San Diego Essay Contest

A young man with a bright future ahead of him gets run over by a talking train, and is sent into a mystical, fantasy world filled to the centimeter with anything a man can think of. Uniquely interesting individuals to meet, grand locations to explore, and strange societies, with underlying mysteries awaiting to be explored. However... a good protagonist is always aided by an equally noteworthy, and possibly bizarre, cast of acquaintances. *** Tags: [Realism], [Isekai], [Cynical], [Dark], and [Slow-paced] (Or so I've been told). Disclaimers: 1. In spite of what Randall (the MC) says at the start, it is NOT a harem. 2. I will also shift POVs (and provide a clarification) whenever I consider it's worth it. However, the spotlight will be on the MC most of the time. 3. The MC starts off overpowered, but that will change after Chapter 40. I don't really like OP MCs too much. 4. Please read the first 3 chapters to decide whether it's worth reading. Finally, this is also my first time publishing a novel, so I hope it's not too bad. (PS: Cover is AI made.)

I, Zhang San, am absolutely a good person! I swear by the eight generations of my ancestors! What!? My ancestral grave just exploded!?

The legend of the continent, the battle that brought fame; the Sacred Phoenix Lady, the Windfire Meteor Godrealm saber-art; the pair that ascend and fuse, the golden sun and the blue moon, the fury of the crashing thunder. There is no magic, no battle qi, nor any martial arts in this land. However, there are martial spirits. Ten thousand years have passed since the founding of the Tang Sect on the Douluo continent, and it has declined. A new, proud generation of heaven’s chosen has been born. Can the new generation of Shrek’s Seven Devils rally the Tang Sect and once more compose the song of the Unrivaled Tang Sect? A million-year-old spirit beast, a sacred deathgod that holds the sun, the moon, and the stars in his hands, and a brand new spirit tool system which caused the fall of the Tang sect. One miracle shall occur after another. Can the Tang Sect’s hidden weapons rally the winds, and can the glory of the Tang Sect ascend once more? All of this will be continued in the second installment of Douluo Dalu—The Unrivaled Tang Sect!

His eyes were throwing flames. It was crimson now. Smoke was coming out of his ears. He scrunched his nose, gritted his teeth, and chided, “what do you think about yourself?” His fangs started showing. She squinted her eyes and smirked, “The girl who beat you.” “Why did you come back? You ran away, then why did you come back?” he yelled. “To rub it in your face,” she replied. Her every word was like a dagger to his heart. “I won. I won and you lost, at last.” “I was so happy you were not here,” he chided. “Maybe that’s why I am here because I would hate to see you happy. I want you to cry and be sad all your life,” she snapped. “Cry, in front of you? You are the one who will cry. You declared war, now get ready to rumble,” he barked. ***** Can one fall in love with a Vampire twice? In a world where all the paranormal creatures, vampires, werewolves, and humans live in harmony, A vampire and a human fall in love but suffer a drastic breakup. Now they have a new relationship, stronger than their love – they are now enemies, business rivals. And now years later their siblings fell in love with each other. To get their happy ending they have to convert the archenemies into friends again. Will they succeed or will exes remain exes? Do any of the pair get their happy ending?

When Lucia Gomez returns to Mexico City, she takes on a daring disguise as "Emily," her own fiancé Diego's driver, to test his loyalty. Hidden behind her new identity, Lucia witnesses Diego's betrayals firsthand, but a twist emerges when Diego starts to fall for Emily, unaware she's the woman he's engaged to. Caught between love and deception, Lucia faces the ultimate choice: reveal her identity and confront Diego or walk away forever. Veil Of Ruse explores love's complexity, loyalty, and the cost of uncovering the truth.

After a tragic accident, 31-year-old Kleinn wakes up in his 15-year-old body, back in his childhood bedroom. Confused and disoriented, he must navigate high school life while hiding his true identity from family and friends. With knowledge of future events, Kleinn sees an opportunity to reshape his destiny through savvy investments and personal growth. As he uncovers the reasons behind his second chance, he grapples with the bonds of family and friendship, discovering that the universe might have greater plans for him. Will he find the answers he seeks, or will he become lost in the echoes of his past?

Kilan was born with unique powers that made him the target of many supernatural circumstance face with the death of his parents by hands of a mysterious man he was taken under the care of his grandfather were he trained to avenge his family. 4 years later he was taken under the care of his uncle Macus who enrolled him into St Veniste an all boys high school for a normal start but what he didn't know is that the 'normal' those not really exist in the school. This marks the story of the 7 Shadows.

En un día que parecía completamente ordinario, Diego y su mejor amigo, Alex, son transportados a un extraño y desolado mundo al que una voz misteriosa llama "El Limbo". Rodeados por un paisaje infinito de casas idénticas y sumergidos en una atmósfera inquietante, ambos deben aprender a sobrevivir en un lugar donde cada paso trae nuevos desafíos, y cada casa esconde secretos que podrían ayudarles… o condenarlos. Son brindados con un inventario sin límites y enfrentan la aterradora presencia de criaturas grotescas que acechan en las sombras, convirtiendo cada noche en una lucha por la vida. Perdidos en este limbo solitario y extraño, Diego y Alex deberán confiar en su ingenio y en su amistad para encontrar un camino a casa… si es que eso es posible.

Mai Hajima is a successful erotica author whose carefully constructed world of forbidden passions and untold desires has earned her a devoted following. But the woman behind the stories is anything but confident. Struggling with the remnants of a toxic past—one scarred by a relationship that shattered her sense of self—Mai has isolated herself in the comfort of her apartment, clinging to the safety of her words and the worlds she creates. When two persistent friends, Kyo and Sora, drag her out of her cocoon, Mai finds herself confronting a city full of noise, chaos, and overwhelming emotions that she’s long avoided. As she navigates these moments of awkwardness and fleeting connection, memories of her abusive past haunt her at every turn, reminding her of the trust she’s lost and the isolation she’s chosen. But in the undercurrent of her discomfort, a subtle shift begins. Mai is starting to question the walls she’s built around herself, realizing that maybe, just maybe, there’s more to life than the safe confines of her apartment and the stories she hides behind. A delicate exploration of healing, vulnerability, and self-discovery, as Mai takes her first tentative steps toward rebuilding a life outside of the isolation she's known.

Life is hard. It is hard on the homeless, the tired and the wealthy. It is hard on Azra, the King's only son and heir to the Alfonsi throne. A child of unknown talent with the weight of his people on his shoulders. Holding the ability to control so much yet do so little is a frustration that can lead to madness. Life is hard, but when Azra is sucked into a hole and spit out into an entirely new realm... life just gets harder. ...and you thought there was a rock bottom.

The EGOs that dream of a dream that night.

Megan and Diego have always been at odds. From their first encounter in high school, their personalities clashed like oil and water. Megan, a headstrong artist, values creativity and independence, while Diego, a pragmatic business-minded individual, prioritizes structure and success. Over the years, their rivalry intensified, marked by passive-aggressive encounters against each other. However, their lives take an unexpected turn when they discover that their parents have orchestrated an arranged marriage between them, believing that their differing strengths will create the perfect partnership. Both are initially outraged, seeing the arrangement as a prison sentence rather than a union. Megan dreams of escaping her traditional upbringing, while Diego resents the idea of being tied down by someone he cannot stand.

Noah being a die hard fan of the flash series was struck by lightning and now finds himself in a fantasy world that is ruled by mages and magic warriors. being born with a special bloodline. Join Noah on how he discovers his uniqueness and how he tries to fulfil his fantasies p,s am a new author and this is my first book and also English is not my forte so am really sorry for any inconveniences thank you.

*Ego or Love* Synopsis Two dangerous worlds collide Gabriella Wilson in the day and Queen Red at night ... The daughter who knows nothing in the day and the Queen of one of the greatest and most dangerous Mafia gang at night ,which should have been the greatest and most dangerous if not for that asshole called Scar ... opps I forgot to add thefact that I'm the biggest ,most secretive business tycoon taking over every part of the world but there are two particular dickheads on my part.... one is King Scar in the mafia world , The king of the most dangerous Mafia gang in the world , just higher than mine with few points and my new year resolution is to make that change by hook or by crook and the other is Kyle Richmond in the business world .. he is really a huge business tycoon but not huge enough to bring my world down ... cus we have slightly the same strength in the business world with me leading and that would also change this year 2024 Cus I have to be the queen of the whole world bother the Mafia world and the Business world Cus that was the main reason I got into all of this dangerous shit in the first place.... For now that's not even my biggest problem,My biggest one is my parents trying to arrange a wedding for me with someone I don't even know and I don't really care ,I need to find a way to stop this whole shit : : Kyle Richmond, A billionaire,A mafia king ,a dangerous man, feared by everyone even the whole government is at his feet ... When he speaks , everyone listens no matter what ... What would happen when Kyle Richmond and Gabriella Wilson meets each other ,falls Inlove but king scar and Queen Red has to go against each other ...... A fight between love and Ego ,who is winning? ... Ego or Love ? Queen Red and King Scar or should we say Gabriella and Richmond??? Read on to find out

In this world, ascending to upper realms is a matter of resources and ability. No matter the status or power level, if you have the money and the willingness to, you can live in any realm of your choosing. However, the higher the realm, the more power there is to tap into and cultivate. Who is brave enough to seek the Supremacy and rule the world? By: Jerlani

Dahil sa kahirapan ay napilitang huminto sa pag-aaral si Sonata, at magtrabo sa Maynila para makatulong sa kanyang pamilya. Ang matulungan ang kapatid na may sakit at para sa pag-aaral ng mga nakababata pa niyang kapatid. Namasukan siyang katulong sa isang mansyon na mataas kung magsweldo, at halos ikinalula niya kung magkano ang sasahurin at ang tanging gagawin lang niya ay bantayan ang mga anak ng kanyang among lalake na ubod ng sungit at laging galit sa mundo. Si Gabriel San Diego na isang mayamang bilyonaryo at may mga anak pero walang asawa, sa isip ni Sonata ay marahil kaya walang asawa ang amo dahil halos lahat ng tao sa paligid nito ay kinatatakutan ito, pero isang araw ay natagpuan niya ang sarili na humahanga at may kakaibang damdamin na umuusbong sa kanya tuwing nakikita ang masungit niyang amo. Posible kaya na magkaroon ng katugon ang damdamin niya sa amo niya, o hanggang dito lang ito dahil ni minsan ay hindi man lang siya sinulyapan nito. Date started: September 17 2019 ORIGINAL STORY BY: Seirinsky

Edward Harding was supposed to be nothing more than a mob character for an otome game known as Doki Doki Magical Love! (*Author cringing SFX*), but due to an accident, he started having headaches that unwillingly gave him weird and mysterious knowledge, that he couldn't comprehend at all. With that more than often useless knowledge in hand, lack of sleep, and good ol' ad-libbing, he would go on to accidentally mess with the game's story and its pacing. The concept is self-explanatory, and I don't think anything else needs to be said about it. It was already published on Wattpad, mostly because I didn't know how many chapters I would end up writing, and now that it's past the 10 chapters mark, I'll be publishing here from now on as well.

Rani adalah seorang wanita yang dipaksa oleh keadaan untuk mandiri dan kuat.

Alex has played soccer for long but with no success, will a change in style help him?

yuki was an ordinary teenage boy who lives a normal life with his mother and elder sister but that life came to an end the day he saved a mysterious old man and as gratitude yuki was given a mysterious box containing an orb.

In a world where gods have faded, 16-year-old orphan Tristar Klarent enrolls in the Academy of Heroes, driven by his desire to become a hero like the one who saved him during an alien attack. As he faces challenges and unexpected rivalries, Tristar’s unwavering perseverance guides him through a journey.

Satoru es un chico muy inteligente de Hokkaido al que se le brindó la oportunidad de estudiar en Tokyo Academy, la universidad más prestigiosa de todo Japón. Sin embargo, al llegar ahí se encontrará con Aino-san, la chica más inteligente, popular y con mayor poderío en toda la escuela. Y ella, por su parte, tiene un objetivo muy claro... ¡hacerle la vida imposible a un forastero como él!

The vast scale of our universe has lead us to believe that we must be alone. However, this isn't the case. Fane, a member of a highly advanced spacefaring civilization, is suddenly summoned to a medieval world, reminiscent of Old Earth's Dark Ages. On the surface, kingdoms wage endless wars, while beneath, a mysterious dungeon sprawls, its labyrinthine corridors constantly shifting like the gears of a clock. Yet, this world is not the only one drawn into the chaos. Two others have also been pulled into the fray, bringing with them powerful crystalline mages and ancient gods long thought forgotten. Now, Fane must fight to survive alongside native warriors and foreign entities alike, all while unraveling the cryptic mysteries of this strange and dangerous realm. Survival is only the beginning - deciphering the truth could change everything. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hello! Thanks for checking out my work! I'm not the greatest author, but I plan to consistently update this project, even if I have to write significantly slower than what you typically find on this platform. (My apologies!) Below, you will find some key notes that might be nice to see before becoming invested. PACE: 1 ch/week For now, I plan to write roughly 1 chapter / week. However, this might change in the future as I acclimate to writing more frequently. (Or if this story randomly becomes very successful.) MONEY: At least first 50 ch FREE I know I just mentioned this story becoming "successful", which typically entails paying the author and bla bla bla. BUT! I like the idea of this just being my story with no hooks or lines for a while. I plan to make the greater first chunk of the story free. TRENDS: ~~Overpowered~~ Honestly, I hate the concept of things being "overpowered". It reminds me of the first time I hacked my favorite childhood videogame. (It sucked the fun out of it completely.) That being said, I want this story to involve genuine challenges that take effort or risk to overcome. GENRE: Action, Mystery I would like this story to focus primarily around Action and Mystery. There might be some mild things tossed into the fray like comedy and romance, but don't expect anything too raunchy. DISCORD: -not yet implemented- I may eventually start a discord for this story. It could make a good library for supporting lore or artwork, as well as a place for people to discuss their theories or leave feedback. For now, this discord doesn't yet exist, but I will update you here when/if that changes. OTHER STORIES: Paused A few of you may have known me from my previous stories. I know, you may be pretty bummed that I haven't updated either in a really long time. There were some pretty hefty flaws in those stories that I kind of beat myself up over. (I actually formed this story while trying to restructure the surface world for 'Reincarnated as a Haunted Machine'.) For now, this will be my only work, as the world I live in has become rather complicated in recent years. Perhaps at some point, I will return to my other works, but for the foreseeable future, this story will be my one true love.

The story revolves around Emily with the main leads being dynamic as Emily faces different experiences with different guys during her youthful age Read up to find out how compassionate Emily resolves her encounters

My father, who did this, but I particularly liked it, I'm now married to a woman older than me, and by the way very beautiful

Legenda benua, pertempuran yang sangat terkenal; Sang Wanita Phoenix Suci, seni tebasan dari Domain Dewa Meteor Api; fluktuasi kegemparan dari pasangan ini, mentarinya yang keemasan, dan birunya bulan, serta teror dari tabrakan halilintar. Tidak ada sihir, tidak ada pertarungan ki, maupun teknik bela diri di negeri ini. Namun, ada Jiwa Petarung. Sepuluh ribu tahun telah berlalu sejak berdirinya Sekte Tang beserta penerus-penerus-nya di benua Douluo. Kini telah lahir generasi kegemaran langit yang baru. Bisakah generasi penerus dari Tujuh Iblis Shrek ini kembali menggalang Sekte Tang dan sekali lagi memasyurkan nama Sekte Tang dengan julukan “Yang Tak Tertandingi Sekte Tang”? Seekor Binatang Jiwa berusia sejuta tahun, Dewa Kematian Agung yang memegang Matahari, Bulan, dan Bintang di tangannya, dan sistem alat jiwa yang baru menyebabkan kejatuhan Sekte Tang. Namun Keajaiban demi Keajaiban kini terjadi. Apakah senjata tersembunyi Sekte Tang memutarbalikan keadaannya, dan bisakah kemuliaan Sekte Tang naik sekali lagi? Saksikan semuanya dalam Douluo Dalu (Benua Pertempuran) bagian ke-2: “Sekte Tang Yang Tiada Bandingannya”.