JACKAL AMONG SNAKES - Chapter 31: Machine Learning

[Webnovel Spirity Awards 2025 Entry]In a world of magic and machines, Blaine Lionheart had been proclaimed a once-in-a-lifetime genius since he was still just a child.Born to the Legendary Warrior who had earned himself the moniker of 'Supreme Sword', Blaine was seemingly destined for greatness from the moment he first opened his eyes.He awakened to his unique Mana Art at the age of eight and entered the Kingdom's Royal Guard at the age of twelve.However, despite all of this... There was one thing that the boy genius could never do.Protect the people he cared about.No matter how hard he tried... Everyone he cared about would slowly slip through his hands, with him powerless to save them.And now that he's being reassigned to be the princess's bodyguard... Blaine can only hope that history doesn't repeat itself.No... He wouldn't let it!

This is actually the story of a teenager who, after the devastating and spartan-like training of his crazy cool/Gong teammate, turned into a super amazing point guard that could blow up the skies even though he may seem low-key on the surface.

Also, Nie Chuan is Reese’s first love.

Nie Chuan: I’ve decided to promote you to becoming my best friend!

Reese: If I can be your best friend, it just means that you have no friends.

Nie Chuan: Hey! How could you say that! Do you know what it means to be my best friend?!

Reese: I’m sleeping.

Nie Chuan: It means that when I get married, my bride may not necessarily be her, but my groomsman must be…

Reese: The groom must be me.

Nie Chuan: What– you want to snatch my bride away?! You’re too inhumane!

Reese: Sleep.

- Description from Novelupdates

Sometimes dying isn’t even the worst part of your dayMark has been reincarnated into a dead town in a bog, one that has been recently destroyed and occupied by ravenous undead. They disappear every day and return again at night, mindless and hungry, hunting for any survivors. He’ll need to use cunning and subterfuge to avoid them, because since he was transported into the body of a child, he can’t level up. At least not yet.Bog Standard. It means “totally normal”, right? But for the small towns found in these bogs, there's no quick rescue and not much trade. Everything has to be made to last. To them, it means “excellent quality”. Mark will have to prove he's Bog Standard if he hopes to survive.This is an Isekai of excellent quality. It’s a progression fantasy set in a LitRPG world, rags to riches with an eventual OP main character. The pacing is slow-burn, incremental progression, sometimes slice-of-life, punctuated by moments of intense violence and possibly traumatic content.

“You are my mate…” Leland said with a hoarse voice. “Don't you know what I am doing?”

He looked at her with a twinkle in his eyes, and right then and there, Sophie thought she could understand him. She could feel his overflowing emotions. Was this what they meant by the mate bond?

She could feel so much desire engulfing Leland and she just knew what he wanted.

He wanted her. He wanted to ravage her body and mark her with his love bites, he wanted her to scream his name over, and over, and over again. He wanted to pound her and make love to her like there was no tomorrow.

The man climbed on the bed and kissed her again. He peppered her with kisses from her cheeks, to her lips, then he moved to her collarbone.

Soon, she was moaning softly because of the stimulation. The sounds that escape her lips sounded so sexy in his ears and turned him on so badly.

If he didn't have better self-control, Leland would have already ripped their clothes apart and immediately enter her. However, he held back and tried to stay gentle.

This was only their first night together as real husband and wife. Tonight, he would finally be able to give her so much pleasure that she would want him in her bed every night.

The sex they had the last time was an obligation. It was dry and he only did the bare minimum.

This time though… he would ravage her body and make love to her in ways that only his luna deserved. His stamina was top notch and he could satisfy her all night long.

___________________

BLURB:

The King, or the Alpha?

When she jumps over the academy walls to escape from her bullies, Sophie falls straight into the arms of Nicholas, the kingdom's crown prince with a sweet and sunny disposition. Sparks fly and love blossoms between the poor orphan and the prince.

But... suddenly, Leland, the dangerous new alpha of the most powerful werewolf pack in the kingdom claimed her to be his mate?! Sophie is torn between two men. One calls her his wife, the other claims her as his mate.

The prince is warm and sweet, his love is burning like the sun. The alpha is cold and overbearing, his love is as heavy as the mountain and as cold as the winter.

Which one will Sophie end up with when both sides wage war over blood, hatred, and revenge?

Leland will burn the entire kingdom just to get Sophie and avenge his race. On the other hand, the newly crowned king, Nicholas, strives to drive out the werewolves that the kingdom deemed as monsters... while keeping a dark secret within himself —

He is also a werewolf.