Games With Prizes To Win

Witty FL x Adorkable ML + a cute bun + a talking crochet fox ---------- After the sudden death of her boyfriend, Leslie Song has been single-handedly raising her precious little daughter Calliope. It’s a difficult life, but it’s a happy one. A freak accident puts an end to that. As Leslie lies dying on the road, watching Calliope breathe her last, she curses her helplessness. Calliope’s crochet fox seems to hear her. It opens its mouth and asks, “Do you want to see your daughter again? If so, follow me. Her soul has already left for another world.” Leslie agrees. That’s the last thing she remembers before losing consciousness. When she opens her eyes again, she finds herself—or rather, her soul—standing beside her unconscious body on a hospital bed. “How is this supposed to help me find Calliope!” she exclaims. “This is not your body. Your body is dead. This is my original host, Charlene Li,” explains the toy fox. “You can possess her body to find Calliope, but if you do, you must finish her uncompleted mission for her.” “And what mission is that?” “To marry the second most eligible CEO in the city.” ‘This,’ Leslie concludes, ‘is a scam.’ But she has no other choice. ********** Meanwhile, the second most eligible bachelor in the city, Calix Xu, is patting himself on the back for thwarting his grandmother’s attempts to marry him off. After exhausting all of his tricks and excuses, he has resorted to marrying the comatose daughter of the Li family. Calix smiles, pleased with himself, "Aren't I smart? Grandmother can do nothing now." But… why is he seeing his newly-wedded wife hovering beside her own body? Before he can react, his wife—the moving one—floats towards him. "Husband! Help me find my child!" “Your child?” Calix asks weakly before doing the only reasonable thing he can do in such a situation. He faints. ---------- WSA 2024 entry! Commissioned cover and character images by yuuri_e (Instagram)

Eighteen-year-old Eli Steele wakes up to a reality that feels anything but real. He’s mysteriously trapped inside a hyper-realistic simulation, where everything—from the breathtaking landscapes to the eerily awkward NPCs—feels unsettlingly alive. with no memory of who he is or how he got here and no clear way out, Eli is forced to complete a series of cryptic missions, each more challenging and bizarre than the last. As he delves deeper into the simulation’s layers, Eli begins to notice unsettling details: the NPCs seem to have emotions, the world reacts to his every move, and the game’s system appears to be watching him. But why him? And what happens if he fails? With time running out and the lines between the simulation and his identity beginning to blur, Eli must navigate this uncanny digital world, uncover its secrets, and find a way back—before the game consumes him entirely. The Codex is a thrilling exploration of identity, survival, and the unexpected humanity that can be found in the most artificial of worlds.

Ken is a smart runaway with a dark past, who after a near death experience finds himself waking up in another world. Chosen by Lilith-a mischievous spirit-he's thrown into "New Oasis", a world of high risks where 10,000 players duke it out for a single, ultimate wish. In a land teeming with bustling cities, treacherous mountains, and unyielding foes, Ken has but 5,000 coins, his wits, and the unreliable guidance of Lilith. The goal is to obtain eight legendary gems via twisted games and players who are far more cunning, Beyond that wish, Ken carries the weight of his crimes, unsure what began it all. With redemption, revenge, and freedom hanging in the balance, Ken risks everything in the New Oasis, where only the strongest-or smartest-will survive.

One day, four people are suddenly kidnapped by a strange being. It is then that the four meet and attempt to escape the being's control.

DESTINY GAMES. It has been 85 years since Earth-11 became aligned with Yggdrasil and 73 years since Icon became the first demigod from Earth. Icon, as the first demigod, was privileged to weave the thread of fate for everyone. He was supposed to cut off Yggdrasil and free Earth-11 from the grasps of the other Earths and their god kings. That's why everyone helped him climb the tower of Destiny. But instead of ridding earth of Yggdrasil, he turned the destiny of mankind into seven rings of immortality.  The first ring was for the immortality of power. The second was for the immortality of the knowledge. The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth were for the immortality of the mind, energy, body, and soul. The last ring, the ring of the paragon, was made to rule them all.  Icon kept the ring of the paragon for himself and became a dictator. He ruled with an iron fist for many years. His was a reign of terror. But he was eventually vanquished by the collective effort of the world.  It has been 62 years since then. Icon is no more, but the damage he had done still remains. Earth-11 is still connected to Yggdrasil. The deadly games of the Tower of Destiny still remain, and the fight for the seven rings of immortality still continues.  Kelvin Thorn has just awakened his ability. It came at a good time too since he is running for his life. The ability he awakened saved him, but it came with a cost. He must climb the tower of destiny under the witness of the whole world and accumulate destiny, or he will die.  His situation is not unique. Everyone that awakens, which is mostly everyone, must climb the tower of destiny. It is one of the curses that Icon left behind before he died. But Thorn is different because the seventh ring found him.  The tower of destiny is where everyone granted power by destiny, be they humans, non-humans, or otherworlders, must fight in games of might, skill, and knowledge to gather the power of destiny. They will either die or eventually overcome death. Kelvin will be one of the latest in the line of billions of others in this struggle. Discord Server: https://discord.com/invite/yRbtBYsf Reddit Community: r/DMadLord/

【Global Game + Infinite Flow + Farming Infrastructure + Healing System + Fluffy + DND-like】 Born through reincarnation and abandoned in the forest at birth, I barely survived into adulthood when the global game descended, and everything had to start anew as the scientific world suddenly took a turn. Killing beginner monsters, logging into the game, each person received a Player Manual and took on extraordinary Professions like Barbarian, Warrior, Wanderer, Martial Monk, Priest, Druid, Forest Patrol, Mage, Magician, and Bard—eleven core Professions to choose from. This is a mythical world teeming with numerous Races; humans are no longer the sole intelligent Race. Elves, mermaids, Half-Breeds, Mushroom Men, goblins, and Jackal Wolfmen each have their own way of survival—some are friends, others enemies. New players, along with the world, embarked on their evolutionary journeys. Mu Ying, holding the Lord Token, took on the role of an adept farm grower and jack-of-all-trades Druid, eventually becoming the first Lord and the first player in the deep blue. ………… This text contains slow-paced infinite flow elements, currently featuring Trial Worlds: Square World, Witch World, World of Gods. (There is a male lead with low presence, very limited screen time, in a relaxed, healing system centered around a strong female lead.)

[WSA 2024 Entry] Everyone is playing a regal game. Everyone except Lucia (who probably should). After her father faced accusations of trying to seize the throne from his father and king, he was exiled along with his family. They were no longer royalty, but his wife would not have it. She was friends with the queen of Vershia and used that to her advantage. Her two older daughters were the right age to marry the two princes, and she would make that happen come what may. That became a problem when the oldest daughter was ignored by the crown prince, who formed a friendship with the youngest of the girls. There was still hope; Lucia could become the future queen. But Lucia was not groomed for this role. She did not want to live for the type of marriage she could snag. She did not want to take the man who had been planned for her sister. But that’s the thing with plans, isn’t it? She never planned to fall in love with the man, and there she was: an unwilling participant in the regal games. Would she capture the crown? How would everything affect her relationship with her sister? Was there ever pleasing her mother?

In a world consumed by the rat race, Haruto Oshima stood out as a bright student who despised the rat race everyone seemed trapped in. His dream? A life filled with success, excitement, and lots of wealth alongside his middle school girlfriend, Kanna. Haruto devoted himself intensely to his study, Achieving brilliant success in every exam, and took decisive steps toward achieving the life he aimed for. However, everything changed when Haruto's girlfriend Kanna broke up with him during their last year of middle school, leaving him deeply affected. Just as he was suffering from overwhelming sorrow, the world got hit with a virus known as Covid-19! After years of struggle, the world finally recovered from the pandemic, and people resumed their normal lives. However things didn't remain the same for Haruto Oshima, his educational path was suddenly brought to standstill, costing him five years of his educational life. Haruto’s lack of education forced him to do an ordinary job at a mall as a counter boy forcing him to live a life he always hated, plunging him into boredom and eventually into depression. Things keep getting worse for Haruto as his hatred for his own life started increasing day by day, eventually a tragic event hit his life forcing him to join a game named “Smiley Face Game” where players compete against each other in hope of winning millions of dollars. Unaware of the fact that this seemingly innocent game would turn into a “Human Massacre Game!”

Reeling from the shame, anger, embarrassment of his break up with the love of his life publicly, Kieran White had gotten involved with a common waitress at the pub he visited. They had hit it off and soon had a one night stand that led to them signing a contract marriage of five years so Kieran could head his family's business. What Edwina Hall had thought was a dream come true soon came shattering with a reality so blindly forced into her face when her husband asked her to sign the divorce papers he presented to her. Devastated, she had signed the papers and had left her cold-hearted ex-husband alone only to realize that she was pregnant with his son. Five years later, the duo crossed part in the most unlikely places and this time, the tables had turned as Kieran would do anything to get Edwina to notice him and most importantly, be with him again. Would Edwina continue to feign indifference to the man who had her heart and the father of her son or would she ignore him and move on with someone else?

(As a note, this story uses a third person point of view in its writing, and English is not the author's main language, so if there are any mistakes, please provide criticism.) Synopsis/Wijaya Kesuma was reborn when he entered college, in 2011, where his family's fate changed. Realizing this, Wijaya, who had a lot of anxiety and regret, was determined to start a different path compared to his previous life. Utilizing his knowledge of the future he begins to persuade those closest to him to change. Starting from his parents, friends and lover, they all now have different paths with a much brighter destiny. Satisfied with the results, Wijaya then began to enjoy a much better life, with a good college career, a successful side job, healthy and prosperous parents, and those closest to him who smiled happily without any burden. While he was enjoying all that, the parasites who had been hated from the start now came to disturb him, realizing this, Wijaya only said one word to them...Get out of the way..!!! (There is no system, just purely relying on the abilities he has, the protagonist achieves what he dreams of, even though it is not perfect, he still enjoys it)

After dying in 2030, Adam wakes up in 1990 America with a mysterious smartphone connected to a future version of ChatGPT, complete with a personality and unparalleled capabilities. Armed with advanced knowledge and the AI's guidance, Adam seizes the chance to revolutionize the tech industry. He builds groundbreaking websites like PulseSearch, creates revolutionary gaming platforms such as PulsePlay, and pens bestselling novels and blockbuster films. Balancing his knowledge of future trends with innovative strategies, Adam reshapes industries and amasses wealth and influence. However, as his empire grows, so do the challenges—from competitors and skeptics to the weight of knowing the future. His journey is one of ambition, creativity, and the transformative power of ideas, all driven by a secret only he and his AI share.

“Why did you run away from me?” Avery’s breath caught in her throat. That voice—it was familiar. She looked up, her heart pounding, her eyes narrowing as her mind pieced it together. With shaking hands, she reached up and pulled the mask from his face. Prince Adrian’s sharp features were illuminated in the soft glow of the moonlight. His expression was unreadable, but his intense gaze bore into her, searching for answers. Avery gasped, taking a step back. “Prince Adrian…” she stammered. “I—” “You ran,” he interrupted softly, his voice calm but filled with an undercurrent of emotion she hadn’t expected. “You rejected me and fled. Why?” Avery looked into his eyes, her mind racing. The prince, the very same character she had written to be cold, calculating, and utterly uninterested in Celeste, was now standing before her, asking why she had run away from him. Her thoughts were in chaos. None of this made sense. How could he feel this way about her? Celeste was never meant to be his choice. It was supposed to be Evelisse. *** After the successful debut of her bestselling book, Avery Clarke faced a tragic death that transmigrated her into one of the characters of her book. Was she the protagonist or the heroine of the novel? Hell, no. Avery was none other than the villainess, Lady Celeste Duvernay. However, there’s a twist. Prince Adrian, who was supposed to marry the love of his life, Evelisse while Celeste suffered them, broke off his engagement with Evelisse and announced his proposal to marry Celeste instead.  Avery didn’t want to accept that fate but she had no choice, the game of royalty was so strong to escape. With a new resolution, Avery made her own choice… she would marry prince Adrian but what was her goal… to make him hate her like he did in the book and reconcile with his betrothed love, Evelisse.

In a world where human demihumans,elf,minotaur and all sorts of living being coexist among one another, Unfortunately,Greed, wickedness and sin consumed their minds which causes war and different creatures to turn against each other.Our Main character korin was destined from the Gods to balance and stop suffering in all races,the Gods decided to create a battle royale to see which creatures is best in strengths, tactics,courage and craftsmanship. The Demon however, wants it rough.the demon will like to destroy all realm and take the title to themselves the "Throne of Gods". However,the Main character will not allow This!.this journey to having the throne will bring the attributes of leadership, consequences of an action losses and winning will our main character be able to get to the throne of Gods and restore balnce in all realm?. Read all the chapters of the novel and find out Full release of all the chapters:1st of January 2025.

Aditya Surya, siswa SMA kelas 11 yang dikenal sebagai maniak game, tak pernah menyangka bahwa hobinya akan mengubah hidupnya selamanya. Saat dunia dikuasai oleh hype Rogue Like And Darkness, sebuah game RPG terbaru dengan dunia gelap penuh tantangan, Aditya memutuskan mencobanya. Dengan antusias, ia menjelajahi game itu hingga larut malam, mempelajari sistem, karakter, dan rahasia permainan yang baru saja ia mulai. Namun, pagi berikutnya membawa kejutan yang mengerikan kos-kosannya hancur lebur. Dunia luar yang ia kenal telah berubah menjadi dunia dari game yang ia mainkan! Ras-ras misterius, monster buas, dan makhluk asing kini berkeliaran di sekitarnya, seakan permainan itu menjadi kenyataan. Dengan hanya pengalaman satu malam bermain, Aditya harus memanfaatkan semua yang ia tahu dari game tersebut untuk bertahan hidup di dunia baru yang penuh bahaya. Mampukah Aditya mengatasi dunia penuh kekacauan ini? Ataukah ia akan menjadi korban dari permainan yang kini menjadi realita? Di dunia yang menuntut strategi, keberanian, dan keahlian, ia harus menjawab pertanyaan: Apakah ia hanya seorang pemain, atau takdirnya lebih besar dari itu?

In a world turned into a deadly game, Alex Grant, an ordinary high school student, finds himself thrust into an apocalyptic reality where Earth has been selected as Game World N31459. With invaders and monsters descending from the skies, humanity is forced to fight for survival. As Alex navigates through the chaos, he discovers a game-like system in his mind, granting him access to items, abilities, and quests. Using a rare "Blessing Stone," he gains temporary god-like powers, boosting his strength and endurance. Tasked with surviving the first week of the invasion, Alex fights terrifying creatures and encounters other survivors, each struggling to adapt to their new powers and the terrifying monsters attacking their world. Along the way, he earns valuable loot, including rare "Awakening Stones" that promise to unlock even greater power. With his R-level potential, Alex quickly becomes a force to be reckoned with, but the battles only grow more dangerous. The world has become a brutal game of survival, and Alex must use every advantage he gains to protect those around him and unravel the mysteries behind the invasion.

"I came to reclaim this," she said as she pointed to his heart. "It has been a while, have you forgotten me, Orig? Or let me say, my husband, Governor Orig," She whispered as she placed her hand on his chest. Her breath was close to his lips, as if challenging him to resist the urge to throw her onto the bed and teach her a lesson until sunrise. Her hips swayed as she got closer to him, and he couldn't take his eyes off her. Her presence was powerful. He pulled her until she was pressed against his chest. Her fingers finally managed to touch him, and she felt the heat of his body. 'Damn it, are you joking? Your image is still engraved in my mind and heart for those four years, seven months, and five days and...' When he didn’t respond to her words, she decided to speak with her lips, for a few moments. Everyone watched in silence, even he was surprised by her boldness. "No, my dear Taya, it is you who will regret this." Can Taya win back her husband? Will he free himself from the control of his stepmother, confess his feelings for his wife, and correct the mistakes of his past? Read on to discover the secrets between the flames of their love...

Max, an ordinary student, found his world upended when powerful, chaotic, God-like beings descended upon Earth, bestowing grand and bizarre abilities upon humans while compelling them to participate in their perverse games.

When hard-working office worker Zara wakes up in the body of Lavinia Ruthbell, the most hated villainess in the empire’s most popular romance novel, she has one goal: to avoid her death flag at all costs. In the original story, Lavinia was the fiancée of the cold and powerful Duke of Clyne, Adrian Valmont. But Lavinia’s obsession with Adrian and her schemes against the novel’s heroine led to her public execution. Zara is determined to rewrite Lavinia’s fate and live a quiet life far from the spotlight. Unfortunately, Lavinia’s reputation is already ruined, her engagement is still in effect, and the System that governs her new life has an annoying obsession with romance quests. To survive, Zara has to win Adrian’s favor—or at least ensure he doesn’t want her dead. But when Adrian starts acting unexpectedly kind and the System’s quests take an unexpected turn, Zara begins to wonder: is she playing the game, or is someone else pulling the strings?

As a gamer Asuka Ito has played many video and VR games. Though his favorite ones, and the ones with his account name at the top of the leader board are survival games. One day he gets invited to participate in a reality TV show known as The Zombie Games. Thinking it would be just another survival game he had played; he accepted the invitation and was transported to an island in the middle of nowhere. There he saw other participants just like himself. When the last participant arrived a voice then began. "In the world of The Zombie Games, zombies are real and they're dangerous. Your goal...Survive. Be the first to get to the other side of the island, and you will be given 50,000,000 dollars. This game is the survival of fittest. Good Luck!!" A battle to the death against the undead. With millions of dollars on the line, these teens will have to use all their cunning, strength, and luck to survive. LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!

Life is like a deck of cards, we have an ace- the excellent ones, the jack-the constantly bullied one, a queen- everyone's beloved, a king- oh the ruler, queen's sweetheart, or anything you call under breath- the fucking cheater! But, rest we are common cards- yup, the number cards which come and go, who cares?! However... There's one card rarest of all, in a deck of 52 only one to be found- the joker! This card has been a show-stopper, which was be anything- I mean ANYTHING- a king, queen, Jack, ace, or a common number! However, many people underestimate this very brutally! Until they know it's worth... But that's a long way, isn't it?! **** The story of a Joker, but a hidden one! Sleeping 20 hrs out of 24! "How is he even human?! " But... A master inside with a brain so strong and work like horsepower stuffed inside his thick skull, yup, he wasn't human, He was beyond human! The human, the joker who is the missing link in the game of survival in the apocalypse that has been settled 17 years ago, Now it's returning at a greater pace, Wait that's in the game! Well, the game has entered the red human realm, expecting blood and a forsaken planet And he... "You can't be serious with this sleepy head!! " Who said he can't win a game?! "Okay, would you prefer sleep or life, the most?! " "Sleep" he answered in certain confidence rubbing his sleepy eyes. Eh... let's see if he...survive or sleep?!

Felix Maxwell was destined to be a loser, born on one of the weakest races and on the least favorable of situations, he was forced to face adversity head-on as he traveled across the vast universe where dangers laid in every corner, one day traveling in hopes of riches he stumbled upon a ruin where a supreme being laid imprisoned, in a stroke of bad luck the being laid its eyes on him and tried to take over his body, forcing itself upon him. But fate hadn't given up on him! He woke up in his younger body, 20 years in the past with the fallen being trapped in his soul. In his past life he had been a loser, giving up on things mid-way and never striving for greatness, he was a side character who made the strong shine even brighter, but not on this life. He swore to himself he would strive for glory, he would take advantage of his knowledge and emerge as a supreme being! ...... Novel Discord: https://discord.gg/FTfXXYHnFT This is my Patreon, everyone is welcomed to drop by! https://www.patreon.com/MidGard_Author

James, a brilliant scientist obsessed with the mysteries of the universe, dedicates his life to unraveling the secrets of energy manipulation. After a century of tireless research, his dreams seem to fade, leaving him disillusioned and lost. He finds solace in the world of video games, immersing himself in their intricate mechanics and the boundless possibilities of virtual worlds. This unexpected detour rekindles his passion, leading him to a profound realization: the magic he sought might be closer than he imagined. Driven by this newfound conviction, James embarks on a daring space exploration, venturing far beyond the reach of civilization. His journey takes a terrifying turn when he encounters a bizarre alien creature, a being that defies the laws of physics. The creature's presence unleashes chaos, destroying his ship and forcing him into a desperate escape pod. He finds himself hurtling toward a white hole, a cosmic singularity that promises oblivion. As he faces his inevitable demise, a wave of memories floods his mind, memories not his own. He is now a god, a deity of entertainment and gambling, a being of immense power, albeit a minor one. He has been plucked from the void, a remnant of a forgotten god, his essence fused with James's soul. Now, stranded in a strange new world, James must grapple with his newfound divinity. He is a god of games, a master of illusion and creation, but he is also a mortal man, burdened with the weight of his past and the uncertainty of his future. He must navigate the treacherous landscape of this new universe, where gods clash, mortals struggle, and the lines between reality and fantasy blur. His journey will be a testament to the transformative power of dreams, the enduring allure of magic, and the unexpected paths that life can take.

Living in Tokyo, using the Mind-reading Extraction Skill, I thought I could become an all-powerful superhero, but instead, I got dragged into a twisted cycle of love?! Without even a moment to mourn my youth, the one who immediately rushed to the battlefield was— Kiryu Hina (ex-girlfriend), "Remember, this is what you owe me." Ayakoji Chiyoko (current girlfriend), "Break it off with that woman immediately!" Kohinata Motoyo (rough target), "Please, I'll do anything!" Ai Cheng Hua Lian (always losing), "Huh?" Kagura Hikaru (protagonist), "..........." My youth romantic comedy can't possibly be this twisted!!! ================ [Viewer discretion advised, the main story includes the following content:] [Heavy female roles, boomerang relationships, ex-love literature, women fighting, mental breakdowns, underdog comebacks]

After being treated unfairly and killed Bella is given a second chance to life to take her revenge and save the world with the only condition that she does fall in love. This gets spiced up when she crosses part with her mutual enemy Leon Copeland and they are compared to get married to one another by their family ... [Bella what are you doing? I thought I make the rules clear?] She heard butterfly said and quickly shut her eyes trying to comprehend her emotions "You did but I'm just human, and my baby needs his dad," she said coldly and picked up a glass of wine. ... "What the fuck has come over you?" Leon screamed seeing his wife pointing a gun at him "Nothing.. it's simple I want you out of my way" "Your way?What on earth are you speaking about.." he asked perplexed as he could feel his life draining bit by bit out of him "I want to be the queen" Bella replied coldly "But you are already one" "I want to be the one and only Mafia ruler and I don't need anyone's support especially not that of a motherf**ker like you" "So you want to kill me? Tell me what would you tell our kids and family? I was never in your way and I wouldn't" Leon said hoping he would calm her, he was still unaware of what in actual fact came over his once loving and sweet wife... Will she be able to keep to this one rule and save the world or would fall in love and ruin everything? Schedule update. Stay tuned

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.

Katsuhira Kazuomi had always hated the idea of coincidences. Sometimes, they work in his favor, but most of the time, they make him miserable. Entering middle school, Kazuomi refused to give in to his misfortunes through effort. Of course, this ended in tragedy. Still, while Kazuomi is sick of these unlucky coincidences ruining his plans, he never blames anything on another person. Now, Kazuomi is just your average high schooler. Wanting to spend an eventful and enjoyable high school life, he puts all forms of pressure off his shoulders going forward. What could this entail for his journey as he continues to forge his previous relationships while forming new ones?

Five of the most prestigious universities in the country are chosen to participate in an unparalleled tournament. Only the best and brightest students are selected to represent their institutions in a series of deadly and intellectual challenges that will test not only their knowledge but also their cunning and fortitude. Each team, composed of four students, must navigate through challenges in virtual worlds, where reality is manipulable and the boundary between victory and defeat is often determined by the ability to influence and deceive others. But there's more at stake. As the challenges grow more intense, secret alliances and dark conspiracies emerge. Academy Games is a tale of fierce competition, strategic intelligence, and the subtle power play that lies behind every decision. Only one team can emerge victorious and bring honor to their university, but at what cost?