Strike Back, Proud Goddess! - Chapter 336 - Appeared in Hot Search Again

Once upon a time, there was a makeup artist who possessed outstanding skills and top-notch aesthetic judgement. When he did makeup for various stars, he could embellish sharpness onto the smooth vases that lacked edges, and he could make models who exceeded the boundaries of aesthetics to appear delicate and soft, more approachable to people.

Male stars loved to request him, for he had a thorough understanding of masculine charm in particular, and the makeup he did was never garishly slathered in oils or powders, instead exuding a natural, dashing air of elegance.

Female stars loved to request him, because not only was he excellent in his skills, he was also everyone’s closest confidant; when they chatted, he could easily hold any conversation, and his mouth would be tightly sealed, never allowing anyone’s privacy to slip out.

Although this person was quite young, after getting by in the makeup industry the past few years, he was virtually considered as a distinguished personality in his profession, and would be referred to as a ‘master’ wherever he went.

But he had a terrifying secret. He needed to carefully tread on thin ice and couldn’t expose even the slightest traces; otherwise, nobody would invite him to work ever again, and nobody would apply to the classes he led anymore.

—He was a straight man.

- Description from Novelupdates

Masaru Ryunosuke is an outcast—a scholarship student in a school of elites, struggling to keep his head down in a world that looks down on him. But when a chance encounter with a vampire attack leaves him at death’s door, he wakes up to a new reality—he's no longer human.Now a ghoul, the lowest rank of undead, Masaru finds himself thrown into a world of ancient bloodlines, deadly supernatural creatures, and secret organizations hunting beings like him. His only guide? Akane Mikazuki, the cold and ruthless noble vampire who saved him, but only for her own mysterious reasons.Armed with the Cape of Dracula, an artifact of legendary power, and an unnatural potential that defies vampire logic, Masaru refuses to accept his fate as a weakling. If the world wants to treat him like a mere undead—then he’ll rise above them all and prove them wrong.As battles erupt between vampires, werewolves, assassins, and monstrous beings, Masaru must claw his way up the supernatural hierarchy before he’s devoured by forces beyond his comprehension. Because in this world, the weak exist only to be devoured.But what happens… when an undead refuses to stay at the bottom?

Shion, the ‘Hero of Darkness’. He was said to be the strongest hero ever. He believed one thing, and that was his current party members.

“I’ll defeat the Demon Lord with this party!”

That is what he swore to do, but a tragedy occurs. He was painfully betrayed by the girls that he trusted.

He barely held onto his life, but the incident left a deep scar in his heart.

He gave up on living, and while he was wandering around in a forest, looking for a way to die, a single monster appeared in front of him.

“Will you kill me, please?”

The monster asked Shion, who was still strong, despite losing his powers.

What Shion, who wanted to die as well, did was―

Kai's story begins in a cold holding cell - with no memories and nothing to live for. Just pain and rage. Broken, like the world around him. That’s when everything went black...The next thing he knew, he awoke as a mutant!Seven years earlier, in 2020, the Z Virus outbreak shattered the world. Cities fell. Beasts and monsters ravaged the streets. And from the chaos, mutants emerged - humans twisted by the virus into something more. A gift and a curse.But Kai didn’t mutate from the virus.He was made.The first and only stable artificial mutant, created by the twisted genius Dr Nyx - a man who failed to replicate him and spiralled into obsession.Tortured. Experimented on. Pushed to the edge. Kai finally escaped after his awakening, but the scars remained. And so did the power.Now free, Kai is cold, calculating, and merciless. His ability to manipulate blood - his own or others' - is terrifying. But to him, it’s just a tool. One he’ll wield without hesitation.In a ruined world ruled by the Association, mutants, and the strong, Kai has no interest in saving it. He wants answers about his past, the truth behind his mutation, and revenge on the man who tormented him.Only one thing is certain: He who bleeds last writes the story... even if it’s in crimson ink on the bones of the fallen.This is the story of the Bloodweaver!Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Any similarities to real events, locations, or people are purely coincidental and not intended to portray anything.