Venom Smile

The world was separated for a milennia and each section of the world grew in culture and understanding. When those separations diminished, the world had to learn to work as one and have thus far failed. Now it is up to the 6 heir of the world to band together to stop the threat that comes for them; if they are unable to work as one then there will not be a world left to rule. Based on a DND campaign with characters being based on my friends PC's, follow along each week as the story unfolds and see if Hize will prosper, or fall to ruin under their rule. I will be posting this story on Royal Road!

When a mountain comes to life, awakening its consciousness, it takes on another form—a Mountain Spirit. And that’s me reborn with extraordinary Divine powers. Want to know what these divine powers are? Well, one of them allows me to accelerate herb growth—up to one hundred times faster! Impressive, right? But wait, there’s more! I also possess a ‘golden finger’—which is ‘Space-Time’ system that lets me fish for lost techniques, weapons, pill formulas, and other treasures from the rivers of time and space. With these at my disposal, I’m sure to become stronger, at least stronger than the beautiful sect master who claims my mountain as her personal retreat and constantly drag me into her matters. It’s not an easy life, but no need to worry! I’m not just any spirit—I’m a human spirit born from a mountain, which means I have an extraordinary talent for cultivation. To top it off, my system was generous enough to grant me a divine cultivation technique right from the start. There’s just one tiny problem: it’s a dual cultivation technique, and I need a partner to cultivate it. So, I had no choice but to convince the sect master’s stunning disciple to help me out. I mean, it’s not like I’m after her gorgeous long legs, her curvaceous thighs, or her… well, you get the point. I’m just a humble cultivator trying to grow stronger by any means necessary. If only she’d run into some trouble, so I could swoop in and save the day. That would make things a lot easier for me… but alas, life is never that simple. Still, I’ll find a way. With my Space-Time system, my mountain’s power, and a little charm, I’ll outgrow this mountain and surpass everyone—even the sect master. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll enjoy the beauties along the way. *** No NTR, No Yuri, No Yaoi *** LinkTree- https://linktr.ee/Around_The_Moon Discord- https://discord.gg/zTgR9VFduX

Reincarnated into an eroge brimming with cunning and seductive women, Shia quickly learns this world is no paradise. His childhood friend? A manipulative beauty with a penchant for control. The maid? A silver-haired, venomous tsundere. Even the elegant motherly figures hide sharp fangs behind their kind smiles. Fortunately, Shia knows this world’s secret: a unique system that only he can use. From making alliances with snake-like in-laws to hosting wild parties in the elf kingdom, Shia takes charge as the self-proclaimed administrator of chaos. But taming bad women isn’t easy, and Shia’s life quickly turns into a whirlwind of power plays, unexpected friendships, and wild nights.

Kiara Baxter does not believe in magic and is skeptical of anything that she cannot see with her own two eyes. Her life is hard as she lives with her unhappy parents and she dreams of getting as far away as possible from them and her town. One day, she finds herself transported to a new world that is full of everything that she does not believe in! Kiara finds herself employed at an inn in a small village where she serves common folk, adventurers, travelers, and various eccentric characters with each of their own stories to tell. Kiara befriends several of the inn’s patrons and unexpectedly falls in love for the first time. She will come to understand that there is magic even in the very simplest of things. This book is going to be a cozy slice-of-life that will also have queer romantic relationships.

At 35, Lin Zhi finally died from exhaustion on the delivery table! In her life, she was never married or had children, faced with a difficult and bumpy fate, but fortunately, she successfully delivered 3000 babies. After death, she arrived in hell, where King Yan, appreciating her merit, allowed her to be reborn at the age of 20, and even bestowed her with a pair of... Holy Hands for delivering babies?! Lin Zhi was somewhat bewildered, she didn't want to be a midwife again! "King Yan sir, that... actually, you could grant me a cool, super-rich, devastatingly handsome husband who would love me for a lifetime." King Yama said, "Lin Zhi, I think you'd better come back to hell with me!"

Unconditional obedience to him? Dream on! Regrettably, after marrying Tang Yuchen, An Ruo's daily thoughts were of escape, escape, and more escape! Someone grew furious, "You want to flee? The only way out is if you die, or I perish!" Fine, she chose death! Yet he laughed wickedly, "Woman, do you intend to kill the son in your womb?"

He kept her by his side, never letting go! "Please, can you let me go?" "Impossible," he said, "unless you're no longer my only one." After they fell in love, he declared possessively, "I want to keep you by my side, to make you belong only to me. You can only love me too, your mind, your world, must be filled with only me." Yet his domineering love sent a chill through her.

As 21 years old Noah wakes up after his attempted suicide, he find out that he has transmigrated into the body of 14 years old Vasilisa, a young noble afflicted with the [Muddy Tongue] status effect preventing them from talking properly and thus using magic. Because of the many misconceptions linked to that status, he is now even more scorned and hated than he was in his previous life. Additionally, he is now in a girl's body—something he finds harder to adapts to than he would have thought at first. Thankfully, he soon find himself the ability to see "the blue", an ability allowing him to pull off critical hits at will. Will this ability allow him to make his way into this strange new world and prevent the ashes of war with demons to reinites themselves? Only the future can tell. ––– W.N : Only the future, huh ? XD Well, I am the author, the one who wrote this thing and this really formulaïc synopsis. The story, I hope, is anything but that, but you will be the judge there. Also, if subjects like suicide and depression makes you feel uncomfortable, maybe you shouldn't read this. The protagonist is not written to be the most positive person in the world and thr world is equally bleak. Expect a lot of violence as I think it somewhat make sense in a world obeying those rules. Also again, I will use game's terminologies without necessarily explaining them in details. Most explanations will be there to highlight how this universe's game mechanics differ from the usual ones. Will the hero/heroine, be OP ? Dunno. I would rather not and their ability isn't so rare to be fair. I have no idea if the main character should be considered a male or a female which is perfect. That's why it a male-lead book with the yuri (girl's love) tag. Now then, I only intended this to be a warning but I ended up rambling. Thank you for reading up until this point and I hope you will enjoy the book. X-)

Mit vollem Bauch bringt ihr Mann eine andere Frau nach Hause und will sie sogar rauswerfen! Als sie auf tragische Weise stirbt und wiedergeboren wird, ist sie entschlossen zu fliehen, doch er verfolgt sie unerbittlich: "Wenn du es wagst zu fliehen, werde ich die ganze Stadt durchsuchen und diese Frau innerhalb von 48 Stunden finden!" Er ist arrogant und herrschsüchtig, wenn er seine Hand dreht, ist sie unbedeutend, wenn er seine Hand umdreht, ist sie der Schatz in seiner Handfläche. Sie spottet: "Bleib weg von mir, wir sind bereits geschieden!"

Life is stressful. Oriental mystery jokes to de-stress.

The tale of a grim reaper who hates humans and a human who fell in love with him. From a really young age, Asahi Sato had always been beside Akira's side. They grew up together and faced all hardships together. Akira thought their friendship would last a lifetime but he didn't expect his life to be cut so short by that very friend. Logically speaking, their friendship did last a lifetime but only for Akira. As if having a secret affair with Akira's fiance wasn't enough, Sato also went ahead and killed Akira in order to steal the company. For the first and the last time in his life, Akira felt what it was like to be betrayed by the one you trust the most and the feeling was certainly not that amusing. Even after death, when the Grim Reaper who was in charge of him gave him a wish, Akira didn't hesitate to waste that wish on Sato. "Help me solve my murder." "I want to understand where everything went wrong.” "I want to know why Sato suddenly turned on me and I want to know why my fiance joined him.” Unfortunately, for the poor fellow, the grim reaper in charge of him was not a man who liked to be troubled and it seemed that nobody had ever taught him how to smile. "Tch- So much extra work! Can't you just pass away in peace?" "..." Read on more to know how Akira uncovered the mysterious circumstances behind his death and begged God to change his beloved Grim reaper's fate. __________________________________________ I hope you enjoy!~ __________________________________________ BL||Romance||Grimreaper||Revenge||Fashion||CEO||Secondchance||Fantasy||Fluff||Mystery|| Art by: Cherlyswan.

Evangeline, The Angle Who was about to enter the Gate of Connection between heaven and hell but before she could do so, she saw a couple of Warrior Angels flying towards her and can reach her in just a monent and seeing them flying, Evangeline too felt an urge to fly and just then beautiful white wings came out of her spine and she reached the Gate of Connection by flying but not before getting hit by an arrow on her right leg below her ass although she had seen who it was that harmed her but she had already entered the gate of connection. "AND THE SWEET LITTLE ANGLE COULDN'T KEEP HER EYES OFF THE DEVIL"

Dive into a hilariously quirky comedy novel of online trends, gaming antics, and social media chaos! Lillian dreams of achieving eBunnee fame—the ultimate goal on the hottest social media app. But her life takes a bizarre turn when a stroll through the enchanting Heart-Ling Forest leads her to an unexpected encounter with a dramatic, over-the-top ghost. At Estresey Academy, success isn't about grades—it's about gaining followers. Students and even non-humans obsess over their eBunnee stats because, in this world, follower counts aren't just a status symbol—they’re a lifeline. Join Lillian as she navigates a world where fame is fleeting, friendships are tested, and the line between reality and the virtual realm blurs in unexpected ways.

“Oracle” – A groundbreaking game emerges, silently transforming the world. When the game’s powers can manifest in reality, does it inspire excitement or instill fear? Ethan Carter, an ordinary office worker, falls victim to food poisoning after accidentally consuming expired groceries. However, upon logging into "Oracle," he unexpectedly acquires a unique ability known as the "Venom Source." Turning his misfortune into a blessing, Ethan embarks on an extraordinary journey to the pinnacle of power.

Dios ha muerto o solo nos abandono.

When Miko accidentally crosses paths with Bai Shezhuan Lao during a hunt gone awry, she discovers that her parents’ deaths are tied to an ancient prophecy involving half-demons and hunters. Reluctantly teaming up with Bai, Miko and Mei find themselves pulled into a web of conspiracies, where nothing is as it seems. As they navigate battles against rogue demons and corrupt hunters, they must confront their own prejudices and uncover the truth about Bai’s intentions—and Miko’s own destiny.

Left alone by her Grandfather Jane has to find her place in the brutal cultivation World Da He. Together with her pet Gu she goes out to explore where her grandfather went and makes her first steps on the road to immortality.

Two sisters enter the world of a book they read after purchasing it at a yard sale from a peculiar old lady. Little do they know that everything they read was real. And it was never a book, but a portal. A gateway hidden in plain sight which led to another world. A world of magic, demons and curses. A world they once lived in. Waking up in the bodies of people from a forgotten time, haunted by strange dreams of death and a voice which informs them that they must defeat a Demon Lord if they wish to survive. There is no mention of returning home. What could these ladies possibly do? Will they take action and fight? Or will they succumb to these most unusual set of circumstances? One thing is certain, they have far too much in common with the bodies they're possessing. THE COVER IS NOT MINE.

Two women meet at a strip club and get hammered. 19 year old Rachel and 22 year old Jessica. Though strangers, they hit it off immediately as both are currently also working as strippers and occasionally hookers in other bars across the city. They decide to exchange numbers and stay in touch for the sake of opportunity. A few weeks pass, when Jessica calls Rachel saying that there are two spots temporarily opening up in a high end Gentlemen's Club in the neighboring city. They decide to fly out to dance and make a higher income by staying for two days. Rachel wants to get into the pants of the rich clientele who visit the club and hopefully make enough money to cover rent for a year. Jessica wants to get pregnant and extort the father. She is desperate for a proper Sugar Daddy. However, after dancing for one night the two of them get caught up with a criminal minded man and his sly fiancée. Rachel realizes that Jessica has a very messy past and now she's been roped into it by agreeing to accompany her out here. Fatherless kids, overbearing ex, concerned mother in law, sex trafficking, gang violence, murder.....as the next 24 hours unfold Rachel realizes she needs to get out of the city ASAP! And though she is resentful towards the crazy bitch who brought her here, she's also unwilling to leave her behind.

Davina Dubois is a 27 year old virgin who has been working minimum wage jobs her entire life. Her current dead end job is a cashier at a drug store. Her life's trajectory is zero and she has long since given up on trying for anything better. All she can do now is drown her sorrows every time her heart starts to dream and remind her that she is a failure. She is a habitual procrastinator who lives a life of social isolation. When she's not at work, she's by herself. When she goes to mall, she's by herself. When she goes to a restaurant, she's eating for one. Her adult life has been filled with nothing but daydreaming, feeling bitter, struggling to control her anger, being selfish and living like she's an old lady in retirement. Her thoughts are her worst nightmare. They've brought her down to her knees and killed her spirit. She is always lacking sleep and always taking two steps back the moment she takes one step forward. Finally, the depression becomes too much for her. Filled with regret, fear and doubts she decides to take a leap for freedom....off a bridge. Rafael Hunt is a 30 year old global popstar. He has toured all over the world and enchanted millions with his hypnotic voice and dance. He tops the Billboard charts with each new album, has sold millions of copies of his music, holds 3 Platinum certificates and two Grammy Awards. His face grazes nearly every celebrity magazine and he is the hot topic of discussion on every music show nationally and internationally, known as the next Michael Jackson. He's the brand ambassador for countless clothing lines, has his own perfume and has starred in commercials for everything from handbags to fast food. He has donated to countless charities, opened up a hospital and even met the president. Unfortunately, his life away from the spotlight is filled with misery. Growing up, he was treated as nothing more than a tool by his parents. He was expected to always deliver the best vocals and the most sharp choreography or he would get beaten up by his father and placed on a strict diet by his mother. Rafe was also the child of a highly dysfunctional marriage. The only person who cared for him was his grandfather, who admired his grandson for being very disciplined and filial. So much so, that he decided to rewrite his will in Rafe's name only. Rafe's grandfather considers his son and daughter-in-law to be nothing more than leeches with no real value and an utter disgrace to the Hunt name. Naturally, he wants Rafe to carry the bloodline forward. Being treated as a windup toy expected to dance to satisfy his heartless parents greed took a huge toll on his mind. As a coping mechanism, he developed an addiction to cocaine. After secretly acquiring a large quantity from his secret dealer, Rafe snorts it all with the hopes of dying. Both Davina and Rafe have a near brush with death before ending up in the hospital expected to survive. Waking up, they cry and curse their circumstances before realizing that they're not where they're supposed to be. Davina looks at her herself and sees a skinny handsome man where her body should be. Rafael wakes up and sees a full some, curvaceous beauty staring at him from the mirror. Worlds apart, these two would never cross paths normally. Only a supernatural intervention could bring them together. But as they navigate their newly acquired identities, they realize that misery isn't the only thing that binds them together. Davina and Rafe are actually long lost siblings.

"Leo's innocence was shattered the day he witnessed a horror he could never forget which he wished so badly his innocent eyes didn’t witness . His elder brother, once a guiding light, plunged a knife into their father's chest, and walked away with a chilling smile. Leo, still a child, was frozen in terror, his playful nature replaced with a haunting dread. He hid in the shadows, his camera still rolling, capturing the sinister act. As the brother vanished, Leo crept out from under the table, his legs trembling like leaves. He approached his father, whose eyes pleaded for silence. "Dad, what happened? Should I call for help? You're bleeding...you look so sick." His father's voice was barely audible, but the urgency was clear. "Leo, listen carefully. The safe...it's yours now. Only your fingerprint can open it. Never let anyone near it. The truth you seek, it's all inside. When your grandfather comes, go with him, take the safe, and leave with him. Protect it with your life." With those final words, his father's eyes glazed over, and he slumped back in his chair, leaving Leo alone with the weight of a dark secret." a slow peace novel love burning within umm hope you would love it coz am inlove with it already love you future readers

The story is set in the year 2100, a time when technology has advanced significantly. At its core is a serial killer known as "Smile." However, as the story unfolds, the characters discover that there is much more behind his gruesome acts than it first appears.

"In a World ravaged by monstrous creatures from the abyss called, Venom, humanity's survival hinges on the Aura System - a mystical power that awakens within select individuals. But Dera, orphaned and Aura-less, is an anomaly. Deemed an ordinary mortal, his fate seems sealed. That is, until he stumbles upon the ancient tomb of a legendary Shadow Venom. Defying the odds, Dera awakens a forbidden power - the Venom System. Embark on Dera's perilous journey as he transforms into a Shadow Venom Hunter, navigating treacherous landscapes, rival treasure seekers, and the blurred lines between good and evil. Will his newfound abilities be humanity's salvation or its downfall?"

Elysia, now living a new life, appears to be moving forward, yet the shadow of her past trauma continues to silently haunt her. Though she outwardly presents a sense of normalcy, the emotional scars remain, lurking just beneath the surface. Her struggle is one of silent endurance—she is constantly reminded of the trauma she carries, whether through memories, flashbacks, or subtle triggers in her new life. The question looms: will she ever be free from her past, or will it always find a way to resurface, testing her strength and resolve? As the story progresses, it becomes clear that healing is not linear, and her journey to truly overcome the past may require not only her own inner strength but also the help and love of those who stand by her, especially the "male protagonist" who may be the key to unlocking her peace.

Daphne Roasis is a modern day woman who travels back in time and wakes up inhabiting the body of a woman living in the middle ages. A noble born woman by the name of Lady Mariam of House Erayer. She's just gotten married is about to betray her new husband to please her secret lover who plans to kill her and her new husband once he's secured the man's station and fortune. Lady Mary is cruel, vain, selfish, stupid and gullible. She fully deserves her bloody end. But now Daphne is wearing her face. And her head is filled with memories as well as visions of the bloodbath that awaits them should the coup not be halted. Recognizing her circumstances and further struggling to understand them, Daphne realizes she was brought here to stop Lady Mary from committing an act of betrayal that would devastate the lives of hundreds of citizens. Her own people as she is now the wife of a Lord. At first, Daphne just wants to return home. Her circumstances are dangerous and she doesn't wish to bear this burden. She is in a foreign land, surrounded by people she does not know, a culture she doesn't understand, problems she did not create and in the body of a stranger. Each interaction with Mary's husband proves that he is a man of honor and would make for a very good partner for any woman lucky enough to bag him. She couldn't understand how Mary wasn't able to see his value and chose to hurt such a good man. Plus, he was insanely attractive. Daphne knows that Mary has already left a bad impression on her new husband with her rotten attitude and as such, he is not fond of her. Nor are any of the servants and knights. She decides the only way to create harmony and go about disrupting the coup is to come clean to the husband about who she is. Sir James Hamstead is completely baffled by his wife's sudden change in attitude. He doesn't know if she's trying to make amends for her mistakes or just playing games with him. He notices she's become much kinder towards his servants and no longer just yells at them. When she finally reveals her true identity, he's tempted to laugh it off as a bad joke. But she is adamant. She also reveals the coup that is about to unfold and the key players involved stating that Mary was one of them. She tells him of what will happen to his people should he fail to stop the takeover. Sir James is even more baffled, but now with a level of hostility. He doesn't believe Daphne's claims about her identity, but he does believe that she was indeed sent to be his weakness and destroy him. In a fit of rage, he has her thrown in the dungeons as he investigates her claims. The pair get off to a bad start, but Daphne knows she must be patient and understanding. It doesn't take long before Sir James comes down to interrogate her. At the persuasion of his personal knight, he agrees to move her from the dungeons and instead confine her to her bedchambers. Again. Soon credence of her claims come forward. It takes a while for James to believe she is not the woman who planned to betray him. It take even longer for him to believe that she wants to help him save his people. Days turn into weeks, weeks into months and before long romance blooms. James becomes very much attached to Daphne and acknowledges her as his real wife. He no longer sees Mary in her and hopes the other woman's soul never returns. Daphne too is having a conflict of interests. She's not here for love. Nor is she a hero. But now, it appears fate has thrust both upon her. How will she manage it?

Not getting enough sleep has deadly side effects. And not just in the physical sense. That's for those lucky insomniacs. If you fall sick and die from lack of sleep then consider yourself lucky. If you recover from your insomnia and go back to being a normal human being, then you've won the lottery. Unfortunately, most of the human population have sleeping problems. And for those who do not fall under the two previous categories, something far more sinister awaits them. There are those whose minds become so disoriented and debilitated from the exhaustion of insomnia that it leaves them vulnerable to demonic entities. Ones which feast on despair and trauma. And do so with a bright smile on their faces. Faces only the infected can see. You leave your mind weak enough just about anything can step in. And who's mind is more enticing to a nightmare demon than a mind which is already crumbling and hallucinating from a lack of sleep. Be wary. Be cautious.

Present life Lily Rylan's life is turned into a nightmare when her stepmom, Viviana, calls her on phone on her wedding day, speaking with a hint of malice in her voice, tells her not to enter the wedding venue, instead instructing her to return home immediately. "Don't come to the wedding hall," her stepmother Viviana says, her words dripping with venom. This shocking command is just the beginning of a day filled with betrayal and heartbreak. As Lily arrives at the family manor, she pays the taxi driver, who immediately congratulates her, wishing "Lily a happy marriage." This makes Lily feel weird, and she quickly steps out of the taxi, raising her beautiful wedding gown. "Thank you," she says, smiling brightly, despite already feeling nervous. Walking from the gate, Lily's stunning wedding gown is on full display. The beautiful, big manor looms before her, complete with a fountain of water at its center. As she enters the manor's parlour, she's met with an elegant yet tense atmosphere. Her mother's picture is discarded in the least viewed spot - a secluded spot which is hardly seen in the parlour wall, while her stepmother's pictures are all over the walls, featuring her father intimately standing, holding her, and her stepsister, Liliana, by her side, smiling brightly. Lily still feels disgusted by them and immediately looks away, taking out her handkerchief and cleaning her eyes, as if she's seen something dirty. She's pulled from her thoughts by her stepmother walking down the staircase, followed by her father. "You called me home, stepmother Viviana? Is it anything serious?" Lily asks, her voice laced with concern. "How many times should I tell you to call her mother, but never mind for now," her father says, his voice firm but laced with a hint of annoyance. Her stepmother Viviana continues, beaming happily, "Your fiancé was drunk during your engagement after you left, saying you had something important to attend to. Now, we thought about it and finally want to tell you they were drugged and slept together. You don’t want your stepsister to be sad or give birth outside marriage, we won’t allow it. You have to allow her to marry him. No one knows how you currently look like now, so allow your sister to marry her husband."her father stated and continued his statement "He's the father of her unborn child, you have to understand," her stepmother immediately smiled brightly smirking at her happily. A sad smile is etched across Lily's face because they're only telling her this so she won't embarrass them by going to the wedding hall, which would be made impossible. Her father's eyes narrow, his voice cold. "You will do as we say, Lily. You will step aside and allow Liliana to marry Zayn." Lily's eyes flash with anger. "What if she has been with him for a long time, or even if he's not the father of the baby?" she spits, her voice venomous. Her stepsister, Liliana, smirks, and Lily retorts, "Her slutty mom gave birth to a slut like herself." This makes everyone gasp, and even the maids quickly escape from the family quarrel, not wanting to hear what would lead to their death. Lily's father immediately delivers a hard slap on her face, making his five fingers appear on her face. "You ungrateful wench," he growls angrily. Lily wipes the blood off, raises her head, and looks at her father scornfully. "You're just trying to cover up your own mistakes," she says, her voice cold. "You did the same thing, that's why you feel it's normal, right?" She says mockingly. Her father is about to hit her again when Liliana steps forward, saying, "Dad, no, don’t hit her again. I can understand how hurt she feels." lily and her husband moments shush I don’t want others to hear this sweet sound from you my white rose do you know how surprised I am you are finally mine lily this made lily shudder not with fear but in a sweet way coz his look said it all

Dark Sapphic Bully Romance - Glyndon Walton: The Waltons, my family, are on top of the world, and very conservative. I’m a good girl who goes to church every Sunday to confess my sins. I’m loyal to my boyfriend aka my future husband. + Katherine Andrews: Since the rumor about me being a lesbian was spread around school, Glyndon and her group never stopped bullying me at school. I just had to bear the bullying a little longer, But I couldn’t… I needed to break her, to hurt her, to make her beg and cry, to destroy her, to make her desperate for me, to show her how much she wants and needs me… I needed her… ______ This book contains. + Good Girl (Bully) X Disrepute biker Girl (The Victim??) +A hint of sport romance +Gay awakening +Biker Girl + Crawling back to her +Height difference +Dark Romance + Stalking

Since ancient times, beings known as curses have haunted humanity, feeding off negative energy. Initially considered lost spirits, they transformed into nightmarish monsters as they consumed more negative energy, terrorizing humanity, destroying villages, and casting the world into darkness. From within that darkness, shamans emerged—enlightened individuals who, through the power of talismans, could fend off these curses and seal them away in a separate realm known as the Polluted Land. Fast forward to the 21st century: Our main character, Renzaki, drives his McLaren 720S through the late-night streets of Tokyo. He arrives at the Kiryūjin Clan estate and bows before an elder who appears to be chanting an ancient prayer..... what will happen? how will this story progress?