The Villainess Reverses the Hourglass - Chapter 260 - Epilogue, Part IX

“It is the human heart that generates the infinite light, and it is also the human heart that creates the boundless darkness. The light and the darkness are forever intertwined in an eternal battle. This is the world in which we are attached to sentimentally and helplessly.”-Victor Hugo (Les Miserables)An investigation. Understand the criminal mind. Exploring feelings.“Do you know what the hardest part of a person’s life is?”“It is not the meeting, but the reunion after separation.”An enchanting and fox-like medical examiner that explodes at the slightest provocation X A young wolf pup, self-disciplined and reserved criminal investigator

[The citizens of planet #674589 has been given the opportunity to awaken.]With this abrupt message that appeared out of nowhere, the world as everyone knew it had ended.A series of apocalyptic level of natural disaster washed over the Earth, claiming numerous lives in the process.Every lifeform on earth that managed to survive the apocalyptic natural disaster was given immense power.Animals metamorphosed into terrifying beasts and various plants gained self-awareness, while the surviving humans gained powerful supernatural abilities.Leo, a young man finally left the orphanage, a place he'd called home for his entire 16 years of life. With his dreams of finally breaking free and experiencing adult life outside of the orphanage finally coming true, his world was turned upside down after receiving the message with the rest of the world.Freedom was no longer something given, it now had to be earned. This apocalyptic and ruined world was something that could take kill him in an instant.[Requirements met. First Seal Broken.][Innate skill awakened: Regeneration.]

What if your own father and his mistress were behind your mother’s death? What if you were about to be sold if to a scumbag?

Isabella was supposed to be sipping champagne at a luxury spa, not waking up in the middle of a forest. Worse, a SYSTEM had attached itself to her like some clingy ex, spouting nonsense about survival, quests, and—oh, hell no—manual labor.“System, I was NOT built for the wilderness! My ideal ‘roughing it’ experience involves a five-star hotel with bad WiFi!”Now, instead of lounging in silk robes, she’s being ordered to farm? To hunt?“A farming quest? You want me—a city girl—to grow food? System, I once killed a cactus by overwatering it. This is NOT my calling!”And don’t even get her started on the hygiene situation.“You want me to bathe in a cold river? Darling, I require warm water, scented oils, and an ambience! What do I look like—some barbarian?!”Unfortunately, the locals—big, muscular beastmen—don’t seem to understand the concept of self-care. The women? Neglecting their skin like it’s a crime to be radiant. The men? Walking hygiene disasters.“Ladies, if your man can smell you before he sees you, we have a problem.”“You see this? This is lotion. It exists so you don’t look like a dried-up leaf. Use it.”“A beard should be majestic, not tragic. Let me fix it.”And the beastmen? They don’t just stare at her like she’s an oddity. No, they hover. They smirk. They lean in too close, fangs flashing with amusement.“Why do you keep looking at me like that?” she huffed, crossing her arms.The panther grinned, his tail flicking. “Because you’re fascinating when you’re annoyed.”No, absolutely not. She was not here for this nonsense.“If you have time to stare, you have time to moisturize.”She didn’t ask to be here. She didn’t ask to be their savior. But if she has to suffer through this world, she’s making everyone around her suffer less—through skincare, style, and some serious attitude.“If I hear one more ‘We don’t season our food here,’ I’m launching a war.”“If you have time to gossip, you have time to do squats.”“You want to impress a woman? Start with not smelling like the battlefield.”Survival isn’t just about fighting monsters; it’s about looking good while doing it. So what if the System keeps throwing impossible quests her way?“What do you mean ‘you can’t skip quests’?! Since when?! Where is the skip button?! I demand a skip button!”But somewhere between dodging ridiculous quests and fixing these people’s tragic grooming habits, Isabella found herself in situations. Uncomfortable, heart-racing situations.Like being trapped against a tree by the red python, his red eyes half-lidded as he murmured, “You talk too much, little star. Should I silence you?”Like waking up with the lion lord’s fur-lined cloak draped over her shoulders, his deep voice gruff, “You shiver in your sleep. I’ll fix that.”Like the phoenix watching her every move, his burning gaze searing into her skin as he mused,“You cause chaos wherever you go, but I find that I don’t mind.”Oh, hell. No. She was not about to fall for four beastmen. She was too pretty for this much stress.“If you insult me again, I’ll make sure your soul needs a beauty upgrade.”“I refuse to be disrespected by anyone who dresses like an unwashed tree branch.”And yet, when a rival tribe came to challenge her, when danger lurked too close, those same beastmen stood beside her—smirking, taunting, fighting for her.“A beastman growled at me today. I growled back. He ran. I am the alpha now.”Isabella isn’t just surviving. She’s thriving. And this world better keep up.