Astral Pet Store (WN) - Chapter 345 - All-out Sprint!

It is an era of artificial superintelligences, interstellar travel, gene medicine, and virtual reality worlds. Far into Earth’s future, 15-year-old Gu Ding is a student of Cerulean Military Academy by day, and tavern waiter by night. His ambition: Become the space pirate with the highest bounty offered by the Universal Federation Government. With the help of Neptune, a neonate super-intelligence, Gu Ding finds himself thrust into a galaxy of shadowy organizations, political underdealings, and otherworldly forces that lie beyond human comprehension…

The most popular game worldwide is Ancient Arena Online, a high-octane PvP fantasy game where teams fight for supremacy in mythical arenas. Millions of fans watch livestreams, bet on matches, and follow their favorite players like celebrities. The game’s competitive scene is so fierce that professional teams are treated like esports royalty.At the heart of it all is Kai Ashford, one of the top players and captain of the pro team Phoenix Edge. With lightning-fast reflexes and strategic brilliance, Kai leads his team to countless victories. But success breeds jealousy. Sabotaged by a teammate he thought was loyal, Kai is not only kicked off his team, but also humiliated in front of millions of fans. With his reputation shattered and confidence at rock bottom, Kai retreats from the public eye.However, Kai's competitive spirit is not easily extinguished. He stumbles upon a group of amateur players—a ragtag bunch who show raw potential but lack the finesse needed to win at the highest levels. Their quirky personalities clash with his no-nonsense attitude, but something about their passion reminds him of why he started gaming in the first place. Deciding to put his past behind him, Kai agrees to train them into a professional team.Along the way, Kai builds unexpected connections with his new teammates, including romantic entanglements with a fiery mage, an eccentric hacker, and a mysterious assassin player, all while juggling his personal feelings and growing attraction for multiple women. As his new team rises through the ranks, they gain attention from fans and sponsors, putting them back on the radar of the professional scene.But Kai’s past doesn’t stay buried for long. His former teammates—now rivals—plot to sabotage him once again, while jealous contenders within the gaming world aim to tear him down. However, Kai's return to the spotlight will be on his terms this time. With a darker, more calculating approach, he plans to not only dominate the game but also to get sweet revenge on those who betrayed him.

This novel is also known as Lady Is a Dragon

Five years ago, she left an egg and said, “This is the son I gave birth to you. When he grows up, it’s my return date.” He thought she was joking, but the son broke out of the egg a few months later. She looks like a baby, but there are two shiny, cute and cute little dragon horns on her head, but she has no return date.

*

Later, she disappeared for five years, and he also went crazy for five years, until Xiaolongzai brought back a woman, and he sobered up on the spot… But Xiaolongzai said: “Father, although you don’t have a wife, you will soon have a daughter-in-law. She saved me, and I want to make a promise to her!”

*

Since then, the father and son have fallen into open and secret struggles for favor.

“Your Excellency, Ms. Si’s medical skills have amazed the world, and big shots from all walks of life are fighting to spoil her. Your hero is useless to save the beauty…”

Mo Yinhe suddenly fell to the ground, coughing profusely: “Quick, call her to save me!”

“Your Excellency, the seven rivals who were tortured to the point of death by you are all Miss Si’s own brothers, and they want to take Miss Si back to inherit the throne…”

Mo Yinhe announced his abdication on the spot, and dragged his son to live on the street: “Son, from now on Dad can only follow you to your wife.”

The little dragon cub shook the shiny, cute little dragon horns on the top of his head: “Father, I have already contacted you with a nursing home, so that you can spend your old age safely~”

- Description from novelbuddy

As a human, I should be miles away from any large shifter event. Especially the annual Mate Hunt.A hunt for mates. Doesn't that sound barbaric? Yeah, it's as bad as it sounds.Several packs in the area gather as their newly minted adult wolves shift. Females are let into the woods first and are given an hour's head start, just before sundown. Then it's time for the males, ostensibly thrown out to hunt down the scent of their fated (or chosen) mates.It isn't an event for the faint of heart, and it's definitely no place for someone who can't shift. So why the fuck am I here, running my little human heart out, chased by what sounds like an entire pack of wolves? Great question. I don't know, either.But I'm here.Surrounded by howls fueled by the thrill of the hunt.Feet bleeding. Lungs freezing.I am so fucked.----R18. Dark themes, including but not limited to: Murder, attempted murder, a stack of dead bodies, betrayal, mild sociopathy, an ML who appears to bathe in red flags despite his favorite color being green, an unwarranted hatred of blueberry muffins, and pillow thievery.