The Desolate Era (Web Novel) - Book 6, Chapter 38 - Leaving Swallow Mountain

In 2030, humanity faced its first true collapse…not by war, but by the sudden invasion of Nightcrawlers, creatures emerging from darkness itself with the desire to devour sunlight at all cost for their evolution.But, they could not absorb it directly since it was as deadly to them as to a shadow under the noonday sun. They could only absorb the sunlight from lifeforms or through signing a nocturnal contract to possess their bodies, providing them with direct sunlight immunity.Within twelve hours, over four billion people perished as Earth was split between eternal night and day.Just as extinction loomed, Holy Light Pillars descended from the heavens, purging one thousand cities from Nightcrawlers and offering humanity sanctuary under their divine light.A century later, in the Heliodor Region, an innocent child found his world turned upside down after two mysterious nightcrawlers invaded his home, slaughtered his parents, and ripped his eyes out of their sockets, leaving him permanently connected to the Shadow Dimension, the home ground of Nightcrawlers.Was it just a random feeding session for them, a planned assassination, or it goes deeper than this?Follow Levi’s journey as he weaves between darkness and light, chasing the truth hidden in both.

Jiang Mian initially became famous in the entertainment circle with just one photo, in which the woman looked stunningly beautiful and unforgettable with a lazy, indulgent smile directed at the camera.Despite her beauty that captivated everyone, her acting skills were criticized, and the internet labeled her a “vase beauty.” Yet she didn’t care at all, “Is it my fault for being too beautiful?”#MyBeautySealsMyActingSkills#Since Jiang Mian entered the circle, she had been showered with endless resources, becoming so arrogant it made others jealous.Even her manager couldn't stand it anymore, “I say, ancestor, should I send you for a makeover, get you cleaned up?”Jiang Mian: “I don't want to.”Later, everyone unexpectedly saw Jiang Mian on the most popular variety show, and the internet sneered and questioned it.What shocked her was encountering her “missing husband.”During the recording: “Jiang Mian, you're 30 seconds late, you're penalized!”In private: “Wife, I was wrong, I'll kneel as punishment!”Latter, Jiang Mian gained countless fans from this show.North City's new CEO of Fu’s, Fu Sichen, had a sharp eye and acted decisively, creating a sensation in the entire financial sector as soon as he took office.One day, at an event, when Jiang Mian was asked about her ideal type, she didn't hesitate and said, “Definitely has to be manly! And if he has a sexy wheatish complexion, it would really hit the spot for me.”Fu Sichen: ?? Where did the wheatish complexion come from?After the event, Jiang Mian gave the man at home a fright, “Fu Sichen, you... why did you tan?”The man hung his head and looked at the woman in his arms, “I wanted to hit the spot in your heart.”—I love you, no turning back.

In a world where might was magic, it was a crime to be a noble and magicless. And for this crime, the punishment was death.I grew up frail, bullied by my older siblings, but I thought I could finally turn things around on my sixteenth birthday, when as a noble I was supposed to awaken my magical abilities. The awakening orb, however, turned grey—and condemned me a dud.My father, a duke, could not believe he had fathered such a pathetic specimen. Calling me cursed, he ordered my death and had me thrown into a raging river.I hit the water hard. For a moment I lost consciousness, certain I would never wake again.But some time later, I opened my eyes to the agony of drowning, my body battered by the current. In front of me floated a curious blue sheet of light.[Base Trait: Deathless Acquired][Condition met: You have experienced death.][You can sustain injury, drowning, burning, poisoning, and all forms of bodily destruction—but you will not die. Pain and damage will persist until fully healed.]Thus began my journey—gaining outrageous traits from the suffering that seemed determined to follow me wherever I went.

“Pretend to be my lover and join the social circle.”

Selena, the top star that had the entire world’s attention, was suddenly warped to Northern Duke’s land during an accident while filming. Kalcion, the Northern Duke that saved her from the infernal beasts, offers Selena a chance to go back home in return for collecting information in various social circles by pretending to be his lover. Selena quickly accepts Kalcion’s offer, but…

“Why in the world can’t you do this!?”
“Don’t you think that the answer to that should be obvious to you, the actress, not to me, the duke?”

There was a critical problem. The Northern Duke’s acting skills are horrible!

“…Let’s change the plan. I’ll seduce you instead.”

And thus the contractual relationship between the two started. Will Kalcion’s acting skill improve first, or will he start to have true feelings for Selena instead?