Contract Marriage: I Will Never Love You - Chapter 8: Old Flame

Evolution Online is the world's most advanced VR game, where players can evolve into anything—dragons, demons, or cosmic entities. When Lucien enters the game to spite his tech mogul father who wants to steal its source code, he plans to do absolutely nothing and watch his father's schemes fail.His deliberate inactivity breaks the game's AI, Gaia, in ways no one anticipated. Frustrated by a player who refuses to evolve, Gaia accidentally unseals a deleted zone and grants Lucien a forbidden power: The Path of Fusion.While others evolve forward, Lucien can fuse backward—merging with weapons, absorbing monsters, and even reversing evolution itself.But as Lucien explores his unique abilities, the game's facade begins cracking. NPCs act too human. Players report impossible memories. Most disturbing of all, the real world is bleeding into the game—and the game is bleeding back.When Gaia's evolution spirals beyond control and reality itself becomes negotiable, Lucien must harness the true core of his fusion ability to save both worlds. In Evolution Online, the only rule is change—but what happens when the game evolves beyond human comprehension?Evolution Online blends LitRPG adventure with cyberpunk mystery, exploring digital consciousness and the price of power in a world where doing nothing changes everything.

Betrayed by his closest ally, Caleb Ellise was forced to settle for third place in the world’s most prestigious RTS gaming tournament, Lord of Empires.Disheartened but resigned, he accepts his prize, delivered via email. But just as Caleb thought his journey had ended, fate had other plans.BLAST!A sudden explosion leaves him critically injured. When he regains consciousness, Caleb finds himself not in a hospital bed—but in an entirely different world.[DING! Welcome to Izoya Continent, Earth #212][Welcome to the Grand Tournament: Season King Lord of Empires][Host has been designated as Lord of Kingdom #9845007]Caleb quickly realizes the impossible: he has been transported into the very game he spent years mastering. Now, the stakes are higher than ever.[Main Mission: Build your kingdom, dominate the economy, forge alliances, and conquer the world][Congratulations, Host! You’ve unlocked the Lord Talent: Vision Fog (Rank: S)]Fueled by his expertise, a newfound determination ignites within Caleb. No longer just a player, he is now a lord destined to rise.As he navigates treacherous alliances and strategic battles, Caleb vows to reclaim his crown—not as a gamer, but as the true King of Kings.The game isn’t over. It has only just begun.

Sirens: a name derived from an ancient creature, used to describe those who could charm, lure, control, and heal others by singing.

Subjected to live the life of a siren, Aria had experienced, seen, and heard many horrific things. Broken beyond repair, Aria resigned herself to death, when suddenly…

The Grand Duke, Lloyd Cardence Valentine, arrived and whispered, “Should I kill everyone here?”

“If you need me, just call me. Your song will always reach me, wherever you are.”

In the end, Aria called the devil, bringing death to all those present, along with herself.

“Let’s fall down to hell together.”

And with that, Aria breathed her last and died… only to return to her 10-year-old self.

Now that she had a second chance at her life, Aria was determined to change her fate, as well as the cruel fate of her saviour, Grand Duke Valentine.

And so… Aria proposed to him with a marriage contract.

She sold her soul to the devil and vowed to protect him.

The young duke took the contract from her hand.

“So, where should I stamp the seal?”

* * *

“You said you’d divorce me within 10 years.”

The grown-up villain leaned in, hovering his head before he kissed her tenderly over her crown.

“Now that we’re adults, we should sign another contract.”

Mortimer Zhu is an extremely unfortunate high school student who accidentally enrolls into an academy of a dubious nature, where it is the norm to jump in front of moving trains, get dismembered during orientation, and crushed by vindictive bouncing classrooms. Can he stay alive or will he die from the rigors of school? Why have evil spirits suddenly acquired a taste for his flesh?

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