Ash Wears A Mask

Love, Betrayal, Blood, but not Hatred. Only cold revenge, and a son to complete the family. "D" Section, a nonexistent military unit. "D" for dark, "D" for depth, "D"... for death. It demanded no attachment, and Daemon sacrificed love for it. Years later, the death of his teammates made him feel that he had done enough for the country, so he came back to the city he grew in. But can what has been forsaken be gained back? Because now Evelyn, the one to have breathed vitality in his numb, orphaned heart, had her own life, and a little boy calling her mother. Also, while he left his life full of dead bodies behind, did that life really let him go? From the ashes, will it love or... ? _ _ _ Two lovers who still love each other even with scars left behind by past events. They narrowly miss a chance to meet again and rekindle the lost spark, with him left with an empty heart, and her with her pain renewed, only buried because of the sun of her life, her son, their son… that he knew nothing about. They each continue with their own life in their own way. Their paths even almost become parallel to each other, almost taking the opposite direction with new commitments. But fate be damned, even if it now seems to push them toward each other. From the ashes, their love shall blaze anew. Or maybe not. Find the answer yourself. ___ First draft of characters image on my discord, a channel for fans to get together: https://discord.com/invite/C86EJvCJdd Comment and review, don't forget.

In the realms above, supernatural beings of unfathomable magnificence exist, far beyond mortal comprehension. These divinities wield unimaginable power, capable of obliterating worlds with a mere breath. However, what unfolds when these gods meet their demise? Set in a remote corner of the vast universe, long after the apocalyptic Thousand Millennium War of the Heavenly Beasts and Deities, this tale delves into a forgotten world. Here, the ashes of fallen gods descend upon an insignificant pebble, adrift amidst the cosmic tapestry of space and time. Their impact alters the life of a proud young man, who embraces the abrupt changes thrust upon his world. Refusing to yield to the clutches of fate and karma, he dares to defy the heavens themselves. Will he triumph over an insurmountable destiny, or succumb to fate like gods of unimaginable might did before him? The dreams of a deceased deity and the fate of a dying world hang precariously, hinged upon the future of this young man. He treads upon an endless bridge, forged from the corpses of the fallen. Unlock this epic saga of death, sorrow, war, blood, love, vengeance, and triumph with your own eyes. *** You can also reach out to: Discord:https://discord.com/invite/QQ3vybav Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=9xjl0tq1cs3e&utm_content=qx5nrdu

Nihongo Arata, Just a normal high school boy, living a normal untouched life, at least that's what it looked like to the outside world in Kyoto.

When divine blood flows through your veins, monsters hunts you down until you’re dead. That’s the harsh reality each demigod has to live everyday. Marina is one of them and, because of this, she had to leave her home when she was still a child. Now she has grown up and lives in the Lilies Park, a place in the Otherworld where she meets Shirei, a mysterious demigod who has no memory. Shirei will have to deal with his hidden past to understand why the gods seem to treat him like an enemy, but Marina fears that the journey will only lead to his death. Thus begins the last act of the plan of the forgotten goddess: the queen of masks. I will be posting this story on RoyalRoad.com

"In a world of shadows and betrayal, 24-year-old orphan Bella Smith's life is shattered when her boyfriend and best friend's deceitful affair sends her spiraling. Desperation fuels a reckless night, ending in kidnapping and sale to Russia's underworld. Forced to replace Vladimir Ivanov's deceased daughter, Bella must marry ruthless mafia boss Alessandro De Luca. As she navigates this deadly game, fear and attraction collide. Will her growing feelings for Alessandro ignite a passion that consumes them both, or will she become a pawn in his empire? Torn between survival and the darkness within, Bella must make lethal choices. Will her burning passion be her undoing, or will she rise above the shadows?"

Lee Gaon was a gaming legend, feared and revered until the day she was disgraced, labeled a cheater, and cast out by everyone she loved. Now, she’s a lonely, broken soul in a world that sees her as nothing more than a fallen idol. But one mysterious evening, as she stares into the depths of her despair, she is pulled to the "World of no End" game. Yet, this isn’t just any game, it's real life, where every mistake can lead to one’s demise. But despite the risks, the desire for power blindly drives many to build new empires, only to watch them rise and fall. Death eater is her new identity in this game world as she roams with a scythe that feeds on souls and darkness, Gaon enters this vast, unpredictable realm with a single goal: to live freely in this new fantasy realm. She slays her enemies without fear, feasting on their demise. But as she grows in power, a dark force lurks within her, and her path to victory may lead her to the edge of her humanity. Is she destined to become the hero or the villain of this fantasy world? Join Gaon in her journey of adventure, vengeance, ambition, and self-discovery as she aims for the top while her enemies fall one by one.

Life in the Dustlands is unforgiving, governed by the iron-fisted rule of an empire that is emboldened in power and greed. However, through a tradition called the Horkos and the people’s wavering will to fight, they maintain the control of all life in the palms of their hands with promised hope for a better life. For the past 14 years, every month, a randomly chosen number of citizens are given a choice, where a life of luxury awaits them inside the empire’s walls. However, when Kage’s father—the last of his family and the greatest forger in Dustlands’ history—disappears without a trace, Kage uncovers the dark truth behind the empire's tradition. Determined to find his father, Kage infiltrates the empire’s stronghold, nestled on the mountainside to the north. What he discovers shatters his world: the promised luxury is a facade, and the citizens taken by the Horkos are being slaughtered to create weapons of war. As the empire announces the final Horkos, Kage realizes he cannot take them down alone. With a secret of his own and the determination to gather a team of crooked souls, he vows to bring the empire to their knees and rescue his father—if he’s still alive.

Aric Valerian, the fourth prince of the Valerian Empire, bears many titles: The Forgotten Prince, The Whore's Child, The King's Bastard—names that have been spoken more than his own. Born with a crippling illness and devoid of mana or ki, Aric was a disgrace, scorned by his family and the court. But when the gods cured him and gifted him the strength to fight, Aric dared to hope. He sought glory in battle, only to be betrayed by his brother and sent to die in a hopeless war. In his final moments, as death closed in, a mysterious text appeared before him… [Would you like to change your fate?] After being given another chance, Aric embarks on a ruthless journey to claim absolute sovereignty. [Ki Circulation Mastered: Strength +10] [System Upgrade: Advanced tactical planning unlocked] [Hidden Fortress Established: Stronghold security +15%] The forgotten prince claws his way through the treacherous landscape of imperial politics, he is forced to make impossible choices, each decision pushing him further down a path soaked in blood. He learns that true power demands sacrifice, and the price of vengeance may be his soul. ------------------ This book contains dark themes and depictions. The mc is a ruthless cynic, and is closer to being a villain than he is a hero. Main themes: Politics, Kingdom building, strategy, war

In the rain-soaked depths of Iron City, former soldier and private investigator Luka Cross is a shadow among shadows, trading in secrets and survival. When a routine job pulls him into the heart of a sinister conspiracy, Luka uncovers a syndicate hell-bent on transforming citizens into bio-augmented enforcers—stripping them of humanity, turning them into tools for corporate power. Forced to ally with Juno, a fierce hacker with her own vendetta, Luka plunges into Iron City’s dark underbelly, navigating betrayal, brutal tactics, and a twisted play for control. As alliances fracture and stakes escalate, Luka must confront his own past and decide how much of his soul he's willing to sacrifice to burn down the machine from within. In a city where every neon-lit corner hides a secret, survival isn’t just luck—it’s the fight to remember who you are before the shadows swallow you whole.

A normal boy moves into his dad's childhood town with his dad. What can go wrong?

In the world of high society, billionaire Devlin Saint Clair is revered for his wealth, charm, and philanthropy. But beneath the façade, Devlin harbors a dark secret: he's a demon, heir to the throne of the underworld. Bound by his father's expectations, Devlin must navigate the treacherous landscape of demon politics to claim the crown. His ruthless ambition knows no bounds, and he'll stop at nothing to achieve his goal. Detective Mirabella "Bella" Thompson is no stranger to darkness. Haunted by a traumatic past, she's built walls around her heart. Alongside her sisters, she's forged a new life in the police force. But when she stumbles upon Devlin's true nature, her world is turned upside down. As their paths collide, Devlin's determined to keep Bella silenced. But she's not one to back down. As they engage in a cat-and-mouse game, Devlin finds himself torn between his loyalty to his family and his growing obsession with the fearless detective. Bella's secrets are her own, but Devlin's determination to uncover them threatens to destroy everything she's built. Can she resist the billionaire's allure, or will his darkness consume her? As the stakes rise, Devlin must choose between his destiny and his desire. Will he sacrifice his humanity for the crown, or will Bella's love redeem him? **Target Audience:] Adult readers (18+) who enjoy paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and suspenseful stories with complex characters and moral ambiguity.

In Crimson Ashes, a group of teenagers in Ashwick uncover a deadly mystery after a girl is found dead following the Ashen Festival. As they dig into the town's dark secrets, they'll learn some mysteries hit closer to home than they thought.

Tattered shrapnel rings in the distance. The ashes of man's sin cannot be washed down with alcohol nor holy water. We who murder shall live in the suffering we have caused. Indeed, it is so. Somewhere near, a man who has used up his life looks down a pile of ash. The clouds are ignorant of all that was. The man sighs. The sky blinks, to dust he becomes. And so forth is the cycle of blood. He remembers, but perhaps it does not matter. Another leaves into purgatory. The doctor can only pray that fate have mercy.

In the blink of an eye, the world as we knew it changed forever. It wasn’t a plague, nor an alien invasion from outer space. Instead, Earth itself revolted against it’s inhabitants. The axis shifted, and suddenly, we were hurtling away from the sun, condemned to a fate of eternal winter. As days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months, chaos ensued. Natural disasters ravaged the lands, tearing apart cities and communities. The once bustling streets were now desolate, covered in layers of frost and despair. With each passing day, the temperature plummeted freezing everything in its path. Electricity became a luxury of the past, leaving us to fend for ourselves in the darkness. Food and resources dwindled, forcing humanity into a primal struggle for survival. The rules of society crumbled, replaced by the law of the fittest. Amidst this bleak landscape, our protagonist emerged a lone wandering fighter fighting against the elements and the savagery of mankind. With each step he faced the relentless cold, the ferocious beasts displaced by shifting climates, and the ever-present threat of encountering fellow survivors driven to madness by desperation.

This is a story comprising of two different stories in honor of Domestic Violence month. The stories are short and concise to draw the reader into the perspective of the character.

Caspian inched closer until his lips were mere inches away from Davina's, reeling her in to close the nonexistent gap between their mouths. "Have you ever been kissed, Dimitri?" He asked. Before Davina could lose control after Caspian's cold lips lightly grazed hers, she pushed him away and hurriedly stood up. "My Lord, this is highly unethical!" Her real voice nearly slipped out amid the chaos. "What's unethical about this?" Caspian's face lifted to form an innocent yet devilish smile, he seemed to be enjoying the reaction he got out of her. Flustered, Davina turned her back to him and took deep breaths before speaking more composedly. "We are both men and it wasn't ethical of you to try and... kiss me." The last bit came out as a whisper blown away by the wind. Caspian's chuckle echoed through the woods as he stood up from the bench and faced Davina with a smug look on his face. "Tell me, Dimitri, was I really trying to kiss a man just now?" "W-what do you mean?" Davina stumbled backward as she stared at Caspian in shock and disbelief, unsure of what to do to save herself from that situation. "Let me rephrase my question." Caspian delicately grazed Davina's cheeks with the back of his hand. "Are you really a man?" ***** With a bounty on her head and the need for a place to stay, Davina snuck into the castle of Lendorr, posing as a man in the royal army. Luckily for her, she was able to get away with her ruse easily that is, until she met the mysterious Lord Caspian. She is tasked with being one of his guards all while trying to avoid getting caught by the man who made it his life's mission to ruin her plan. Through a twisted game of deceit, Davina is forced to make a grave choice between Love and the REAL reason why she snuck into the castle.

For the sake of his family, Richard married a woman he had never met before. However, his newly wed wife was not only hideous but also viscous, which he only discovered on his wedding day. He thought he would be disgusted by her, but unexpectedly could not help but be attracted to this mysterious woman. What made Richard scratch his head even more, was that her face under the mask seems to be hiding some secret.

To the world Lucas was the perfect CEO. He led the family company to become the biggest in the country. He also had the most beautiful woman for a lover and with gorgeous looks that would make anyone fall for him, he had it all. However, it all came crashing down one day when he got that letter. A letter that made him question his very existence. A letter that unhinged him.

Victor dies in a mugging and gets reincarnated in an alternate version of his world's past where magic and creatures of myth and legend exist. How would his knowledge affect the familiar yet unfamiliar world around him? Read and find out.

Anir is an unemployed guy that lives with his father in A.S.O.D, the capital of Miraco, one day while he was at the cafe, he received a call that his father was hitten by car and is now in the hospital, and there, when his father was at the last moments of his life, he whispered in his ears to check his diary. After his father's funeral, he goes home and check's his diary, and discovers his secrets and the truth about his death, he then starts his journey for revenge.

Ashes of Eternity is a tale carved from the bones of a shattered world, where humanity stands at the precipice of its own rebirth. Centuries ago, the skies darkened, and the earth shuddered under the weight of humanity’s hubris. The great cities, once symbols of progress, became tombs of glass and steel. From the ashes of this apocalypse, a new kind of human emerged—scarred, powerful, and unyielding. These “Children of the Ashes” possess abilities born of the cataclysm, a gift and a curse that binds them to the fractured remnants of the world. This is a story of resilience and loss, of love found in darkness and hope that refuses to die. It unfolds in a landscape both desolate and hauntingly beautiful, where the echoes of the past clash with the fragile threads of a future yet to be written. Here, survival is a war against both the elements and the human heart. Amid this desolation stands Serin, a young woman burdened by a power she cannot fully control. Her journey begins in the ruins of Haven, a crumbling bastion of humanity. There, she discovers the remnants of an ancient prophecy, one that speaks of a chosen few destined to rekindle the light in the dying world—or extinguish it forever. Alongside Serin is Kael, a warrior haunted by the ghosts of his past, and Elyon, a mysterious wanderer whose secrets could either save or doom them all. As their paths intertwine, they face enemies born of both man and myth—creatures twisted by the cataclysm, and a shadowy council that seeks to wield the Children of the Ashes as tools of dominion. Yet the greatest battle lies within, as Serin and her companions grapple with the cost of their powers and the fragile bonds that hold them together. The ashes of eternity whisper a haunting truth: from destruction, something new must rise. But what is forged may not always be pure. In this tale of sacrifice and redemption, every choice matters, and every soul carries the weight of the world. Brace yourself for a journey into the heart of ruin, where beauty and terror walk hand in hand, and the line between salvation and damnation blurs.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AMRahi This is a somewhat satiric xianxia story, mainly focusing on mystery solving, absurd humorous situations, and cultivation politics. [ Synopsis ] The universe gives some of us gifts that we may utilize to achieve our goals, reach the highest peak of our vision, holding an edge over every competitor. The universe also takes away taken-for-granted abilities from some of us, restricting us at every step we take forward, bombarding us with obstacles, and rendering us incapable of touching our aspirations in life. How would YOU lead your life, had you fallen among the latter minority? Across the vast Macrocosms of Man, the world of cultivation continues to demonstrate its brutality, its hazards, and its never-ending cycles of conflicts. One day, we find ourselves becoming conscious of the truth of our world....and that's where our story begins. As someone meant to be a weakling, you need to think of sources of power other than pure cultivation- and that's what our protagonist, Han Xuhan excels in.

The esteemed house of Max, renowned for their wealth and mysterious masks balls has shaped ancient china's aristocracy for centuries. Founded by the enigmatic Max Huan,a brilliant strategist and entrepreneur, the family's influence extends from imperial courts to hidden underworlds. Tradition dictates that the heir, the family's leader known as "Earest", wears the sacred mask of max symbolizing power and wisdom. However fate disrupts traditions when Max Mei, a teenage girl,inherits the mask and title, shattering expectations and sparking intrigue. **************** Max Mei a teenage girl, inherits the title of Earest and the sacred mask of max, leading House Max in ancient China. As she navigates the complexities of her new role,Mei undercovers dark family secrets, rival aristocratic families, and hidden agendas. With her wits, courage, and strategic thinking,Mei must protect her family's legacy, out maneuver enemies and balance her own desires.

What would you do if the person you raised, turned against you? For that person, you sacrificed your childhood but in the end, they still turned against you. It all began like a dream, a sweet dream to say, then a crack happened but she mended it, then another appeared and she mended it again until it finally broke down. Ely kept the lesson taught by life in the deepest part of her heart. She ran away because she was trying to escape from the truth but she met it again and this time, she lost her innocence, she lost the last bit of humanity she had and she lost the color of her soul and eventually, she submitted herself to the devil who used her gleefully. Silveria, a young King felt his ambitions came first before anything else. He once told a girl, that if he wanted something, he got it and it didn't matter how he got it. He was nicknamed the devil. The devil met this girl who lost the color of her soul and fed on her indifference but soon, he began to thirst for more. Is the devil going to pull her into hell with him or will both find salvation? PS:the cover is not mine so I can take it down if the owner comes by.

One fateful day, humanity was inexplicably blessed—or cursed—with the ability to control fire. Flames, once a force of nature, now bent to the will of men. Some saw it as a divine gift, a path to prosperity and power. Others feared it as a gateway to destruction. Entire civilizations were transformed overnight, with new rulers rising from the ashes, wielding their newfound powers like gods. But with great power comes even greater consequences. As rival factions and flame-wielding warlords clash for dominance, society teeters on the brink of collapse. Those who reject the power struggle fight to uncover the truth behind the mysterious phenomenon, wondering if there is a hidden price to pay for this dangerous gift. In the midst of this chaos, a young orphan named Takashi Ren discovers an ancient prophecy that suggests the flames may not be a gift from the gods, but a test—or worse, a trap. As Takashi Ren sets off a perilous journey to discover the secrets of the flames.

Having transmigrated into a fantasy world of magic and knights , the son of humble merchant prioritizes safety above all else. Armed with a system and cautiousness that is sometimes unnecessary watch Gray slowly turn him and his organization into shadows. Hidden and only existing in the night." For a shadow can never be truly destroyed and fought aganist."