drake the pebble and the penguin

-NOTE- This novel is unedited; expect typographical, grammatical, format, and plot errors. -SYPNOSIS- Jousuke Daikuhara is a kind-hearted high schooler known for his quiet strength, musical talent, and calming presence. A top student and skilled musician, he prefers peaceful days and finds joy in the little things. Though he doesn’t see himself as special, his genuine care and subtle attentiveness draw others in, slowly turning his once-simple life into a web of emotions and silent confessions. Leah Boutsuki is shy, soft-spoken, and quietly artistic. She and Jousuke first met after accidentally bumping into each other outside their classroom. Despite her reserved nature, her gentle warmth leaves a quiet mark on Jousuke—though expressing her feelings remains her greatest challenge. Kaede Miyazaki, the tsundere student council vice president, is sharp-tongued and fiercely driven. Known as the most beautiful girl at Bungaku High, she frequently clashes with Jousuke through council duties, calling him an idiot to mask her flustered reactions to his smile. Underneath her tough front, she’s drawn to his sincerity—much to her own frustration. Rika Sakurai, soft-spoken and quietly strong, has harbored feelings for Jousuke since middle school. A small moment of kindness from him long ago stayed with her, even as she tried moving on with others. Her loyalty and quiet longing add to the emotional storm slowly surrounding Jousuke. As days pass, fleeting moments blur the line between friendship and love. In this gentle harem, the question of who will win Jousuke’s heart remains unanswered—because love, in its quietest form, is never so easily defined.

Kelly Moran is a bestselling author of enchanting ever-afters. She gets her ideas from everyone and everything around her and there's always a book playing out in her head. No one who knows her bats an eyelash when she talks to herself. Kelly is a RITA® Finalist, RONE Award-Winner, Catherine Award-Winner, Readers Choice Finalist, Holt Medallion Finalist, and landed on the "Must Read" & "10 Best Reads" lists at USA TODAY's Lifestyle blog. She is a proud Romance Writers of America® member, where she was an Award of Excellence Finalist. Her books have foreign translation rights in Germany, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands. Kelly's interests include: sappy movies, MLB, NFL, driving others insane, and sleeping when she can. She is a closet coffee junkie and chocoholic, but don't tell anyone. She's originally from Wisconsin, but she resides in South Carolina with her three sons, her two dogs, and a cat. She loves hearing from her readers. www.AuthorKellyMoran.com Trisha Eaton has been plagued by mysterious nightmares ever since her parents adopted her as a young girl. She chalked them up to childish nuisances until they return-- with a vengeance. Something about the Drake house next door to her family’s apple orchard haunts her. Now, her night terrors and sleepwalking seem to be luring her to something dark. When a series of strange events crops up, Trisha turns to Nick Mackey. As the new deputy in town, Nick just wants to put his traumatic past behind him. An undeniable attraction for Trisha has piqued interest and has him wondering if a shot at a normal life was possible. But Trisha has somehow struck a nerve, and a long-buried secret. A secret that someone they know will kill to keep veiled. Uncovered answers only seem to lead to more questions in a case where nothing makes sense. One chilling fact remains... some nightmares are all too real.

Electra, Amber, Nyx, Freyja, and Vayu were born into a cruel world. From groups of people that are scared of them to another area, they break records around the place. Uniting with their parents and grampa once more, they become a leading force of the Starry Kingdom. When enemies come knocking they fight back. A/N Will try to provide one chapter a day. https://discord.gg/qCvPAr4KTu

“I’m… just trying to get home,” Jiang stammered, his voice feeling weak, the words foreign on his tongue. Her lips curved into a smile—one that sent both heat and cold coursing through him. She stepped forward, her heels clicking softly on the pavement. “Home? What if I told you that home is not where you think it is? That you’re destined for more than this?” Her hand reached out, cold fingers brushing his cheek, sending a shock through his body. Before he could pull away, his vision blurred, and the world around him began to spin. His heart pounded in his chest, his limbs felt heavy, and something unnatural gripped him from within. The city lights, the woman, the very air around him twisted and bent until everything went black.

In the world of Tiamat, mortals are playthings for the gods—summoned to serve, survive, and entertain an unseen audience. Alain, an ordinary man from Earth, gets thrust into this world through an unexpected summoning, quickly stripped of his humanity and transformed into "Pebble," a brawny, low-intelligence character with a unique class called "The Battery." Tasked with walking a mysterious "Forest Path," Pebble quickly learns that his fate is being controlled by divine entities who act as his omniscient spectators, granting rewards, issuing tasks, and meddling with his every move. Pebble, with his new identity and peculiar skill set, teams up with an unlikely party of heroes: Phil, the eager snake-man rogue; Fred, the elderly wizard with unsteady but surprising powers; Bard, the charismatic musician; and Puffy, the foul-mouthed gnome who offers both guidance and exasperation. As Pebble struggles to navigate the rules of his new reality, he faces off against monsters, bandits, and divine "challenges" that range from inconvenient to life-threatening. Along the way, Pebble encounters gods who meddle in his life—sometimes offering aid, sometimes just making things harder. Among them are Glurt, the playful trickster; Artia, the shrewd, vengeful and alluring goddess; Aphrodite, who has her own plans for Pebble; and Reeki, the mysterious Mountain God who seems to have taken a special interest in him. As Pebble's viewership grows, he gains more power—but also more problems, as the gods begin to influence his decisions, pushing him toward a fate even he doesn’t fully understand. Haunted by his past life and the slow erosion of his Earthly hobbies and habits, Pebble tries to make sense of his role in this divine game. Aided by his comrades he must balance the absurdity of his situation with the reality of high-stakes danger. His class, "The Battery," holds mysterious potential that he's only beginning to uncover, and the path ahead is riddled with tasks that could lead him to greatness—or end his journey prematurely. Combining elements of dark humor, epic fantasy, and unpredictable divine interference, The Story of Pebble follows the adventures of a hero who never asked to be one, struggling to forge a path forward in a world where the line between game and reality is blurred—and where the gods are always watching.

Drake Silver has died. What's Happening? I'm Alive! Drake Silver has reincarnated 8 years into the past and now yearns to dominate the game that dominated every facet of economy and political agenda across the world. Watch as he grows into his newfound power and wealth and grows an empire from nothing! He will make alliances, enemies, and friends along the path to the throne! Welcome to Adella Online! Cover Art by Mr.Opang on Instagram! @m.r._opang_

What was the purpose of living anymore? These were my final thoughts before I had taken my own life, the next time I had regained consciousness I had heard a strange, booming voice. [Another one which lacks respect to the life that they have been given.] [Through hardship, you shall learn true respect of your life.] [Eliminating all riskful memories, creating new universe.] [Now you shall be placed in the most extreme possible set of conditions, struggle to live, and learn respect of your life.] These words were ringing through my mind as I reawakened, as a small lizard-like creature. In a dungeon with powerful monsters, where strength is the only absolute. I will survive this place, no matter what!

Drake was not reborn because he was defeated. He was not punished. He was simply… tired. Once, he was the Divine Creator, the being who shaped gods, demons, angels, and the laws that bound existence itself. He ruled concepts, forged worlds, and watched civilizations rise and fall. But as his creations drowned themselves in pride, war, and meaningless worship, Drake chose something no god ever had. He chose silence. Sealing his authority, he abandoned divinity and was born again as a human commoner, determined to understand the one thing gods never could—what it means to live a fragile, finite life. In a world where mana defines worth, where nobles rule by blood and strength, and where academies exist to separate the powerful from the forgotten, Drake enters as nothing more than an ordinary boy. He hides his true power, suppresses his overwhelming mana, and lives by a single rule: Power should only be used when there is no other choice. But even restraint has consequences. Mana behaves strangely around him. Monsters hesitate. Fate bends subtly. And as Drake steps into the brutal world of magic academies, assassins, nobles, and hidden conspiracies begin to move—unaware that the quiet commoner they overlook is the very being who created their gods. This is not a story of instant domination. This is the story of a creator learning humanity, of trust earned, not demanded, and of a world that will one day realize— The King of Earth was never crowned. He was reborn.

[Ding! The 'Randomly Spend' Tycoon System is at your service.] On her way to work, Yun Zijin was bound by a system named 'Randomly Spend'. [Spending Task Completed. A 2x rebate has been triggered. Ownership of Villa No. 1 at Xingyu Mansion. The related documents have been placed in the system backpack.] [Spending Task Completed. A 3x rebate has been triggered. Ownership of Dingsi Building. The related documents have been placed in the system backpack.] ... Yun Zijin was dazzled by the system's rewards, only to be told that her wealthy parents had found her? That she's the true daughter of the Xia Family of Dijing? Being bound to the Tycoon System was exciting for Yun Zijin, but she refused to be part of any cliché wealthy family drama. The Xia Family of Dijing? Yun Zijin: Get lost! Don't even think about associating with me!

Bai Su, who transmigrated into a book set in the interstellar Beast World, has only one interest: making delicious food at the orphanage, raising children, and enjoying her hard-won new life. Future's great villains? The cubs are all super well-behaved in front of her! The Federation Leader comes to freeload a meal, and his disability is cured! The business emperor comes to freeload a meal, and his infertility is solved! The obese little female gets thinner the more she eats, gradually growing into the number one beauty of the Beast World. She also attracts the number one genius doctor of the interstellar era and the interstellar great captain. The villainous cubs, driving warships and controlling ten thousand beasts: "If you want to get close to our Mom, you'll have to withstand our cannon fire first!" The Federation Leader laughs in anger: "You dare to bomb my armory? Courting death!" The gloomy and bloodthirsty emperor: "A bunch of little trash! You think I'm afraid of you?" The doctor's face turns ashen: "Either give back my research results, or die!" The interstellar great captain dangerously shoulders a Barrett: "I see you're all dying to get locked up." Bai Su smiles and peeks her head out, holding a gleaming kitchen knife: "Time to eat! What are you all doing?" The big shots and the little villains, harmoniously putting their arms around each other's shoulders in a picture of fatherly love and filial piety: "Coming~~"