Demonic Statue Of The Outer Path

[DROPPED!] #r18 #smut #No-Yuri #No-NTR "I Died for my own happiness, I died because of my selfishness, I died because I feared living without her again, But I died only after I killed the Gods." Rael, the Demon King, died. He was born from the Great Darkness and was given the name of 'The Last Demon.' Rael's birth was the beginning of the world's demise and the end of all life in it. His birth was the start of his loneliness, which would eventually become the cause of his madness and destruction. But when that girl showed up, he felt the loneliness slowly fade away. The girl, with a smile so kind, became the first one to look at him without any trace of fear or disgust. That girl's smile, the way she talked to him, and her eyes full of genuine affection... they were all he needed to become the person he was. He would never let anyone take her away. She was his everything, and no one could separate him from her. But... "Why!" 'It should've been fine.' 'We should've lived happily together.' 'Yet why...!' "Why she has to sacrifice herself for me, when she was the one who was supposed to live a happy life?" "Why she had to give the future we could've shared together, just for my sake?" Those were his last words as he died fighting the Gods, but he knew deep inside his heart that he wouldn't be able to see her again. And yet... "Where am I?" He wakes up in the same girl's room, naked, but in another world. Ding! [Infinite Harem System has been activated!] Now he is gonna evolve his harem. The one who has the strength to defeat the Gods, the one who possesses the most powerful and destructive power. And those are the Demonic Queens, who have the power to shake the universe. Ding! [Bat Queen has evolved to S+ Rank.] [Vampire Queen's teeth have upgraded to max level.] [Dragon Queen....] [Queen of Bees, Queen of Scorpions, Queen of Tentacle Monsters.... All of them have maxed their abilities and are evolving to their ultimate form.] But, he has more than ten queens, so how is he gonna manage all of them? "I will be fine," said Rael. Rael, the Demon King. His new story begins. No, his harem starts now! P. S. Cover isn't mine.

When Fang Yuan found himself reincarnated into a world that was filled with martial artists, evil spirits and strange people that were able to possess extraordinary power, he had to admit that he was a little panicked. Just when he felt that he would have to spend the rest of his life as an ordinary person, a system prompt flashed in front of his eyes. [System has been activated...] .... Many years later, Fang Yuan looked at the enemies that surrounded him and felt embarrassed. "I swear! I'm not an Outer God!", he couldn't help but say. Staring at the bloody throne that Fang Yuan was sitting in, the pile of corpses at his feet and the red tentacles that were poking out of his body, his enemies were rendered speechless. Tags: Horror, Dark, System, Anti-hero, Overpowered Protagonist, Mystery

Caelan finds himself devoid of purpose with the loss of his wife, but fate has other plans for him. Awakening in a world of floating islands and elemental magic, he must navigate a treacherous academy, a looming apocalyptic threat, and the ghosts of his past. Haunted by his grief and thrust into a world filled with danger, Caelan faces a choice: let grief consume him, or honor his late wife's memory. But healing comes at a cost, and the path forward is paved with sacrifices. The Ascendant's Path is a story of loss, resilience, and finding purpose in the face of overwhelming odds. For readers who seek a tale of hope forged in the crucible of hardship.

In a world shattered into eight Echoes by a divine cataclysm, the Second Echo has fallen under the dominion of an immortal tyrant: the Dark King. The frozen lands of Brisombre, a remote duchy within the last standing empire, have become the frontline of resistance against an endless tide of monsters. Galahad Lysandor, heir to a noble lineage and the last son of the Duke of Brisombre, fights to defend his homeland amidst a war that seems unwinnable. Alongside weary veterans and legendary wandering knights, he faces unrelenting darkness, where every battle chips away at the fragile hope of survival. But hope is not yet lost. To survive—and to vanquish the shadows—Galahad must master the aether coursing through his veins and prove himself worthy of joining the Thirteen Sacred Knights, the empire’s last line of defense. As he ventures deeper into the fight for his world, Galahad will uncover harsh truths about the Echoes and learn that light, too, can destroy as easily as it saves.

Born with vengeance and rage that awakened the energy of destruction, Jian Hong must embrace his destiny as a creature of darkness. He does everything in his power to break free from the curse, even facing the trials of Heaven to sever his karma. However, along his journey, he uncovers the truth that his ultimate purpose is to seek revenge against the war god Luo Han. So, how will Jian Hong's path unfold as he strives to become the Demon God Emperor and the strongest being in the universe? Will he succeed in avenging the events of hundreds of thousands of years ago that caused him to reincarnate countless times? "If Heaven never blesses anything I do, then I will make eternal hell my path."

"Path of the Bladecaster" Aeron Drakenhart is no ordinary mage—he’s the first Bladecaster in centuries, a wielder of magic so rare and powerful that its true potential lies hidden within ancient runes. Trained in secrecy by his grandfather, Aeron’s unique bond with the elements and the legendary Bladecaster hilt sets him apart, even among the prodigies at the prestigious magic academy. But mastering this ancient art is only part of his journey. With his loyal spider companion, Obsidian, by his side, Aeron seeks the strength to uncover the truth about his missing mother while navigating the academy’s rigid expectations, rivalries, and the trials of tournament combat. Each fight pushes Aeron closer to unlocking his inner power while exposing the greed and corruption surrounding magical resources coveted by kingdoms. Alongside Jinx, a brilliant yet misunderstood inventor who sees promise in Aeron’s potential, he forges alliances with unlikely companions, including a stoic elven assassin with wind magic and a desire for self-perfection. Together, they face fierce battles, uncover ancient secrets, and challenge the balance of power in a world where innovation and tradition collide. When the kingdom’s demands threaten Jinx’s freedom and Aeron’s loyalties are tested, his journey as the Bladecaster will become not just a path of mastery but a fight for justice and self-discovery. In a tale of friendship, ambition, and elemental power, "Path of the Bladecaster" unveils a world where even the rarest of warriors must choose between upholding tradition or reshaping destiny.

For fifty years, the world bled. The Ouranios Alliance crushed the demonic Daimonas, ushering in an era of uneasy peace. But from the ashes of defeat, a single spark of vengeance ignites. Nyx, son of the fallen Daimonas leader, swears an oath: to tear down the victors and avenge his people. His journey into the dark arts begins with a single, ancient grimoire, but the path to omnipotence is paved with blood, betrayal, and the ghosts of a war that refuses to stay buried. Will Nyx become the savior his people crave, or will his thirst for revenge consume him entirely?

Roy Stavros Williams has never fought a monster, but his power might be the one to tip the odds in humanity’s favour. Humanity is on the edge of extinction, as dungeons multiply faster than ascendants can clear them. The Elite Academy scrambles to train the next generation of heroes to stand against the nightmarish creatures. Roy always dreamed of becoming a hero like his father, but with the seemingly insignificant gift of [Memorization], he believed his destiny was confined to books and study. All that changes on his eighteenth birthday when a mysterious gift from his long-lost father thrusts him into the dangerous life of an ascendant. As it turns out, his true legacy wasn't just for studying, but the power to learn all the mysteries of the awakened world.

Leered was part of the first generation of "Heroes", since it was his generation that learned to improve the new abilities and characteristics that had arrived to his world during the time known as "the new beginning". Portals and enormous power crystals had arrived on planet earth, which emanated certain energy with overwhelming force. These "convergences" affected the terrain and in turn gave way to the spontaneous transfer/creation of various creatures, places and abilities, to which magical explanations were given. While at first this chaos resulted in a world at war, little by little the abilities that had awakened in humans, the new intelligent races that arrived on the planet and the constant expansion of the terrain thanks to the portals, gave way to understanding between species. This led to the formation of the first generation of Heroes, elite units of each race, which were trained for combat against the beasts of the convergence and, in the beginning, the arrival of an era of peace, this organization and their summoned were known at the time as heroes. What differentiates a companion from a mere weapon, power, when you become so strong that those you considered brothers begin to see you as a threat to the point of betrayal something has to be done. What would you choose if given a new opportunity? Leered is faced with this question, a lifetime dedicated to conflict and duty, a lifetime lived in order to become stronger, when presented with the opportunity to move on and leave this behind, will he choose to start over or will he seek answers?

The year is 2025. A devout Christian named Arthur Bennett wins a lottery to participate in a revolutionary virtual reality experience at a high-tech company called Elysium. The program utilizes a unique VR pod to immerse users in a world based on a popular anime. As the other participants—a mix of personalities with varying degrees of anime knowledge—prepare to enter the simulation, Arthur remains the only one who has never indulged in anime. Upon entering this new world, he discovers an unsettling truth: pain is excruciatingly real, despite the creators' claims of a dampened pain response. He eventually finds himself trapped in prison, unable to log out, and demanding to be released from the program. Calls go unanswered, and the world of ninjas becomes a nightmare where hunger, thirst, hygiene, and even death are all real. Angered that he was deceived, he abandons all sense of logic and vows to become a villain no one would have ever anticipated.

In a world where Science meets the Arcane, a time where the surreal bridges upon the factual, an Era in which the physical and metaphysical unify against one common threat. This threat can be seen anywhere, from outside the cottage of a man who struggles with his own isolation, shouting "I cannot be taken yet, for hope has not deserted me!!!" or in the tranquil embrace of nature, where a young man lives among the roots and vines thinking "The Mother of Roots will surely save me", only to find themselves vanished anyhow. Whether meek or the pinnacle of excellence all seems to fade when the "Outers" walk the soils. Explore the world of Alter-Grey in all its facets and uncover mysteries beyond comprehension, knowledge so pure that you might as well be fiction in its suffocating truths, sometimes curiosity is not sated only to kill the cat, but instead uses it to unravel everything. So I ask you this, are you curious enough to brave the Outer, are you strange to the ways of man or are you mundane, either way I suppose it doesn't really matter. Join a select few Astrals on this journey and see how far the strings of fate take you.

Ba Bel adalah seorang pemimpin Sekte Aliran Hitam yang bergelar Kaisar Iblis yang memiliki Kitab Kuno yang bernama Kitab Sembilan Perubahan Iblis peninggalan Kaisar Iblis. Karena tersebar berita Ba Bel memiliki kitab tanpa tanding Kitab Sembilan Perubahan Iblis, Babel di kepung oleh delapan Kaisar lainnya. Tujuan pengepungan tersebut untuk merebut Kitab Sembilan Perubahan Iblis. Ditengah-tengah pertempuran yang berlangsung Babel di hianati oleh seorang murid yang dia selamatkan dan rawat dari kecil. Ba Bel ditikam tepat di Punggung belakangnya oleh muridnya yang di besarkan oleh Ba Bel seperti anaknya sendiri. Sampai saat-saat terakhir sebelum dirinya meninggal dia tidak pernah menyangka Murid kesayangannya akan tega berkhianat hanya untuk sebuah Kitab Sembilan Perubahan Iblis. Ba Bel mati dengan penuh penyesalan dan amarah di benaknya, sampai suatu keajaiban terjadi, dirinya kembali ke masa kecilnya saat bertemu dengam seorang guru dari Sekte aliran Putih. Mampukah Ba Bel merubah Takdirnya ketika dia mendapatkan kesempatan hidup keduanya? Mampukah Ba Bel kembali menjadi Kaisar Iblis di kehidupan keduanya?

Carter Williams was your typical twenty year old loser. After a fight in the street leaves him unconscious he wakes up in the body of a young dragon in an entirely new world. Armed with a system to assist him and two beautiful wives to support him, Carter vows never to live his life hiding in the dark again as he seeks the title of dragon king. - Additional tag : Yuri Discord link is : https://discord.gg/q68P5JPnNz

Strider Cromwell, a transmigrator from the Blue Planet, finds himself in a world called Red Star, where cultivation and supernatural phenomena are real. Born as the fourth son of a baron in the Stoneheart Empire, Strider's life is medicore at best only good in his learning and speaking skills. Red Star is plagued by demons and ghosts, throwing the world into turmoil. Despite being part of a noble family, Strider is scorned and ostracized because, unlike his brothers, he cannot cultivate, making him the subject of ridicule outside his home. However, everything changes on the eve of his 18th birthday when he activates the Demon God Simulator. As he ventures forth, Strider’s journey becomes a tale of resilience, self-discovery, and the pursuit of power in a world where only the strong survive. Will he overcome the odds and carve a legacy in the Stoneheart Empire, or will the challenges of Red Star consume him?

Gin finally transformed his soul to Complete Dragon soul, but price he has pay his Physical Body's Complete Destruction. He Reincarnated to completely different universe with different rules from past life. society, culture everything is different and new to him, despite being a 100 years old soul with a teenage body it will be little hard for him to adapt. Welcome to world of Genesis. To know more Start Reading the story. [Caution :This story some times may be too much emotional,Keep a Cloth/many tissues with you. You will need them at some point to wipe your white... tears.] Wild people come enjoy the adventure of A Big dragon and a little dragon who most of the time hides from people. [Warning:Story will contain incest, yuri, Readers read will caution]

In a world where centuries-old cultivation arts meet pockets of advanced technology, a young martial artist named Lan Zhuoran embarks on a perilous journey to protect a legendary artifact known as Skyfire Protocol. Once a simple resident of the remote Baihe Village, Lan Zhuoran finds his life turned upside down when a wounded stranger—Yin Feiyan—collapses at his door. Clutching the mysterious relic that blends science and magic, Feiyan pleads for help, warning of the merciless Black Wolf Syndicate that hunts her down. Bound by duty and guided by his late father’s teachings, Lan Zhuoran teams up with Feiyan and the enigmatic archer Gao Tianrong. Together, they traverse treacherous canyons, haunted ruins, and war-torn hamlets in a race to reach the capital. There, a secret council might possess the power to safeguard Skyfire Protocol—or exploit it for darker ends. As rival clans, mercenary forces, and hidden factions vie for control of the relic’s immeasurable might, Lan Zhuoran must hone his cultivation skills and remain steadfast in the face of betrayal, bloodshed, and the daunting weight of fate. At once epic in scope and intimate in character, Chronicles of Fate’s Path delves into themes of loyalty, hope, and sacrifice. In a land torn between tradition and technological wonder, will the trio’s courage be enough to protect a relic that could either heal a suffering empire—or destroy it entirely?

As an orphan born in the Outer District, Draven was born without opportunity nor ambition. However, after an accident befalls his orphanage, he finds himself thrown into an entirely different world as he's chosen to become a 'Jumper'. Those who traverse dimensions in hopes of expanding humanity's influence and bringing an end to those who threaten it. Finally given the opportunity to bring himself out of the slums he'd grown accustomed to, Draven is willing to push himself to absurd lengths to grasp even greater heights. Even if it means he must endure powerful struggle, it's the people he's doing it for that grants his the strength to endure the endless madness. But will the Jumpers' way of living bring him prosperity and success, or drown him in a never-ending despair?

Maya prophesied that December 21, 2012 would be the end of the world. On this day, some people were anxious and afraid of not seeing the sun the next day. More people held a playful attitude and celebrated with their loved ones in the early morning night, waiting for dawn to celebrate their safe passage through the end. The next day, the sun rose as usual, and people only thought that God was joking with everyone, working and living as usual. But they were too happy too early. The end has already quietly arrived, but they have been adapted to the harsh environment, unable to see the green mountains turn into yellow soil, and flowers and birds disappear; Unable to see the clear river turning into a foul smelling canal, fish and shrimp are dying; Unable to see grassland turning into desert, land howling According to the Observatory, there was a once-in-a-millennium meteor shower in the early morning of December 21, 2020. Many places can be seen with the naked eye, with young men and women rushing to tell each other, eagerly anticipating this romantic meteor shower. At midnight, the long-awaited miracle finally appeared. The moon, which had been hard to see for a long time, descended like a silver plate, clear and bright, right in front of me But then people were extremely frightened. According to the lunar calendar, this day is the Winter Solstice Festival on the seventh day of the winter lunar month. How could there be a full moon This is a beautiful miracle It's still the beginning of the nightmare

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!

Jace was just an ordinary college student with no faith in the divine, no belief in afterlives, and no preparation for what came next. One rainy evening, his life ends, and he finds himself cast into a formless void of infinite nothingness—a liminal space where souls without ties are forgotten and dissolved. Before oblivion claims him, a self-proclaimed god named Myrr intervenes. Myrr is neither benevolent nor malevolent but a cosmic rogue, drawn to the novelty of Jace’s unaligned existence. Instead of condemning Jace to the abyss, Myrr offers him an extraordinary deal: reincarnation in a world of magic, danger, and eternal conflict. There’s a catch, of course—this world is locked in a stalemate between two warring factions of divine forces, and Jace’s presence is meant to tip the scales. Awakening in a body stronger, faster, and sharper than his own, Jace discovers that survival in this new realm is anything but guaranteed. Armed with mysterious skills granted by the world’s system and little guidance from his so-called benefactor, he must navigate hostile lands, grow stronger, and decide how—or if—he will disrupt the precarious balance of power. It’s a second chance at life, but the question remains: is Jace truly free, or just another pawn in a divine game?

Leered fue parte de la primera generación de “Héroes”, pues fue su generación la que aprendió a mejorar las nuevas habilidades y características que habían llegado a su mundo durante la época conocida como “el nuevo inicio”. Al planeta tierra habían llegado portales y enormes cristales de poder, los cuales emanaba con una fuerza arrolladora cierta energía. Estas “convergencias” afectaron el terreno y a su vez dieron paso al traslado/creación espontánea de diversas criaturas, lugares y habilidades, a las cuales se les dieron explicaciones mágicas. Si bien en un principio este caos dio como resultado un mundo en guerra, poco a poco las habilidades que habían despertado en los humanos, las nuevas razas inteligentes que llegaron al planeta y la constante expansión del terreno gracias a los portales, dieron paso al entendimiento entre las especies. Esto llevó a la formación de la primera generación de Héroes, unidades de élite de cada raza, los cuales estaban entrenados para el combate contra las bestias de la convergencia y, en un principio, la llegada de una época de paz, a esta organización y a sus convocados se les conoció en su momento como héroes. ¿Que diferencia a un compañero de una simple arma?, el poder, cuando te vuelves tan fuerte que aquellos que consideraste hermanos empiezan a verte como una amenaza al punto de llegar a la traición. ¿Qué elegirías si se te da una nueva oportunidad? Leered se enfrenta a esta pregunta, toda una vida dedicada al conflicto y el deber, toda una vida vivida con el fin de volverse más fuerte, cuando se le presenta la oportunidad de seguir y dejar esto atrás, ¿elegirá comenzar de nuevo o buscará respuestas?

In the world of Kieran, swordsmanship is not just a skill—it’s a sacred art imbued with magic. The most powerful warriors, known as Pathbound, follow one of the legendary Blade Paths, each granting unique abilities tied to an elemental force or philosophical ideal. However, mastering a Path requires years of training, countless battles, and overcoming immense personal struggles.

After a tragic accident that claimed the lives of his parents and little sister, Leo, just 17 years old, found himself shouldering all responsibilities alone. By some miracle, he survived the past four months on his own—attending high school, juggling multiple part-time jobs, and enduring sympathetic gazes that pained him. The only respite he found was in books, which offered him an escape and some semblance of joy. One day, while engrossed in the book 'Path of Heroes: Battle Against the End,' his life took an unexpected turn. Halfway through the story, he inexplicably found himself transmigrated into the world of Path of Heroes, inhabiting the body of Azriel Crimson—a character never mentioned in the story's first half. An extra. Someone seemingly irrelevant to the plot. Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—fate had other plans, and Leo soon discovered that being a mere extra was not his destiny after all. -------------------------------------- Character illustrations will be available on Discord. Discord: https://discord.gg/9zZ69PVNFJ Also: Powerstone = PS 200 PS = 1 Extra Chapter 400 PS = 2 Extra Chapters 600 PS = 3 Extra Chapters

Love, lust, and desire... Austin didn't know much about all that in his past life, for he was average in all aspects of his life. A guy who took psychology and math to learn because he couldn't get into biology, the only exciting thing about him being the fact that when he died, he ended up in his favorite eroge game with the task of getting the girls and making the protagonist a loner. Love, like manipulation or time in hell... That was his choice from the God Of Games... The beautiful girls of tsunderes, the sadist, the masochist, the kuudere, and the...yandere, and more. A world with living, breathing women of high status and power who don't like to share... So what happens when Austin goes behind them?... What happens when the Gods that feel nothing feel for him? What happens when he becomes the gigolo of the Gods?... Well, come and find out as he tried to survive among all the crazy women that exist... [There will be a lot of sex scenes, but it might only start after about 60 or so chapters.] (Note: Hey, first of all, this is not a fanfiction! It's true that the beginning of the story and some parts resemble some novels, but none of the characters are related to others from the novel. Also, the story flow will become completely different later!! Again, not a fanfic! The image does not belong to me; if the creator wants to remove it, message me.) My Discord: https://discord.gg/XyYvJ389mg

In a realm where aura pressure is the ultimate determinant of power, and those born without it are doomed to servitude. Akaji, a young clanless boy, defies the odds when he unlocks his latent aura. With his newfound power, he sets forth on a perilous journey to conquer the treacherous world of martial artists. Driven by unyielding determination and unbridled ambition, Akaji will stop at nothing to claim his rightful place amongst the heavens. But as he rises through the ranks, he'll face formidable foes, unexpected allies, and the unforgiving landscape of their empire on the brink of collapse. Will Akaji's growing prowess and unwavering passion be enough to survive the merciless world of martial arts and perhaps either become the one who'll save the empire or the spark that could ignite a civil war.

Li Wei finds himself transmigrated into a cultivation world within a Demonic Sect. With a system that allows him to optimise cultivation techniques

In a world where power means everything, where cultivators can shatter mountains and reshape reality itself, Lin Kai takes a different path. While others rush towards power, he seeks understanding. While they force their way through cultivation, he observes the subtle flows of natural law. His azure pendant, a mysterious treasure found with him as an infant, marks him as different—but different isn't always welcome in a world that values brute force over wisdom. At the prestigious Frost Valley Academy, Lin Kai's methodical approach raises eyebrows and questions. Why would a genius cultivator deliberately slow his advancement? What secrets lie behind his unique understanding of cultivation? And why does his presence make even Core Formation masters pause? But those who underestimate him learn quickly—true power isn't just about destroying mountains. Sometimes, the quietest stream cuts the deepest path. Follow Lin Kai's journey as he treads an untaken road of cultivation, where each step reveals new mysteries and each breakthrough reshapes not just his power, but his understanding of reality itself. In a realm where gods walk and immortals scheme, can his path of perfect understanding lead to the peak of power? "Path of Eternal Dao" - Where wisdom meets power, and true strength lies in knowing the way.

A story about a rank one professional player in a famous RPG game. One day he got summoned to a fantasy world by a cult of demon worshippers. However not as a normal human but as his game character, the demon lord. _ _ _ _ _ This is my first time writing a novel and I am writing this for fun in my free time. Please leave comments of your view. I do not plan to add any harem or romance since I don't even know how to write them.

Born crippled on the sacred summit of Mount Tai, Yuan Long’s life begins amidst the untamed wilderness, where he is raised among beasts. Cast away by the world of men and dismissed as powerless. Against the unyielding forces of nature and a destiny seemingly stacked against him, Yuan Long must rise from the shadows of the mountain to carve his path in a world ruled by the Heavenly Dao. Can he defy the odds and forge a legacy of his own? (There will be other systems in this story such as magic and you as the reader are able to greatly influence the story and change it, create your own techniques and abilities, divine constitutions, you can even create a whole arc if you want! You decide the story! Join the cast as an enemy or a friend, become stronger than the MC! Feel your words and choices change the story and direct it to your chosen goal! all possible at https://ko-fi.com/outermonarch)

Fifteen-year-old Mary appears to have a bright and promising life, but beneath the surface, she battles inner turmoil. Haunted by guilt over a childhood incident with her younger brother, Mark, Mary struggles with self-harm as she faces the growing pressures of family conflict, academic decline, and bullying at school. Mary's life takes a darker turn when a manipulative new student, Ryan, enters her world. Drawn in by his charm, she hopes he can help her escape her pain, only to be betrayed by his sinister motives. Together with Mona, a jealous classmate with a vendetta against Mary, Ryan's deceit leads Mary into an emotional and physical downward spiral. As her family’s financial struggles and emotional distance worsen, Mary finds herself isolated from the few sources of light in her life, including her best friend, Sophie. The story builds to a devastating climax when Mary overdoses, sending her into a coma. From there, The Dark Side explores themes of guilt, betrayal, redemption, and recovery as Mary fights her way back to the surface.