I woke up as the Villainous Empress - Chapter 20

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.

Thalion’s life as a marine biologist was modest in wealth but rich in joy and fulfillment. The arrival of the system sent everyone on Earth into a tutorial while merging it with four other planets. Not everything was bad, though. The system granted people magic and even ways to defy time itself. For now, everyone struggles to survive the tutorial, which has become more of a slaughter trial than a learning experience.If you like stories with Shapeshifters and Bloodmages. Check this out!!! A post-apocalyptic LitRPG series inspired by The Primal Hunter, Defiance of the Fall, and Elden Ring.Release Schedule:Five chapters a week. (Wordcount between 2,000 and 3,000)Also, this novel is posted on Royal Road and Patreon with Patreon being up to 60 chapters ahead of the Royal Road release.What to expect:-Multi-POV Storytelling but mostly main character-Adaptive Magic System – The magic evolves based on the wielder, making every spellcaster’s abilities truly unique.-No harem-Entities Beyond Humanity-Expansive Worldbuilding

Li Xiaofei, thrust 500 years into the future, finds himself as a young orphaned man in a harsh, post-apocalyptic world. Raised by a woman only slightly older than himself in the unforgiving slums, he quickly learns that survival requires both strength and cunning.In a world ravaged by alien star beasts, where gangs rule the streets and political factions vie for control, chaos is the order of the day. Amidst this turmoil, Li Xiaofei must carve out his own destiny. Armed with the mysterious Moonlight Treasure Box, he embarks on a perilous journey to make a name for himself and protect the ones he loves.Will Li Xiaofei rise above the chaos to bring peace to his world, or will he be consumed by the darkness that surrounds him?Official BlurbThe star beasts invaded, and Earth’s civilization collapsed. A young man, wielding the artifact Moonlight Treasure Box, drew upon the legacy of three thousand martial arts techniques from various worlds. He protected humanity, won the hearts of beautiful women, slew star beasts, suppressed myriad races, ruled the universe, and commanded the heavens. In the vast cosmos, he was invincible!

When the night came, there was a twittering sound in his ears, and the monster in the shadows began to move restlessly. Jason’s hungry stomach began to roar, and he couldn’t help swallow his saliva. Hunger was the best spur.