I Made A Deal With The Devil

Liam died. Then, for reasons beyond his understanding, he was reborn—because of a rock. A glowing rock that screamed about defects, cursed his very existence, and then tossed him into a new life with nothing. No overpowered bloodline, no innate psychic ability, no system—nothing to show for being a transmigrator. Just an ordinary nobody in a world where strength reigned supreme. From all the novels he had read in his past life, he knew how this was supposed to go. Every MC had some kind of cheat—be it a divine physique, a hidden inheritance, or a heaven-defying system. But fate had given him nothing. So, if the heavens wouldn't grant him power, he would create it himself. After years of struggle, one truth became clear—formations and arrays could do almost anything. If systems were just tools for growth, what stopped him from building his own? With endless research, relentless effort, and a mind sharper than any blade, he set out to craft the ultimate system from scratch. Not gifted by fate. Not bestowed by the gods. But forged by his own hands. As this time, he would control his own destiny.

Yoshimura, a average guy, no more ordinary than the next guy, worked in a company and lived a simple life surprisingly had an unexpected death and died. Fortunately his last days were spent spreading happiness around him which spotted him a place at a certain higher degree of power which gave him one extraordinary thing. One Wish, Any World So seeing the generous and crazy offer, Yoshimura, like any other chose to be reincarnated to his favorite novel 'The King's Path' and was successfully reincarnated too. Unfortunately not in the right body. "What! I am now in the body of the second villain that would be trampled by my favorite protagonist!" "My Beautiful Fiance, a heroine is preparing to invade my place!" "My Step-mother seized all of my properties!" "My Bodacious Maid looks at me strangely in my sleep!" ......... "Just how much am I fucked? .......... .......... Well... at the very least I know what will happen later. And the goddess gave me the best talent. [ You have been gifted 'Eyes of Eternity' ] [ Sealed Skill Unlocked : Black Hole ] ...... Wait a second! ...................... Release Schedule: Two Chapters Daily at 00:15-00:16 This is my second book. But think of it as my very first because... I'm not that fluent at English, hehe. So please endure the whatever third-rate world grammar I am going to write.

A normal man who was happy at everything. normal?? yeah normal but also not.

He was Mu Jia's second young master, the epitome of desirability in City C, pursued by all the celebrated beauties. She was a foster daughter of the Wen family, rumored to be as fat as a cow and more robust than a man. Everyone said she wasn't worthy of him, yet he still married her. Wen Laibao accidentally committed a murder and was sentenced to three years, and everyone said her life was over. However, three years later, she shed her excess weight and made a stunning return, appearing before everyone with a beauty that overshadowed all others and married the most feared man in City C, who turned out to be a wife-pampering fanatic!

In debt and desperate to pay for his mother's surgery, Salin accepts a risky proposal: to pretend to be the fiancé of Jun-ho, the heir to a powerful mafia family. In exchange, his debt will be forgiven, but there's a catch: Salin will have to help Jun-ho with his lack of libido. *Mature Content, Mafia, CEO, Intense Romance, Trauma, and Healing *New chapters from Tuesday to Friday

The world isn't really fair. I was just a regular guy—tortured by life, burdened with issues. But despite all of that, I continued pushing forward. but all the fight I oit up against fate was all in vain when I died. Maybe god took a pity on me gave me second chance..... at least that's what I thought untilll When I woke up , I was trapped within the exact game I had been playing at the time of my death. Initially, I was over the moon—until I understood the cruel fate that had been inflicted upon me. I wasn't the hero. I wasn't even a side character. I was Daemon Draquemort—the game's most reviled villain. A man hated by the world. A fallen genius turned criminal. A monster fated for one of the worst possible ends. The hero will come for me. The world will despise me. Whatever I do, death—and worse—will await me. There is only one escape. If the world has abandoned me, then I will create my own fate. And to achieve that, I will have to do the impossible— i will Make a contract with the Demon King himself. ............ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Notice- the main essence of the story and the world buliding will be revealed to you but not at once-- I fucking hate those info dumps so yeah enjoy guys I will try not disappoint you...... ( After the failure if my first Novel here I am again trying to entertain you guys so I have a request plz support me everyone , you can support me by adding tye novel to your library and giving me power stones) if you have any complaints you can let me know in comments. don't forget to give your honest review thank you...

In a world where humans unlock their true potential by forming contracts with Pure Beasts, Gin Arashi stands as an anomaly. At 15, he remains without a contract, his strength unrealized, his future uncertain. But when a fateful encounter in the shadows of his hometown changes everything, Gin is forced into a pact unlike any before. Now burdened with a secret that could make him a target, Gin must navigate a world where power dictates survival. With his twin brother Kame by his side, he sets out for an academy where warriors are trained, determined to prove his worth. But as he steps into the unknown, whispers of a buried history and unseen enemies begin to surface. What truly defines a warrior? And what price must one pay to defy fate? The journey begins—where destiny is forged, bonds are tested, and the truth is far more dangerous than it seems.

The world is diverse and flourishing. Humanity has changed, and with it, brought in a new era of prosperity. Males and females still exist, but the spectrum from which humanity is cast has broadened. With the introduction of alpha, omega, and beta, humanity has evolved even further. In such a word, Dr. Andrew Knox, known environmental researcher, is happy being a beta male. It has made his life easier by being middle ground, and as much as some wish he was one way or the other, he’s happy being who he is. Thriving even. He works in a world renowned research facility. He makes friends easily, and his projects are always funded. He even found someone who he thinks he could end up marrying if things continue in the right direction. That, and the vacant house next to his apartment building gets bought by a new neighbour. A cute, but cautious omega who relies on Andrew as a beta for help. Andrew couldn’t be happier. He loves being a helper, and loves when people rely on him. All in all, Andrew really thinks he has everything made. That is, until a research project with shoddy data is thrown back into his face that he has no recollection of working on, and all of his reputation disintegrates in between one heartbeat and the next. Heartbroken, it isn’t until Andrew wakes up, chained to a wall that everything becomes clear. He becomes a test subject to one of the scientists that he trusted. That he expected would never harm him. The life he had known, where he was a respected researcher was ripped out from underneath him. His identity and everything he’s ever known is stolen from him from a crazed researcher who he had trusted, maybe even loved. He has to relearn who he is, what he is, from scratch. Thankfully, he has one person in his corner. He just never expected to have to rely on someone whose shoulders were so small. This is an a/b/o story, and will have those tropes associated with it. I hope you enjoy :)

WARNING: YOU ARE IN FOR A SCARE!!! In the dead silence of the night, seven hooded figures gather in a long-abandoned cathedral, their chants weaving a melody of madness. At the heart of their circle lies a pentagram drawn in blood, its angles marked with ancient symbols older than time itself. The leader, a man whose soul was long since promised to the abyss, holds a bowl filled with the remains of an innocent—a sacrifice to open the gates of something that should never return. As the ritual begins, the earth trembles, the wind ceases, and the night creatures fall into a terrified hush. A pit opens beneath them, swallowing the circle in a cloud of thick, black smoke. From its depths crawl horrors not seen since the dawn of man—locust-like creatures with scorpion tails, dripping venom that rots flesh on contact. The disciples falter, their faith shaken. But their leader presses on, for he has not yet spoken the name. The Book of the Damned lies before him, bound in flesh, inked in suffering. With trembling hands, he breaks the ancient seal, releasing a force the Creator himself had banished. A voice from the void—deep, amused, hungry—echoes through the crumbling cathedral. "You dare?" What was meant to be a summoning becomes an awakening. And as the heavens turn their gaze away in horror, the seven realize too late—they have not called upon a mere demon. They have tangled with the Devil himself. And he is coming.

After a bloody battle, Lionel barged into the restaurant with a "Closed" sign, alerting the owner, Margie. "Sir, we're closed!" Lionel was only seeking temporary refuge from his pursuers, but Margie was just ejecting him brutally. This baron had no alternative but to reveal his mesmerizing, menacing red eyes and fangs. Margie was captivated by the vampire's dark, handsome allure but also felt fear and tension. Summoning her courage, she uttered the first insult he had heard in a millennium: "What's so great about those fangs? You're just one vampire, aren't you?" Undoubtedly, this woman intrigued Lionel. But the reasons seemed to go beyond that. What's so special about this woman? Could a lost love be recovered? Will she heed reason, remain ordinary, and avoid the dangers coming one after another, or will she submit to his temptation and savor the sweetness of forbidden love?

Prolouge: In the underworld, a realm of eternal darkness and fire, a powerful devil named Zamiel roamed the earth, driven by an insatiable hunger for souls. Each life he claimed fueled his immortality, strengthening his powers and bringing him closer to his ultimate goal: to become the most powerful being in the underworld. With the blessing of his parents, the king and queen of hell, Zamiel granted human desires in exchange for a piece of their souls. But his existence was about to take a dramatic turn. Two women would soon disrupt his plans. Elena, a CEO desperate to escape a loveless marriage, would make a deal with Zamiel to work as his servant, And Princess Azura, the devil princess of the neighboring kingdom, would stop at nothing to claim Zamiel's heart, even if it meant destroying the human who had captured his attention. Azura's love for Zamiel had driven her to abandon her royal duties and venture into the mortal realm, only to discover that Zamiel's heart belonged to another. Enraged and humiliated, Azura vowed to annihilate Elena and claim Zamuel for herself. But Azura was not the only force seeking to destroy Elena. Zamiel's parents, determined to prevent their son from loving a human, unleashed a maelstrom of threats and agents to eliminate the mortal who had captured their son's heart. As the battle for Zamiel's heart intensified, the fate of Elena, Azura, and Zamuel himself hung in the balance. Would their love prevail, or would the forces of hell tear them apart?

Seduction of the Damned: Affair with the Devil is a tale of forbidden love, dark desires, and the perilous balance between fate and free will. In a world where fate, free will, and forbidden love collide, Lucia will be forced to make a choice that will alter the course of her soul forever. Set in a world where shadows stretch long and whispers of ancient powers echo through time, it follows Lucia, a woman whose fate is bound to forces far beyond her understanding. Lucia has always felt the presence of something, someone, lurking just beyond the veil of reality. A mysterious, otherworldly force that both terrifies and fascinates her. When she meets Damian, a beguiling and enigmatic man who seems to know her deepest thoughts, she is drawn into a seductive dance with darkness itself. What she doesn’t know is that Damian is no ordinary man; he is the Devil, cursed to wander the earth, claiming souls and weaving temptations. As their affair deepens, Lucia finds herself caught between desire and doom, her heart torn between her love for Damian and the terrifying truth of what he really is. As her connection with Damian grows stronger, so does the danger she faces, both from the forces of heaven and hell, and from the darkness within herself. With each passing moment, Lucia must confront her own inner demons, questioning whether her love is enough to redeem the Devil himself or if it will ultimately lead to her own damnation.

"What do you want Xavier?" "Cal I want to talk to you." "You're talking now." "I really need to talk to you. Don't shut me out." "We have nothing to talk about. You got what you wanted right so leave me the fuck alone. Calvina and Xavier are paired together by their fathers and none of them liked the idea. What will happen if they spend one month together alone. Will they face all odds and be together as one or will they decide to part ways as they always did. Let's follow Xavier and Calvina on this topsy turvy ride of love, hate and business. Who knows they might end up falling for each other or worse.

Synopsis: "Tell me, Father, do you truly believe your God listens when you pray… or does He turn His ear away, knowing you already belong to me?" Father Andrien was a man of God—once. His faith was unwavering, his prayers unbroken, his soul unstained. Until the night he sinned. No one knew. No one saw. But he did. The stranger arrived at dusk, stepping into the dim candlelight of the chapel like he belonged there. Lucian. A name that dripped from his lips like an old hymn, his presence as familiar as the silence before a storm. "You called for me once, Father. Have you forgotten?" Andrien doesn’t remember. But the shadows do. The stones beneath his feet hum with the echoes of a prayer he was never meant to speak. A desperate plea made in the throes of grief, whispered to something that was listening. Now, the price must be paid. The holy water curdles at his touch. His rosary tightens around his throat. The walls of the church whisper his name in voices not of this world. And Lucian—Lucian watches. "You wear His cross, but your soul was promised to me. Shall we collect what was left unfinished?" A prophecy lost to time. A sin buried in blood. And a man of faith who prayed to the wrong god. The devil does not forget.

Eric is given the opportunity to modify/create a simulation-world for himself and others to experience. "He can add magic, rules, and other things to his new simulation-world and he can also change the laws of nature, physics, reality and anything else that he wants" when it comes to his simulation-world until the creation of his simulation-world is "completed with his "modifications, rules, and creations" "continuing after his simulation-world's completion" for "all who or that whenever are at his simulation-world"". He realized that he can connect "the simulation-world he created" to other "simulation-worlds that were created/modified by other people who were given the same opportunity". Immerse into the Simulation-multiverse as Eric and others realize the true nature of the opportunity that they were offered. The Simulation is simply a passtime so that the people don't have "prescious long parts of their lives whereby they're ""not being able to interact with people" and "not having great experiences in their lifetime""". It's like so that a “Hospital patient who wakes up 30 years after first being a Hospital patient” doesn't have to find out that they only have like 15 years left to complete their “bucket list”". They might otherwise feel deprived of the "life experiences that they could have had during those 30 years had they not been “not awake” as a Hospital patient”.

"A Normal Student? Yeah, right. Not Anymore!" Joine was just your average high school student waking up late, stressing over tests, and taking care of his little sister, Mina. But everything changed the moment he met Lumi, a mysterious talking fox who claimed to be from an ancient tribe. Before Joine could even process what was happening, he found himself in a life-altering contract, unlocking a hidden power buried deep within him. And then... Mina was taken. Now, with enemies lurking in the shadows and his sister in danger, Joine must train, fight, and push past his limits to rescue her. But there’s one problem his newfound abilities are unstable, and if he’s not careful, they might consume him entirely. With Lumi by his side, Joine is about to step into a world filled with magic, danger, and secrets beyond his imagination. But can he truly control his power before it's too late?

Eric is given the opportunity to modify/create a simulation-world for himself and others to experience. "He can add magic, rules, and other things to his new simulation-world and he can also change the laws of nature, physics, reality and anything else that he wants" when it comes to his simulation-world until the creation of his simulation-world is "completed with his "modifications, rules, and creations" "continuing after his simulation-world's completion" for "all who or that whenever are at his simulation-world"". He realized that he can connect "the simulation-world he created" to other "simulation-worlds that were created/modified by other people who were given the same opportunity". Immerse into the Simulation-multiverse as Eric and others realize the true nature of the opportunity that they were offered. The Simulation is simply a passtime so that the people don't have "prescious long parts of their lives whereby they're ""not being able to interact with people" and "not having great experiences in their lifetime""". It's like so that a “Hospital patient who wakes up 30 years after first being a Hospital patient” doesn't have to find out that they only have like 15 years left to complete their “bucket list”". They might otherwise feel deprived of the "life experiences that they could have had during those 30 years had they not been “not awake” as a Hospital patient”.

What happened if you can’t enter or the door because its locked? The answer is key. You need a key to open the locked door so you can enter. And what happened if you doesn’t have a correct key to open it? You need a right person to lockpicking that door. Information works in the same way. Who holds corresponding information, he can control everything including money. My name is Vega “Velt” Altair, still unemployment at 26 years old without jobs experience and this is my story about how I worked with beautiful lady and she’s The Devil. (NB: I'm writing and upload this novel based on my mood. Please be patience waiting for next chapter and volume)

the main character (kazuma makani) he is former life he was a person who wasn't interested in anything and he was a senior at the Tokyo university of law and one Saturday night he lose a bet and attended a mixer and he friend give him sake and he drunk so his childhood friend carried him back to the dormitory and the next day he woken up dead in the afterlife

I am Lilith, the granddaughter of the Demon King. The moment my mother became pregnant with me, I was betrothed to the Devil as a show of gratitude for his mercy in sparing my people from execution alongside the other races. Immediately after my birth, it was the Devil who took care of me, overseeing my childhood all the way to adulthood, always watching over me. He granted me everything I wanted—so much so that all his secret treasures are now at my disposal. We were having a good time together until I laid my eyes on a particular slave named Lucas. I fell in love with Lucas in an inexplicable way, and the Devil would have killed him countless times if not for my constant interference. One day, I declared to the Devil my desire to marry Lucas. This proclamation infuriated him, and he intended to kill Lucas on the spot, but I threatened him with my own life, which compelled him to reluctantly agree to my wish, albeit in a rage. Surprisingly, he continued to try every means to please me and to make me forget about Lucas. He even went so far as to transfer all his powers to me, but I remained solely focused on Lucas. I followed all of Lucas's advice, which suggested that if I embarrassed the Devil enough, he would let me go. I began to act on that advice and even overdo it by publicly slapping him in front of his subjects, cursing him, and causing him to lose face. If not for the fear he instilled in their hearts, his subjects might have begun to criticize him. Throughout all this, he did not seem angry with me; instead, he sealed off all my senses and married me. When I regained my senses, I was furious to find that I had caused immense trouble in his territory. I rushed to Lucas to explain my predicament, and it was he who suggested that I end the Devil's life. I hesitated, but the idea didn’t seem so bad after all. I began planning, or rather, I didn’t really execute any plans and the Devil simply gave me his life willingly. I went to report to Lucas, only to find him overly excited. Lucas was, in fact, not a slave but the Prince of the Fox Race, he's among those that Devil spared. It turned out he had been trying every possible means to harm the Devil, and I had unwittingly become his perfect pawn. I couldn’t comprehend how it all happened, but I became the slave of Lucas and was treated terribly by him. He kept me alive solely because of my beautiful face, and I became nothing more than his prized possession. I regretted everything; I had betrayed the one who truly loved me. I no longer wished to live! Bound from head to toe in chains, I was dragged out of my cell. For the first time amid all this chaos, I saw the familiar sun—the sun that the Devil had worked so hard to create for me. I smiled bitterly, and my gaze fell upon a nearby hard rock. I moved closer and, before anyone could intervene, I struck my head against it forcefully. “I will soon join my real husband,” I thought to myself, but I couldn't shake off what Lucas had told me: “Someone who took care of you since you were a child, who loved you and always sought to please you; you ended his life mercilessly. You are a sin!” I agreed; I was indeed a sin. If there were a chance, I wished for the opportunity to fix my wrongdoing and to obey him. My prayers were answered, and I was reborn—but... why was I reborn to the day I slapped him publicly? Warning: this novel is filled with mature contents and frightening experiences ignore this novel if you don't have rock heart.

The negotiating rule in the packs was simple. You give what you took. The war and animosity between the Nightshade and Moonstone pack have been ongoing for centuries. But this time something drastic happened. The Nightshade pack lost their Luna. To maintain peace in the werewolf world, the council arrived at only one solution, a Luna in exchange for a Luna. And that’s where I got into the picture. Astrid Brooks, 26 years old. A born princess. The only daughter of the 4 children of Moonstone’s Alpha. Married off as a peace offering to none other than Kael Knight, Alpha of Nightshade pack. A replacement to his late wife, his very mate, whose blood has still not dried from the hands of my father. From the life of a princess to a mere maid, from light to darkness and from being the most loved person to one detested with crazy passion. I became a mere replacement. And this was just the beginning of my story or should I say suffering.

every one has a choice in life but not all are meant to take such step cause no matter how hard you try it just sucks frost jade martis never throught she could come across him again the devil who killed her father and damn she has something that belong to him

There was war in hell. The flames of hell turned against itself and the demons tore each other apart. It was a terror to behold; one that the devil himself could not escape. Every other terrestrial being was against him, trying to take his power and throne. Knowing that he wouldn’t survive it, Lucifer fled from hell into the earth feeling regretful. His fall came from a woman whom he thought he had grown to love. But at that point, it all didn’t matter….he needed someone to will his power to…it was much better than leaving it in the possession of those demons. And while he was running out of time, he immediately gave it all to a prince in his mother’s womb before he vanished into eternity The prince; Francis was born and he grew just as powerful and as fierce as the devil himself. He was a devil, but he ruled on earth…unstoppable and strong willed. He was hardly referred to by his name and was mostly called the devil, right from when he was a child after a powerful seer revealed the reason behind his power. But even though Francis had all the power he wanted and would ever need, he had one restriction. To keep history from repeating itself, he was given just one rule, never to love a woman. **** But on the far side; in a village, lonely princess lived with no hopes of survival even though her father, the king was still alive. But it wasn’t much of a surprise since the royal family itself was the reason behind the princess’s tight chances of living. Even her mother the queen couldn’t save her because she was very much afraid of her husband, the king and his second wife who bore him sons. They lived their lives in fear, not until one day, the queen was about to take her last breathe. She was poisoned by the king’s wicked wife. But before she died, she had just one wish: that her daughter Aurora avenges her death and take over the village by attaining a level of power and authority that could only come through one means….and it is to “Marry the devil” the strongest, ruthless, merciless and powerful king that lived. She knew she needed him to love her if she ever wanted to access his powers and make him revenge for her. And so, Princess Aurora was set on a journey to marry the devil who was warned to never love a woman. What happens when the devil falls in love? Would he receive the same fate as the previous Devil? Or will love change his fate? Will Aurora's determination lead her to a world of power, love and strength? Or will the devil's fate cause her a life time of peril and pain?

Canary has a big responsibility of taking over his father’s company after the death of his father, However his mother Lucy is worried about Canary’s playfulness with women. She hires a young girl Lisa to watch over and report whatever Canary does. Lisa experiences Canary play around and sleep with different women , despite hating that character she realizes that Canary is actually a good person and ends up falling hard for him. For the first time Canary also falls harder for Lisa , However as their love journey begins more of the Andersons secrets are yet to revealed , Canary finds out that Lisa is actually his Uncle’s lost daughter and to make matters worse his Uncle Joel is the very person who killed his father. Will Canary choose love over revenge ? Read for the full story

This comedy mystery follows Ray Hook, the youngest son of the Alpha King, who’s pulled back in time to meet his mate—the multi-billionaire heiress Kate Ares—as means to save her from an impending death. But Ray is a wimp and he fails, and Kate dies. Heartbroken, Ray changes to a completely different person—bolder, wiser and cold. The new Ray meets a woman who carries Kate’s scent seeking revenge on those who’ve caused Kate’s death. As Ray uncovers the mystery behind this woman, he’s met with a second chance at protecting the woman he loves. Will he succeed this time? Will he accept the love of the Devil? (This is the first story of the Alpha King’s offspring series, a sequel to ‘Starstruck by The Alpha’.) *Cover by Book Cover Design Service (IG: cc.covers0)

Here's a brief synopsis: The Self-Made Billionaire Alexander Thompson, a brilliant and ambitious young boy from a low-income household, rises to become a billionaire CEO through hard work, determination, and innovative thinking. With the help of his business partner Rachel, Alex builds a revolutionary tech company, NovaTech, that changes the world. Along the way, he faces challenges, controversies, and criticism, but remains true to his values and mission. As Alex's wealth and success grow, he becomes a philanthropist, using his platform to make a positive impact on the world. This inspiring rags-to-riches story explores themes of entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, and social responsibility, offering a glimpse into the life of a self-made billionaire.

Two years after the breakup, he developed misogyny. Being too close to a woman would make him nauseous and vomit. Mo Chen: Why are there ugly women everywhere? The Brothers: ??? * Qiao Ruoxin suddenly returned, begging for reconciliation and affection. Mo Chen: You say breakup and we break up, you say reconcile and we reconcile? Who do you think you are! She kissed him forcefully, and Mo Chen instantly became tame, like a docile beast. The Brothers: ??? What happened to your misogyny? And what's with that look of enjoyment? Mo Chen: Get out! You're getting a free show and still have so much to say! * Qiao Ruoxin: Brothers, help me pursue Mo Chen. After I succeed, each of you gets a billion, and he's paying. The Brothers: ??? You two really are a pair of extraordinary heroes! Mo Chen: You guys created a group chat behind my back? People hurriedly left the group chat...... * "Little Ghost, Brother is quite easy to coax, just be patient." A beautiful and badass sweetheart X an abnormally paranoid and irritable CEO

Tommy lived like most rebellious teenagers, drinking, smoking, and chasing fleeting thrills, until his world shattered with a leukemia diagnosis. But this was only the prelude to his descent. Desperate and cornered by fate, he signed a contract with the Devil, unknowingly binding himself to a shadow realm teeming with entities beyond mortal comprehension. Dragged into this hidden world of ancient devils, vengeful demons, and merciless angels, Tommy finds himself trapped in a war older than humanity itself. Here, every corner hides nightmares ripped from the darkest corners of myth, and survival demands more than courage, it requires unraveling the Devil’s cryptic bargain before it consumes his soul. Now, armed with nothing but wit and a flicker of defiance, Tommy must confront horrors that defy reason, forge uneasy alliances, and outmaneuver celestial schemes. Will he emerge as a pawn of the darkness… or rewrite his destiny in a realm where even gods fear to tread?