Evolution begins with an ant colony - Chapter 5: Grinding In The Forest

A conversation with a handsome stranger leaves Ariane chained in a cellar with a strange affliction. She soon discovers that the darkness of the nineteenth century’s Deep South hides many dangers. Mages, wolf shifters and the humans who hunt them play a risky game where to stumble is to die, all under the amused gaze of the apex predators of the supernatural world: vampires.

It is never healthy to attract the gaze of the aristocracy of the night. It takes much to survive in this merciless world, but Ariane will not let that deter her. The southern belle has a bite, and she is willing to learn and to grow in this hostile new world. She will use whatever means necessary to reclaim her freedom, be it guile, charm, or those intriguing new instincts that make blood so delectable.

This is a story of vampires as I believe they should be, with their strengths and weaknesses, with their remnants of humanity and the beast inside. Updates every Friday. Mind the tags.

Cover by Antti Hakosaari: https://www.artstation.com/haco

Special thanks to Svensonsen for getting me started, as well as Omi Nya, Hesketh, Rhaegar, Yaksher, Selkie and Raven for proofreading my stuff. Thanks to my patrons and you dear readers, for the support. I could not do it without you.

Journey is on Amazon, both in ebooks and audio. here is a link to the first one:

https://www.royalroad.com/amazon/B08DK6G8Y8

The story probably exists in your local marketplace as well of I can tempt you.

~•No Escape•~“Are you running away from me, my sweet girl” spoke a voice in the hallway that made her stop in her tracks. The hallway had turned dark with only the wall lamps that burned brightly casting the shadow of the man on the floor as he slowly emerged from the other end.“What are you doing here, your majesty,” She said and bowed immediately as she saw him approach her with slow but steady steps.“You haven't answered me, sweet” The man said with a sweet smile that made her wary and he heard the way her heart skipped a beat. He stood before her and used his index finger to raise her chin. He tilted his head as he gazed into her green eyes that looked back at him with fear.He took a step forward closing the distance between them and his eyes narrowed when she took a step back, but that didn't stop him from cornering her.“Did you think you can escape from me?” He continued to question and she didn't miss the mockery behind his words.“I…I” she felt her words tied to her tongue because of the man's daunting aura. She felt him trace her forehead with his finger down to her jaw. He continued moving his hand down to her neck and to the top of her swell and her thudding heart hitched when his hand continued to stay there.“Did you think you can escape from me?” He bent towards her as he spoke. His breath fell on her neck which sent a jolt that traveled down her body.“I told you, you're tied to me and me to you”_______________________Perdita Kartar was a winsome yet strange young lady. She had an appealing beauty with her green eyes that invoked and impelled anyone who gazed into them.She had fooled her villagers so she could live and protect herself and her remaining family from the night creatures and also humans.But what was bizarre of all, was that Perdita had a secret she shared with no one.She had lived in the village since she was little, and over the years, she had been discreet with each move she made. Unfortunately, things didn't go as she planned.Despite her cautious decorum and fight to stay out of sight, a pair of glacial red eyes falls on her, which followed and refused to leave her out of sight.

To survive, the unfortunate Gong Qiying, who became the lord of the Sein Dungeon, had to make his dungeon extremely “hellish”:Doors that “cannot be opened from this side”,treasure chests “triggering teleport traps”,a three hundred and sixty-five mile journey from the starting point to the BOSS room with no place to rest,monster knights with great bows on either side of a narrow bridge,and sinister ambushes around corners.There's also unavoidable visits to poisonous pits and hidden paths...Additionally, well-known fighters like Isshin Ashina, the Furnace Knight, Rajang, and the Scourge Legion bring unexpected surprises!Various unique rewards such as the Flaming Sword, Murky Hand Scythe, Rapid Slash Longsword, Sacred Oath, and Flame Empowerment will make you too happy to contain your joy!Gong Qiying: The most important thing in my dungeon is to ensure adventurers have fun!

The world-class online game launched by the United Nations in 2020, Tianlin, is officially launched at the same time in all countries of the world.

Su Ye was born again from 2025 to 2020, and he kept all the main developments in the past five years.

What? You only have a black iron weapon, I have a bronze suit.
What? The gold level of your pet, sorry, my god is a pet!
What? A bottle of pharmacy 1 gold coin is too expensive, the boss gave me ten barrels!

Su Ye Li Zhi: Since you are born again, you have to be the strongest player!

- Description from uukanshu (translated)