The Sword and The Shadow - Chapter 40 – Annelotte

Mirian Castrella, a student in her final year of a magical academy, unexpectedly finds herself caught in a time loop and haunted by strange dreams of the Elder Gods. Her plan had been to become an artificer to support her struggling family, but when the Akana Praediar army betrays her country in a surprise attack, everything changes. Instead, she finds herself delving into the dark secrets of the world, mastering magic, finding allies, and uncovering a vast conspiracy. However, just because the time loop can save her life doesn’t mean it can save her from everything. Mirian must navigate a dangerous world changed by the magitech revolution. Her quest to save the world from the apocalypse will lead her to battle magi and beasts, into the unfathomable underground Labyrinth, across distant lands, and into forgotten ancient ruins. Only through becoming a master arcanist who understands the true nature of the world can Mirian hope to stop the apocalypse she relives through time and time again. If she fails, everything she loves will be lost. ‍ What to expect: - Slow burn power progression - A clever protagonist who changes as the story moves from arc to arc - Expansive world-building full of complexity and secrets - A focus on magic - Intrigue and spell-flinging fights - A rotating cast of characters in each arc - Starts slow, then picks up speed

After two-hundred years of diligent cultivation, Xie Jiuniang successfully achieved Core Formation, yet on that very night, she was killed by her dual-cultivation partner Lin Wangchen.However, Xie Jiuniang was reborn... and she accidentally discovered a great secret.It turned out that in her previous life, she was a child deeply favored by the Heavenly Dao, watched over by some top forces who secretly stole her opportunities time and again, fattening up the esteemed talents of the Cultivation World, with that scum being just one of them.The weak, pitiable, and helpless Xie Jiuniang decided to first become a dark horse, secretly sweeping away all the opportunities.And so...The favored talents were dumbfounded, “Where did my opportunity go?”Her scumbag ex-husband felt wronged, “ ...She didn't like me.”Her cousin with the Heavenly Spiritual Root was shocked, “What happened to the supposedly weak talent, how is her cultivation speed faster than mine?”The big shots behind the scenes also started cursing, where was the great opportunity for the child of the Heavenly Dao to ascend? Something is not right!Opportunities?I've taken them, all of them!His, yours, they are all mine, Xie Jiuniang's!Before she knew it, she had trampled over all the privileged talents, challenged all the big shots, becoming the most formidable name, and rolled up into the number one person in the Cultivation World!

A dungeon core novel. But with bees. A bee dungeon, if you will. Oh, and something about a young man finding his place in the world and maybe learning about the deadly calamity that threatens all of humanity. But mostly the bee thing.

At the movie premiere, a curious reporter notices the marks on Xia Siyu’s neck. “What’s that?”

Xia Siyu flicks her hair carelessly. “A mosquito bit me.”

After returning home, Bo Yan pins her against the wall, his voice teasing yet dangerous.

“A mosquito? Do I need to bite you again?”

Xia Siyu gains weight easily and is always fat shamed with words like being “as fat as a pregnant woman”. One day, she is mocked so harshly that she appears on the top searches. While everyone thinks of it as another joke, the movie star, Bo Yan, replies unexpectedly, “Thank you for your well wishes! Our baby is already three months old.”