The Dreamer's POV - Chapter 17: System Shop

Derek Carter never asked for a System, an apocalypse, or the pressure of being humanity’s so-called “last hope.”He was just trying to survive the daily struggles of being an orphan in Paleview City—dodging bullies, scraping together meals, and lying his way into school. Life was already hard enough.Then, one day, a blue screen pops into his vision:[Warning: The world is doomed. Try not to die.]Yeah, great. Just what he needed—cryptic doomsday messages and no instruction manual.Now, monsters are creeping into the city, reality is unraveling, and Damien’s “legendary” starting stats are barely above zero. The System promises him power, but there's just one tiny problem—he’s never won a fight in his life.Armed with sarcasm, questionable decision-making skills, and the sheer refusal to die, Damien is about to embark on the worst (and possibly last) adventure of his life. Because if the world really is ending… he’s at least going to make it someone else’s problem first.After all, heroes are overrated—survivors get to tell the story.

[Trigger Warning: This dark fantasy romance contains mature themes.]---BLURB:IN A WOLD OF FORBIDDEN LOVE AND HIDDEN TRUTHS, ONE WOMAN'S DESTINY WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING.Ovelia’s life is shattered when she is sacrificed by her family to secure peace between humans and werewolves. Bound to Ace, the future Alpha King, she enters a marriage built on duty, not love. But when Ace’s wolf chooses her as his mate, their fates become intertwined in ways neither could have predicted.As Ovelia navigates the treacherous world of werewolf royalty, she faces betrayal, kidnapping, and the lingering shadow of Ace’s past love. But the greatest danger lies within herself—a secret heritage that could destroy the fragile alliance between werewolves, witches, and elves. When Ovelia’s true identity is revealed, she must flee for her life, only to discover she carries a new hope for the future.With war looming and enemies closing in, Ovelia and Ace must confront their pasts and fight for a love that could unite their fractured world—or tear it apart forever.---

Iris Morris is by no means looking for any more drama in her life ( she has loads of it thanks to her mom). However, when Lucas Andrews pops up and ruins her interview, the drama she has been running away from unfolds in all the “wrong” ways, like him suddenly filling her small circle of influence. . .and her mind!For Lucas Andrews, nothing is as important to him as getting the Adder magazine to be number one on the bestsellers list worldwide. So when Iris comes to support the promise he made to his mother out of her sheer love for editing, he can't help but fall for hard for her, especially when a fake dating deal to ward off his possessive “fan girl” comes into play.

Manchester United, once a dominant force in world football, finds itself struggling under Erik ten Hag despite having the financial power to rebuild.Big-money transfers fail to restore the club’s glory, forcing Ten Hag to shift his focus to homegrown talent.Among the overlooked prospects in the U18 squad is Leo Calderon, a 17-year-old central midfielder buried deep in the pecking order.Lacking physicality and dismissed by teammates as weak, Leo endures constant ridicule from those who dominate with strength and athleticism.But during one ordinary training session, everything changes—Leo suddenly sees passing lanes no one else can, angles of play invisible to even the most talented prospects.Yet, there’s a problem. His vision surpasses his ability. The passes he attempts don’t connect, his technique unable to match his newfound awareness.Coaches dismiss his efforts as sloppy, and his struggles continue. But one unexpected observer—a visiting League One assistant coach—notices something different.He watches Leo’s movements, seeing potential where others see failure.As Leo fights to prove himself in an unforgiving system, the question lingers—can he refine his raw talent before the club moves on without him?