waking in the hollow

I thought I was just an ordinary young man. I was wrong. Espers are real. Astral entities exist. And ever since that “accident,” the world has been falling apart. They say everything’s fine. They’re lying. Now I’m caught in the middle of it… with her. And nothing feels real anymore. Because this world… was never whole.

"In the face of survival, will you still cling on to your ideal?" Keiko sought desperately an answer for herself and the future she vowed to protect. In the end, what would she choose? --- Keiko Lee, a female Special Assault Team (SAT) woke up in the body of the infamous "Death Reaper", the rising star mech soldier of Earth Federation more than 100 years in the future. The Earth had gone through devastating change after a round of nuclear war, natural disaster, and alien invasion while a huge threat was still looming over humanity's future. Having no other option, she has to adapt to her new world fast while unknowingly becoming the center of the storm known as revolution. Meanwhile, Jeanne Armstrong, a prodigious black-bellied female major who is also a senior technical officer, a military research expert, and a female instructor in the highest military academy in the Federation, keeps teasing and seducing her to her heart's content. Keiko who sought survival and perhaps, a way home, and Jeanne who will do anything for her freedom. What will happen to them when their fate entangled with each other? +++ Precept: Jeanne leaned on Keiko’s side and rested her head on her uninjured right shoulder. "If you feel guilty about me, please don't push me away. Just think of it as you act for the sake of your goal, and I am for the sake of my oath. We are comfortable using each other like this and we know each other well, isn't it good? " Keiko's hands trembled, she caressed Jeanne's face gently, while her head was lowered. She said, "You... don't be so nice to me..." "Pfft, I've made it clear that I want to use you, and you still say I'm good to you? Are you stupid?" "If I am really stupid, I probably wouldn't be sitting here talking to you right now," Keiko whispered. "Hmph! You know it in your hear all those words really hurt me very much, you’re terrible." "Do you think I want to say that much? It really makes me suffocate, each and every word. I'm just afraid that you will suffer a lot if you choose me, and I'm afraid that I can't take care of you well." “Heh!” Jeanne snorted, "You? Taking care of me? It would be nice if you didn't bother me to take care of you. You damn block of wood, you want to piss me off, don’t you?" “......” "Don't you have anything to say?" Jeanne looked up at her. Keiko didn't speak but lowered her head and pressed Jeanne’s lips with hers. Jeanne's eyes widened for a moment before the corners of her eyes and lips drew a beautiful arc as she stretched out her arms around Keiko's neck, and pull Keiko’s face to hers. --- cover commissioned by: IG: @vatarison.art

A modern-day antihero, who was infamous for his devious acts, dies in an explosion meant to take down a powerful criminal syndicate. Waking up in a world of sword and sorcery, he finds himself possessing a fragile, powerless body with a strange "System" that seems broken. Initially thinking he's doomed, he learns that by pretending to be weak, he can manipulate others into revealing their secrets, granting him abilities they possess. As he rises in power, he discovers that the System was intentionally sabotaged—by none other than his own future self.

In a world where the very fabric of reality is held together by fragile threads known as the Veil, humanity faces an ever-present threat from the void—a dark, consuming force that seeks to unravel everything. The ancient Guardians once stood as protectors, weaving powerful Knots to keep the void at bay, but their knowledge has faded, and the Knots are beginning to fray. Cole, an unlikely Weaver with the rare ability to sense and manipulate the threads of the Veil, embarks on a perilous journey alongside the skilled warrior Selene, the stoic guardian Marcus, and the enigmatic scholar Elara. Together, they must navigate a land ravaged by void-touched creatures and discover the forgotten secrets of the Guardians to repair the Knots and stop the void from consuming their world. But the deeper they delve into the mysteries of the Veil, the more they realize that the void is not their only enemy. Hidden forces work from the shadows, manipulating the fraying threads for their own gain, and ancient powers thought long buried are stirring beneath the surface. As the Knots unravel and reality itself begins to fracture, Cole and his companions must face not only the void, but the dark truths of their own world—and themselves. withHeart is a gripping, character-driven epic of survival, sacrifice, and the delicate balance between light and darkness. The series explores themes of destiny, power, and the fragile threads that bind us all together, weaving a story where every choice could mean the difference between salvation and oblivion.

A Tik-Tok style anthology of 100 word stories of fiction, horror and Sci-fi.

〔DON'T READ〕 The book is going through major editing.

not my story

When the Moon cries, a boy made of light is born in the heart of the Hollow — trembling, nameless, and hunted. Rowan never asked to be a guardian, but the moment the boy opens his silver eyes, the Hollow reacts… and so does Rowan. Across the realm, four others feel the same pull — a soul‑deep bond awakening with the Oracle they’ve never met. But the Hollow is fractured. Something ancient wants the Oracle dead. And something even older remembers him. As danger closes in, Rowan must protect the boy who somehow knows his name — even though Rowan never told him. Five guardians. One reborn Oracle. A prophecy that binds their souls… and threatens to break their world. The Oracle has returned. The Hollow is waking. And destiny is coming for all of them.

I didn’t like the synopsis that was here before, so I deleted it. However, I can’t think of a new one right now, so I won’t be putting one up for the time being. As for what I have to say about this—despite the beginning, this isn’t a story about systems or dungeons, at least not in my view. It’s not my intention to write that, despite the obvious nods. This first part isn’t even focused on action, to be honest. I’d wager you could count on the fingers of one hand how many dungeons Hye entered even after 130 chapters. Portals were an easier way to explain what happens with the monsters, but that wasn’t the original idea. It was something I borrowed from works like *Solo*, for example, but it’s not what I envision happening in that world. Nowadays, I’ve already thought of a way to explain how things really work as I see them—in this case, without portals—but to change that, I’d have to rewrite the entire story, and, well, that would require time—a luxury I don’t have. I hope you enjoy it, if you decide to give it a chance, of course. Image created by AI

Do you believe in magic? The answer of most will be no. But what if magic DID exsist? To some, it might just be your typical average story. But this has an element of unpredictability mixed in between. Their lives were similar to the two sides of a coin. In order to flee from a perpetually toxic relationship, she offers to him, a proposal he would have never expected. Diego Raymond, desperate to prevent the element from being revealed, has no other option but to concur. Diane Lewis was a normal teenage girl from an aristocratic family. But since she met HIM, her view of the world turned upside down. "How is that even possible?" She asked, mouth agape. He smiled at her, showing a perfect set of snow-white teeth. "With magic, anything is possible." Horn your skills and train your ability. "I will protect you." She said, with a determined gaze. "You can Barely even protect yourself. You are not strong enough." He retorted. "Then, just wait for Me to get stronger." She said, with a smile. "You have no right to be here. We cut ties remember?" Dennis, the man she acknowledged as her Older brother, posed that question, while glaring at her fiercely. "I am not here for you. I am here for the family. There are still people I treasure in this place. So let me through or else..." She completed her statement by majestically drawing out her sword. So many secrets lay hidden. Injustice in the form of justice. Lies, fabricated to become truth. Deception roams around, unleashed. And a Naive girl, who had never seen the shadow that lurked around in the abyss. Will her Destiny be actualized, saving those which she held dear to her heart? Or will she be overwhelmed by the challenges of her new world, succumbing gradually underneath the waves, which seek to devour Her whole, perishing alongside her family?