Zeal Recruitment

Jace Hakeem Lyon Is an enigma despite being touted as a five-star high school recruit his character leaves much to be desired. His ego is backed by his relentless desire to prove himself by collecting ground levels for little room to care about others' thoughts. He may seem laid back or in control but that's far from it as a monster called anger that feeds off his loneliness, greed and pain to push him forward. Born and bred in east La Crenshaw strong isn't something he shouted for the sake of it, it's something he had to live up sparing no time to live up to others' expectations for what black excellence is supposed to be. On the field, he is known by many names: The Light-Skinned General, Crenshaw's Tiger, and many more. However, the only one he truly cares about is his moniker, Mr Bling, as he thrives on adding to his trophy cabinet. Like most people who grow up in the trenches that is Crenshaw, he spent his early years dodging gangs and drugs. Football was his escape from his chaotic life as he only ever truly felt complete when he had a ball in his hands dodging guys built like trucks trying to take him out. However, following a strategy that took his parents in the middle of his freshman year and let his older sister scarred both physically and mentally, Football became his only lifeline to save both him and his two sisters from the hood as life dealt them a bad hand.

Born into a dirt poor mining family, Karl only had one chance to get ahead in life, the annual elite recruitment day. On their final day of middle school, every student in the Golden Dragon Nation was given an experimental injection to awaken their affinity with magic. Those few who succeeded would become the Elite, the leaders and idols of the nation, blessed with incredible magical powers and respected by all. Those who did not would return to their normal lives of hard work and low wages, just doing the best they could. But with the nation surrounded by enemies, both humans and monsters, how long would these peaceful days of magical idols last? Follow the story of Karl as he awakens a unique power and strives to become the world's first Legendary Beast Master. Want to join the community for updates and upcoming news? Check out the discord. https://discord.gg/aokiaku

In a realm divided by warring factions and treacherous landscapes, the Postknights are an elite order tasked with maintaining communication and commerce across the land. To the outside world, they are mere delivery agents, but their role is vital in sustaining peace and unity. Facing challenges such as bandit attacks, magical creatures, and natural disasters, Postknights must rely on their wit, courage, and skills to complete their missions. Solis, a young but tenacious recruit, dreams of proving himself as a Legendary Postknight. Unlike others, Solis isn’t a prodigy in strategy or combat, but his unwavering determination and innovative thinking make him stand out. The story of Postknight explores themes of perseverance, teamwork, and the unyielding spirit of individuals who bridge divides, no matter the cost.

Making an honest living was hard enough in the real world. Will it, being in a fake reality, make things any easier? Young Jan Santos enters the CyberSpace as bright recruit Maximus, with nothing but his consciousness and a will to make life worth living in the virtual world. Welcome to the CyberSpace! Hello reader! This is my first published work! A quick note, I may or may not be able to publish in time. But I know with a little determination, I can push through on this little fantasy world I'm making!

I was walking to the convenience store and the next moment I knew, I was inside the villain's body!? What is going on!? This world is known as the world of Star Fantasy, a popular RPG that dominated the gaming charts. Tournaments were held all over the world to celebrate the success of this game. The top ten guilds were invited for every tournament to recruit new talent for their teams. Liam was part of the third strongest guild in Star Fantasy.  He suddenly woke up as the son of one of the strongest knights in the empire. Arnold von Berkley, who will become one of the greatest villains in the story. He must find out if there are more of him out there. Was he the only one summoned? If so, how can he avoid his inevitable death?  By eliminating his death flags! -- If you would like to hear about any updates regarding my current stories, join my discord: https://discord.gg/zAj9ddMpD4. Currently on HIATUS You can ask anything. I might take suggestions as well. Chapter releases are three full chapters per week. Parts of a chapter will be released a day after each other. Paypal for donations: https://paypal.me/Immortal1217

Rocco Di Malvento lived a short, but loving life in his previous world, surrounded by a caring family. Despite suffering from a terminal illness, he found solace in books, especially his favorite BL novel >. But when he dies, he wakes up in an unexpected new life—as the weak, neglected second son of a powerful mafia family. Now reborn in the world of the novel, Rocco finds himself in a terrifying situation: he's the useless younger brother of Sylas, the main protagonist, and likely doomed to die young unless he changes the course of his life. So, what's his plan? Simple—befriend the protagonist, avoid being a spoiled brat, and secretly recruit Sylas's future allies to protect him. First target? Georgio the Hyena, an infamous killer. Rocco's strategy: charm the terrifying man and make him his ally instead of Sylas’s. It's a ridiculous plan, but hey, at least Rocco is trying. Can he survive the mafia world and avoid his tragic fate? He hopes so. After all, he’s just a kid trying to make the most of his second chance!

Lin Feng, an ordinary man from modern Earth, transmigrates into a boundless cultivation multiverse where quadrillions of worlds exist across different realm tiers. Every world is part of an intricate hierarchy, from Lower Realms to Middle Realms, Upper Realms, and beyond, each becoming increasingly vast and powerful. Blessed with the Supreme Sect System, Lin Feng gains the ability to establish a sect that grows alongside his own cultivation. His sect can absorb providence, recruit disciples, and dominate entire realms—but sect-building isn't easy when arrogant chosen ones, ancient clans, and celestial empires are constantly vying for control. Armed with wit, shameless tactics, and a system that lets him alter fate, Lin Feng is determined to climb the ranks, face destiny-defying geniuses, and make his sect the strongest across infinite realms.

Erika Belion never expected her life to suddenly take such a dangerous turn. She used to be just a low-income omega who worked several part-time jobs just to make ends meet with food and a roof over her head due to a difficult family situation. The wolf never expected that in the middle of a presentation by her musical group in a small speakeasy, her heat would be unleashed, and since she did not have a partner, she ended up emitting irresistible pheromones that, added to her lack of control, turned her act into a spectacle of mockery. That night she felt so humiliated that she had to leave without pay because, in addition to her zeal, she did not have the courage to look her boss in the eyes. But while Erika ran as fast as she could to her car to go straight to her apartment, feeling so embarrassed that she did not realize that from one moment to the next the laughter along with the degrading mockery towards her could be heard in the background. They stopped dead in dead silence. If only he had been in better condition or taken a moment to compose himself, perhaps he would have learned sooner that his heat would have drawn the attention of someone extremely dangerous. Among all the alphas who might have been interested in her for some reason or another... the one who was most interested was the boss of one of the most dangerous mafias on the continent. William Aballay. ----- William Aballay is the leader of one of the oldest and most powerful organized crime families. An alpha who had everything at his fingertips, he thought that in the next few years, he would be busy with the daily grind of managing his, in the process, inherited empire. Unfortunately, this is not his biggest problem at the moment. He is used to commanding and maintaining order for both his followers and his supposed competitors. He can take care of that with his eyes closed and both hands tied behind his back. What he was not mentally or physically prepared for was finding a beautiful woman who caught his attention more than any other woman he had ever met. ----- "William, our relationship is not good..." -Erika whispered, with a trembling voice, turning her back on the alpha, not being able to see him in the eyes- "I bring out the worst in you" -When she was about to run towards the door, he suddenly felt as if one hand was placed on his waist while the other snaked towards his neck, squeezing it a Little- "Ho, my dear Erika" -the black-haired man would tighten his grip a little, bringing his mouth close to the omega's ear, touching it lightly- "you couldn't be more wrong" -the shiver that this action caused only made him smile- "what you saw a few moments ago was simply the real me... the William that everyone fears and respects because he knows what will happen to them if they don't" "W-Wil..." "I would kill everyone I consider allies with my bare hands before I lost you" -he murmured, a dark smile now curving his lips- "I would kill the world itself if it dares to make the slightest scratch on you. You belong to omega... and nothing and no one will change that"

【The latest update for 'Age of Ice' has been completed, heralding the era of open beta testing for all. In one minute, every human on Blue Star will be thrown into this game.】 Starting with a small bonfire, this is your range of activity. You must continually gather materials and upgrade the level of your bonfire. Bonfire → Large Bonfire → Furnace → Energy Tower → Super Energy Station By unlocking more buildings and recruiting various troops, build your power in this extremely harsh world. Having just crossed over, Cao Xing accidentally activates the sole hidden SSS-grade talent: Eternal Power. At that moment, he discovers a beautiful Saozi (sister-in-law) accompanying him... With their hidden talent, they cooperate and gradually expand and strengthen their territory! As they explore the vast world beyond, more secrets of this expansive world come to light...

In the kingdom of Valderin, where strength defines one's worth, Elara dreams of becoming a knight—an honor forbidden to women. Determined to defy the odds, she disguises herself as a boy and enlists in the kingdom’s elite knight training. But her path is anything but easy. Standing between her and her dream is Commander Damien, the kingdom’s strongest warrior and the leader of the knights. Ruthless, disciplined, and unyielding, he sees her as nothing more than a weakling unworthy of his approval. If she wants to survive the brutal trials and earn her place among the knights, she must prove him wrong. As Elara rises through the ranks, pushing past limits she never imagined, Damien begins to notice something unsettling about this new recruit—an unwavering determination that sets "him" apart. The more they clash, the more the tension between them grows, sparking emotions neither of them can afford to feel. But war is brewing, and secrets can only stay hidden for so long. When the truth comes to light, will Elara’s strength be enough to protect her dream—or will the betrayal cost her everything, including the man she never meant to fall for?

A heroic tale. A knight in shining armor. A mage who can obliterate the world with just a flick of a finger. A mysterious rogue that moves like a shadow. A goddess so stunning and wise, shining upon the world and giving humanity a flicker of hope in the darkest times. Yeah, you’re not getting that here. Instead, let me introduce you to my squad—ahem, I mean, the Hero's Backup Squad! The unsung, overworked, questionably competent crew that works behind the scenes to make sure the real "heroes" don’t trip over their own destiny and die before they actually save the world. Hah! Do you really think heroes always win? That they magically save the world, have crazy strong powers, never die before the final battle, and somehow pull off the impossible every time? Yeah. That’s because the gods upstairs hire others to make sure things don’t go off track. That’s what we do. The invisible fixers, the divine crisis management team, the ones patching up the hero’s dumb mistakes before it happen while they get all the glory. Not that I’m bitter about it. (Okay, maybe a little.) I’m supposed to give a proper introduction here, but honestly? I don’t, I—ugh. You know what? Just read it. You’ll see. Sincerely, Goddess Yuna Keeper of the Subdivision of Heroic Affairs (And Unpaid Babysitter of Questionable Recruits)

New book by Bimo Zhijian, author of <My military branches can Evolve Infinitely>. --------------------- This world, quietly enveloped by shadows, an invisible terror spreads among the crowd. The world seems to be plummeting into the abyss. Fang You, who could only cower at home to survive, got hold of a game about salvation, and from then on recruited Angel Envoys, built bases, and developed personnel, until one day, when the salvation organization "Torch" surfaced... Shocked by the world！

When Lia Chen-Rodriguez, a biracial anthropologist cursed with absorbing cultural traumas through touch, gets recruited by the clandestine Iris Council, she discovers her "curse" is actually the rarest form of magic - the power to transmute heritage into tangible energy. Now she must partner with Qasim al-Farouk, a brooding Syrian-British architect wielding geometric magic from a dying lineage, to prevent the collapse of civilization's hidden magical infrastructure.

THE UNFORGETTABLE CRUSH THAT SHOOK MY SOUL.       HEATHER'S POV; I'm Heather Morgan Claus the daughter of a middle class family from Brooklyn. I was born a typical brainiac the smartest of all my family members and most definitely the only child of my parents. I was born with what I call average beauty a blue eyes,golden afro hair due to my distant African gene, an average height of 6,4 feet a big boob and buttocks and also a slender curve with big hips that made me feel insecure.  Being lonely was a normal thing for me was a normal thing because I had no friends except my overprotective cousins Kyle and Jules. They made me feel special and loved more than anything in the world and I was thrilled to be with them. Boys never came along to date me basically because it's either I'm too tall for their liking or I'm too robust or too perfect and studious or even much of a nerd who can't match their tastes. Kyle and Jules made sure I was okay and boy did they beat the shit outta those knuckle heads who dared to mock me for my appearance. Soon enough all these fantasies all came to an end because while I was in tenth grade and they were in their twelfth grade they both fell in love with some girls from the neighbouring school and I was soon discarded and left out to fend on my own. I became an object of mockery and taunts from all sides. Years passed but the bullying didn't stop and soon afterwards some stupid bimbo and their boyfriend all came to join what they called fun by bullying me. Jake the leader of the zeals was by far the most handsome and he had an emerald green eyes, lovely red hair, kissable lips and a fine body and he was more of a greek god's personality. He had a commanding presence that sent shivers down my spine. I thought he was an epitome of beauty but like the saying goes beauty comes from within. He was a tyrant and he made my life a living hell with every given chance he got. Belle his girlfriend a blond haired girl with brown eyes and long slender legs always taunted me relentlessly. One day while I was heading to my locker I was bumped into by belle and her friends Chloe and Charis. They gave me a hard time and without mercy they shred my clothe and made me an object of perpetual laughter while they made fun of my SpongeBob underwear, Evans and Michael Jenkins popularly know as MJ tired to cover my naked body but Jake ordered them no to do so. He stared at my body with lust and contempt in his eyes making me wonder what I had ever done to him to deserve all the hate. The shame was too much to bear and when I was went home I scrolled through the school platform and it was all over the media and I fell into a complete depressed stage. Days turned to weeks and weeks to years and then one day after the prom prank I had endured I decided to jump from the third floor of the venue. The pain was too much to bear as crismon liquid surrounded me like a pool. The pain felt like home and after several minutes of comfort I felt like my consciousness was slipping into the abyss surrounded by darkness.

Eliana Demi is kidnapped and wakes up in a nightmare, forced to attend an assassin academy with no explanation. Her family’s lives hang in the balance, leaving her with no choice but to obey. As she struggles to keep up with the brutal training and navigate the hostility of the other recruits, her five ruthless and dangerously alluring mentors make her life a living hell. Between relentless pain, torture, and psychological warfare, Eliana is determined to escape. But when a mysterious psychopath sets his sights on her, she realizes her mentors might be the least of her problems. Will she survive the academy and the twisted minds that control it? Or will she break and become the cold-blooded assassin they want her to be?

Forever ago, The Great Emperor fell before the world as it collapsed into chaos. The moon became painted red, of which never sets. No daylight shines bright, and no moon shines too dark. With the race for power, who will become the next emperor? I am but a mere recruit, tagged 79. My glory is to serve the future Emperor, Zhang. Despite how weak I am, I will preform my duty until I draw my last breath. The New Order will rise above all others, reigning supreme and utter power. But, what part will I play in it..?

Hiroshi has always dreamed of becoming a sumotori. His late father was always respected in the local sumo scene. This was Hiroshi’s ticket to a local tournament. When he wins that he might be able to compete in the capital city. He’s recruited by legendary the legendary Oyakata Kenjiro and goes the fabled Hajima stable. There he learns being a sumotori is harder than he ever expected. He has a master who is strict and unforgiving, an Oyakata who seems to be losing his grip and a stable bully that seems to be set on making his life hell. Caught between his desire to honor his father and the unsettling truths that come to light, Hiroshi must decide what kind of sumotori—and man—he will become. In this gripping coming-of-age story of strength, honor, and sacrifice, Hiroshi’s journey is one of self-discovery and resilience as he learns that the path to greatness is never simple, and the price of legacy may be higher than he ever thought.

An unidentified liquid turned every living being who was touched by it into an existence where they kill everything. Some of them have been gifted a special ability that enhances some of their physiques or senses to eliminate their prey easily. The government responded quite fast where they built a sanctuary and posted it online to help survivors have a place they're assured of safety. But they had to recruit adults, teenagers, or even kids to become soldiers that can fight and protect themselves. Because in this chaotic situation, they'll be needing every help they can get to rebuild their nation. The special force unit was sent away to protect the last crux when they found out that their friend Rei, who was an escapee crux still alive, they were faced with a bigger and more complicated truth that they need to uncover for explanations. But little do they know that they have been deceived by the person who they have trusted the most. Come and join us for an unOrdinary journey.

in the distant future of planet earth where the future is filled with dread and sorrow due to a powerful disease that mutated half of humanity into vile monsters a young boy is born his name is Zain he dreams of living a good rich life since he grew up in the outer walls the most polluted and dangerous place in society but things change when he is recruited by the scavenger Association the most powerful organization on earth. being the diamond the organization as been seeking he his told to make a decision to either save what is left of humanity or live his dream. ----- 14 chapters every week and if you want to get in touch with me feel free to reach out to me the comments section.

The multi-verse is collapsing, and the fabric of reality is falling apart. Only the unity of Man and Mechs can transcend the apocalypse. “First off, Screw Mars!” Ten is losing his sight. Everything has been so wrong after the god-damned earthquake. Nothing’s been good. The apocalypse, perhaps? Ten could swear these were nothing like the tell-tales of ‘the apocalypse’. And just when he thinks it can’t get any more bizarre… BOOM! MARS KIDNAPS HIM! At first, it seems he’s been dragged out of earth, and somehow, to the red planet (against his will) for one reason: to pilot the advanced Martron NP1 combat machine in order to fight against growing factions opposing Mars. But soon, Ten learns there’s far more at stake. The multi-verse itself is collapsing. Cosmic bodies are smashing into one another. CHAOS! With everything on the brink of destruction, Mars sees Ten as their wild card for victory to their planet. But survival is no guarantee. Advanced gear training is a nightmare. Brutal drills leave him battered and many times, bruised. Other recruits for the rescue of the multi-verse make him feel like a cosmic misfit. And the ultimate insult? The annoying kid, Rod Aokimoto, is there too. As tension rise, Ten discovers an even greater truth. He’s not just Mars’ gear soldier; he’s the last ANOMALY. Now, with the multi-verse on the verge of annihilation, Ten must rise above the chaos, master alien techs, and prove what it truly means to be a blessed (or cursed) human. TAGS: SCI-FI ADVENTURE | INTERGALACTIC & GALACTIC WARS | TECHS & MECHA BATTLES | HUMAN + MACHINE | COSMIC CHAOS

Lucien transmigrates into a nameless world and is rescued by the villagers, who are plagued by constant assaults from monsters that attack their crops and kill those who venture out to hunt for food. Lucien, possessing some strength, is recruited by the person who saved him. However, in the process, he inadvertently attracts the attention of a few individuals who are in need of help. Due to the rampant monsters, their lives have been turned upside down. Now, it is up to Lucien to restore balance both within the village and in the hunt for food outside.

A single, towering city rises from a vast, lifeless wasteland—a remnant of an ancient war that shattered the world. The Spire is surrounded by a powerful storm barrier, keeping the horrors outside at bay. It is said that beyond the storm, the land is overrun by Wraithborn—once-humans mutated into relentless, armored behemoths that feed on the energy of the living. The city's elite defenders, known as the Stormguard, wear specialized gauntlets that allow them to channel the energy of the storm itself, generating electrical blades and explosive force to combat the Wraithborn. Their training is brutal, as only those who can withstand the gauntlet’s power without being consumed by it survive. When a young Stormguard recruit uncovers an ancient map hinting at a second, hidden city beyond the storm, everything they thought they knew about their world is thrown into question. Are they truly the last survivors? Or has the Spire’s ruling council been keeping a terrible secret for generations?

Imagination was the eye of the soul, the beginning of creation. Despite her immense power, the Supreme Goddess of Mysterious Origin had to seal herself after saving the world from the threat of destruction. However, she was sent to another world by the universe's will. Ely was a girl suffering from partial memory loss. She was known as the shrine priestess of the Sacred Mountain. One day, she received the holy mission to unseal her Goddess Master. She got her priorities straight. However... The pets she adopted became the Demon Kings, capable of suppressing the world. The tree she planted became the World Tree, forming a bridge between heaven and earth. The passerby who received enlightenment from her became the Sage who led the entire generation. The disciples she nurtured became bigshots known across the three worlds. When she looked back... The street painter who pestered her for her handicrafts and paintings turned out to be a God. The young priestess she recruited was actually the number one saintess from the Divine World. She was known as the holy saintess. Yet, she still referred to herself as a mortal.

Hanjun, who used to live alone, wakes up in a strange, old church in a different world called Eorera. In this world, there are two gods: the God of Light and the God of Darkness. A thousand years ago, the God of Darkness created demons and attacked humans. The God of Light was nowhere to be found, and people believed they were abandoned. Hanjun finds himself mistaken for being the God of Light by an old priest who was praying for help against the demons. Even though Hanjun is not actually a god, he ends up in a divine body on a stone throne, realizing he has lost most of his powers. He decides to help the humans by recruiting players from Earth through a game he creates called "God's Games Online." He sends out gaming equipment for free to a few selected players, who will enter the game to help protect Ulon Town from the approaching demons. Hanjun also creates a game system and an NPC guide, using the old priest named Barry to lead the players. Hanjun hides his true identity As "Holy Son" and starts preparing to gather faith and regain his power to protect the people of Eorera. Note: 1. Slow-paced story. 2. There is no female lead in this book.

Typical Story, I found out I am a fire elemental and got recruited all in one night, I am a chosen one, awesome I'm sure everything will go all right, RIGHT! This is the story of Blaze and his comrades against the dark forces and uncovering the horrific mysteries of the world and us

Jensen a new recruit in the police force of West Brook is assigned to work on a task force to catch the culprit of a string of gruesome murders which is rumored to be a supernatural beast. He plans on proving there is no monster but meets a young Alice a young woman on the force who plans on proving the existence of supernatural activity. The two start to fall for each other but their love is tested when she finds out Jensen is the werewolf and the culprit responsible for all the killings.

Updates @ 21:00 (+8 gmt) Leander is a healer. But he is not like those healers who have it all: the fame, the money and the harems. Because he is chubby. Ranked only F, he struggles with life as a new recruit in the Adventurer's Guild. Until he sees a poster that changes his life and sends him on a journey to lose weight, get the fame, money and the harem. Except, his harem will be full of men. But, such is fate. This is a slow burn BL harem with dungeon delving. It follows the old adventurer's guild troupes with some twists and turns. A journey from zero to hero, one could say. (I am using this book to lie to my brain that losing weight is possible with the methods written in the many self-help books I have been reading recently. If you need to shed some fat, you might use Anti-cake Dungeon Delving the same way. A little hope never hurt nobody.) Updated daily. The MC becomes a dungeon core going chapter 86 and forward. You can find the story only on Webnovel. (Fingers crossed that no one will translate it into Russian like the other one! XD) The sequel, Life Skilling, is also complete, and will be posted right after the ending of Anti-cake. A peek in the lives of those who live in the world shaped by the Try Hard Party. A funny slice of life.

Through time travel, she transformed into an ugly commoner, her noble identity being compromised. After her death and resurrection, she disguised herself as a harmless little flower, carrying a space for refining medicine and secret techniques, and instantly killed all the beautiful men in the world. Let's see the common women turning over, fighting against stepmothers, stepping on legitimate sisters, collecting treasures, practicing sharp weapons, and all kinds of killings coming in one after another, subduing demons and eliminating evil spirits, recruiting a basket of beautiful men, and thriving in the alternate world. Stepping on the green cloud road, one person with a sword laughing in the flower room!

After heaven fell and hell rose, earth has been changed and now people have been granted powers to protect themselves from the monsters that suddenly appeared. Theodore Greed a kid from the countryside goes to the big city to find his childhood friend who he has a crush on, but he is later been recruited to a government agency called Daybreak:Nightfall. The art for the book cover is not mine. Nor is AI generated, I believe that authors shouldn't use AI at all for book covers. The image that I took is taken from IMDb, in which they probably took this image from the opening theme for "Kekai Sensen" which is called "Hello,World!" by Bump of Chicken The story can technically be counted as an anthology(?), I think that's the right term idk. Every chapter except for the first 3 chapters (that's not the side story) is going to follow the same timeline but will have no impact on the non-existed main story. In other words, I write whatever I want and it can be a slice of life story or be a "action story". The story might shift POVS once in a while, which just means that it’s just a story about [instert character here]. Like since there are multiple teams in the story, I might make side stories about them and will mark the chapters as side stories. Also there won’t be a lot of fight scenes since everyone is way to overpowered and I’m trying to make it a bit slice of life-y. And uploading will be strange or just random since it's just for fun.

Zarn never cared for power, fame, or the endless struggles of the world. Living in the slums with his tamed beast, the blue-flamed lion Mico, he only wished for a quiet life away from the ambitions of the strong. But fate had other plans. A single mock fight with a powerful family's heir changes everything. Dragged into the world he sought to avoid, Zarn is recruited by the influential household and sent to one of the major academies in their name. With Mico by his side, he enters a battleground where talent, politics, and ambition collide. At first, he planned to keep his head down and endure. But battle after battle, something inside him began to shift. Each fight awakened something exhilarating—an itch for challenge, a craving for stronger opponents. The thrill of combat twisted his indifference into something else entirely. Before long, Zarn and Mico went from nameless slum rats to celebrated heroes in the public eye. But to those who truly knew them, they were something far more dangerous—battle-hungry monsters.