Scums Self Saving System

The fat and ugly Nora Smith is the laughingstock of the town when her fiancé breaks off their engagement. He says, “The sight of your gigantic face and thunder thighs disgusts me! Don't ever pester me again!" “What an idiot.” Nora scoffs and turns around, her lips curling up into a smile. Later, when Nora successfully slims down, she returns as an astounding beauty. Her ex-fiancé comes to her bearing flowers and begs, "I was wrong, Nora. I’m willing to do anything as long as you come back to me.” Nora rests her chin in her hands and smiles as she replies, “Real men don’t dwell on the past.” Angered, he says, “You’re just a dimwit saddled with baggage that I dumped, Nora. No one will want you except me!" But following that… A young and popular singer tweets: “Nora Smith is my goddess!" An internationally renowned surgeon asks, “Are you free tonight, Nora?” Even the rich and influential hotshot whom everyone is scared of comes forward and says, ”I can take care of my wife and children myself, thank you very much.”

Worlds overlapped, and Alien Species descended. Strange entities emerged one after another, as the shadow of evil spread wildly. The calm of life was shattered, and Zhang Xiaoman, inside a fish's stomach, accidentally consumed a system named "World-saving Plan". From then on, he became the only person among all humans with Extraordinary Power. … Inventing an ancient oath, he established a unique methodology, Cultivated Dark Energy, founded an organization, took Control of the Transcendent, and resisted invasions. Well, this is actually the story of how a Big Con Man bluffed his way into saving the entire world. PS: Contains elements of the behind-the-scenes, Cthulhu mythos.

-Participating in WSA- In a world where fate is dictated by prophecy, heroes are chosen by the gods, and Dark Lords are doomed to fall… Lucian Draeven refuses to play along. Once feared as the greatest Dark Lord in history, Lucian had the world under his iron rule—until the so-called Chosen Hero struck him down in a blinding flash of divine justice. The kingdoms cheered. The world rejoiced. Too bad Lucian isn’t actually dead. Having faked his demise and gone into hiding, Lucian watches from the shadows as a new Dark Lord rises, more reckless and incompetent than ever. Worse, the gods have selected another overly enthusiastic, sword-swinging Chosen Hero to bring “peace” once again. The problem? Neither of them have a clue how to actually rule the world. As kingdoms crumble, wars break out, and the balance of power teeters on the edge of collapse, Lucian comes to a horrifying realization: If the world is going to survive, then it’s up to him—the so-called villain—to secretly fix everything from the shadows. But there's just one little catch… Lucian’s legendary Dominions are still sealed, and the only way to regain his strength is by playing the role of a villain once more—spreading fear, manipulating his enemies, and pulling the strings behind the scenes. Now, as the oblivious Hero and foolish new Dark Lord battle it out, neither realizes that the true mastermind is watching their every move. Because if the world wants a villain… Then Lucian will be the greatest villain it has ever seen.

In the heart of Veridia, where shadows run deeper than the city lights, resides Caspian Thorne, a brilliant but unconventional investigator. A master of manipulation and human psychology, Caspian operates on the fringes of the law, unraveling the most complex cases with a blend of intuition and calculated risk. When a series of gruesome murders begins to plague the city, each victim bearing the chilling mark of a fractured mind, Caspian finds himself drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse with a killer unlike any he has encountered before. This chilling psychological thriller delves into the depths of the human mind, exploring the fragile boundaries between sanity and madness. As Caspian delves deeper into the investigation, he uncovers a web of deceit, a twisted reflection of his own methods. But the closer he gets to the truth, the more he risks losing himself in the labyrinth of the killer's fractured mind.

If one day, when you look up and no longer see a blue sky, but a Cultivation World on the verge of falling, invaded by Alien Demons, please do not be surprised. Because at this very moment, billions of people around the world are watching this extraordinary live broadcast with you. The good news is that you can freely watch the Immortals' desperate struggles and the visuals that are enough to blow your mind. But the bad news is, three hundred years from now, it will be Earth's turn.

"Thanks for the invite, I'm in New York, just got off the plane." Du Wei realized he had traveled through time. Having no choice, he had to resume his old trade and opened a psychological consultation clinic, but the patients seeking psychological advice were all a bit strange... Note: This book is set in the Soul Summoning Universe.

After Su Chaoxi was killed by her parents' blatant favoritism, she was reborn before her son became a murderer. Only after being reborn did she realize that the mother-in-law, whom her parents described as having a 'Buddha's mouth and a snake's heart,' was actually a people-pleaser; the twins whom they called inherently bad seeds were just neglected and lonely geniuses; and her domineering and brutal husband was actually a top-tier romantic! In this life, with her mother-in-law alive and her husband doting on her, Su Chaoxi held her children tight and fiercely slapped herself twice. The mistakes made in her last life, she swore to make up for in this one. - Xie Tianyin woke up one morning to discover that his restless wife, who previously would cry, make scenes, or threaten suicide, started to adopt a gentler approach to get together with his illegitimate younger brother. Xie Tianyin saw through everything, only wishing for her to stay by his side. But unconsciously, the reclusive and morose twins became increasingly cheerful, the depressive and pessimistic old mother smiled more and more, the business he was determined to ruin was thriving, and even his grandfather, who had been utterly disappointed with him, asked why he didn't visit home more often. Xie Tianyin: ??? What happened?

“I might be the God to whom all bow, but she is the Goddess whom this God worships." ... Cathain De Valerian Valentino, the emperor of the Valentino Empire, was reborn in the modern world, his empress by his side, yet she retained no memories of their previous, tragic life. What unfolds when a plane crash sends them hurtling back to the past, to the era of the esteemed Valentino Empire, and everything begins to change than the past he remembered? Is Cathain capable of protecting his empress, who is oblivious to this enchanted realm, while unraveling the mysteries of their sorrowful past? Or will all be lost once she regains her memories? Because no matter how gentle and soft he is with her now, he can't erase the obsessed and possessive man from her memories... the man who was the reason of the fall of her family, the death of her children... And the man who had executed her with his own hands, … Season 01: Saving The Abandoned Empress (Completed- 220 Chapters)

|| To all the readers who are grieving over Caelestis Lanister’s death. I deeply apologize but this character always deserved death in my eyes of justice. Although he was a good leader, a good friend, probably a good son, yet he was never a good friend or boyfriend to Stella. Even after going through all his sins, if you still sympathize with him. I have an offer for you. Would you like to change the destiny of Caelestis Lanister? Yes/No|| A translucent blue window appeared in front of Eleanore, who had just opened her eyes in a strange white place, after meeting her end in a Traffic accident. Eleanore finds herself in a new world, with a mission to change the destiny of her favorite character from a book she had recently read, "Revenge is her only desire." Tired from her daily struggles, she was ready to venture into a new life of the rich, but to her dismay. She finds herself in the body of the villainess that dies in the first chapter of the novel, who shares the same name as hers, Eleanore Sinclair. Moreover, the day she enters into her body is the day she gets killed by Caelestis for harming his lover, Stella. Eleanore binded by the system that guided her through in her mission of changing Caelestis’ fate, realizes that the system favoured Stella over her. She struggles to keep herself alive, while working on Caelestis and Stella's relationship. As she tries to save Stella from the obsessive grasps of Caelestis, she finds herself getting entangled with the notorious villain. As tension and hatred between them rises, a love blooms between them which gives nothing but pain in return. The male lead being her own brother, will she be able to save Caelestis which is no longer her mission but her love? _______ “Lies!” he spat again, his voice rising. “I will kill you, Eleanore. If you ever try to do that to her again, I will kill you.” His words cut through her, burning with hatred and fear. Anger surged within her as she fought against him. She had never intended to hurt Stella, not once. The blame lay with the original owner of the body, not her. Why must she listen to these accusations? “I have no such intentions!” she shouted at his face, gasping to find breath. “Let me go!” Her foot lashed out, kicking him in the thigh, but he quickly pinned it down as well. Exhausted from her useless struggles, Eleanore realized she had to gather her strength and then perhaps bite off some skin from his handsome face. “You are just an obsessed man,” she snarled. “You don’t know how to treat a woman. You’re killing her!” Before she could finish, Caelestis silenced her with a violent grip around her throat. His hand tightened around her neck, cutting off her breath. Her wrists were free, but now her neck was caught, and every breath became a struggle. Panic surged through her as she struggled to find, her nails digged deep into at his arm in a desperate attempt to free herself. Caelestis’ true nature had finally appeared in front of Eleanore, and it scared her. She had already been afraid of him, but now the fear felt like it was gripping her very soul. Note: This is a dark fantasy romance novel. A war between Love and Obsession.

Killian, was cursed by The Gods of his world. Born on the night when the Blue Bloods, a group of families with superpowers forced his family and others to live in the slums, his birth was nothing short of unfortunate. Unlike others of his kind, he was destined to work as a garbage picker, while the Blue Bloods created a rift in power throughout the kingdom. When a lost jewel falls into Killian's possession, the fates churn themselves to make him the most powerful of them all. The catch? Killian must unravel the secret of the lost jewel. Sadly, The Gods have other plans. In an endless tryst, where the weakest rises up to the challenge, the Scums must fight the Blue Bloods to take back what's theirs. *** Some say the world we live in wasn't always wretched. The Gods we no longer pray to love us once. And our shoulders that carry large sacs of garbage were once donning the finest of silk. Then, one fateful night everything changed. The sky turned red, and the Gods called out. And then, THEY emerged from the darkness. The Blue Bloods. The Blue Bloods weren't like ordinary humans. They had what no human could possess. The Blue Bloods were blessed with the powers of Gods. Their bloodlines were coveted and destined to flourish. And ours? "And henceforth, the crown shall always rest on a Blue Blood's head. The time has come for the Scums to return. Abandon thy riches, and homes. Give it all up for those who deserve it," Gods said. A battle ensued between the Blue Bloods and the Scum. The consequences? My mother died, while giving birth to me. The Gods fury hit her too hard, as she stood her ground. And I... I was destined to rot here, between the garbage.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Characters: MC: Xiao Yuan (Gong/Top): He possesses charm and he is cunning but use it with more assertive and dominant edge. * He's confident, possessive, and knows how to take control of situations and people. * He's beautiful and knows how to use it for his advantage and has commanding aura. * He has a strong desire to protect the villain, but he also wants to claim him. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••The Villain (Shou/Bottom): Remains stoic and beautiful and cunning. soft from inside hard from outside, but there's a vulnerability hidden beneath his cold exterior. * He has a deep, hidden longing for affection and acceptance, which Lin Yi exploits (in a loving way). * He is possessie of xiao yuan and if he want something he knows how to get that thing does not trust anyone else then xiao yuan. The main character : * He uses his power and influence to protect and control the villain. * The villain's reactions show a blend of resistance and acceptance, highlighting his vulnerability. By making these adjustments

Warning: Contains heavy sexual content. In this dark fantasy tale, our protagonist, a man reincarnated in a world of swords and magic, stands out for his depravity, violence, and insatiable desires. Unlike conventional heroes, he harbors no ambitions for strength or power; instead, he pursues an unapologetically hedonistic goal — claiming all the women who cross his path. The narrative delves into explicit and controversial themes, exploring the darkest corners of the protagonist's character, including incest and age-related taboos. Brace yourself for a story where the boundaries of morality are pushed to their limits, as the protagonist, a true embodiment of moral decay, refuses to be hindered by societal norms or ethical constraints.

After a passing of a family member, everything went to a downfall. The usual happiness and greatness had faded. Not just the smiles but also a child have been affected because of these. Knowing that no one is going to teach and care for him, he learned how to manage responsibilities and taught himself of many things in a very young age that leads to more problems in the future.

[COMPLETED] Aideen Ruan, though a royal princess, was always unwanted due to the circumstances of her birth. Born blind to a hostage concubine, she possessed an intriguing beauty; however, her disability rendered her utterly useless to the royal family. Even when the struggling Count Crueder reluctantly agreed to take Aideen as his wife to secure the royal dowry, her life failed to improve. A year into their marriage, Aideen's inability to produce an heir sealed her fate. The princess was destined for exile to the Temple, consigned to spend the remainder of her days in isolation and abandonment. Contrary to her anticipations, instead of the Temple, Aideen found herself within the cold walls of Duke Tillian Valentine's castle. Duke Valentine, the last scion of the once-revered Valentine family that ruled the Kingdom before the "Fratricide Rebellion", now presided over the desolate Northern lands. Faced with fear and confusion, Aideen expected her life to perpetuate its cycle of misery, only to discover that Duke Valentine might hold the key to a new opportunity, a chance at a life she had never envisioned. "You bewitched my body and soul. Put an intoxicating spell on me, shackled my heart to yours with your magic. If I could exchange my eyesight with you, I would do it just to make you see what a man dying from love looks like."

Hoshi Carmen Takada-Santos, better known as Hoshi Santos, might seem to be an ordinary biracial high school student living in Nara City, Japan, but his other self, the serious, strong, and cold Kuro, is a strong warrior who wields a scythe as his weapon. It’s been 4 years since his father, a Filipino shaman named Louis Santos, had died after banishing an evil entity, only known as Master Black Blood, into the underworld for his atrocities, Hoshi had to hide and conceal Kuro from anyone for his safety. But, Master Black Blood’s son, Master Demon Blood, would do anything to avenge for his father’s banishment from the overworld, and this also means killing Hoshi. This demonic entity also employs the help of Sha Sakiyama, a mercenary and expert on the use of shadow, to get rid of Hoshi. But, Hoshi isn’t alone in fighting the evil forces. His classmate, a reclusive and introverted ninja named Bokuto Sakata, decided to help him out because his father was a close acquaintance of Louis, and a girl named Saki Mizoguchi, who was secretly a mage and had a long family lineage of the use of magic. Dive into the world of both magic and modernity as their quest against the evil supernatural forces begins to unravel.

Despite the presence of monsters that were destroying the world, there was a devil-like man called “Li Tian.” All people gathered against him and were unable to defeat him, even the rulers, until the day the world faced its end. “Li Tian” was fighting a ruler and defeated him until he discovered... The ruler has a tool that takes him back in time He kills him and takes the tool from him and says, “Hahahaha now about returning to the past, taking revenge on everyone who insulted and bullied me, and eliminating this accursed world.”

Spyha Belandes passes her Alpha title to the man she loved and cherished Hector, who joined the pack as a Lone wolf and was liked by all the pack members. Hector betrays and rejects Spyha after she gives him the Alpha title. Sypha is betrayed and rejected by the man she once trusted with everything, and faces the ultimate downfall. Hector manipulates the entire pack into seeing Sypha as a psychopath and a witch, she is stripped of her royalty title and banished to become a wanderer in a rogue territory. She escapes and vows never to love again because love takes everything from her. But is saved by a mysterious stranger, she meets the cursed lycan king, Trevor Belmont, who only left 3 months to live as a curse was placed on him by a mage, Only to be lifted if he finds genuine true love after taking many brides who died or ran away because of his cold personality but his curse remained, he gives up on finding love until he found Sypha. Helping her to get revenge was something as easy as pie, but how would he admit his feelings to her, knowing his life would end in three months?  And would she fall in love with him and break his curse?

What would you do if you knew everything? Every possible outcome? It was like that for me... in an incompletable game. What do you think I did after I woke up and found myself in that very game with a Special Skill? ... In summary, I did the unthinkable. "N-no way, he killed the Plague Dragon? H-how is that possible?" Corpses of many warriors were scattered, as I was standing proudly on top of the Plague Dragon. It took me more than enough time kill this creature. I lost many things. "This isn't perfect... but it could be." "What are you talking about?" "Um, Nothing. It's been a pleasure to meet you here, but I need to [Reset]." [ Skill "Save & Reset" Activated ] [ Restarting from the Recent Checkpoint ]

“Who are you? A dormant were wolf or a human?” His voice broke as he spoke. His eyes were silently pleading, anxiously waiting for the answer. Deep down, he knew it already. Yet, his stubborn heart refused to concede. The silence that followed was enough to escalate the hurt he felt in his heart from a dull throb, to burning glaring pain. The bullet wound he received a year ago hurt less than what he felt at that moment. “Here you go. It’s time to end this forever. Let’s make it fun while it lasts.” He handed her a shiny golden revolver. One look and she knew, neither could survive a shot between the eyes. There was only one bullet in the gun. Her hands shook as she tried to let go, as though it burnt at her skin. Kai didn’t let her. He won’t have any of it. This was his surrender. His eyes spoke words that his lips couldn’t. They were raw with emotions both familiar and foreign to her. Her own silver eyes filled with tears as she tried not to cry. “I choose to die by your hands. You are the only one with the right to take my life. Let’s begin!” He didn’t wait for her to process his words before helping her place the gun between his eyes, which never wavered from hers. Click! Click! Click! “Noooooooo!” She screamed as she dropped the gun. ************************************************************* DISCLAIMER!! Note that the chapters are not edited as of yet. However, they have very little grammatical errors here and there Nothing major. Please show some love and support for this new piece. I hope you will enjoy reading it. Additionally, don't forget to leave an honest review behind. It helps with the rating. Criticism are welcome, if and only if, they are meant in good faith. please, avoid being extreme and harsh in your corrections. I am only human after all. Don't forget to leave your comments, votes and gifts if you can. Thanks. Enjoy Join my Discord if you wish to interact with me and discuss the characters. https://discord.gg/jJeBuJN8 If you like my writing, you can always buy me coffee. It would be appreciated. https://ko-fi.com/kittenbunny

The world of Raenbax has now 'come to an end' and there's no hope for it's return. The world has divided into seven different contingents with their own leading empires, trying to salvage what they can of a dystopian planet. Yet, reason of Raenbax's fall is of one man, Yanna, the Devilman Rasapien. Two semi-cooperative races, the Rasapiens and the Angasme, are now adversaries in the race to conquer the small remains of their planet. Yuliya, a descendant of the Angasme, falls in love with the last blood related daughter of Yanna as she goes on a quest given to her by her grandmother. Her duty is to save the souls of Angasme from the descendants of Yanna and their unruly power. Love, unfortunately, gets in the way.

Oh no! The demon king, Talo, has lost his fight with the summoned hero! What to do?! Yuliain, the Incubus King and Sinister Sin of Lust, is the only one who can save him by traveling to different worlds, saving the "Tragic Target" by changing their fate and collecting soul scraps that will aid in making his Lord stronger! At least that is what his system, DK01, told him as he died. However, something strange is happening! Each soul scrap he collects from the "tragic target" seems to affect how he thinks about love. Love to an incubus is practically nonexistent, so how come Yu's heart seems to beat faster and his face gets redder with each "tragic target" he helps? From a domineering CEO to a Yandere ex-boyfriend, to even a zombie king, Yu will help them all if it means it will save his Lord!! Giving birth to their kids??? Of course, he would do that! As an Incubus King, it's only natural he would want to birth the children of a handsome and powerful being! See how a slutty incubus hops to different worlds and learns to love while giving birth! The ML is hot and sometimes a green flag-ish and the sex scenes will be interesting!!

Never quit and give up on your dreams.....

After a sudden light shines across the city, you wake up into a completely different world. A world where everything is different and not the normal you were so used to. Creatures running in the wild, and monsters lurking about. Hakari and Mika have been brought into a world, but they are only what appears to be half human. They were brought here to defeat the "Mask Wielder" who has been a cause for the destruction and tragedys. Will they be able to stop the "Masker Wield" and save the world?

Jiang Tian, a rising genius of the Ethereal Sky Sect, is betrayed and left for dead after uncovering a mysterious artifact in the Void Rift. Just as he is about to die, an ancient system awakens within him—the Infinite Parallel Self System, which allows him to merge with stronger versions of himself from alternate universes. Each time he merges, he gains their abilities, experiences, and unique physiques, allowing him to evolve endlessly. With his limitless power, he sets out on a path of revenge, conquest, and ultimate transcendence, uncovering secrets about the multiverse, divine realms, and his true origin. His journey leads him to overpowered female leads, each possessing unique, godlike talents. He helps them achieve their dreams while they grow stronger alongside him, eventually forming the most powerful force in the universe.

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.

Read the complete synopsis before reading the novel. ---- An ordinary guy was thinking of confessing his love to a girl at the end of summer break, but he died before he could confess. He reincarnates into a new world and realizes he is in the world of the game he played. The game was a bit complex, with lots of choices and twists, but in simple words, it had a protagonist and five heroines. Making the correct choices would keep all heroines alive and end up with the protagonist, while incorrect choices would lead to the death of the heroine. The person responsible for killing the heroine if the player makes the incorrect choice is Akechi Ryuki, the best friend of the protagonist. Now, our normal guy possesses Akechi Ryuki. What is he going to do? Will he do the same as the real Akechi Ryuki would do? Or will he do something even worse? Or will he ignore them? ---- MC is a good person, but he has many perverted fetishes and fantasies, which he will make heroines fulfill since heroines also have such fetishes. Also, not all women in the novel are for the MC. The MC already had his harem, while other characters also have theirs. If you are reading the novel, don't complain about MC's not making moves or stealing others' harems. MC has his harem, and he doesn't want it anymore. ---- Read the tags below before reading the novel. Later, don't complain about why I did that. Tags: Anal, BDSM, Blackmail, Corruption, Cosplay, Drugs, Exhibitionism, Footjob, Group Sex (Only Mc and other women), Handjob, Humiliation, Lactation, Lesbian, Masturbation, Milf, Multiple penetration (With Toys), Oral Sex, Pregnancy, Ra*e, Romance, Sex Toys, Sex Slave, Sleep Sex, Spanking, Stripping, Teasing, Teacher.

[Ding!] [System Binding....] [10...20...30...%&...@#,,,] [Unknown Error! Unknown Error!] [System unable to bind successfully] [Invoking the emergency protocol] "Hey, System!" "System! Where are you?" [Host bound to the Lotus World Providence] [Host has gained eternal life] "Hell yeah!" Sigh! "That was me... 10 years ago..." "Now..." He took a deep breath and shook his head dejectedly. Su Yen transmigrated to the Lotus World with high hopes after receiving his system and gaining eternal life. "It's my time to rule the world!" However, his grand ambitions came crashing down when he realized his system was nothing more than a knockoff. "Who on earth created this pathetic knockoff system?!" Sigh! "At least, I can live forever and enjoy my life without ruling the world." Once again, his naive thoughts were shattered when he realized the world was not as peaceful as he thought. He needs to increase the world's providence to enjoy this life or else... He'll be damned to eternal suffering. "System! I don't want eternal life again!" "Please make me mortal!" He cried. It was then he realized the importance of power. You need strength to get what you want, but too much strength is also a curse, especially when the Bloodmoon Envoy arrives... They start killing the strongest ones. Su Yen, being immortal, wasn't scared of the Bloodmoon Envoys, but what about his loved ones? And what about the world providence? Now, in the Lotus World where everyone is terrified of breakthroughs, What can he do? Too much talent is a curse. Lack of talent is also a curse. "What kind of a messed-up world is this?" Su Yen is in a dilemma about what to do with his life in this complicated world. However, everything changes when his clan is on the brink of destruction. He must make a decision. "Who cares about the world?" "But no one dares to touch my clan and loved ones."

A lost woman running through the forest. A Duke with a dark past. What happens when fate brings them both together? Watch as their love kindles as they fight to stop the dark forces surrounding them.

After years of feeling trapped at home, 22-year-old Jonah takes the bold step of moving away, determined to carve out a new life. His newfound freedom, however, is short-lived when a tragic car crash ends his life just months later. Instead of finding peace, Jonah wakes up in an eerie, otherworldly dimension, where he finds a woman shackled in chains. Her ethereal presence gives off an aura of divinity, but she's imprisoned by forces Jonah can't comprehend. As Jonah uncovers more about this mysterious realm, he realizes that he’s far from the afterlife he imagined. The woman, who seems both familiar and distant, has a haunting connection to him—one that suggests they may have shared a past he doesn't remember. Drawn to her plight, Jonah becomes obsessed with freeing her, unsure if he’s driven by guilt, fate, or something deeper. But as Jonah’s feelings for the goddess-like woman grow, so do the questions surrounding his own existence. What role does he truly play in this strange dimension? Could his arrival be more than coincidence? Jonah must decide whether his destiny lies in the hands of the woman he’s determined to save, or if he’s bound to repeat an eternal cycle that keeps him tethered to a past he’s only beginning to understand.