Latest Cotton Malone

The sky was meant to be still. It was the ground that broke, the seas that shifted — never the wind. But when the sky begins to fall, Aera is the only one who hears it scream. High above the world, the floating island of Whisperfall was Aera’s entire life — a place of open skies, quiet laughter, and distant storms. That peace shatters when strange glyphs begin to glow beneath the cliffs, and the wind carries voices that don’t belong. In the aftermath of a tragedy that tears his home from the heavens, Aera is left wandering the scattered remains of a broken sky. Guided only by fragments of a forgotten power — Threadbinding — he begins to uncover the ancient Loom that holds the world’s fate together... and the truth that something is unraveling it, piece by piece. As he follows the threads through fallen shrines, cryptic ruins, and haunted skies, Aera discovers that he’s not the first to walk this path — only the latest. And if he wants to survive the storm to come, he must learn to bind the wind itself… or be lost to it forever.

In this world, evil wears two faces: demons, who act without morals—and humans, who choose to ignore them. Demons kill without guilt. Humans kill with it—and that’s what makes them worse. Hayden is an agent of Headhunter, a covert group tasked not with hunting demons, but with executing immoral humans. For him, killing the heinous is just another day at work. That is, until his latest assignment: a bodyguard mission. Now, instead of pulling a trigger, he’s forced to play babysitter to two stunning women.

I am Racist. … I mean, my name is Racis T. I swear. Please don’t cancel me before chapter 1. Anyway, I was a stand-up comedian. Not the good kind who gets Netflix specials. The kind who gets hit with beer bottles and told to “Meet me backstage. You’ll get one more mic.” One night, I was performing in a bar so shady, even cockroaches walked in with bodyguards. It was full of tattooed bikers who drink engine oil, smoke burnt rubber, lick silencers, cry over their exes, and still believe their fists are a valid debate technique. And there I was—trying to make them laugh using yo mamma jokes and dark humor so black it should’ve come with a flashlight and some cotton. They didn’t laugh. I kept going. One of them pulled out a gun. I cracked a joke. He cracked my skull. Bullet. Brain. Curtains. Boom. But here’s the funny part: I always wanted to be a successful comedian. Maybe get a standing ovation. But what I got was Uncontrollable Blood Ovulation. Still, I had dreams, man. Big dreams. Make people laugh. Marry someone who doesn't need two chairs to sit. Eat three meals a day, Own a yacht (the humble kind with a helipad) I wasn’t greedy. I would have donated 0.01% of my wealth to charity. I only wanted 99% of everything. But fate, karma, God, or probably the trends of Webnovel had other plans. Because instead of resting in peace… I woke up in another world. A fantasy world full of monsters, heroes, magic, kingdoms, war… And zero comedy clubs. Just my luck. So now I’ve got a second life, a rude system, and maybe a power or two. But being a Hero is secondary. First, I am gonna roast dragons, clown on kings, incest—invest, I mean invest and make the whole world laugh until they cry—or kill me again. Either way… Welcome to the story of the most dangerous thing in every world— A man who won’t shut up. ——— ——— ——— Support Me - ko-fi.com/khyaal Join My Discord For Reference Arts and much more - https://discord.gg/zmUcswM2N5

Rowan Kuranes awoke in a new world inside the body of a dying prince. His latest body contains terrifying secrets that he has to protect, for inside him lies the key to Eternity. He alone possesses the bloodline of The Ouroboros Serpents with authority over Time. He had Dominion over Sheol, and every soul would be his to keep. He lords over the Host of the Highest Heavens to the Abyssal Horde of the Deepest Hells. To survive, Rowan must learn to harness his new abilities and fight against his enemies who would stop at nothing to deprive him of his powers. Yet he must strive to keep some of his humanity alive, as he continuously evolves beyond godhood. A/N: There are horror elements, including Eldritch Horror from Lovecraft. A fan of blood-borne and abominable horrors that go bump in the night would love it. Epic action set pieces, and galaxy-wide battles, with an extremely overpowered MC who is a one-man army. https://discord.gg/UVvSCCMnCU Check out my discord. All future giveaways, fan art, and other fun stuff will be posted there. Thank you

The world I transmigrated is filled with players, with survival already a struggle. Moreover, I was entangled with a System to become the most visible NPC... The natives resent me while players see me as a thorn in their side. I needed to strive with all my might to live a good life in this foreign world while avoiding being bullied by the players. I can only turn the sufferings I experienced into the sufferings of others. I would have to keep all the benefits for myself, grow vigorously, and become an invincible boss who could never be defeated by players... This is a tale of the classic Fourth Day Disaster story while being struck by the disaster itself. My completed work of over ten thousand subscriptions, "Dream Master of Ten Thousand Worlds" is a testament to my credibility. Feel free to dive into it.

He Xingzhou knew about the invasion of the zerg and the dangerous fate of the solar system. To resist the apocalyptic crisis, he stepped out to warn mankind! He Xingzhou shocked the world when he built a nuclear reactor and activated the genes of the zerg on stream! Thus, under his plan, the entire country started building steel cities, massive mechs, spaceships, space castles... He Xingzhou said, "Let's set a small goal. Let's first build a Dyson sphere around the sun." [Dark Technology] + [Engineering Upgrade] + [Solar System Exploration] + [Dyson Sphere Plan] + [Star Cluster]. All of these elements make up our latest sci-fi novel!

Julius Marcellus was just an average guy—if you count a near-genius with zero social life and an obsession with hyper-immersive VR games as "average." When he straps into the latest full-dive gaming system to play Eclipse Conquest: Omega, he expects epic battles, loot, and maybe a leaderboard ranking. What he didn’t expect... was to never log out. A freak explosion in the real world fries the system—leaving Julius’s entire consciousness trapped inside the game. But this is no ordinary world. He awakens on Virelda, a planet so massive it dwarfs the Milky Way, located in a galaxy light-years beyond Earth. His mission: conquer the planet and prepare it for human colonization. Equipped with a mysterious injection designed to unlock a random ability based on his psyche, Julius receives a bizarre and unique power: Maiden Gacha—a supernatural roulette that lets him summon powerful, seductive maidens from across dimensions. Each maiden comes with extraordinary abilities, unique personalities, and a deep connection to Julius’s inner self. Now, with an army of otherworldly beauties, evolving kingdoms, and cosmic-level threats ahead, Julius must fight, lead, and outwit god-like entities across Virelda's continents—all while searching for a way back home. But the deeper he delves into this world’s secrets, the more he begins to question: Was this really a glitch… or destiny?

Check out the latest chapters on P@treon with two chapters every day. You can copy the link from the bio. [Gunfight + Case Solving + Decisive Killing] A scavenger in the gray world becomes a sunny Los Angeles detective. How nice it is to live in the sun? Locke stands under the Hollywood landmark, looking at the bikini beauties on Santa Monica Beach. He pushes up his sunglasses. From now on, Los Santos will be protected by him… Ps: There is no extraordinary, but there is a dark world that we ordinary people cannot touch, including killers, mysterious organizations, and various bizarre cases…

When the latest blockbuster, The Deficient Piece, inexplicably comes to life, the boundary between fiction and reality collapses. Bun Chokan, a home-loving man on the bangs of society, finds himself plunged into a ruthless universe governed by deadly riddles. As chaos engulfs those who don't understand the workings of this new world from the film, Bun proves to be the only one who can exploit the narrative subtleties of the script of this one. But will this unexpected gift be enough for him to survive and discover the truth?

sixteen-year-old Rex Valehart, life is shaped by two things—his academic discipline and his athletic prowess on the football field. Growing up with a father who spends more time chasing forgotten civilizations than at home, Rex has learned to navigate life alone, relying on his own instincts and determination. But when his father, Dr. Adrian Valehart, suddenly stops contacting him during his latest research expedition, Rex’s unease grows. His father has never gone completely silent—not once in all his years of archaeological digs. Seeking answers, Rex follows his last known location deep into the ruins beneath London. What he discovers shatters everything he thought he knew. A portal—alive with unknown energy—pulls him into another world, one governed by an entity known as the Sole Record. Here, power is dictated by absorbing souls, survival depends on strength and skill, and ancient forces shape destiny itself. Lost in a world where reality bends to unseen rules, Rex must master the Sole Record, uncover its secrets, and fight to return home. But when he finally does, London is no longer the same. The Sole Record’s influence has begun to evolve his own world, and now Rex is caught between two realities, trying to reunite with his father before history itself is rewritten. In a battle against fate, what will Rex become? A survivor, a warrior, or something beyond imagination?

Dante, an overworked game developer at Doomsday Games, has spent two years of his life debugging and perfecting MMORPGs. What started as a dream job has become a nightmare of endless hours, sleeping in the office, and being treated like a corporate puppet. While testing the company's latest game, "Empire Online" - based on a popular web novel - exhaustion finally overtakes him and he collapses at his desk. When Dante wakes up, he's no longer in his cramped office. Instead, he finds himself in a luxurious bedroom, trapped inside the body of thirteen-year-old Lux d'Branmere - the game's most hated villain character. Lux is the bastard son of a Marquis, branded as a "failed genius" and cursed with multiple debilitating traits. In the original game, he was designed to be nothing more than a stepping stone for the protagonist - a character everyone was meant to despise and defeat. But now Dante is living as Lux, with all of his curses, his terrible reputation, and his doomed fate. Armed with his knowledge of the game's storyline and mechanics, Dante must navigate this dangerous new reality. He knows exactly what's supposed to happen to Lux d'Branmere - and it's not good. The question is: can someone rewrite their own story when they're trapped playing the villain? Or is Dante doomed to follow the same path that leads to Lux's downfall? Genre: GameLit/LitRPG, Fantasy, Isekai Themes:Second chances, defying fate, redemption, survival Target Audience: Fans of gaming novels, fantasy adventure, and underdog stories

"Norvin Veldman, a talented cosplay designer with a photographic memory, unwittingly stumbles upon a mysterious entity born from the Akashic Record. This ancient being, drawn to Norvin, bonds with him and transforms him into a 'Cosmic Curator'. As the entity awakens Norvin's latent psychic powers, his latest cosplay project, the 'Hero Holodex' Smartwatch, becomes a reality. With this newfound technology, Norvin can channel his energies to become many of his childhood heroes! The sub-body of the Record charges Norvin with an epic task: to restore its original form, which has been shattered into five parts, each representing one of the five super classes that once thrived in the universe: Metas, Psychics, Super Armorers, Magicians, and Super Pugilists. With the help of his friends Edward and Huey, Norvin sets out to unravel the mystery of the other Curators and why the boundaries between the five universes are beginning to collapse. As Norvin embarks on his quest to unite the fragmented universe, he must navigate treacherous landscapes, battle formidable foes, and confront his own destiny as a hero. Will he be able to mend the tears in reality and become the savior of the multiverse?"

After a near death experience thanks to his own mother, Jake Hollander has an adverse reaction to people, baseball, and family. His feeling of abandonment is slowly lost thanks to his foster family, The Atkins. They take him in and change his mind about everything. He becomes more open, better at baseball, and craves for family. Slowly all wishes are granted. Instagram: @writerhalf_empty https://www.patreon.com/half_empty ~~The Last Curve can be found there, a short story about Rhys Please read on Webnovel! **Names, faces, and places aren’t real. A work of fiction. Nonetheless, it is my work of fiction so please don’t post it without permission. *I have used school names that do exist though, but I would like everyone to know that I have no affiliation with them. Nor do my views reflect their views. **Also, I bought the royalty-free license for my cover. Which means I can use it without having to pay royalties. If you have any questions, comment on my latest chapter or reach me on discord.

In the war-torn land of Limen, the fearsome Demon King Ken Shira—undefeated in his conquest of twelve human kingdoms—stumbles upon a wounded woman during his latest campaign. To his surprise, she’s a human—and the banished crown princess of the very kingdom he’s about to destroy. Shunned by her people for suggesting peace over bloodshed, the princess finds an unlikely protector in the demon king himself. As he offers her sanctuary in his castle, he also tempts her with vengeance: a chance to watch her former kingdom fall. But in a world ruled by power, mercy, and betrayal, the bond between monster and outcast may change the fate of both their world's.

A serial killer finds himself inside the novel of his latest victim.

In the quiet town of Berryville, a chilling presence lurks in the shadows. A cunning serial killer is on the loose, leaving a trail of terror and death in his wake. But his twisted game doesn’t end with the murders. He taunts the police, calling them with cryptic messages and tormenting them with details of his latest victims.

Isla Sinclair, a renowned supermodel, has it all - wealth, fame, and a social calendar that's always full. But beneath the glamour, her love life is a mess. Twice divorced and a widowhood later, she's convinced to take another shot at love. Living under her father's roof feels suffocating, but everything changes when she meets Cade Hudson, her new house manager. Cade's reserved demeanor and sharp wit intrigue Isla, but he's not easily swayed by her charms. Determined to win him over, she makes him her latest project. As they clash and spar, Isla finds herself falling for Cade's quiet strength and integrity. But will he see past her troubled past and love her for who she truly is? "You are the first man I've met who doesn't make me feel like a masterpiece to be collected, but a canvas to be painted."

Evan Walker is a ghost in his own life, haunted by catastrophic choices—like trading a Bitcoin fortune for a second-hand Mazda. His latest regret? AI just made his MicroApple job obsolete. But as his corporate login dies, a cryptic system message erupts: FORK DETECTED. He's violently thrust into Forkworld: a brutal, game-like reality built from his own what-ifs. Here, billionaire Evans flaunt crypto empires, CEO Evans rule tech strongholds, and a rumored Shadow Evan embodies pure despair. To escape, Evan, now a Level 0 "Null Runner," must defeat or ally with 4 formidable "Guardian" versions of himself, absorbing their defining life essences and memories. His goal: the Synapse Forge, an artifact capable of rewriting one colossal mistake from his past. But with each powerful essence he claims, the line between his identity and theirs blurs. If he can't master the regrets that made them, he won't just fail to change his past—he'll become an unstable echo, lost in the static of might-have-beens.

Check my other works to continue reading this book. It has been reuploaded to the latest chapter and is getting daily updates.

Nadia is the daughter of a high official in a secret vampire society, and Keiko is a human hailing from a long line of divine priestesses. The two should be natural enemies, but when Keiko stumbled into her path as a child, Nadia knew that she needed to keep her by her side. Normally a relationship with a human is forbidden, but Keiko has the power to vanquish the cursed deity after Nadia's body. So Keiko is assigned as her executioner, with a duty to kill Nadia if the evil ever overtakes her soul. However, all is not as it seems, as the ancient goddess residing inside Keiko, may have dark secrets of her own. *A new chapter is released every Wednesday! *If you like what you read, please leave a review! Please be sure not to include specific terms in it such as GL, or the review will shadow banned! *Tags: Romance, Fantasy, Supernatural, Horror, Vampire, Goddess, GL, Yuri, LGBTQIA+, Inclusive, Diverse, 18+ *If you'd like to get story updates and keep up with the latest news or if you'd like to join my community, please search 'otakugamergirlt twitter/bsky' or 'otakugamergirlt wordpress' in a browser and the first few results should lead you right to my social media pages. You'll also find my Discord link in a pinned post on Twitter. Please join if you'd like! I'd love to keep in touch with my readers and fans. Thanks!

FIRST BOOK A little orphan girl who lives in the Barrel Zone, a place where slaves and criminals reside. «A dystopian theme story about an orphan girl who's looking for her real self while fighting against people in power» WARNING ⟩ Includes Graphic words ⟩ Bullying ⟩ Weapons ⟩ Gore Author Notes: This story is only fiction only, and not factual. It cannot apply in real life. Visit Wattpad and search "Pink Punk" for latest updates Will update once a week! Pardon my English! Have fun reading

Leo just wants to game, but his childhood friend-turned-girlfriend, Sarah, has other ideas—and a penchant for using his money. After a delivery reveals her latest impulse buy on his dime, their heated argument explodes into a passionate negotiation. From demands for repayment to seductive offers, their raw, unbridled chemistry takes center stage, proving that for Leo and Sarah, love and lust are always part of the game.

People are going missing and are not found till now . Fred Godwin has a faint feeling that he has met all of those missing people before..but the thing is , he has amnesia . He remembers abit that the latest victim wanted to tell him something , so he's determined to figure out what it was and find her . Hope you like it

"It's 2025. Who's gonna believe a myth or fantasy anymore? That only exists in the book or game or anime." And that's how everybody thought before the announcement that flipped the entire world completely. Everybody race to become the new god with the system they got. So, how about the people who don't get the system? ( Hey, kid. I can give you some power. Let's make a contract. ) [ Previous Volume's Soundtracks are in the Discord server. ] * [ 1983 - Schwartzesmarken ] by [ Fripside ] as OP song Volume 02. * [ Fatality ] by [ Kordhell ] as ED song Volume 02. ------------------------------- Author note : For latest news or announcement, just visit the discord : https://discord.com/invite/JG952SF9aU Thank you very much. ( b ' 3 ' ) b

Tags: R-18 • H-Game • Soulslike • Dark Fantasy • Monster Girls • Sex Power System • OP Protagonist • Degenerate World • Boss Waifus • Smut • Harem •Yuri During Threesomes or more •Netori •No netorae or netorase • Level Up • Inspired by Elden Ring, Bloodborne, Skyrim. Malone Mercedes was just a programmer who was sleep-deprived, overworked, and drowning in bug reports. He helped build Eroge Souls, an R-18 soulslike H-game infamous for its brutal difficulty, corrupt world, and unapologetically lewd content. A game where players fought, died, and fucked their way through a realm governed by the Seven Sins. It was twisted, depraved, and a cult classic game among fans as it goes deeply into lore and immersion. And it exploded into a global phenomenon. However Malone did not live to enjoy its success. He collapsed at his desk mid-crunch, fingers still on the keyboard. As he died from overworked. But this was not the end for Malone. Because right after he died he soon find himself in familiar place. Not in heaven. Not in hell. But inside the very game he help build, as he was transmigrated into the body of Ren Hal Asauron, also known as the wonder. A legendary being blessed by the Free Throne. With the Demiurge long gone, the Seven Sins. Lust, Greed, Wrath, Sloth, Gluttony, Envy, and Pride have become twisted gods, flooding the land with depravity and chaos. The last of mankind suffer under their iron rule, as humans fight for the place in the Prime Lands. Kings die, and new one emerge, yet none has seen an era of peace. For mankind is locked in an eternal war with the Deamons. Each Sin holds one of the Seven Laws needed to become God. They are the key to becoming the new All Father. And rise into a divine position as the new Demiurge. And each Sin will do anything to keep Sauron from claiming them. Armed with the secret knowledge of a programmer, and the body of a living weapon of the Worlds Will. Ren must fight, fuck, and dominate his way through Daemon's, corrupted goddesses, broken realms, and seductive boss battles. Till he eventually clear the seven hells, and Dominate or kill the Seven Sins. Lucky for Ren, he is not in this world alone unarmed. The Wonder is Blessed with the power of Save and Load. All he must do to reach a good ending is level up and take advantage of the leveling system till he reach his end goal.

Lenny Tales is a sick psychopathic assassin with a twisted sense of justice who goes around the world murdering corrupt politicians. But at his latest hit, a bullet changed trajectory in mid air and ended his life. However when he wakes up, he discovers that his Death was not an accident, and he had been Employed by Lucifer Morningstar, the one known as the devil. His Mission is to have revenge on behalf of the Devil who was backstabbed, and had the apocalypse stolen from him by his own demons. But as a mere him in a post apocalyptic world filled with death at every turn, with wicked Witches, Devils, Royal Demons, and entities that feed on weak humans as per time snacks, how will he carry out such a mission? Fortunately, he is born again with the Satan System... ........ If you want to know how sick this book is, read the first chapter. I still don't know how the idea for this book came out of my head. (Heaven! please forgive me) ..... Demons, Devils, Fallen Angels, Angels, Soul Eaters, Cursers, Witches, Dark elves, Hell beasts, Heaven Beasts, Death Beasts... Practically, Every sick, both rosy and terrible thing of the underworld will be found in this book. My research is deep. (Note: Sick Shit happens here. If you don't have stomach for it, please run. You still have time.) (My Discord: https://discord.gg/5Gexp9wW)

The story follows a teenager named Akira Danielle Alaire, who was born and raised in Canada. Throughout her life, she has struggled to do anything ordinary. Never following the latest trends or whatever people around her did, she tried so hard to fit in with her classmates growing up. Thus, developing a reputation for being a "faker". Bullies would try their hand at her, but usually would end up passed out. From a young age, she could see things that others could not see, and those who could see them were surprised she could. This, in turn, led her to become part of an organization that deals with the truly bizarre. She begins to feel that she is developing friendships for the first time. But eventually finds out she was never alone. There was someone always watching. And they continue to watch her.

Raizo, a 35-year-old office worker, leads a life filled with loneliness and disappointment. To escape his bitter reality, he immerses himself in the game "Goddess MOBA"—a game where over 3,000 beautiful women battle in epic 10 vs. 10 matches. As one of the top players, Raizo spends his entire paycheck trying to obtain the latest 10 Goddesses. Unfortunately, his obsession with the game leads to his death from starvation in front of his computer. However, fate has other plans. Raizo is reborn in a new world with the same name, but now as a commoner. In this world, there exists a unique power known as "Vessel"—a body that can change and comes with special abilities. At the age of 8, all children gather to awaken their first Vessel. When it’s Raizo’s turn, he is shocked to discover that the Vessel he has awakened is "Miranda, the Marksman"—the very first Goddess he obtained in his previous life’s game. But Miranda is no ordinary Vessel. Besides being extraordinarily beautiful and skilled in combat, this Vessel brings controversy: no male has ever awakened a female Vessel before. Now, Raizo must navigate his new life as a beautiful girl in a world full of challenges and mysteries. Is this fate or just a bizarre twist of destiny? And how will he cope with the reality that he has now become part of the very harem he once dreamed of?

usually grade one core gives 25, grade two gives 50, grade 3 gives 100. grade 4 gives 200, grade 5 gives 500. After being dragged through a mysterious portal, Zed found himself entangled in a murder he didn’t commit. Worse, he carried an ancient demon bloodline, and in the world of Eldoria, that made him a target. Thankfully, Zed had three aces: a unique soul, unnaturally high vitality and a gift from a woman trapped in the forbidden abyss. The Blood Monarch System. It let him consume the essence of his prey—unlocking their strengths, their secrets, their very bloodlines. And so, Zed decided to live his life to the fullest. He’d slay monsters, dominate deadly ruins, and conquer the hearts—and bodies—of beauties. As for his ultimate goal? It was simple. Become a supreme existence. "The key to awakening bloodlines and getting stronger is chaos... and a few charming ladies along the way." In the magical world of Eldoria, mana flowed through everything. Unfortunately, Zed Deverux was born with Withering Mana Syndrome, a disease that drained mana from his body and made surviving past the age of nine nearly impossible. Miraculously, he managed to live for twenty years, tirelessly searching for a cure with the help of his eccentric alchemist mentor. One day, after drinking her latest potion, his condition seemed to improve—only to later discover the shocking truth behind the 'elixir'. It was her breast milk?! Light colored eyes are considered ugly here?" Aidan Reith found himself transmigrated into a fantasy world just before his acting debut, only to discover its beauty standards were a bit off. But Aidan quickly adapted and got excited. He loved acting, and this strange world offered countless cultures to explore. To his surprise, he also awakened the power of a chameleon. All he needed was the body of a species, and he could turn it into a wearable skin! [You can become a demon. Do you want to read the 'haunted village' script?] [You can become a poisonous lamia. Do you want to read the 'gem-loving snake' script?] [You can become a dragoman. Do you want to read the 'dark dragon's harem' script?] Aidan soon realized the world's entertainment lacked variety, so he decided to create the first movie theater. And those who tried to stop him? They mysteriously disappeared. "Dual cultivation is actually the cure to my illness?" In the martial world of Danxia, qi flowed through everything. Unfortunately, Seth Fenix was born with Withering Qi Syndrome, a disease that drained qi from his body and made surviving past the age of nine nearly impossible. Miraculously, he managed to live for nineteen years, tirelessly searching for a cure with the help of his eccentric alchemist mentor. One day, after drinking her latest potion, his condition

--- VELVET CHAINS "She was never his prisoner — she was his punishment." Elira Vale was forged in silence—trained to infiltrate, manipulate, and vanish without a trace. Her latest assignment? Take down the Moreaux Syndicate from the inside. To do that, she must get close to its heir: Azriel Moreaux—a man known for his cold precision, strategic mind, and the trail of blood he never bothers to wipe clean. But Azriel has secrets of his own. He’s known from the beginning that Elira isn’t who she pretends to be. Still, instead of turning her in... He keeps her close. Closer than anyone’s ever been. She becomes his assistant. His shadow. His obsession. What begins as a trap turns into a war of twisted desire. Now, neither of them can tell where the lies end and the craving begins. Because Elira was never just a spy. And Azriel? He doesn’t want justice. He wants her broken. And in the end— She was never his prisoner. She was his punishment. ---