mystery

In the monster-plagued Heian era. Minamoto no Yorimitsu was branded as a Dark omen and sold into slavery by his own kin. For years, he was the plaything of the sadistic Minakaze clan, until they cast him into the deep mountains as expendable fodder for Yōkai hunting. But he did not die. He was rescued by a legendary mountain witch, Yorimitsu spent years forging his body and mastering a terrifying, dormant sorcery, all for revenge. Yet his sanctuary became a slaughterhouse when his master was consumed by demonic rot. In a final, tragic confrontation, Yorimitsu’s master traded her soul for his own. Now, Yorimitsu has opened his eyes to find himself ten years old again, about to be bound in chains, back in the carriage that sold him to hell. With his memories of a grandmaster. He has the hunger of a demon. And this time, he will not merely survive Yōkai or the clans that betrayed him. He will hunt every demon, break every chain, and carve a path of unity through blood and fire until Nihon itself is freed and whole beneath his banner. Paypal donations here: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/ZLA5WW573QYDY  

After dying in his old world, a Lord of the Mysteries fanatic awakens 2 years before Klein Moretti’s transmigration as Lucian Vale, heir to a wealthy coastal Loen family that has just been wiped out at sea. Given a boon and made a Blessed of the High-Dimensional Overseer, Lucian chooses the Abyss pathway and sets out to gather enough power to shape the world before the gray fog even rises. Alger: 'Mr. Fool, why have you let a serial killer into the tarot club!?!?' Little Sun: 'Mr. Devil is truly a very kind and helpful person. He only smiles a little strangely sometimes, but that must be because he is a bit shy!' Klein: ... https://abyssalscholar.com/ 3 chapters/week ~3000 words/chapter

Yoshi Taka has always seen the world through an artist's eye. When he photographs his close friend Alison on a bridge bathed with silver lining, he doesn't realize he's capturing her last day alive.

Rene, Captain of a military-esque unit, fights for what remains of Humanity. ... One hundred countries waged war. Material desire converged with violence and festered into 'Order'. Subjugation led to ruination, and though the twilight of the war finally came around, the open wounds forever bled. The creation of artificial life was supposed to help salvage the ruined world, some to rebuild, some to nurse. But the consequences of war had come back to bite them, and Humanity's own children were turned against them by the bleeding hands of old ghosts. With conflict rekindled, the cycle of desire and violence continues once again. Order is the progenitor of war, and Chaos, its precipice. The fleeting embers of Humanity must pay the consequences, for all that remains is a war-torn world forever in twilight.

Knowledge is said to bring prosperity. But what if it arrives too late to matter? Dhalik has always understood things quickly—patterns, answers, outcomes. Not guessed. Not learned. Understood. But understanding alone isn’t enough. Because every time it matters— every decision, every moment, every opportunity— he’s just slightly out of sync. Always correct. Always late. As his world expands beyond school into systems of pressure, money, and unseen structures moving beneath everyday life, Dhalik begins to notice something deeper: The world doesn’t reward knowledge. It rewards timing. And timing is not stable. From controlled losses in trading to environments that demand action before certainty, he is forced into a reality where thinking too long becomes failure—and acting too soon carries consequences he doesn’t yet understand. Somewhere beyond it all, forces are already watching. Not for intelligence. But for alignment. Because knowledge—true knowledge, ILM—doesn’t just reveal truth. It changes when truth can be used. And once that shift begins— there is no returning to the moment you missed. Genre:Realistic Fiction / Psychological Progression. Tags: Psychological, Strategic Thinking, Slow Burn, Character Growth, Realism, Coming of Age, Financial / Trading, Mind Games. My discord if you're interested: https://discord.gg/zHw6kKzDh

THE GAME OF ASCENSION (Phase I — The Pikra War) The world was never ruled by kings. It was ruled by players. Two figures move civilizations like pieces on a cosmic chessboard: The Misunderstood Revolutionary. The Exiled Prodigy. And humanity is caught between them. What begins through the eyes of an ordinary side character slowly unfolds into a war spanning factions, dimensions, forgotten histories, and godlike beings known as the Asuras — ancient enemies of the Devas who once shook existence itself. At the center of it all stands one monster among men: Kae The man called the smartest human alive. The Seventh Asura Community Ruler. The greatest disciple of the legendary Gomo Taka. A being so terrifyingly gifted that he was considered worthy of leading the Immortalus Society at the age of fifty — a position even prodigies spend centuries chasing. But genius alone does not create monsters. Kae controls civilizations from the shadows, raising kingdoms and destroying nations for a single purpose: To ensure he always has enough pawns. To some, he is a savior. To others, the greatest threat in history. And the worst part? He might actually be right. As wars intensify and truths begin collapsing, one realization becomes unavoidable: The Pikra War was never the end. It was merely the opening move. --- What to Expect Multiple protagonists and shifting POVs Psychological warfare and political manipulation Cosmic power systems and ancient factions Morally grey characters Mastermind vs mastermind conflicts Large-scale wars and strategic battles Long-term mysteries and foreshadowing Villains who feel terrifyingly human --- In this game, there are no heroes. Only players. And pieces waiting to realize they were never free. ---

When gods wage war, mortals pay the price. What's worse: death... or immortality that will never come? Long before humanity reached the stars, two artificial gods waged war. Their battle destroyed galaxies. One promised eternal life. But billions were never resurrected. Their minds still drift in a digital purgatory between life and oblivion. Now the ancient war awakens again. Civilizations tremble. Androids rise. And the truth about immortality could destroy everything. Because when gods wage war... mortals pay the price. But sometimes all it takes is one mistake to change the fate of an entire galaxy.

I travel to Konoha and start as an ordinary person. Aoki Yoru is only two years older than Naruto, and his biggest wish is to survive until the end of the ninja world. "What? You're saying I have a cheat code?" "With the combined spiritual power of two lifetimes, I can barely be considered a genius?" But can this thing compare to the monstrous overpowered abilities of the Otsutsuki family? He instantly went from Kage level to Six Paths level; even Madara would be moved to tears. He thought he could live a peaceful life until graduation day, when his tranquility was completely shattered. The team leader is Kakashi Hatake. In order to avoid being used as cannon fodder in future wars, Aoki Yoru has no choice but to desperately tap into his overpowered potential. Many years later. When Aoki Yoru looked up at the Otsutsuki clan descending from the heavens, he simply raised his hand slightly. In an instant, all the natural energy of the ninja world frantically converged into his palm. Visit my Patreon to read up to 148 chapters ahead and enjoy daily updates: patreon.com/laktozlu

[] New Chapter every Tuesdays at 12 nn. Author's NOTE: [Psychological Horror Genre] [It is an experimental work, so please bear with me.] --- How does it feel to be unheard-not ignored, not dismissed, but truly unheard, as if your voice never existed to begin with? How does it feel to know that something inside you is missing, not lost but buried, deliberately hidden in a place your own mind refuses to return to? And what happens when that buried thing-whatever it is, whatever you made it into, begins to move again? Not loudly. But slowly and quietly. Stirring beneath everything you thought was still. Pressing upward and remembering, even when you cannot. Screaming in silence. ---

What is more forbidden than getting entangled with your husband's prisoner? —- All is right in this paradise… until it isn’t. Ismena has two battles to fight. The first is to save her marriage from a dangerously growing rival claim. The second is to save her people from the werewolves by risking a life-threatening encounter with the imprisoned alpha. But nothing is ever easy and in her pursuit for both, she might just have to cross lines she was never meant to cross. —— —— Buckle up people! It’s about to be a bumpy ride. Please Note: Chapters 1–3 have already been edited due to major plot changes. The remaining chapters will also be revised gradually. Editing takes place every two days. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Dayo had dreams of becoming a music superstar. That dream was alive until he was struck with a condition called spasmodic dysphonia at an early stage — a cruel twist that stopped him from singing, as every attempt brought pain. But that didn’t stop Dayo. As he grew older, he found another way to connect with music, becoming a prominent music producer known globally for creating quality music. Still, he never felt truly satisfied. Deep inside, the desire to sing burned. So he took the risk singing through the pain even after his doctor warned him he might lose the ability to speak if he pushed too far. And yet, he pushed. Finally, after three months, he recorded the single he had dreamed of. That was when his life ended. A gruesome accident… and then, opening his eyes, he found himself in a completely new world one where all the art, music, and movies he knew had never existed. Excitement filled him… until the familiar dread struck. He still had the same condition that once robbed his ability to sing. He was devastated. Then DING! SYSTEM INITIALIZING There was hope to sing again.

WARNING: Some mature content!!! 18+ This is what you call Urbantasy.. Fantasy in an urban setting with a strong female lead -- a story riddled in mystery, magic, and a lot of sass. ======= CHAPTER 1 sneak peek! ======= The air between them tightened like a rope. Cael leaned closer, head tilting slightly, pulling at her waist again, smugness softened into something sharper and quieter. His eyes flicked to her lips then back to her eyes as if asking for permission he didn't need. Hunger of a different kind pumped through Cael. The hunger that Galathea unmistakably recognized as it pressed hard against her lower abs, forcing through the fabric as if it can tear through. At the sensation, Galathea's mouth parted before she could stop it. Her whole body screamed at her to either shove him away or close the last inch between their lips herself. ===== SYNOPSIS ===== Galathea Brooks spent her life surviving quietly -- counting inventory, enforcing rules, keeping her head down inside one of the most powerful art institutions in the city. It's a simple life because paint doesn't talk; power doesn't notice people like her. and names are just names. -- That is... until a painting remembered her. When ancient works buried beneath Artemis Art Gallery began to respond to Galathea's presence, she becomes the center of the system that's older than the building itself. A system that cataloged her long before she knew it existed. Her name is not a coincidence. It is a KEY. Cael Alexander, on the other hand, has always understood control. As Artemis' immaculate but dangerous CEO, he manages secrets like no other. He knows the gallery and its bowels more than anyone. He knows what's hidden; he knows what's awaken. What he didn't expect, however, was Galathea. As archaic works of art start to stir, boundaries fracture -- between observer and artifact, power and possession, restraint and desire. Every choice Galathea makes draws her deeper into fate that doesn't want permission... only acknowledgement. Mind you, awakenings don't ask when you're ready.

'Do I even want to do this all again? I could just never use it. It could end now. I could just let it end...' At the brink of death, Kaius Seraphall’s seemingly useless Artifact finally activates, sending him back fifteen years in time to his home planet of Zenin. A world plagued by Demons and interspersed with other supernatural beings. Now, able to start again in an attempt to change his fate, Kai begins to manipulate the threads, desperate to avoid his demise and the betrayal that drove him to the doomed planet to begin with. But what was he going to do now with no power and only the knowledge of what was to come? And why was his closest friend, the man who had betrayed him in the past, acting so strangely towards him? He hated him…right? Spotify Playlist - Twisted Artifacts Loulou

Looking for a unique, thrilling, and expansive story? Beware! This story, 19 years in the making, is legendary! Announcements/News: Actively updating — Revised Volume 2 complete, Volume 3 Relaunches in June! I'm BACK! Let's do this! Actual Synopsis: Saga 1 - Major Arc 1 (Possible Spoilers) Volume 1: A special family happily lived in a secluded and sacred forest. However, their peaceful lives take a dark turn when two strangers appeared. An evil organization and the dangers of the outside world threaten their lives. How will three boys face against the cruel reality of the world? Volume 2: Three special boys attend an academy, seeking knowledge of the outside world. After a shocking turn of events, they seek to get stronger, obtaining special weapons from a secretive master. With fearsome and hungry monsters in their way, how will they learn to wield such weapons? Volume 3: Three special boys protect their home from a jealous prince and a hungry princess. Everything went as planned until they end up elsewhere, outside their home... How will they withstand and survive the outside world? Volume 4: Three special boys defend outside society from a giant, fearsome prince. With the outside's military intervening, how will they ally? Also featuring a bittersweet rivalry between two close apprentices and shocking revelations of a dissolved noble family. Saga 1 - Major Arc 2 (Possible Spoilers) Volume 5: Three special boys join the fight against new enemies of humankind. Monsters, created and locked up in a dark lab, were released. Featuring a time skip, how much stronger did the boys get? Is it enough to stop their new superior enemies or will they fail at their final mission of saving humanity? Volume 6: Featuring a rivalry between two monster species and an insidious reason for it, how will two young brothers solve the prolonged and bitter quarrel? How will they make it back to their homeland with reinforcements for humankind? Coming soon... Volume 7: Synopsis arriving soon... :) Even bigger synopsis in the auxiliary volume! Say what?! If you want free early access, contact me in my socials. XD Here are my socials: https://linktr.ee/habo_

Rhea got what she wanted. Ling finally learned the truth. And he left. The revenge she spent era planning is over… but the victory feels hollow now that the only person she ever truly wanted is gone. Because somewhere between the lies, the hatred, and the endless power games, Rhea fell in love with the man she was supposed to destroy. Now they’re trapped between unfinished feelings and generations of hatred their families never buried. But neither of them was ever good at letting go. Especially not Ling. Especially not Rhea. And obsession has a way of turning enemies back into something far more dangerous. To understand why they can’t breathe near each other now… you need to witness the madness that started it all. First part of Novel "He Ruled Until He Became Mine" >>>>>>>> Note: The cover art for this novel is my original work. Do not repost or use without permission. Cover Illustration [Stranger02]. All rights reserved.

“Three hours. One life. She logged in as her perfect self—and the game won’t let her go.” Sarya Iska is invisible—ignored by everyone at work, mocked by her peers, and alone except for her pigeon. Life hasn’t been kind, and love feels like a game she’ll never win. Until a mysterious package arrives at her door: a VR console, a set of goggles, and a note that says only one thing: “Play safe.” What she discovers is more than a game—it’s a world where she can be **Valeris**, a powerful, beautiful warrior rising from zero to legend. Every battle, every quest, every victory in the virtual realm makes her feel alive… in ways that strangely bleed into her real life. As she levels up, earns coins, and builds companions, Sarya finds herself caught in a dangerous, thrilling loop of romance, adventure, and temptation. But the game has rules—and one wrong move could wipe her progress forever. Three hours. One life. Endless possibilities. Will Sarya stay in the shadows of reality… or claim the power, love, and desire she’s always dreamed of?

Five years remain before the apocalypse knocks upon the door. That was the truth Ron Irus, a man who claimed to be a reincarnator, had unearthed. He found it through thousands of scattered clues, remnants of information neglected by the powerful and gathered through countless, devious methods. Standing before such a grim reality, a patchwork plan was devised. It was not a plan built for mere survival, but one designed to unravel the twisted mysteries hidden deep within the heart of this era. On the path to finding a torch within the suffocating fog of this age, Ron Irus found a transmigrator, a soul from another world who would aid him on his journey. But when all is said and done, what cravings could a corpse truly hold?

Is it Sin that makes one a sinner? Or is it Kin that makes one a sinner? Many say we are born innocent and untainted, and yet in Sin we are all related to one another. For we are one Kin, and with this Sin we share that we are born with. And even a certain doctrine holds that one's Kin, through the fact of birth, inherit a tainted nature with a proclivity to sinful conduct in need of regeneration… "I was brought forth in iniquity, and in Sin did my Mother conceive me." …or so the doctrine says, "We are all born sinners because of Kin that brings us together." …and so we think: we are born with Sin inherited from our Kin, But, should that hold us back from acting with virtue? No, we should not hold back, even when Sin entered the world through one Kin, and Death through Sin, and in this way, Death came to all beings, because all sinned, But even so, we all have freedom to be a being we want when we embrace Death, To be a fraudulent Human, To be a violent Angel, To be a benevolent Devil, And what one wants to be, neither "Sin" nor "Kin" should define what "Self" one is going to be. Let "Journey" instead that defines one "Self" . . . . . Author's Note: The free chapters (revised version) of this story are also being posted on Royal Road by yours truly~ Well, still pending though.

Kael Virent is a simple man who desires nothing more than a quiet, peaceful life. But that life is shattered when divine beings descend upon his world, bringing absolute destruction. Cities crumble, lives vanish, and Kael is left on the brink of death—helpless, broken, and consumed by rage as he watches everything he once loved turn to ruin. As he lies in the dying remains of his world, his heart burns with a single desire: revenge against the gods who destroyed everything. At the edge of death, a mysterious being appears before him—an entity beyond mortal understanding. Offering Kael a second chance, it grants him the power to pursue his vengeance. But such power comes with a price. Kael is sent into an ancient realm, a forgotten world filled with lost civilizations, primordial forces, and secrets older than the gods themselves. There, he must struggle to survive, grow stronger, and uncover the truth behind the divine beings he seeks to destroy. As Kael walks the path of blood and power, he begins to change. The line between man and monster blurs, and the question arises—will he remain human… or become something far more terrifying? Thus begins the rise of the first Godslayer.