Ascendance of a Bookworm - Chapter 20 - Tory’s Baptismal Ceremony

A conversation with a handsome stranger leaves Ariane chained in a cellar with a strange affliction. She soon discovers that the darkness of the nineteenth century’s Deep South hides many dangers. Mages, wolf shifters and the humans who hunt them play a risky game where to stumble is to die, all under the amused gaze of the apex predators of the supernatural world: vampires.

It is never healthy to attract the gaze of the aristocracy of the night. It takes much to survive in this merciless world, but Ariane will not let that deter her. The southern belle has a bite, and she is willing to learn and to grow in this hostile new world. She will use whatever means necessary to reclaim her freedom, be it guile, charm, or those intriguing new instincts that make blood so delectable.

This is a story of vampires as I believe they should be, with their strengths and weaknesses, with their remnants of humanity and the beast inside. Updates every Friday. Mind the tags.

Cover by Antti Hakosaari: https://www.artstation.com/haco

Special thanks to Svensonsen for getting me started, as well as Omi Nya, Hesketh, Rhaegar, Yaksher, Selkie and Raven for proofreading my stuff. Thanks to my patrons and you dear readers, for the support. I could not do it without you.

Journey is on Amazon, both in ebooks and audio. here is a link to the first one:

https://www.royalroad.com/amazon/B08DK6G8Y8

The story probably exists in your local marketplace as well of I can tempt you.

Gao Yang was a military enthusiast, an ordinary one, who loved knives, guns, and adventure.In an accident, Gao Yang found himself in Africa, where he unfortunately experienced a plane crash. Although he miraculously survived, his life henceforth was one where he could only scrape by under the muzzle of guns, for he had become a mercenary.What heights could a military enthusiast reach in the international Mercenary World?Please, wait and see.

[An explosive and thrilling story, highly recommended by the Chief Editor himself. A must-read divine book, you’ll regret not reading this.]In the eyes of others, he might have seemed like a worthless fool, but he was revered as the master of appraisal, the miraculous healer, the charming sorcerer, the lord of the Dragon Palace, the invincible war god… With a hand that wielded golden needles against death itself, and another that brandished a longsword, compelling nations to submit, he possessed unparalleled prowess. His divine gaze surveyed the heavens and the earth, while his demonic sight pierced through the veils of yin and yang. He was unmatched in all the world!

Battle Emperor Fu Sheng is the most popular player in the game, The New Age. Everyone believes that only he will become the champion in the final battle! His real name—Lin Jie. The reason for his participation in the battle is to win the Capsule of Revitalization for his injured mother and sister. With the Broken Blade, a Heritage weapon, in hand, he finally makes it to the final battle! Only then does he realize that his best friend had betrayed him! After his devastating defeat, Lin Jie is shocked to realize that he had time-travelled all the way back to a few years ago when the beta version of The New Age was just about to launch!

With all my knowledge of the game…
Pros on the leaderboard? All of them my underlings!
First kill of a BOSS? Mine!
First clear of the exclusive dungeon? Still mine!

Whatever I lost in the past, I’ll get them all back!
Whoever brought me trouble, you’re as good as dead!
When I have the chance to do it all over again, I WILL BE EMPEROR!

I am Fu Sheng, the STRONGEST warrior in The New Age. No one, absolutely no one, can stand before me!

- Description from Novelupdates