When The Mask Cracks

In a world where the currency is power and secrets are deadlier than bullets, a boy once abandoned in the shadows rises to become a feared legend. From surviving alone in the slums to mastering machines, hacking networks, and facing ruthless elites—Jake hides behind a quiet life while leading a double identity that could change everything. But when fate throws him into the chaotic world of the powerful Holande family—and the path of their misunderstood daughter Elena—the game begins. Love. Betrayal. Revenge. Power. Will the boy once worth nothing become the man everyone fears—or the one a single woman cherishes most?

Hodi's greatest curse is knowing when you lie. He felt it in the orphanage’s hollow promises. He tasted it in his adoptive parents’ sugary smiles. He never imagined that curse would crack the world open. During a college exam, hell pours through: Mirrors bleed cryptic warnings. A voice like broken glass hisses: “Eyes will bleed, truth will show reality.” The classroom shatters, plunging him into a void where two cosmic horrors whisper: “I FED ON TRUTH.” “I LIVED ON LIES.” So will he wear the MASK? Or tear it off?

When Wind Falls in Love with Fire Eren was born an ordinary boy in a remote village, dreaming only of being strong enough to protect those he loves. But when Lillian, the exiled fire princess, fell from the sky before him, everything changed. She carried with her an unquenchable fire and a contract that bound their destinies forever. In a world where fire and wind cannot unite, Eren fights to break the chains, facing the Soul Hunters who pursue them and the Guardians of the Flame who test their hearts. Between burning mountains and forgotten temples, with every test he faces, Eren moves one step closer to becoming the true heir of the wind, one who will stand by the fire without fear. But can the wind love fire... without extinguishing it? This is a story of courage, sacrifice, and the fire that will not be extinguished even in the darkest moments. If you love novels that combine romance, fantasy, and the hero's rise from weakness to strength, welcome to the world of "When the Wind Falls in Love with Fire." Start reading now, and tell us: Will you choose fire, wind, or both? ━━━━━

Josuke Hachimizu, a 22-year-old young man, thought his personal hell had ended when he left the military. After six years trying to forget the war, all he wanted was a normal life… but fate had other plans. Without warning, he is torn from his world and thrown into an unknown land by the will of the enigmatic God of Souls. There, he awakens with a broken system: the Blood System, a flawed power that prevents him from leveling up like a normal adventurer. Abandoned and cast into the Seventh Underworld—a place even demons fear to tread—Josuke is left to die. For ten years, he survives fueled by pure rage and hunger, consuming the blood of all kinds of infernal creatures, slowly evolving into something far beyond human. But when he finally escapes, he does not return to the world he once knew. Instead, he's thrown into a realm of heroes, guilds, divided kingdoms, ancient prophecies, abyssal continents, and countless dimensional dungeons… where nearly everyone sees him as a threat. And worst of all, the God of Souls still watches him, with twisted, hidden intentions. With no allies, no clear path, and a system that forces him to drink the blood of his enemies to grow and keep his humanity, Josuke Hachimizu must fight not just to survive… but to shatter the will of those who treat his life like a pawn in the cosmic game. What would you do… if your only way forward was to unleash the monster within?

In a world where strength is law and betrayal blooms like blood-soaked flowers, the once-revered warrior Sofi finds herself imprisoned in a fortress of agony—chained, broken, and haunted by the ghost of her greatest mistake: trusting her own disciple. Nikolash, once her brightest student, now walks the path of cruelty and ambition. Clad in shadows and poisoned ideals, he offers her salvation—but only in chains. His twisted vision of power seeks to remake the world, and Sofi is the final piece in his dark design. What follows is not a battle of strength, but of survival, soul, and vengeance. As Sofi endures unthinkable torment at the hands of those she once protected, her spirit is shattered—but not extinguished. In her final moments, a promise is born in blood and rage: “If I rise again… I’ll never trust, never hesitate. I will become the storm that breaks this world.” A tale of betrayal, corruption, and the rebirth of a fallen protector, Ashes of Sofi is a grim, emotional saga set in a world where light is fragile—and vengeance burns brighter than hope. Author's Note This story is entirely my original work. I have used AI tools only for English translation and grammar support due to language difficulties. All characters, plot, and worldbuilding are written by me.

By day, Li Mei is a quiet 19-year-old university student, the best friend of Zhao Ling — sister to one of the most powerful and ruthless CEOs in the city. By night, she becomes The Shadow Rider — a masked, black-clad savior who secretly rescues innocent lives from the darkness that plagues the streets of Chenghai. She thought her double life was safe. She thought no one would notice her. Until Zhao Wei, 27, CEO of Zhao Corp, saw her. He was supposed to see her as just his sister's young friend. Too young. Too off-limits. But from the moment he laid eyes on her, his world shifted. He became obsessed with her. Every detail about her, he learned through his sister. Every look, every whisper, every glance from afar… he craved more. What he doesn’t know is that the girl he secretly wants is also the masked hero that saves the humans at night. And what Li Mei doesn’t know is that Zhao Wei has already decided. She’s his. Whether she wants it or not.

A mysterious young girl, always wearing a white mask, appeared whenever the police were stuck. She solved cases no one could. She never stayed long. She never spoke much. But every time, she helped the police... and vanished before they could ask who she was. Who is she? Why does she help? And what is she hiding behind that mask?

Eleanor Hawthorne, a popular actress, fell from a building in a bizarre incident, and the police ruled it suicide. Olivia Hawthorne was forced to wear a human skin mask similar to her sister's, and was threatened by Edmund Weirt, the heir of a top wealthy family: "Either marry into the Weirt family as Eleanor Hawthorne and find out the truth, or watch the Hawthorne family disappear completely." On her wedding night, she found a bloody diary hidden in her husband's study, which recorded the death time of seven actresses - and Eleanor Hawthorne's name was on the last line.

[A DARK FANTASY WEREWOLF NOVEL.] After being casted out of her pack for being a wolfless runt and refusing to be the sex slave for the Alpha of her pack, Odette finds herself strayed in the forbidden forest, all alone and in danger, ready to face her death. Until a seven-feet tall man wearing a skull wolf mask suddenly appears in front of her, and sweeps her by her feet. He imprisons her in a mysterious place called the Kingdom of Hollow Beasts in the far north. As the Alpha King of the kingdom, he showers her with lavish gifts and gentlest care, but forbids her to leave. Facing the strange behavior, Odette questions the Masked Alpha’s intention, only for him to stare at her with glowing red eyes, saying; “You can have anything you asked for, except for freedom. You shall never leave me. Not for the hundredth time.” * Join Odette as she uncovers the secret of the Masked Alpha and their past, watch her awaken her unique power as Moon Goddess’ favorite and restore the Masked Alpha’s hollow heart. - This is a Werewolf novel, as the Masked King is an Alpha who rules over all beastmen species. Weak-to-strong, amnesiac female lead x doting Alpha male lead with traumatic past. - Official Commissioned art by @Durudara Follow me on Instagram: @ForeverPupa Other book: Beast King's Crippled Mate [Completed.]

In the village of Euphrates, which housed a flame, a flame destined to burn this universe. The village faced the tyranny of one of the tyrants, 'Count Sian', but paid the price with its blood, prompting Salman, the hero of the village, to embark on a quest for revenge. But when will this revenge end?

In a world where music once healed kingdoms and shaped the course of history, a masked boy appears from nowhere. He plays every instrument with divine mastery, yet no one knows his name, his face, or even his voice. Each time he performs, he wears a different mask, one for the violin, another for the piano, each one tied to a secret from a forgotten era. Nobles, commoners, and rebels begin chasing the legend of Nocturne, the faceless artist whose songs stir lost memories and ignite sleeping hearts. But when his haunting performance saves the life of Princess Seraphina, her obsession with the masked boy begins to unravel a hidden war, a forbidden past, and a love that could change the empire. As kingdoms fall and forgotten harmonies rise again, only one question remains Can love bloom when the soul behind the music is always hidden

In a peaceful village torn apart by a mysterious dark portal, young Aether watches his world crumble—his mother killed, his brother lost, and his father badly injured. With fire in his heart and pain in his soul, he begins a journey of training and vengeance. As darkness spreads across the land, Aether must master his powers, protect the ones he loves, and uncover the truth behind the return of the shadows.

a young woman living in Seoul with her Halmoni from Jeju. Ayoung has a crush on her school best friend and dreams of a happy future with him, but her life takes an unexpected turn when she accidentally meets her favorite idol, Hwang Min Su. As she falls in love with Min Su, Ayoung must navigate the challenges of a long-distance relationship and the scrutiny of the public eye. With the support of her friends and family, Ayoung must learn to balance her love for Min Su with her own dreams and aspirations. As the story unfolds, readers will be captivated by the heartwarming moments of love and the struggles of a young woman discovering herself in a world of fame and fortune. Join Ayoung on her journey of self-discovery and experience the true power of love in When The Heart Blossoms. As you dive into the pages of this story, imagine yourself as one of its characters. Allow yourself to feel their emotions, experience their joys and sorrows, and discover their hidden truths. Only then will you fully comprehend the depth and richness of this tale. Through your own eyes, you will uncover the secrets that lie within its carefully crafted words, and understand the layers of meaning that exist beneath the surface. So take a deep breath, and allow yourself to be swept away by the magic of this story, for it is only by becoming a part of it that you will truly understand its beauty.

What if two people entered your life... One makes your heart race, as if your souls have known each other for a thousand years. The other walks silently by your side, shielding you from the storm, never saying much, but never once leaving. …Then who is the one that truly loves you? In hazy dreams beneath the moonlight and rustling bamboo, Bach Lan sees herself running through a sea of fire and hears someone call her by a name long forgotten by time: “Little Bach.” A voice so familiar, gentle, and distant, as if from a past life. Yet when she wakes, that gaze, that feeling, still makes her heart tremble. In the present, she is just an ordinary girl starting a new job, living a quiet life in the city. But since the day she met those two men, her inner world began to crack. One is warm and gentle. The other, distant and cold, but silently protective. Memories she never lived. Emotions she never named. And truths long buried in the spiral of reincarnation... Love, resentment, and fate are they born from the heart’s will, or simply the wheel of destiny turning once more? A story woven between reality and dreams. A love that transcends time itself, just to discover: Who is the one that truly awakens your heart? Copyright Notice: The work “When the Heart Remembers” (Nhất Dạ Chiêu Tâm) is the original creation of me – Zieny. This story was originally written in Vietnamese. This English version was translated with the help of AI and carefully reviewed by the author. All translations, including the English version, have been made by me or under my direct permission, with the intention of reaching a wider international audience. Please do not copy, repost, or use any part of this work in any form without my written consent. If you enjoy light-hearted, humorous romance with a handsome professor and an irresistibly cute student, feel free to check out my other story: “My Professor, My Husband.” I’d be so happy to have you join me on both journeys! ❤️

In a world where magic and swordsmanship decide fate, Aiden de Ravenspire Winrose, the third child of a powerful Duke, dreams not of glory—but of truth. Born into nobility with a mysterious past and a voice said to enchant the soul, Aiden begins his journey at Solstice Knight Hall. Yet, as nightmarish visions plague his dreams and whispers of an ancient prophecy awaken, Aiden finds himself at the heart of a forgotten war. Will he rise as a hero—or bleed with the world?

Subtitle: Where Love Broke Through Winter. Back Cover - Synopsis: Layla Clementine fled a marriage that turned her into a shadow. Stripped of her life, her art, and her voice, all she sought was to rebuild herself in silence. But winter wasn't over yet. One night, at the edge of a forest and under the blood of twilight, she crossed paths with a tall, bloodstained duke. A man of ice and storms, shaped by cruelty and silence. He never sought redemption. And she no longer believed in miracles. And yet, fate had a story in store for them, written in thorns, ink, and scars, then the dawn's rising that would bind their love together. As the past strikes again, and two men-one sweet as a disguised poison, the other cruel and obsessed in wanting to posses her-threatening to tear her new world away... Layla must decide: ¿How far is it worth loving a beast waiting for a heart that seeks to blossom, when you are learning to become human again and move beyond your past?

Is being someone's shadow a blessing or a curse? Can you live your present happily? Or that person's past will punish every single moment of your life? This story tells how three families are bound together by a common thread. But who is the one who has put knot in it? Will this knot ever be resolved? Or will this thread itself break? How two lovers got separated and the one they sacrificed everything for will betray them because of a misunderstanding. Their separation will become a reason of disaster and revenge between the people they love the most. A girl whose only happiness and reason to live is her grandfather. She never expected anything from her fate but one proposal changed her entire life. In one night her world turned upside down. Loosing her lifeline and taking revenge for it, she drenched herself in blood of her own people.

Evadne Persephone was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder at the age of six. To avoid the scrutiny of New York’s high society, her parents, Cielo and Romos Monteverde, decided to leave everything behind and settle in a quiet countryside village in France. For years, Evadne lived a peaceful and happy life with her parents. She had everything she could ever ask for, until her eighteenth birthday, when the nightmares returned, disrupting the tranquility they had worked so hard to build. Unable to help their daughter themselves, her parents turned to a renowned psychiatrist based in New York. Left with no choice, they returned to the very city that held their most painful memory, the tragic death of their eldest daughter, Ceres. But in that city, Evadne discovers a truth far more haunting. This is not her first life. She was once Empress Ceres Evadne Valeria of Aquilonis, in the realm of Solmara. And the nightmares she suffers from… are fragments of a life she wishes she could forget.

Archilles is emptiness incarnate—exiled by a family shackled by suffocating expectations. Cast into isolation, he flees everything he knows, abandoning the sole light in his darkness: his sister, Audrey. Adrift in an unfamiliar city, his very identity dissolves... only to ignite anew. Transmigrate into Oliver body, he is thrust into a dazzling, impossible realm—a fantasy beyond his wildest dreams or dreads. Can this fragile second life defy the tragedy that shattered his first? Or will the haunting guilt over leaving Audrey to their family’s crushing demands poison even this impossible escape? As Oliver’s fantastical destiny unfolds, the ghost of Archilles remains, tormented by a single question: Can a soul truly outrun its past when the heart still bleeds for what—and who—it left behind?

[Book published on royal road: Unnikuttan I was born with no name. No memories. No power. Just a mask. A porcelain-white mask that whispered names I’d never heard—and lives I had never lived. The first time I wore it, I became her: The Blade Dancer of the Dying Moon. The second time? A dead queen who spoke in tongues and commanded spirits. Every mask I wear brings power… Every life I borrow brings danger. Because someone—or something—wants these masks shattered. And the moment I put on the wrong one… I won’t just borrow the past. I’ll become it.

Have you ever regretted your past so deeply that you'd give anything to go back and change it? Elsa Williams, a hardworking woman, still finds herself haunted by her high school years. Not a day goes by without her mind drifting back to that particular moment—one she wishes she could erase or rewrite. If only she could find a time machine, Elsa would travel back and undo the mistakes that continue to weigh heavily on her heart. But when Elsa unexpectedly wakes up in her past, will she have the courage to face what she once ran from? Can she uncover the missing pieces and finally make peace with herself? Read on to find out.

All Bella ever desired was love, but her eyes only saw bone-chilling coldness until the day she was dragged into the depths of hell. Why? Because she wasn't the heroine of that so-called 'fairy tale'. Her fate was even crueler than she could imagine, described in a few lines written in an old book. A book that was written by some higher beings for their own entertainment, but they tossed it aside after just one cycle, not caring about the crumbling world within. After repeatedly reading the lines that depicted her death, Bella finally realized her bitter reality. Perhaps, if she went back death was the only ending... but instead of sorrow, a crazy glint shone in her emotionless eyes. After all, she had already died many times in the hellish place she entered a long, long time ago. "It's not a big deal to die once more, right?" In the midst of the pitch-black darkness seeping through the cracks in the sky, a beautiful silhouette swimming in a pool of water looked at her with knitted brows, showing dissatisfaction at her comment. He extended his hand and pinched her nose with a sigh. "Why do you always think of the worst?" A faint blush appeared on his cheeks when her previously emotionless eyes turned into crescents, peering at him playfully. "You-!" Alas, before he could finish his sentence, a warm hand grabbed his wrist and yanked him out of the water into a tight embrace. A deep exhale brushed against his pale skin as Bella nuzzled her nose against the crook of his neck with a satisfied expression. "If you give me a kiss, I won't say it anymore." A giggle escaped her lips when the man in her arms froze, his exposed neck turning a brilliant shade of crimson. 'How cute.' ------------- ------------- This story revolves around lots of characters as they discover their cruel reality. There are many supernatural beings and magical realms. The MC character will have a little twisted personality... Ahem, I mean she starts off as a villainess and remains one. *Whistles... Anyway, thanks to the MC's interference, the old abandoned story will regain popularity among the higher existences, kekeke. Together with the ML, Bella will search for a new path that leads them to find their beautiful reality. As for the other characters... Well, it's up to them to crawl their way out-! Thank you. ------------- ------------- Alternative Title: Love Through the Depths of Hell Tags; #transmigration #regression #villainess #Iskei #merman #King/Queen world #Hell's journey #Hell's Queen #Not so lovely demons #Cute ml #handsome ml #Innocent ml (hehe, fl will taint him anyway) #Non-Human ml # #superpowers #Cruel fl #playful fl #magic #OP fl #Crazy fl #Dragon's descendent #romance #revenge #bored fl #The hell's spire #Death zone #The Authorities #System #Strength #Adventure... etc. ------------- ------------- (Even though the chances of me getting popular in this genre are very thin. Still, no one can stop me from daydreaming, hehe.) ------------- ------------- Note: The cover is not mine as I am too poor. All credits go to the owner. If he/she wants me to remove it, just ring me up in the comment section.

He was once ignored. Forgotten. Weak. Now, he’s the most feared man in the shadows — the Ghost Assassin. To the world, he’s just a quiet university student. A tech genius. A rising legend. But no one knows the truth... not even her. The spoiled daughter of the president once mocked him. Now, he’s her savior, her shadow... the only one she can trust. From the slums to glory. From zero to unstoppable. This is a tale of betrayal, secrets, love, hidden identity, and an assassin who wears a perfect mask. — A fantasy romance with supernatural technology, fierce battles, and unexpected love.

Sun City, once the heart of the greatest kingdom, burns under the hand of a masked villain. The man behind the silver mask — once known as Jaren — was betrayed by the very empire he served. Now, he brings ruin to the land that cast him aside. As the city falls, young Prince Aron escapes with nothing but his will to survive. Hunted, broken, and alone, he swears to one day tear the Puppet Master’s mask from his face. But in this game of shadows, who is the puppet — and who is the master?

El mundo tal y cual se conicia, todo cambia en un momento en el que el gran encuentro sucede, cambiado el rumbo del mundo y la vida de todo el mundo.

Have you ever heard of soulmates? Ever believed in true love?What about werewolves... and what they call their mates?You probably have.So call me stupid for not knowing any of it. Maybe I was ignorant, or maybe a part of me just didn’t want to believe. I thought it was all a myth—soulmates, werewolves, true love. Stories meant to fill the silence. That was before it all came crashing down on me like memories I’d buried deep.It started when Mom and I moved to a small, eerie town called Duskwither. I wanted a fresh start. A normal life.What I got instead were dreams.Dreams of a silver-haired boy with dark eyes—eyes that felt like they could see right through me. In those dreams, we were in love. So in love it hurt to wake up. I cried without knowing why. My heart ached like it had been broken in another lifetime.And then... I saw him.He was real.Only in this world, he avoided me like I was a disease. He glared whenever another guy looked at me. But he never spoke. Never touched me. Until he did—and everything changed.That one accidental touch made the dreams bleed into reality. My past started coming back in flashes. Flashes of pain, of love, of something ancient and terrible. And then... the threats began.---His POV:She came back to me.After six centuries of silence, she came back—on her own.But she doesn’t remember.I do. I remember everything. Every promise whispered under moonlight. Every kiss. Every betrayal. Every time I failed her. When they killed her to hurt me.Her forgetting? That’s my punishment.Because if she remembers, she dies.They’re already hunting her. The same ones who killed her before. This time, I won't lose her. Even if it means hiding the truth. Even if it means keeping her by my side—forever.

Lena Hart was never meant for the spotlight—but the spotlight found her anyway. With fairy-tale beauty and quiet resilience, Lena rises from modest beginnings to brief fame as a member of the idol group Velvet Bloom. When fame fades and her family's financial ruin looms, she clings to a single lifeline: a loyal friendship and an impossible crush on Ethan Cross, a wealthy and enigmatic heir who seems far out of reach. What begins as a dream spirals into delusion, heartbreak, and self-erasure. After overhearing a painful truth—that Ethan never took her seriously—Lena vanishes from the glamorous world and rebuilds her life from the ground up in a rural town, far from the cameras and cruel whispers. But fate-Ethan comes back into her life when she least expects it. A forced reunion. A dangerous stalker. A kiss that unravels everything they tried to forget. In the fragile quiet that follows trauma, Lena and Ethan must confront their pasts, their pride, and the growing feelings they can no longer deny.

Justice died in the war. He came back to dig it up. Presumed dead in World War II, Sergeant Elias Krieg was a ghost—until the world’s corruption dragged him back. Revived by an experimental serum, twisted by violence, and cursed with an undying hunger, he walks the streets of modern New York as a pale wraith in a torn cloak and featureless mask. They call him HeartEater—a brutal, silent vigilante who doesn’t bring criminals to justice. He devours it. Targeting the worst of humanity—murderers, traffickers, predators—he rips out their still-beating hearts and disappears into the night. But beneath the monster is a soldier who once stood for something. He protects children with a quiet tenderness. He offers mercy to the misguided. And he never forgets a promise. As powerful enemies begin to emerge—greedy syndicates, slothful manipulators, and sins made flesh—HeartEater must face the truth: justice alone isn’t enough. The world demands vengeance. And he’s ready to deliver it. Blood will flow. The hearts of monsters will beat no more.

DISCLAIMER: The events, characters, and situations depicted in this work are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people, events, or entities is purely coincidental. The story, its characters, and any events described are the product of the author's imagination and should not be construed as reflecting any real-life scenarios. Charlotte Nightfall is a celebrated CIA agent, revered as one of the greatest detectives of all time. Known for her unparalleled competence, sharp intellect, and flawless reputation, she's become a cult hero within the agency, admired by her colleagues and feared by her enemies. But beneath the perfect image she's carefully constructed lies a darker truth. Charlotte has spent years crafting an impeccable persona, hiding the secrets of her true identity from the world. What the CIA and those around her don't know is that her polished exterior conceals a woman who craves physical tension and a glamorous, secretive life. Her desires are as much a mystery as her past, and she's made it her mission to keep them hidden. Enter Frank James Drake, a former MI6 agent with both British and American citizenship, now working for the CIA.. As he gets closer to her, he begins to unravel the carefully constructed layers of Charlotte's life-both the professional and the personal. But what will he discover? And what will it cost them both when the masks begin to fall?