MTL - Rich Devil - ~ stranger book friend

Elia is a poor university student until the night she’s taken to the world of the Anima—ruled by humans whose ancient hearts pulse with the blood of animals. There she’s forced into a battle to the death. But when Elia survives, and refuses to kill her final opponent, the King must either kill Elia himself, or take her as his mate.

Reth, the brutal King of the Beasts with the blood of lions, shocks everyone when he chooses the weak, human Elia to become his Queen. He promises her every comfort of his wealth and position—but he is clear: She will not warm his bed. He chose her to defeat those that were trying to corner him into blending his Leonine line with the Wolves.

Elia needs the help of the Anima to become stronger and rule them well. But the vengeful Wolves see only a weak human that brought them shame. As Elia and Reth grow closer, the wolves are determined to destroy her. Will Reth and Elia admit their feelings for each in time to fight for the Kingdom—and their lives—against the villainous wolf-tribe? Or will the wolves kill Elia and steal the throne?

[Mature content - no sexual violence]

*****

He stalked towards her, chin low so the shadow cast by his hard jaw cut across the thick fur collar of his vest. His hair had fallen over his eyes in the scuffle, so he peered at her through it like a lion in the grass. With each step, his graceful, rolling gait reminded her of a predator stalking its prey. Despite the forest floor littered in twigs and leaves, he didn’t make a sound.

“Wh-who are you?” Elia stammered, backing away, her hands up. He met her step for step until she came up hard against the tree behind her—and didn’t stop until he loomed over her, so broad his shoulders and chest made a wall in front of her. She could feel the heat rising off his skin in the cool, night air.

“I am the Leonine King.” His voice was a dark, husky gravel. Behind him a chorus of wheezes, howls, and chirps of agreement rose from the people watching. “And you are?”

“Elia,” she breathed.

“Elia,” he growled, leaning in closer, bringing with him the scent of pine and rain and the musk of something distinctly male. “I am Reth.” He said the name with a strange, guttural roll in his throat. “I am King of Beasts. I am Clan Leader, and I am Alpha of WildWood.” Several snarls rose from the crowds behind him then, but he ignored them.

Elia swallowed as he leaned in until the scruff on his jaw rasped her cheek. “I am the King,” he said, “And you will be my mate.”

The forest behind him erupted.

The hearse with the weird odor slowed to a stop before the entrance. The sound of pebbles could be heard bouncing on the ceiling. There were footsteps coming from the corridor, and there seemed to be someone sawing next door. The door knob to the room rattled slightly, and the faucet in the bathroom kept dripping even though it had been screwed shut. There was a rubber ball that rolled on its own underneath the bed. Wet footsteps started to surface one after another on the floor.
At 3 am, Chen Ge held a cleaver in his hand as he hid beside the room heater. The call he was trying to make was finally answered. “Landlord, is this what you meant by ‘the house can be a little crowded at night’‽”

- Description from Novelupdates

In his previous life, An Ji seemed to have the word “unlucky” written on his forehead.

He was born into nobility, but ended up living on the streets for ten years. He found a beta boyfriend, but the scumbag tricked him into cutting out his glands. He dedicated his life to the omega cause, but ended up dying without an intact corpse.

It wasn’t until later that he found out that everyone described people like him as “beautiful, strong, and tragic.” The difference was that the beautiful, strong, and tragic characters in stories all have happy endings, but he only got death.

An Ji: “WTF.”

Then he is reborn.

In this second life, An Ji expresses that he will only be beautiful and strong. As for tragic? f*ck that shit!

But can someone tell him why his previously polite fiancé suddenly changed personalities?

Star history states that Emperor Rongwu had a brutal nature and outstanding ability. He ruled with an iron fist and created a prosperous world that lasted for hundreds of years after the war.

Everyone thought that he was too focused on his career to spare any attention for love. Very few people knew that he was always thinking about his fiancée, the true love that he let get away because of his ridiculous notions of kindness.

The great, unmarried emperor ended his long and lonely life after choosing a successor for the throne.

When he opens his eyes again, Li Rong has returned to his youth.

The young puppy Li Rong believes that if you love someone, you must give that person freedom.

The old dog Li Rong says that is all nonsense. If you love someone, you must possess that person at all costs.

Much later on, An Ji rubs his sore waist and thinks that his new life is still tragic to some extent.

The young puppy and the old dog come in turns. Even the strongest omega wouldn’t be able to stand it… ORZ

- Description from Novelupdates

[Decisive killing! Invincible! No Madonna plot! 】

When a thunderbolt tore through the night and a blood moon descended, the world changed from then on, all beasts evolved, vegetation grew wildly, and wisdom was opened.

In just one night, the whole world fell into bloody chaos. The powerless human beings couldn’t stop the mutated beasts and the plants that started the evolution of Ganoderma lucidum, and countless human beings became their meals.

However, the people with the tattoos were horrified to find that the tattoos on their body surface also revived, giving them incomparably powerful power.

Gu Changqing travels back to the eve of the world’s mutation three years after the world’s mutation.

In his previous life, he was reduced to a low-level laborer because he had no tattoos on his body. Now he has traveled back and survived the troubled times. The first thing he did was to invite the world’s top tattoo masters to engrave the world’s top ten demon tattoos: Rahu, Qilin, White Tiger, Black Dragon, Death, Shura, God, Skeleton, Great Sage, Nezha!

Because he knew that engraving tattoos after the changes in the world would not awaken them and become powerful combat forces.

- Description from novelbuddy