Upstart Pastry Chef ~Territory Management of a Genius Pâtisserie~ - Volume 1 - Chapter 19

Three centuries ago, reality tore open and parasites from another dimension poured through. They didn't just kill humanity—they consumed it, wearing human faces while spreading like a plague through every major city.The strong became Originals, commanding lesser generations in a hierarchy of monsters that humanity calls Bloodsuckers.Now they own everything. Governments, corporations, entire cities bow to creatures that should be myths.That's when the Shadowguard was born. They were humanity's elite hunters equiped with the skills and tools to put an end to the bloodsuckers. But they became nothing more than political tools, protecting the wealthy while the poor got harvested by Bloodsuckers like cattle.Kaine Cross was one of the best hunters alive until he walked away from the corruption. He decided to become a solo hunter.Unfortunately, going freelance got him killed by the very monsters he'd spent twelve years learning to destroy.Death was supposed to be final. Instead, Kaine awakens in an ancient tomb with a system that makes him something the bloodsuckers have never faced—a predator that grows stronger with every kill, commands armies of the dead, and turns their own kind against them.Every kill feeds his strength. Every corpse becomes a loyal soldier. Every battle expands his growing army until even vampire lords will bow or join his ranks permanently.[LEGENDARY WEAPON ACQUIRED: SOUL END - THE DEATH REAPER][SKILL UNLOCKED: CORPSE DOMINATION - UNLIMITED ARMY CAPACITY][MORTAL ESSENCE SYSTEM: ABSORB POWER FROM EVERY KILL]Zombies. Liches. Reapers. Wights. Revenants. And even monster girls; beautiful, deadly creatures once enslaved by the vampires now serve at his side, bound by Kaine’s will or by lust, vengeance, and freedom.He's not a hero. Heroes save people. Kaine Cross collects enemies and turns them into allies, whether they want to be or not.The vampires ruled through fear for centuries. Now they're about to learn what happens when death itself holds a grudge.Join Kaine as he builds an unstoppable army of undead and monster girls, and leads them on a path of blood-soaked revenge.Build an army. Claim your revenge. Rule the dead.

“Please, I implore you to save the world.” This is what a goddess in white says to me in a pure-white space. Such is the standard line that suggests the game is about to begin. Please say this stirring line to boys and girls with sparkling eyes! It’s wrong to direct it to someone like me, who’s exhausted from job hunting! When I declined her politely, she flew into a fit of tears; when I agreed to assist her on small tasks out of reflex, she proclaimed: “it’ll be fine if you just help in the Starting-Village Arc. Please guide the Hero!” Then she tossed me into another world. No, this is a world modeled after a game that this gamer goddess likes…

When Sang Qianqian, the eldest lady of the Sang family, was eighteen years old, she fell in love with Shen Hanyu at first sight.

“Shen Hanyu, I like you.”

“But I don’t like you.”

Shen Hanyu spoke ruthlessly, every word was sonorous, “Not now, and not in the future.”

In a fit of rage, the eldest miss planned to teach Shen Hanyu a lesson.

However, he found out that Shen Hanyu might be a tyrannical and cruel boss in the future, and he would also cause the destruction of the Sang family?

Sang Qian slipped away: She can’t afford to like the boss, so “death escape” is the best policy.

Shen Hanyu once hated Sang Qianqian, but after she left, his obsession was almost crazy.

Sang Qianqian, who has fled far away from home, lived a happy life.

One day, I suddenly heard that Shen Han, a big business man, dug her cemetery like crazy, looking for her everywhere.

Sang Qianqian felt alarm bells in her heart, and she was about to run away when she packed up.

As a result, when the door was opened, Mr. Shen stood outside the door with a dark face, gritted his teeth: “Run, you continue to run.”

Sang Qianqian thought carefully, since she can’t escape, why not try to influence the boss?

As a result, the probation failed, and he put himself in.

Years later.

Sang Qianqian, who found out that she had been deceived, left the divorce agreement in front of Shen Hanyu: “I want a divorce!”

Shen Hanyu wrapped the man in his arms and lowered his head to cover the girl’s lips.

After a long time, he asked in a hoarse voice, “Are you still leaving?”

Sang Qianqian was dizzy at the kiss: “No, we won’t leave…”

“That’s called husband.”

“Old, husband…”

Shen Hanyu nodded with satisfaction: “Well, good.”

- Description from novelbuddy

Elaine Monroe never meant to fall in love with him. She never meant for her heart to betray her like this. But as she watches him stand beside another, hand resting on the waist of the woman he’s meant to be with, she wonders if she was always destined to be the outsider.“You knew,” she says, voice barely above a whisper. “You knew how I felt.”His jaw tightens, but he doesn’t deny it. He never does.“It wouldn’t have changed anything,” he finally says.She laughs bitterly. “I know.”Loving him was always impossible. He belonged to someone else. To his family’s expectations. To a future where Elaine had no place.“Forget whatever you think you feel,” he tells her, voice firm, but there’s something unspoken in his eyes—something that makes it hurt even more. “It will never happen.”And yet, his gaze lingers, just for a second too long.Then there’s her best friend—the one who stands beside her when the world turns its back. The one who sees her pain without asking.“You don’t have to do this to yourself,” he says, handing her his jacket on a cold night. “You deserve more than waiting for someone who will never be yours.”She wants to believe him. She wants to move forward. But some loves are impossible to forget. Some wounds never truly heal. And some desires, no matter how forbidden, refuse to die._____“loving him best decision i ever made” Elaine“you are my world”