Rise of the Living Forge - Chapter 14: In a corner

While a certain young man hides in a certain Ruins City, wanting to become a tanky mage through passive farming.

Mages should focus on learning more spells and magic? There is no time to invest in body strengthening? Mages are defenseless when they run out of mana? None of these are a problem for Gurney and his Passive Farming System. Through the system, Gurney trains both his body and mind at the same time, he goes beyond the limits and logic of an ordinary mage. This is a mage who casts spells while tanking hits, his recovery speed surpasses even warriors and knights. This is the journey of a vigilant and careful mage who grows tankier and tankier.

…

With the rising waves of darkness, the steampunk steel ship sets sail on a journey and adventure.

Whales sink to the depths of the sea, sirens sing with beautiful voices, calling out to the Transcendent sailors who hunt for mermaids.

The mysterious Time Hunters who obey the ancient rules search for their prey.

He who bears the title of “Hero” carries the burden of fate as he steps on the road to write a new page of history.

Ancient “Sealed Ones” rush to break out of their imprisonment, wanting to create and release new “Supernatural Memetics”.

The combination of steam technology and supernatural powers bring forth the era of “Transcendent Genetic Warriors”.

Infant dragons who have just hatched watch as the Dragon Slayer digs out their mother’s heart from her body.

Calamity level lifeforms sharpen their blades, stepping into the stage of this extraordinary era.

The tides of the era surge and swirl, bringing along the mysterious fog of darkness…

The indescribable existence nurtures and grows…

Along with the stare of the Abyss…

Warning{Mature Content}Elaine has spent her life being the responsible one. The one who steps in when things are about to fall apart. So when her grandfather arranges a marriage for her younger cousin Ivy to Zane Whitmore a billionaire CEO with a dangerous reputation Elaine does what she has always done. She takes the burden on herself.What begins as a lie meant to protect Ivy quickly turns into a contract Elaine never meant to sign.Zane Whitmore is cold, controlled, and ruthless in both business and life. He doesn’t believe in love, only leverage. When he meets Elaine, he recognizes something he rarely encounters: a woman willing to stand her ground even when she’s afraid. Their agreement is simple. A marriage on paper. Mutual benefit. No emotions involved.As they are pulled deeper into each other’s lives, secrets begin to surface old betrayals, family conflicts, and a past that ties Zane to Elaine’s brother in ways no one is willing to talk about. The lines between obligation and desire blur, and what started as a sacrifice turns into something neither of them can control.In a world where power dictates everything and trust comes at a cost, Elaine must decide if she’s willing to gamble her heart on a man who could destroy her.A story of contract marriage, buried history, and a love born out of defiance rather than choice.(Mature content)Zane’s lips crush to mine, hungrily tasting my mouth and sucking my tongue into his. He moves lower, nipping at my neck, then my boobs, enveloping his lips around a pink nipple.I sigh in pleasure, my hands sliding into his hair and gripping hard as he bites down and then slips his mouth lower.And lower……..My eyes fly open as he shoves my dress up to my waist and pulls my panties to the side. Suddenly, his mouth dives between my thighs, and when I feel his tongue drag up my slit, it’s like an electrical shock and my eyes roll back behind my head.Holy! FUCK!!.

Talent.As a demon born into a prestigious family like the Tenebris, Cale lacked nothing, except talent.Talent, to surpass his twin sister, who was better than him in every way.Talent to earn the approval of their mother, the cold and ruthless Matriarch.It wasn’t mere rivalry; his very life depended on it.But, no matter how hard he trained or how low he stooped, using forbidden methods to grow stronger, he never succeeded. He couldn’t awaken his bloodline, nor defeat his sister in a single duel.“Just give up already. You’re only making it more painful for yourself,” she would say every time.He was pathetic, and he knew it.But giving up on life was never an option.“One more time... I’ll try it one more time.” That was how he always responded to her scorn.Was it ego? Or a desperate desire to prove everyone who waited eagerly for his downfall wrong?Cale didn’t know. But he always stood up again.No matter what they said, he refused to surrender.Not to his mother.Not to the world.Not even to his sister.If the world stood against him, then he would crush the world.-------------------------“Wow. That’s an incredible backstory for a villain.”I flipped through the worn pages of an old book, my only functional eye open wide.“But where did this come from? It wasn’t here before.”I’d read this romance fantasy novel back in my childhood, and as far as I remembered, Cale Tenebris never had a backstory.“Did I grab the wrong book?” I tilted the cover to check the title.[Curse of the Crown]It was the same one.“Did I skip this chapter before?... Whatever.” I shrugged, turning the page again as I slowly lost consciousness.And then I died.

This novel is also known as Endless Bloodstone / Infinite Bloodcore

In the dark night there is no light, save for the sound of war drums and rally cries. The young man listens carefully, it is his heartbeat and the flow of his own blood.

What hides in the darkness ahead? Is it man, god or… a monster?

There is no such thing as the best road. However, the journey beneath one’s feet is unbounded!

- Description from Novelupdates