fear and loathing in the oasis

Bags of salt, spices and sugar stacked from inside the shop all the way out into the streets. Merchants loaded with goods going flooded the streets with their carriages. The air was filled with fragrances emanating from all manner of spices. It was a prosperous, lively city at the side of the oasis. Sounds of metals being hammered and threads being woven were heard all over the place, as smiths and craftsmen were busy at work in their respective workshops. The banner of the successor of the Kingdom of Swadia—Baron Kant—was hanging on the city gates. The citizens lived peaceful, happy lives, revering their lord from the bottom of their hearts. Soldiers on the city walls armed with crossbows stood guard over the city, and footmen wearing mail armor patrolled the streets.  The place was one of peace and security.

Because he was too afraid of death, he put all his points into health value. Transmigrating into a cultivation game, Fan Wubing ended up with the most useless physique, 【Heavenly Disabled Body】: Every five years, suffers damage equal to 99.99% of maximum health. Because it has no positive effects, players call it the planner's sadistic humor. Having just died once, Fan Wubing didn't want to die a second time like that, so he began frantically collecting anything related to healing items, putting all points into health value, and swore to turn his red Blood Bar black!

Meet Eren Idril, just your average Joe trying to navigate a world that's gone full sci-fi bonkers. We're talking flying cars, holographic pets, the whole shebang. But here's the kicker: amidst all the flashy gadgets and mind-bending tech, there's something even more mind-blowing going on—mana. Now, this ain't your run-of-the-mill magic trick. Nope, mana's the real deal, and only the elite, the cream of the crop, the Rankers, get to play with it. They're basically like the cool kids in high school, but with superpowers and a really fancy title. But here's where things get spicy. While everyone's busy flexing their mana muscles and living it up in this brave new world, there's trouble brewing on the horizon. Like, end-of-humanity kind of trouble. Turns out, Earth ain't the safe haven it used to be, and now folks are scrambling to find a new place to call home. Enter Eren Idril, the ultimate underdog in a world full of heroes and villains. He's not your typical protagonist, more like the guy you'd find chilling in the background, minding his own business. But when he stumbles upon a power that everyone else thinks is busted, well, let's just say things are about to get interesting. - Grayback

In a dark world, on a mountain lives a crossbreed that tries to survive. Even though he is part goblin, he just doesn't look like one and that makes his life harder then needed. His tribe is hard enough on him but in the outside world it will be only harder. And that he will learn the hard way.

Prince Samir looked at her disdainfully. “You’re not human.” “Aren’t I?” Nazmi asked boredly. “You aren’t.” She rolled her eyes. “Then what am I, your highness?” “A nymph. I can tell.” Prince Samir’s golden orange eyes threatened her. That if she lied again, she would surely lose her life. Nazmi started to panic. She hadn’t felt such genuine fear in a very long time. Time was running out, she needed to try and execute her plan before it was too late – but she swallowed the fear inside her to avoid blowing her cover. “How can you be so sure?” Nazmi laughed. Unfortunately for him, aside from having a lot to hide, playing with fire was her favorite activity. “Is it because you can’t bite me?” His dark skin and glowing eyes looked beautiful in the dim lighting; such an ethereal and lovely appearance wasn’t befitting of a vile monster like a vampire, Nazmi thought to herself. How unfortunate. The vampire hummed in agreement. “I would have ripped your skin and devoured your ichor the moment I saw you if it weren’t stopping me.” “You could always just kill me and drink my blood that way,” she said with a sarcastic smile. “Barbaric, yes, but it seems you and your kind prefer it that way. I’d say you’re animals, but that would be too cruel a comparison. Animals could never be as disgusting as you.” — War between the humans and vampires has gone on for centuries. Bloodshed and domination are all the two races seem to know, and neither side ever show intention for peace. The death toll between them is massive, both mortals and vampires alike. But what about everyone caught in between? Nazmiseia is one of the few remaining nymphs left. Since nymphs are spirits borne from nature, the constant shedding of blood and war has destroyed countless of their homes. Many of the wars took place on nymph land.As a girl, she lost her friends and family all save for her father. He took her to live amongst the humans and blend in, so that they could live a peaceful life. She took up the human-friendly nickname of Nazmi. Her father didn't know that his sweet girl would grow up wanting nothing but revenge on both humans and vampires alike. She is now the age of 20, finally old enough to begin learning how to use her nymph powers. While developing connections with strong people and training to fight, she ends up thrown in the middle of a human-vampire skirmish at the border. Nazmi not only finds herself injured, but captured by one of the most fearsome vampire generals. In the hands of the notoriously handsome and tyrannical vampire Prince Samir, her plans for revenge have to take a backseat to something more urgent - escape! — There will be lots of R18 detailed smut throughout the story. Please be aware! Blood and gore, vivid descriptions of death. Enemies to lovers, of course.~

Sophie Patterson had always been a quiet shy girl. She hid away from everyone, sticking to her three wonder trio; Best friend to Alexa Garlik, and Troy Michaelson. The three protected each other and stood up for one another. That is unless it came from Sophie's biggest pain and most ruthless prankster, Logan Spencer. He was ruthless, senseless, a big flirt that made any girl fall for him with just a smile. He longed for each day to come to school to make Sophie's life miserable. There was something about her that he despised. Whether it was her nerdiness or the way she was immune to his charm, she was not quite sure. All she knew was that he was bound to make her life a living hell. Will his plot to make her life a living hell succeed? Or will he find himself falling in love with her as he finds himself clashing paths with her more than often? Will she give him a chance at proving his love for her? Or is the damage too much for her to bear?

"There have been rumors, or rather, a myth," Malachi began, the hostility in the air dissipating slightly. "World after world drawn into the sacred grounds of this oasis, the same myth emerges—a tale of an irregular, a player unbound by the rules of floors and reality." After developing what would become the biggest VR game in the world at a young age, Ivan's rise to success was rapid, but his fall was just as quick. Betrayed and having everything taken away from him, he decides to enter the now-dangerous game he had created in search of power, risking death and permanent entrapment. However, he soon finds out the game has become far more than what he thought he made. Lines between worlds blur, and his goals go from revenge to survival, to regaining his position as a god. A god of a reality that is far more than just a game. [Game developer Level 2 skill: Crafting is now unlocked] ------- A/N: Ivan is neither a hero nor a villain; he is willing to do anything for personal gain, regardless of morality. He won't commit evil deeds without reason, but he won't hesitate to do them when necessary. The story starts with a basic plot and might seem like a typical "level up" story, but it's actually way more than that. You'll realize this within just a few chapters. The entire plot is a complex storyline shrouded in mystery. The true core of the story gradually unravels along the way, filled with unexpected twists and turns. I hope you enjoy the story. Thank you for reading!

Growing up is hard enough, but it’s worse as a pacifist whose country is at war. Jim and Brian are neighbors, best friends, and high school graduates heading for college. In 1970 the Vietnam War raged, and Brian and Jim, both pacifists, worry about being drafted.<br><br>To make matters worse, both men are gay and far from out. When Brian finally admits his feelings for his friend, he’s surprised and pleased Jim feels the same.<br><br>Brian’s father teaches jujitsu, and the two men learn the ancient art, though neither believes in fighting. They struggle to overcome their pacifist tendencies amid racial tension and homophobia that threatens to tear their lives -- and their love -- apart.<br><br>Can Brian and Jim turn fear into courage and learn to defend themselves, and each other, to create a life of love?

[Book Under Rewriting] ---- I had it all. Money. Power. Influence. People feared my name, and I could have anything I desired. Except happiness. Perhaps it was my mind, too sharp for a dull, predetermined world. Perhaps it was the urges I never could have realized due to society being as it is. Either way, boredom consumed me. My whole being. So, I ended it. Pills. Whiskey. Darkness. But death was not my end. It was my invitation. A new world. A new path. A cultivation that feeds on fear itself. This new beginning made me realize what true happiness really is... Watching others tremble. ---- Authors Note: This work is currently under a full rework. The new version will be posted under the same name, from me. The rework is extensive enough for it to be necessary. The plan is to write 3 full 'books' before the new version is released. I've finished one so far, and drafted the second. Length of each book is approx. 370 pages.(70 000+ words.) [Book Under Rewriting] Ko-fi - /gravemind

Marva Dale is the pen name for author Debra McReynolds. Retired from the public relations field, Debra now spends her free time indulging in her passion for writing. "I used to fill my school notebooks with stories," Debra relates, "and then add artwork to go along with them. My second grade teacher, Mrs. Daley, predicted that I would be a writer one day." A fan of the mystery genre, she enjoys crafting tales with a twist of suspense, a touch of romance, and a bit of humor. Debra and her husband, Dale, make their home in El Paso, Texas, with their dog, cats and rabbits. In the 22nd Century, Los Angeles Detective Cadye Parrish has been called in to help in the murder case of Gavin McAllister who lived on Terre Celeste, the wealthy second tier, and who worked for the Senesco Institute. Digging deeper, she finds a terrible plot involving an age-inducing drug produced by the institute and the unwitting victims of the conspiracy who all danced at the Midnight Lace Club. During her investigation, she meets Dane Merrick, the public relations man for the foundation. And now as she becomes intimate with Dane, Cadye finds she just might be falling for a mass murderer.