Empire Ascension: The Rise of the Fated One - Chapter 161: Raid of Dutch Supplies part - 4

[ Vol.3 ] Lucius “Lucien” Cronus—a titan of time, innovation, and power—stands at the peak of a world he reshaped with genius time-fueled ambition. Yet every triumph is hollow, every bond an echo—because none can replace those he’s truly lost. When faint disturbances ripple through time, Lucien’s obsession reignites, pulling him toward a confrontation no invention can stop—and a fate no one can escape.[ Vol.1 ] Ren, a young clockmaker’s apprentice living in 1868 Japan, begins to experience strange visions—glimpses of people he’s never met and lives he’s never lived. When a girl from an elite family speaks words he’s only heard in dreams, Ren is pulled into a mystery that stretches beyond memory and time. As dangerous spirits appear and reality begins to shift, he must uncover the truth behind his visions before everything he knows begins to slip away.

In the year 2139, the world changed. Fundamentally and irrevocably.

Everything happened too quickly. The sky cracked like an egg and armored dinosaur-like monsters lurched out of the fissure. The split, though small at first, quickly widened. Within a few short hours, these beasts had overrun the world.

Countries, even those who had been enemies for centuries, sounded a global alarm. Political differences were cast aside as humans scrambled to find a solution—any solution—to what became known as the Great Disaster 1.0.

Human experimentations began, first in reluctance, then in earnest. As days turned into weeks and weeks into months, failure rates remained high. Desperate for results, global authorities started turning a blind eye to how experimental subjects were sourced.

Countless victims were kidnapped and trafficked to state-run laboratories. Shi Tian was but one of them. But unlike those who died nameless, in pain, and unrecognizable, he had the fortune of surviving after being injected with humanity’s last hope—an integrated chip.

Except… the chip remained dormant. It seemed that certain circumstances must be met before the chip could be activated. What those circumstances were, even the scientists in charge could not answer.

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Enemies to lovers? ✔️Villainous and possessive ML?✔️Fiery spirited FL?✔️Dark Romance?✔️Excerpt:“Wife?” Lady Karina repeated, almost shouting as if she'd misheard him.“I would not marry you even if you were the last man in this world,” she remarked with sweet venom, a poison Van Merikh would gladly drink. “You are a murderer and a thief. I do not want you!”“But I want you,” Van Merikh stated firmly, his dual-coloured gaze leaving no room for argument. “And that is where this conversation shall end, Lady.”Van Merikh threw open the door and practically dragged her to the base of the stairs that led to the upper floors. When she refused to mount the steps, he easily lifted her onto the first step and spanked her soundly on the bottom.“Go to your chambers,” he ordered softly.“This is not over,” Lady Karina growled. “I will fight you with the last breath in my body against this…this madness.”“Go, or you shall feel my hand on your backside again.”**************Magic as the world of Ethuaria knew it came from the distinct markings specific to each bloodline and nation that a person may or may have not been born with.It would appear at birth on different parts of the child's body, bringing about unique abilities passed down in their bloodline from mother to child.And for eighteen-year-old Lady Karina Hyacinth Reinhardt, life had always been one of comfort and peace with the secret abilities of her bloodline.As the beloved, yet sheltered, heiress of Moonveil Keep on the borders of the Kingdom of Caelthywn, she spent her days managing her father's lands and overseeing the affairs of their people, never knowing true hardship.War as she knew it was a distant nightmare that would never touch her.That was until Orpheus Van Merikh, the most feared warlord across the lands, invaded her home and seized it for his claims.Known as the devil himself, Van Merikh does not simply claim Moonveil for its riches, but also for the rumoured beasts that the Reinhardt bloodline conceals from the world.He will stop at nothing to have them.Thrown into captivity, Lady Karina expects cruelty, and Van Merikh, being the brute that he is, proves her expectations to be true.As a calculating and disciplined man who kills without hesitation yet protects what he claims, when one of his knights speaks ill of her, Orpheus cuts him down without hesitation.Lady Karina is his prize, but he would not allow others to dishonour her.However, she is not as obedient as one might think. Thus, determined to reclaim her freedom, Lady Karina refuses to cower as she challenges the enemy at every opportunity.Her defiance amuses Van Merikh, who spares her life due to her efficiencies in managing Moonveil Keep.Along the way, as they battle to find common ground, Van Merikh faces a rebellion among his own knights, who reject his growing attachment to her.They would have her dead before she warmed his bed.And oddly enough, Lady Karina finds herself charmed by the other merciful half of Van Merikh, but when her father returns to Moonveil at her request, much changes henceforth.Conspiracies arise and she soon slips out of Van Merikh's hold when he leaves for yet another conquest away from Moonveil.All hell would break loose when the beast from the depths would return upon Moonveil only to find his angel is gone.

My name is Yan, and since I was a child, I’ve been able to see some strange things.For example—In elementary school, our new neighbor Aunt Tan had a pair of all-around genius twins, who were like the “precious little geniuses” with halos above their heads. They could recite the English-Chinese dictionary backwards at three, master both Chinese and Western musical instruments by five, and hack into a country’s database by seven…Growing up next to such prodigies, my life was inhumane, tragic, and constantly subjected to comparisons.To escape the comparisons with these “other people’s children,” I specifically applied to a private boarding school for middle school.On my first day, my deskmate was a small, thin girl with bangs, wearing an old uniform, and her voice was as faint as a mosquito’s.Three months later, she woke up from a nap with a “rebirth” halo above her head.She moved effortlessly among the cold academic genius, the wolf-like school bully, the fierce boss, and the gentle childhood friend, leaving me, a lonely onlooker, utterly amazed.By university, I thought I had finally escaped this abnormal world.But as soon as I stepped into my dorm room, my footsteps froze.My roommates each had halos like “ancient times to modern,” “post-apocalyptic superhuman,” “will die if not spending money,” and “ghost king revival.”I clutched my little blanket and applied to the counselor for a room change, but to no avail.Over time, I gradually got used to it. “Handover systems,” “management systems,” “book transmigration,” “infinite worlds,” “three-and-a-half-year-olds,” “interstellar live streams,” “red envelope groups”…The types of halos kept increasing, and I was able to calmly ignore all of it, focusing on my own life.Every morning, I skillfully helped my “ancient to modern” roommate, who was being blacklisted online, dodge campus paparazzi and secure seats for class.At noon, I assisted my tycoon roommate in distributing today’s haul of luxury skincare and designer bags, tasting the city’s top private chef’s custom lunchbox, and exclaiming with emotion, “Darling, can I really accept these?”In the evening, I enjoyed the flowers and plants cultivated by my superhuman roommate on the balcony, tasting a mutated cherry tomato and commenting, “I feel refreshed and purified.”Late at night, when my ghost king roommate quietly climbed back through the window, I peeked out to ask, “You’re back a bit late today, didn’t bring anything back, did you?”My name is Yan, and I am not the protagonist of this world.