In the sprawling megalopolis of Erythra Prime, a city where advanced technology merges with ancient mysticism, a detective named Kael Ardent is thrust into a labyrinthine conspiracy that blurs the boundaries of reality. The sudden murder of a high-ranking diplomat sparks a chain of events that leads Kael to uncover a secret society, a mythical artifact known as the Crimson Nexus, and a shadowy figure who holds the power to rewrite existence itself. As Kael teams up with Nyssa Vahn, a rogue technomancer with her own hidden agenda, they navigate the neon-lit streets, delve into forbidden ruins, and fight against cybernetic assassins and interdimensional entities. With time running out, Kael and Nyssa must unravel the secrets of the Nexus before it falls into the wrong hands and annihilates everything they know.
The rain drummed against the steel canopy of Erythra Prime, a sprawling metropolis that pulsed with the hum of both magic and machinery. Towering skyscrapers reached into the murky clouds, their surfaces alive with holographic advertisements and flickering neon signs. Below, the streets were a maze of cobblestone alleys and polished metal roads, where every shadow seemed to harbor a secret.
Kael Ardent stood in the middle of District 7, a smog-choked sector notorious for its black-market dealings. The district's air buzzed with tension, amplified by the news that had rippled through the city's underbelly mere hours ago-a high-ranking diplomat had been murdered, and the scene was nothing short of bizarre.
Kael adjusted the brim of his rain-slicked fedora, his piercing gray eyes scanning the crime scene. A crowd had gathered beyond the yellow holo-tape, their curiosity barely contained as law enforcement drones hovered overhead, their red lights casting eerie reflections on the wet pavement.
The body lay sprawled in the center of an abandoned marketplace, surrounded by shattered glass and broken crates. Kael knelt beside it, his leather coat brushing against the damp ground. The victim was a man in his late forties, dressed in the kind of tailored suit only those with deep political ties could afford. His chest had been burned clean through, leaving a hole that glowed faintly with an unnatural crimson light.
"Looks like magic," Kael muttered, his voice a gravelly whisper.
"Not just any magic," said a voice behind him.
Kael turned to see Officer Zara Dren, a no-nonsense enforcer from the Department of Unified Policing. She was tall, with short-cropped black hair and a mechanical left arm that hummed faintly whenever she moved. Zara was one of the few officers who didn't openly resent Kael's presence.
"This is arcane-tech," she continued, crouching beside him. "See the residue around the wound? That's from a Nexus Shard."
Kael frowned. Nexus Shards were fragments of the Crimson Nexus, an artifact of legend that had supposedly been destroyed centuries ago. Their use was highly illegal-and unimaginably dangerous.
"How does a diplomat end up on the wrong side of a Nexus Shard?" Kael asked, more to himself than Zara.
"That's what you're here to figure out, detective." Zara stood, crossing her arms. "The department's official line is that this was a botched robbery. But we both know that's a load of crap."
Kael smirked. "Always appreciate your honesty, Zara."
He pulled out his data tablet and began scanning the body. The device emitted a soft blue light as it analyzed the crime scene, but the results were inconclusive. The energy signature around the wound was erratic, almost as if it had been tampered with.
"Who found him?" Kael asked.
"A street vendor," Zara replied. "She's over there." She pointed to a nervous-looking woman standing near one of the drones.
Kael nodded and approached the woman. She was in her mid-thirties, with a weathered face that spoke of hard years in the lower districts. Her hands fidgeted with the hem of her coat as she watched him approach.
"You're the one who found the body?" Kael asked, his tone gentle but firm.
The woman nodded. "I-I was setting up my stall when I saw him lying there. At first, I thought he was just another drunk, but then I saw... the hole." She shuddered, her eyes darting toward the corpse.
"Did you see anyone else around?" Kael pressed.
"No, it was too early. Most people don't come out until the sun's up."
Kael's brow furrowed. "Did you hear anything unusual? Voices, footsteps, maybe even a hum or a crackle?"
The woman hesitated, then nodded. "There was a sound. Like... like metal grinding against metal. And then a flash of red light. It came from the alley over there." She pointed to a narrow passageway between two crumbling buildings.
Kael followed her gaze, his instincts prickling. "Thank you. Stay close to Officer Dren. She'll take your statement."
He turned and made his way toward the alley, his hand resting on the grip of his pulse revolver. The alley was dark, its walls covered in graffiti that pulsed faintly with bioluminescent paint. The air was thick with the stench of decay, but Kael ignored it, his focus razor-sharp.
At the far end of the alley, he found what he was looking for-a faint scorch mark on the ground, surrounded by shards of blackened glass.
"A portal," Kael muttered.
He crouched beside the mark, brushing his fingers against the edge of the burn. The residue was still warm, which meant whoever had opened the portal hadn't gone far. But portal magic required immense power, and only a handful of people in Erythra Prime had the resources to pull it off.
Before he could examine the scene further, a flicker of movement caught his eye. Kael spun around, his revolver drawn, but the alley was empty.
"Show yourself," he called out, his voice echoing off the walls.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was a woman, her silhouette outlined by the faint glow of a nearby holo-sign. She was tall and lean, with piercing green eyes and short silver hair that seemed to shimmer in the dim light.
"Detective Ardent," she said, her voice smooth and confident. "We finally meet."
Kael didn't lower his weapon. "You have me at a disadvantage. Who are you?"
The woman smiled. "My name is Nyssa Vahn. Let's just say I have a vested interest in your investigation."
"Is that so?" Kael replied, his tone laced with skepticism. "And what interest would that be?"
Nyssa took a step closer, her hands raised in a gesture of peace. "The man who was killed-he was carrying something important. Something that doesn't belong in this world."
Kael's grip on his revolver tightened. "You mean a Nexus Shard."
Nyssa nodded. "If that shard falls into the wrong hands, Erythra Prime won't survive what comes next."
Kael studied her, his instincts telling him she was both dangerous and truthful. "Why should I trust you?"
"Because," Nyssa said, her expression turning serious, "I'm the only one who can help you find the rest of the shards before it's too late."
The weight of her words hung in the air, and for the first time in years, Kael felt the icy grip of fear in his chest. Whatever game he'd been dragged into, it was bigger than anything he'd faced before.
"Alright," Kael said, holstering his weapon. "You've got my attention. But if you're lying to me-"
"I'm not," Nyssa interrupted, her gaze unwavering. "Trust me, detective. You're going to need all the help you can get."
As the rain continued to fall, Kael knew one thing for certain-this was only the beginning.
In the sprawling, poverty-stricken slums of Adella City, four lives are intertwined by ambition, love, and deceit. Amara, a fiery and beautiful seamstress, dreams of escaping her bleak existence. Her heart is torn between two men: Kane, a street-smart hustler with dreams of grandeur, and Elric, a mysterious and wealthy businessman with secrets of his own. Kane's charm hides his ruthless ambition, and his love for Amara is overshadowed by his desperate need to climb the social ladder. Elric, while appearing to offer salvation, harbors a dark past that threatens to engulf them all. Amara's best friend, Selena, a seemingly loyal confidante, secretly plots to take what she believes Amara doesn't deserve: both the life and the man she yearns for. As their relationships deepen, betrayals begin to unravel, exposing lies, hidden motives, and devastating truths. Driven by their hunger for wealth and freedom, the characters form alliances, only to destroy each other when their desires collide. In the end, love becomes a weapon, trust a liability, and the price of ambition more than any of them can bear.
In the ancient kingdom of Yanxi, a once-prosperous empire crumbles under the weight of betrayal and dark magic. When the revered Empress is poisoned by her closest advisor, a deadly curse is unleashed, binding the throne to an eternal cycle of vengeance. Every ruler who dares to claim the throne is plagued by visions of the betrayed Empress and doomed to a tragic fate. Amid this chaos, a young knight with a tarnished past, a cunning witch seeking redemption, and a banished royal heir return to the palace, each driven by their own motives. Together, they uncover hidden truths about the curse, the betrayal that began it all, and a powerful artifact capable of rewriting destiny. As myth and reality blur, alliances form and shatter. In a world where trust is a rare commodity, who will rise above the web of lies and break the curse-or succumb to its wrath?
When a young inventor discovers a mysterious artifact capable of manipulating time, they inadvertently unravel the delicate balance of the past and future. With a shadowy guardian hunting them across eras, they must navigate treacherous medieval battles, futuristic utopias, and ancient secrets to restore the timeline before reality itself unravels. The story weaves a thrilling journey through time, exploring the consequences of tampering with destiny and the courage needed to rewrite the future.
The Queen's mysterious illness reveals an ancient curse tied to a forgotten oath. A loyal knight and an ambitious wizard uncover that the curse stems from a mythical betrayal buried in the annals of history. Their adventure spans magical landscapes, from towering castles to mystical labyrinths, as they battle forces of darkness and their own doubts to save the queen and restore the kingdom's honor.
In the whimsical and magical land of Eldoria, a mischievous fairy named Lila accidentally activates an ancient hourglass with the power to manipulate time. What starts as a humorous mishap turns into a dangerous adventure when she teams up with a grumpy wizard, Cedric, and a secretive witch, Astrid, to fix the chaos. As the trio navigates collapsing timelines, alternate realities, and betrayal, they uncover a deeper mystery: the hourglass is not just a relic but a prison for Chronas, a forgotten deity who can rewrite all of existence. In a race against time, they must decide whom to trust and how far they'll go to save their world-while finding humor and friendship in the chaos.
In a world where the threads of reality are woven by celestial Weavers, a young outcast discovers a forbidden shard of an ancient tapestry-one that tells of a mythical vale said to grant dominion over fate itself. Pursued by vengeful spirits, a rogue Weaver, and a dying god seeking redemption, the protagonist must unravel the secrets of the Eternal Vale before the fabric of existence frays into chaos. A tale of forbidden magic, divine rebellion, and the power of choices unfolds in this epic journey through forgotten realms and cosmic myths.
Marriage was a bed of thorns for Stella. She lived like an overworked and unhappy slave for six years in her matrimonial home. One day, her uncaring husband, Waylon said to her, "Ayla will be back soon. You have to move out tomorrow." "I want a divorce," responded Stella. She left without shedding a tear or trying to change Waylon's stone-cold heart. Days after their divorce, they met again. Stella was in the arms of another man. Waylon's blood boiled at the sight of her looking so happy. "So, you couldn't even wait a while before jumping into another man's arms?" he queried distastefully. "And who are you to question my decision? It's my life, so I call the shots. Stay out of my business!" Stella fired at him before turning to look at her new man with shiny eyes. Waylon immediately lost it.
Daisy is the illegitimate daughter of Mr. Hubert. His company went bankrupt, so he asked for help from Drkov's house. They agreed to help Mr. Hubert but with one condition. One of his two daughters must marry their nephew - Atlas Drkov. Atlas Drkov is a billionaire but he is disabled and uses a wheelchair. Yaretzi - daughter of Mr. Hubert's official wife - does not accept marrying a disabled man. She and her parents made a plan. They kidnapped Daisy's mother, threatened her, and forced her to marry Atlas. To save her mother, she accepted. However, after getting married, she fell in love with this man, and so did he. Difficulties start from here.
"You're my wife in name only, on paper only. My heart and love will never be yours." Edward made it clear to Daisy that she was nothing to him. They were both victims of family greed -- the marriage was arranged for them. Six years passed. She remained quiet, gaining a reputation in the army as a tough-as-nails colonel. When she walked into his life again, Edward fell in love with this woman, unlike any he had known. She surprised and delighted him. But will Daisy take him back? Can their son keep them together? Can the rift between them be healed? Pick this one up and find out!
For three years, Shane and Yvonne were wed, sharing heated nights, while his devotion clung to his ex. Yvonne strove to be a dutiful wife, yet their marriage felt hollow, built on desire rather than real warmth. All changed when she became pregnant, only for Shane to thrust her onto the operating table, warning, “Either you or the baby survives!” Broken by his cruelty, she vanished in grief and later returned, radiantly accomplished, leaving everyone awestruck. Haunted by remorse, Shane begged for another chance, but Yvonne only smiled and replied, “I’m sorry, men no longer interest me.”
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher. Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore... Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"