Limbo

As Orson read the novel written by the girlfriend who had left him, he gently remarked on how terrible the story was. But then, noticing a foul smell coming from the kitchen, he went to investigate. He realized there was some kind of gas leak. Already furious about being dumped, Orson became even angrier at the state of his kitchen, and in his rage, he hit the light switch with a powerful punch. Naturally, the explosion that followed killed him instantly, and Orson passed into the afterlife. After spending some time in limbo, he found himself reincarnated in an unfamiliar world. However, he quickly realized he had been reborn inside the cliché-filled novel written by his ex-girlfriend. As if that wasn’t enough, he had ended up in the body of Neonidas, a useless duke who was also the fiancé of the story's villainess. ____ There may be a bit too much swearing and slang in the first chapters, but it gets less afterwards. There will be no yuri or ntr in Neonidas(MC) harem

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.

Meet Mark Edwards, a brilliant but disillusioned 32-year-old mechanic trapped in a life of small-town monotony. Despite his once-promising future and genius intellect, Mark finds himself suffocating under the weight of wasted potential, his days a tedious blur of fixing tractors and tuning up minivans in his father's garage. As Mark navigates another tense family dinner and a treacherous drive home through a raging thunderstorm, his frustration and self-loathing reach a breaking point. But fate, as it turns out, has other plans in store. In a horrific twist, Mark's Jeep hydroplanes off the rain-slicked road, sending him plummeting into a churning ravine. In his final moments, as his life flashes before his eyes, Mark makes peace with his perceived failings, accepting the silent darkness as a means of escape. But death is not the end for Mark Edwards. He awakens in a strange digital limbo, faced with a cryptic message on a glowing screen: "Welcome to the Bellum Universale, Mark Edwards." As the gravity of his situation dawns on him, Mark is left with a chilling question: What fresh hell has he stumbled into? From this mind-bending precipice, Mark Edwards will embark on a journey beyond anything he could have imagined. Reincarnated as the successor to the Kingdom of Silla in ancient Korea, he must navigate a treacherous landscape of political intrigue, warring factions, and technological limitation. Trapped in an era far removed from his own, Mark will be forced to call upon all of his ingenuity, cunning, and latent genius to not only survive, but to lead his dynasty to greatness. As he struggles to adapt and innovate in this strange new world, Mark will come to realize that his true potential was never wasted, but merely waiting for the right challenge to unlock it. Blending historical fantasy and political thriller, this story promises a journey replete with grand vision, nation-scale machinations, and the soaring heights to which the unfettered human intellect can ascend. Buckle up for a genre-defying adventure as one man's second chance at life becomes a battle for the very fate of human civilization.

In a fractured world where the flow of time is both unpredictable and dangerous, societies struggle to adapt to the phenomena known as chronal distortions. These anomalies warp reality, leaving cities in temporal limbo, freezing people in endless loops, or accelerating life spans without warning. The origins of these disturbances lie within the ancient Chrono Protocol, a mysterious system that grants rare individuals the ability to control time itself. However, every gift comes at a cost: wielding time demands immense focus and sacrifices, threatening the user’s life and sanity. Elior is a young, unassuming man living on the fringes of a decaying empire, just one of many caught in the world’s ever-twisting timeline. His life feels aimless, repetitive, and stagnant—until one night, he experiences an eerie temporal glitch. Shortly after, he receives an unexpected message: he has been chosen by the Chrono Protocol. Initially, Elior dismisses it as a prank, but strange abilities soon emerge. These abilities, the core of the Chrono Bloom, allow him to alter localized time zones—speeding, slowing, or even freezing moments around him. With little guidance and great risk, Elior begins his journey, discovering that time is far more volatile and costly than he could have imagined.

What would you do if you had been reborn in a world that was constantly on the brink of war? That's what this story is all about. Sam finds himself reborn in a country that is facing major internal and external challenges. The only cheat he has is his adult mind in the body of a child. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I had been enveloped in the world of dreams throughout my existence, searching for meaning in the mundane nothingness of existence, when suddenly, my life ended in a bright flurry of fast-moving images. Something must have hit me; that was all my thoughts could process before the void took me. I regained consciousness in what I could only describe as limbo. My consciousness was fleeting and every moment I felt parts of me disintegrate. I attempted to gather my meagre understanding of all that I was and cocoon it inside a deep well of thoughts, but I felt my attempts were futile as slowly I lost who I was. As time, perhaps eons passed by, I saw it. I saw the light of a new reality emerge. I was reborn. Only this world held none of the security of my past life.

In an alternate 1920's America some are born with extraordinary powers when a boxer with links to a gang of super powered individuals known as the Limbo Gang's power awakens he joins them as muscle.

Dreven, a low-ranking Bloodfallen, finds himself at a crossroads between life and death. After a violent end, he awakens in a mysterious limbo filled with shimmering doorways, each offering a chance to reshape his destiny. With the voice of an enigmatic entity guiding him, Dreven is thrust into a new world, one that holds both promise and peril. Stripped of his powers and thrust into an uncharted land, Dreven must navigate the complexities of his dark past while confronting the vibrant tapestry of a world filled with unknown, magic, beasts, and challenges. I hope you all enjoy this series. If you are a fan of Isekai where our MC isn't the only one brought here you will find a lot of enjoyment in this story. If you want to see a strong, but not insanely OP character who uses his unique abilities to influence a realm much larger than his previous. You will find a lot of enjoyment from this series. I'm a sap for slow-burn romances and other things like that, but I plan on introducing it once it feels natural. There MIGHT (tbd) very light Litrpg elements just to sort of get a grasp of magic system, but I've yet to determine this. Let me know what you all think. Expect multiple POVs, but the main focus being on our main character. If you enjoy this series consider supporting me on Ko-fi - ko-fi.com/nicholai_korea

Torn from the fabric of existence by the unforgiving hand of death, his soul was left to drift in an endless expanse of darkness, suspended in a state of eternal limbo. But fate had other plans. Without warning, he was catapulted into a strange and foreboding realm, where the very essence of reality seemed to unravel. Then thrust into a world of mystique and terror, he must navigate the treacherous landscape of enigmatic beings, cryptic rituals, and ancient secrets. Every step forward is a perilous dance with the unknown, as he struggles to survive in a world where the laws of mundanity and weaknesses no longer apply, and the impossible becomes the only constant. Will he find a way to unravel the mysteries of this mystical world, or will he succumb to the darkness that surrounds him?? With the memories of his past life sealed for some time. He was compelled to grow his skills (Art of weapons) slowly with the help of his father who trains him whenever he is available. Growing slowly and getting versed with the nature of his new world, he got choosen by an ancient dual blades and as if he hadn't gotten enough, the choose him and awarded him with an invaluable system that not only unlocked his past memories but also his paragon potentials. The novel also consist of different species and creatures such as vampires, Gohus( creatures born out of the fusion of a human and a gorilla, werewolves, light elves, dark elves, hybrids, human, nether creatures, demons and magical beasts, e.t.c. The milky way Galaxy was under the siege of nether creatures, controlled by Demons who seek to dominate the Galaxy. The world forces led by Arkansas ( the first ever rare-brid)joined hand to take out the demon force, they weren't successful but they were able to push them back and injured the demon god( great Belmondo Asmodeus). Asmodeus was badly injured and had to run away to recover, which gave the Galaxy a millennial of peace. Now the demon race has started showing up, the legendary forces are no where to be found....will the Galaxy survive the next siege or will they be dominated??

in a world where everything flows in a river, Noir Neo stands at the top. a calm, rebellious Mortal Made God. a boy who ate from the forbidden tree, inside the Garden Of Eden. he was banished, locked out of heaven. but he came back, hungry for finding a worthy opponent, but first he had to gain strength. so he decided to become the strongest Mortal Being of a god, to become a Man-Made God. so he started his journey, eating from The Garden Of Immortality. a garden filled with vegetables, fruits, water and other things that grant pure immortality. and he ate the whole garden, he was banished from the human world; into the depths of hell. where he met his mentor, a beautiful woman. a Nine-Tailed Fox, this Woman trained him to her absolute best, even giving him her blood. making Noir even more immortal, eventually Noir grew 2 fox ears and 19 tails. he crawled out of the depths of hell, emerging from reality. into the land of in-between, Limbo, a land that reaps souls. But Noir earned a mark of the dead on his forehead, meaning he's dead. He can't die; he's achieved another level of immortality. How peculiar-but he still wanted more, so he climbed to heaven; using only wood. Until he finally reached the clouds of heaven, once he broke in he met with Hephaestus; asking for a weapon. Hephaestus agreed, creating Noir's weapon. The horrifying but beautiful "Měilì zhī lián". A scythe made from the souls of the damned; Aura of Limbo, and the wood of The World Tree. surprisingly The World Tree exists beyond normal concepts.  But as Noir's weapon finished, he was ambushed by multiple gods-because of his Divine Rule breaking, he was sealed into the 30th Dimensional Square Plane. A clock that can't be affected by anything. Inside or out. Even Buddha can't destroy it, they even impaled his stomach with his own weapon to ensure his seal. So Noir decided to meditate, the river of everything emerged in his mind. That's it... he achieved what he wanted. TRUE POWER. He escaped the 30th Dimensional plane, fighting every god in his path. Defeating every one, he is UNBEATABLE. He even beat the Buddha.

Losing access to your cryptocurrency wallet is bad enough, but realizing that someone close to you, a person you trusted was behind it? That’s a gut punch I wasn’t prepared for. Unfortunately, that was my reality when I found out my ex-girlfriend had stolen $145,000 from my wallet. The betrayal was real, the access was gone, and I was left staring at my screen in a mix of shock and disbelief. I felt like I had been hit by a digital train, and it wasn’t slowing down anytime soon. Desperation doesn’t begin to describe how I felt. I mean, $145,000? That’s not pocket change! My first instinct was to panic, which I did, quite thoroughly. But after hours of hopeless Googling and probably enough coffee to fuel a small nation, I came across SPIDER WEB SECURITY. At that point, it felt like I’d found a lifeboat in a sea of sharks—and I wasn’t wrong. The moment I reached out, SPIDER WEB SECURITY approached my case like seasoned pros. They didn’t give me false hope or make wild promises, but they assured me that my case was in good hands. And boy, did they deliver. Their team handled my wallet recovery with the kind of precision you’d expect from brain surgeons except, you know, for crypto. They explained their process clearly, kept me informed at every step, and didn’t disappear into the ether like I feared my money had. Their communication was so on point, I almost wished I could hire them to manage my life. Despite the gravity of the situation, the team never lost their professionalism or their sense of empathy. They knew I wasn’t just losing digital coins; I had lost trust in someone close, and that hurt more than anything. But SPIDER WEB SECURITY wasn’t just about getting my $145,000 back. They were about restoring my confidence in the cryptocurrency space. And let’s not forget they did it fast. I wasn’t stuck waiting in limbo, biting my nails down to the bone. And oh, did I mention the price transparency? Not a single surprise fee, no hidden costs, and no vague "we'll let you know" nonsense. They were upfront from start to finish, which was refreshing in a world where everything seems to come with fine print.Long story short, if you’ve been locked out of your crypto, whether it’s from a simple mistake or a betrayal that could rival a soap opera, don’t panic (like I did). SPIDER WEB SECURITY will not only recover your assets but also help you sleep better at night. They certainly did for me.  Email:  Spidercloud@programmer.net Website: www.spiderwebsecurityonline.com Whatsapp: +1 (253) 262‑9580

Welcome to Limbo City, a peculiar nexus where reality and the otherworld collided a century ago during the cataclysmic Limbus Festa. Here, the impossible becomes possible, and the extraordinary is ordinary. Imagine a place where magic dances with cutting-edge technology, where mythical creatures rub shoulders with humans, and where dreams manifest into reality. Limbo City is a sanctuary for the outcasts, a haven for forbidden knowledge, and a melting pot of the bizarre and fantastic. Enter our protagonist, Scott, who's voluntarily plunged into this chaotic wonderland. Follow his misadventures as he navigates the city's supernatural troubles, working for an extralegal problem-solving agency dedicated to maintaining the delicate balance of this extraordinary world. In Limbo City, you might find yourself accidentally entering a contract with a demon (or is it just a very confused human?), battling nightmarish monsters with a toothbrush, or attending a tea party hosted by interdimensional beings. Brace yourself for a whimsical, action-packed journey through the topsy-turvy streets of Limbo City, where common sense takes a backseat and the fantastical reigns supreme. It's a world where every day is an adventure, every corner hides a mystery, and every interaction could lead to either peril or wonder. So, grab your sense of humor and leave your expectations at the door. Welcome to Limbo City – where the only rule is that there are no rules!

After dying following a car accident, Fen Chiang finds himself in a limbo between the afterlife and the mortal world where he meets God himself, who makes him a strange request: to immediately reincarnate in a world called Eden, where all species that existed on Earth (dinosaurs, prehistoric mammals, synapsids, pterosaurs, etc.) coexist together, to save it from the human beings who are destroying it due to excessive pollution. Armed with his knowledge and a System, our hero, now reincarnated as a spinosaurus named Sobek, must embark on a difficult journey to reunite the dinosaurs and curb humanity's greed. However, defeating the most powerful species that ever existed will not be an easy task even for a dinosaur army, and surely humanity will not abandon the title of dominant species very easily...

In a city drenched by relentless rain, Li Wei bears the heavy burden of his family's despair, haunted by the illness of his beloved sister, Mei. Just as hope seems lost, he stumbles upon an enigmatic, dust-laden bookstore that whispers secrets of the past. Drawn inside, he discovers an ancient tome titled *The Path of the Eternal Soul*, a book that not only captivates his attention but also seems to resonate with a deep, unexplainable connection. Upon obtaining the book, Li Wei uncovers a meditation technique that promises to unlock hidden powers within him. But when he attempts it, he is unexpectedly thrust into the mystical Realm of Spirits—a surreal limbo where the boundaries of life and death blur. Here, he confronts the very shopkeeper who set him on this path, a wise old man who reveals the true nature of this realm and the formidable obstacles that lie ahead. To escape and save Mei, Li Wei must confront his deepest fears and the shadows of his own soul. The old man, embodying both mentor and guide, urges him to embrace this perilous journey, reminding him that the Realm of Spirits is not merely a destination, but a crucible for transformation. Fueled by love and desperation, Li Wei embarks on a breathtaking quest, one that will challenge everything he knows about himself and the world around him. As he ventures deeper into the unknown, he must harness his inner strength and learn that true power comes not only from the spirit but from the bonds that tie him to his family. With the stakes higher than ever, will he uncover the truth he seeks and find the Gate of Reincarnation before time runs out? Join Li Wei as he navigates a labyrinth of trials, revelations, and self-discovery in a realm where every choice could lead to salvation or despair.

Spade Hearts abused his body by overloading work and constantly playing games at night. He never lets himself rest, let alone gets enough sleep. Unfortunately, his body gave up and died after a twenty-four-hour gaming marathon. Gods from another world, took his soul along with many others to their world to fight an overwhelming and impossible foe. By chance and oversight, his soul was missed by the gods, his soul destined to remain in limbo and torment for all eternity. A few weak and desperate gods took a chance with him and brought him to their world. Sent far away for the battle, in his original body, to a small village in the husk of a dead kingdom. It is now up to him to restore the Kingdom and fight off anything that would threaten him or those he loves; be they human, beast, monster, or hero. Update-5 times a week

In where she basically lost everything after, being finally blessed with the only thing she ever truly wanted in her life. Leilani dead in a hit and run accident, after learning that she was now about to be a mother of not one, or even two children. But to four of them. Only she died before she could have the blessed feeling of finally being able to experience pregnancy and having her own babies finally. That should have been the end for her and her unborn children, but she meet an unknown being in limbo. A God is offering her a chance to have another life, or another chance to carry her babies to term. Except she can't return to her original world, as she discover the truth of why she died and be given an opportunity elsewhere. Leilani now given a few 'gifts' from this god and a right to follow her own path with her able to still carry her babies to term. Sets out into her new world making new friends and family, as well as reuniting with old family later on. But let's see how her story shall turn out shall we? Will she find a love, or two? Gain powerful enemies and allies? Or will she become a simple single mother she was craving to be?

Como reaccionarias si fueses una estudiante normal que no tiene mas preocupaciones mas allá de aprobar el curso o de encajar en un grupo y que de la noche a la mañana te des cuenta de que existe un mundo más allá de la vida, conoces lo que hay después de la muerte, pues bien, esta es la historia de Nara, quien va a descubrir todo eso y mucho mas. ¿Te animas a seguir su relato?

Eric Wyatt, a renowned F1 racer, and a man with a dream, is killed in his most anticipated race when his car's tire ruptures. 'A tire rupture in this day and age? Heh... you expect me to believe that?', Eric asked no one in particular. 'I was murdered... by my own teammates, it seems...', Eric thought in the limbo. As he reminisced about his life in the dark place, he suddenly saw a light piercing the darkness. 'Wait a minute... Is this... real...?', Eric asked himself in disbelief at the sight he was witnessing. --- some points to note before you read --- 1) no harem 2) it is your usual fantasy reincarnation and the mc becoming a mage. 3) inspired by Supreme Magus, I think it is the best novel this sight has ever been graced with. 4) romance is relevant only after 70 or so chapters, I don't have any plans to implement romance anytime soon. it really depends on my mood. 5) mc is an only child throughout the story. no siblings or onii-chan bullshit. 6) thanks for reading the synopsis.

The spirit of playful genius human gets sent back in time after re-enacting the most powerful magic circle in the popular game: god’s bet. After he gets sent back in time the 16 year old boy instantly becomes the first and only person in all reality. Waiting on the verge of life and death unable to escape, even time and space doesn’t exist yet. Until millennia into his life he unlocks his divine wisdom, to become the spirit of limbo. Accompany him on his journey as the first being transcends the gods who put him through an eternal hell.

"For it was told by the old books, where angels and demons collide" "When gods shall stretch their rule and dominion" "Ye have not be forgotten" "For men shall covet power". ........................................................................... In the year 3040 Earth has reached its limits, its resources depleted, its ecosystem destroyed, and even humanity hangs on its last rope due to its severe overpopulation. Conquering space was our only hope, but the help of several talented scientists in their various fields coming together made such a dream a possibility. Unfortunately, in the year 3045, an earthquake on a global scale sent every human on earth into a frenzy. At that point, a voice was heard by everyone, as a template hung in the sky. A question with two choices, an answer that decided one's destiny from that day onward. But unfortunately, not everyone picked the right choice. Elijah kingsman was a 19 years old university freshman, who had just escaped the horrors of world war 3 and couldn't have picked a better day to make the worst decision of his life. In his judgement, his very being was sent to limbo by an undead giant. There he meets an imp far different from his average fantasy personage. Coerced to make a deal, Elijah made a deal that would change his life forever. ............................................................................... “Don’t worry boy” “It seems I haven’t introduced myself,” the imp said widening the smile on its face. “I am Deltrich, ‘he who bears the Principality of knowledge’” Elijah wasn’t sure if he saw a ray of light coming from Deltrich. But he was sure of one thing, that this was no ordinary imp. Deltrich who was already done with his introduction, saw Elijah looking at him in awe, and puffed his chest up in pride. “I am sure there’s nothing you have that I want and nothing you can give that I desire”. Deltrich said choosing to break the atmosphere. “In other words, a deal which I’m sure would be satisfying to both parties” Elijah who wasn’t used to this type of situation scrunched his face up in frustration. He knew Deltrich,’ the Imp’ wasn’t his usual fantasy personage, so he decided to keep his mouth shut and listen to what Deltrich had to say. “In return, you shall ask me anything you want and I shall offer if it’s beneath my power”. ......................................................................... Donate to support the author! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Shinka1 ........................................................................ Disclaimer! The cover is not mine and belongs to its respective owner. Found on Pinterest.

Welcome to your blue veil Briefing, where angels and demons live together in somewhat of a harmony. You look new here so let me fill you in. Every so often the princess of souls goes down to earth to relive their life and continue the rebirth cycle. And our brave prince of the loss goes to retrieve her when her life is up and safely brings her back. Those two love birds are the next in line to be king and queen. You see each layer has its own hierarchy here they're the Esteems. In Hellscape they're called the Embers and in Limbo, they're called Ghouls, and then earth has whatever they have. But what are they going to do when the world starts falling apart? When the layers collide and the living see the dead how will they react? What will they do? I guess we'll never know... I think that's it for, the rest is up to you to discover. Just follow the rules and you'll be fine. This is the end of your blue veil Briefing. have a great afterlife! Follow me and my work on discord...https://discord.gg/HMtMz4cCUA

To ensure his safety and way of life, Dean must find new cards and grow in power because the world of Kinloralm is a place of constant strife and twisted happenings. Water Hags, Elder vampires, Skinwalkers, Djinns, and Gargoyles are just a few of the creatures that lurk in the shadows of Kinloralm. In a world where danger is just a stone's throw away, everyone has learned that life is hard and filled with uncertainty. Of course, for a normal fellow like Dean, these creatures are far too difficult to actually fight against. Luckily, his brief stay in Limbo, the First Circle of Hell, has left him with quite the parting gift to deal with any issues that may come his way. When the world pushes you, do you crumble or push back?

Hace milenios que los Thuathà de Dannan quedaron en el olvido, los dioses Celtas respetados por todos, también olvidados, pero, siguen ahí... Una oscura profecía. ¿Quieres saber qué le deparará a nuestra protagonista? Pues aquí un adelanto... Nyx, es una joven mestiza de humana, convive en 'Limbo' uno de los pocos reductos de humanos y proscritos elfos, hadas y exiliados, qué pasa cuando lo sumas a una Pixy gruñona, ¿qué malo podría pasar?

Zeypher was patient 0 the man closest to god. His X factor would reshape the world it was named “ My greed” anything and everything he learned would be considered his and would disappear. He was the ‘ Lord of the foresight” and “ Gods son” but one day he gained a incurable disease Mana overflux. He has too much mana for his own good and one day they switched. The world energy and his mana switched causing an explosion which destroyed everything of knowledge in the world which only remained were gods orders “ reproduce” After being stuck in limbo for a few minutes he had met a Angel Yukihira or Yuki “ Gods helper” he was put back in his world Centuries later as Zephyr Azerial. With God’s seed X factor to the Firstborn X factor or the Nothing X factor.

Ten young adults got trapped in a comfortable hell with no pain and no escape, what could go right? or an attempt at serving romantic (?), angsty multi-pov, omegaverse, kidnapped fic in the middle of the pandemic no one asked for.

What lies beneath the lake of Xvi? When the defeated Old One awakens from the depth of limbo, what can the world do?!

A group of people gets sent to a world filled with monsters, animals, and many other races besides humans. To get another chance to enter heaven, and this story would follow them Khalid, Nate, Lucy, Faith, and Ted. It is about them getting through together to pass the trial that was suggested by God and created by Satan and the guide that would be helping them a demon named Ron.

"Hello James", the nightmare crooned. A shiver traveled up his spine as he tried to reason out how the thing knew his name. It took all of his will power to respond, "What are you? Why are you speaking to me?" The creature paused as it stared at him, "You...interest me." * * * * * In the near future a world-wide blackout gives way to a sinister presence. People begin to disappear one by one and despite all efforts of finding the creature, no one has even managed to see what it looks like. Meanwhile on a day like any other, on the other side of the world, 17 year old James Sulman has a dream. Inside it he becomes the first person to lay eyes on the creature, just before he wakes up. When he does everything changes. He finds that he has drawn the abomination all the way to where he lives. Just as soon, he realizes that it's up to him and his friends to find a way to warn everyone before it's too late. There is one crucial question to be considered though: How many will have to be lost before they can succeed?

Journey to the depths of hell with Aron, born of the Koliean race with a beast monger bloodline. In a world full of chaos, death, and misery, Aron learns the hard way that only the strong and cunning can survive. Note: This is the prequel to a bigger story ——————————————————————— Neutral Evil MC- Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Magic, Mature, Dark, Cold Protagonist, Strong Protagonist, Calm Protagonist, Ruthless Protagonist, Smart Protagonist, Monsters, World Travel, Demons, Gore, Wars, Magic Beasts, Strength Based Social Hierarchy, Scheming, Evolution, Rivalry