[I was reincarnated in a fantasy world as the manifestation of absolute void — the Black Knight, and my goal is to return the destitute, sickly, youngest-born princess, who is kind of a loser, to her throne because it beats doing nothing]
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War rages across the continent as a foreign power sets foot on the soil of the nation beneath the glow of strange starlight. Emptiness fills the eyes of people everywhere as their faces become as hard as the loveless hearts hidden within them. Those who are not involved in the war effort can only do their best to survive on the fringes for the time being.... more>>

One of these people is the exiled, youngest princess of the nation, the ill Acacia Odofredus Krone, who lives forgotten in destitute squalor as an abject failure, being not even capable enough to become a low ranking adventurer. An equally lost soul, reborn from another world, suddenly finds himself reincarnated at her side as the powerful manifestation of a creature of old prophecy; der Schwarze Ritter — the Black Knight.

Together, faced with the pressures of the horrific war, dire poverty, Acacia’s fatal sickness, and the looming threat of her noble bloodline hanging heavy over them, the two of them are forced onto a journey to find a way to live together, fighting their way out from the lowest shadows of forgottenhood in order to reach the pinnacle of either of their dreams — a life that feels like anything more than total emptiness.
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[litRPG] [Isekai] [Reborn in Another World] [Power Struggle] <<less

A beautiful queer romance featuring bisexual and non-binary lead characters. ... more>>

Welcome to the serial Lyra's Magnum Opus. The entirety will be uploaded here.

Summary:

Sana and Tetsu are musicians in Tokyo. One day, they meet over social media and their lives are changed forever. A love begins to form, and as they get closer, a secret is slowly being uncovered about Sana by Tetsu. It's a secret that Sana's band Lyra is desperate for no one to know. The secret is that Sana is very sick, and has been for a long time. When Tetsu finds out, he only loves him even more. When Sana's illness causes him to have a heart attack soon into their relationship, everyone's world is upended. He becomes gravely ill, and his long time doctor reveals to them all that his illness is and always was terminal. When Tetsu vows to take care of him no matter what, he shocks his family and friends. This is the story of that devotion between them. It is a story about family, friends, music, dance, food, tradition, and powerful love.

The story follows Lyra through the Japanese music industry. From their struggles as independent musicians in visual kei and admiring others who have "made it", to them "making it" as evolving jazz musicians and the problems and joys that go with it. As Sana gets steadily worse as time goes on, Tetsu's love for him only grows. The future is bright, but also scary. Other band members chime in with their own narratives, their stories richly told. The world of Lyra is vast, so much to tell. A large, incredible journey. The story of that journey, of loving Sana and supporting him, is Lyra's magnum opus: their greatest triumph as a band.

As the story goes on, LGBTQ issues are also explored. Tetsu is a traditional Japanese performer called an "onnagata". He struggles with stereotypes and his own journey as a non-binary person. There's Sana's own struggle with living as a stealth transgender man in an industry where's there's eyes and rumors everywhere. There's bisexual erasure, even by close friends and family. There's the problems and expectations with often conservative Japanese culture and LGBTQ issues.

Through it all, there's Sana's journey through the Japanese medical system. His treatment and medical issues are explored, as well as how the medical system treats Tetsu as his husband.

It's a long story, but if you stick with it you will love it. Will you join us?

Author's note:

Currently in the late 300's in chapters. Btw, if you like the manga/anime Nana this is for you. Same kind of maturity in writing, themes, etc. It's just also got LGBTQ characters. It also reminds me of the Japanese drama 1 Litre of Tears. There's definitely comedy as well, but it's going to make you cry. I've been writing LGBTQ stories for over 20 years. It gets good, promise.

Btw, I'm not sure this is "boys love". Hmm. It features a transgender male character who is pretty androgynous in gender identity. Then there's the other, who is AMAB and on a non-binary journey, but still prefers male pronouns at the moment. So, what is this? You decide.

Will upload one chapter per day unless people get impatient, because you know, I've got a backlog of over 300 chapters. It grows constantly. Will you ever get to what I'm currently writing? <<less

Lenn doesn't know who, where or what he is anymore. Waking up in a shabby inn, he walks outside, greeted by an unfamiliar world. The people speak words he doesn't understand, use currency he doesn't know, sell items he's never seen before. And trying to make sense of it all, he meets a certain man a tad too eager to help.... more>>

Spreading decay, a brewing war between neighboring states, a terrorist organization and a lot of running across a whole continent while Lenn struggles through his new life. <<less

Mirk has lost everything: his noble family, his home, and nearly his life. All he has left is his grandfather’s staff and the K’maneda, the strange band of foreign mercenaries who saved him. He decides to build a new life among them in their wandering City of Glass, dedicating himself to healing the outcast and forgotten men who did everything to protect him. Providence makes no mistakes. And to live is to serve.... more>>

Genesis is an expert at three things: binding magic, assassination, and cleaning potions. Everything else is a mystery to him, especially people. Which is a crucial shortcoming, considering his ambition is to launch an insurrection against the corrupt mages who have warped the K’maneda into a machine designed to grind up the poor for the benefit of the wealthy. He will never be free; his nature is destruction. Since he can’t escape it, he will use it to liberate those who aren’t bound to obey.

They’re an unexpected team: the unrelenting and inhumanly powerful Destroyer and the kindly healer with the right lineage and a knack for putting the right people in the right places. But will it be enough to ensure the revolution prevails? And is there more to their relationship beyond a mutually beneficial alliance?

Featuring: Slowest of slow-burns, grumpy x sunshine, size difference to the max, perpetual hurt/comfort, and a whole lotta bed sharing. HEA guaranteed...eventually. <<less

Struggling artist, Alvaro Gael, cares for his young daughter all alone. He has been since the day of the accident that took his loving wife... more>> away. Scarred and broken, hope remains in the form of his little miracle, Milagros. The pueblo comes under attack by the cruel Commandante. He pits neighbor against neighbor by using their ignorance to usurp control. A beautiful demogod reveals herself in time. She tries to strengthen Alvaro's heart and hope for the future. ¿But will it be enough to see him through the turbulent path ahead? <<less

Keep Breathing follows lung cancer survivor Eury as she returns to her sleepy hometown, dreading coming home to her parents and the complicated past that still haunts her. Even with every amenity afforded to her by modern society, Eury has a hard time staying alive. But when the townspeople are driven insane and begin attacking one another at random, Eury is cut off from everything and everyone she holds dear, and left with a dwindling supply of oxygen.... more>>

Hardships and heartaches, bloodshed and violence, once she’s through it all, will Eury be able to Keep Breathing?

Entered into the Metus contest (horror obviously!) I will be updating 3 times a week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! <<less

After a serious illness almost killed her several years ago, Mari has only been kept alive thanks to a local witch who casted an enchantment... more>> on her lungs, but what happens when the witch decides to move away? What does Mari have to do in order to maintain the enchantment on her own? What will she learn about herself in the process? How will it affect the complex situation going on between her and her lifelong best friend? A slice of life story about magic, suffering, and unwavering devotion. <<less

In the city of Tsukana Japan. A deadly outbreak has occurred, leading to the existence of the undead. As the city falls to chaos, Spirit... more>> and his friends must fight tooth and nail for their survival. Can they do so long enough to escape the city? Or will they all die trying?
patreon.com/FellWrites <<less

I hate them.... more>>

I despise them.

I shall curse them all.

Those are the lingering words Kim [REDACTED] [REDACTED] felt as he took his own life. But in a cruel twist of irony, the man who chose to end his life was given anew, inside the frail body of Arianne Megen Geistein.

Now in a weak and frail body, how will he who is now Arianne, how will she love from now on? If his past he was a healthy man born into poverty, how will she who is born from wealth but is sickly, how will this new life of hers be any more different from her last one? <<less

Imagine a world where Words really do have power, and Curses are something to strive towards. As long as you work hard enough, anyone can become a superhuman monster. Assuming you’re willing to pay the price.... more>>

Warning: This story is actually pretty SFW in my opinion, but apparently things like violence and gore are NSFW? It really depends on the site. This one doesn't seem to be that strict about it. If you're expecting a lot of sex scenes and cursing, this story probably isn't for you. I know, the name of the story is The Cursed Words, but unless the word 'shit' is extremely offensive to you, I don't think it qualifies as cursing. However, there are a lot of mature themes. When it comes to the Genre, the story is pretty Tragic, but I wouldn't call it a 'Tragedy'. Anyway, I also had no idea what I was doing with the Tags.

I posted a lot more on AO3 since I don't really use Scribblehub: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51591409/chapters/130402264 <<less

A mix of urban fantasy aimed at the young adult (YA) audience and a dark psychological tale of the paranormal. ... more>>

What would you do if you woke up one day, human in appearance but different genetically? Would you fight it? Or would you accept the change?

Seventeen-year-old Lea is rebuilding her life after a treacherous childhood. Blossoming from a sickly child to a beloved athlete, she still struggles with her mental health. With weekly group therapy and friends' support, she begins to heal healthily. This all comes to a halt when she finds a mysterious card in her bedroom. Unknowingly this card makes the beginning of the end of her life as a human – and her rebirth as something much more dangerous.

Can be read on Royal Road and Ao3 for free. Separated into volumes by story arch following multiple protagonists and points of view.

Contains gore, blood, abuse, and murder. Specifically, V1 contains mild mentions of past genocide and abuse, while V2 details the effects of kidnapping and sexual assault. <<less

In the year 2022, the world's first VRMMO was released to the world, and various tragedies subsequently followed. However, there were precious few of these tragedies which were told, and the so-called "Hero of Aincrad" certainly did not experience much of a tragedy, if at all.... more>>

This is the story of Amakusa Akira, a young karateka who found himself in the world of Sword Art Online and how a lighthearted adventure slowly spiraled into a living hell for him.

Disclaimer: I do not own Sword Art Online. Although I've done my best to respect the original timeline of Sword Art Online and kept most of the major events in the series untouched, there are a few creative liberties taken.

Chapters update whenever I'm not being attacked by homework. <<less

Ming Quan has been put under a terrible curse, one that will claim his life after seven days of suffering. There is only one way to escape this fate, and that is to be mated to a beast of the Silver Serpent Clan. The cold and aloof Yin Xue is just such a beast and has been under the service of the prestigious Ming family for millennia. If ordered, he will have no choice but to take the young master of the Ming household as his mate.... more>>

But refusing to take advantage of Yin Xue in such a way even for the sake of saving himself, Ming Quan instead prepares to live a leisurely life until his death. However, as Yin Xue takes care of Ming Quan during his final days, will the frost in his heart finally melt? <<less

Park Taekyun suffered every day after his sub-gender was revealed but with all the bad that happened, one good came out of it and that was in the form of his bundle of joy, his son Yule but unfortunately, life always knew how to mess with him and threatened to take his son.... more>>

With no other choice, he had to seek out his son's father who was also known as a walking lethal weapon.

The only thing he wants is to save his Dawn that cleared the gloom of from his life.

Cover art by: the_nerd.artist <<less

Enter the enchanting world of Yeonhwa, a realm where ancient magic and timeless traditions converge and embark on an extraordinary journey through time and memory... more>> in this captivating tale. Follow Ji-Yeon and her companions as they navigate a world where past and present intertwine, and destinies are rewritten. From the echoes of forgotten memories to the enigmatic powers of a medallion, immerse yourself in a story where regression holds the key to uncovering hidden truths and changing the course of fate. Join them on a quest that transcends time itself, and prepare for a narrative that unravels the threads of the past while unveiling the mysteries of the future.
"Serpent's Song: Chronicles of the Moonlit Realm" is a tapestry of magic and courage, a tale of heroes rising against the encroaching darkness. Lose yourself in a world where captivating characters, intricate world-building, and the eternal battle between light and shadow ignite a spellbinding series. Get ready to be transported into a realm of wonder, where the serpentine melody of destiny beckons-will you heed its call?" <<less

I have seen the end of the world.
Even if I am broken and covered in curses, I will change it.

I was transmigrated into the frail Princess that died because of a chronic illness.
She had only one dying wish; that someone would replace her so that her family wouldn't have to deal with her dying so young. ... more>>

In the original timeline, the princess died young, and the royal family were filled with sorrow. Now, taking over the body of the princess, her body is completely healed and I can enjoy a lavish lifestyle while being blessed with a loving family!

But why does everyone think I'm still dying?!

Slice of life / Misunderstanding story

(New chapters each Tuesday and Saturday) <<less

"Why did I even bother delaying this, I wonder..." I asked myself as tears silently streamed down my face, looking brokenly at the person who made my life complete.... more>>

"I wonder about that too..." He said with his usual gentle and tender expression, yet his narrow eyes were flashed with an unforgiving and cold gaze.

"Why haven't you killed yourself?"

(Cover created from Canva) <<less