• Action
• Adventure
• Drama
• Fantasy
• Harem
• Martial Arts
• Mature
• Romance
• Seinen
• Supernatural

• Virtual Reality MMORPG
• Real World Cyberpunk Future
• Game and Real World Intersect
• Artificial Intelligence (True AI vs. Programmed Constructs)
• Megacorporations
• Dystopian Society
• Post-WWIII Reconstruction

Protagonist:

• Mysterious Past
• Hidden Identity
• Adopted Protagonist
• Overpowered Protagonist
• Hard-Working Protagonist
• Cares Deeply for Loved Ones
• Devoted Protector
• Ruthless When Necessary
• Master Strategist
• Charismatic Leader
• Double Life (Real World vs. Game World)

Romantic Subplots:

• Strong Romantic Bond
• Loyal Love Interests
• Protective Protagonist
• Terminal Illness Love Interest
• Beautiful and Pure Female Lead
• Love Interest in Peril
• Slow-Burn Romance
• Character Dynamics & Party
• Powerful Allies
• Strong Female Leads
• Beastkin Companion
• Princess-Type Companion
• Noblewoman Companion
• Healer/Support-Type Ally
• Assassin-Type Ally
• Subordinates with Unique Abilities
• Team Synergy and Role Specialization
• Gameplay Elements
• Skill Leveling
• Equipment Leveling
• Unique Class System
• Character Stats and Builds
• EXP Boosters and Multipliers
• Epic Weapons with Growth Potential
• Life-Saving Tech (like MELSS)
• Player Housing / Customization
• PvP and PvE Systems
• Boss Raids and World Bosses
• Guilds and Faction Warfare
• Conflict and Antagonists
• Tragic Backstories
• Secret Organizations
• Corporate Espionage
• Government Conspiracies
• World-Changing Technologies
• War Between Nations (via VR Competitions)
• AI Manipulation
• Game Exploits and Hacks
• High-Level Bosses
• Betrayals and Scheming
• Revenge Subplots
• Face-Slapping Moments
• Fantasy/Sci-Fi Fusion
• Magic and Technology Blend
• Bio-Augmentation and Genetic Modification
• Fantasy Classes in Sci-Fi World
• High-Tech Magic Equipment
• Legendary Creatures (Dragons, Phoenixes, Giants)
• Artificial World Creation
• Myth-Inspired Powers and Lore
• Dimensional Merging (Real vs. Game World)

Other Themes:

• Social Stratification
• Loss and Redemption
• Ethics of AI
• Determined Protagonist
• Saving the Girl
• Secrets of the Past
• Hidden Power Within
• Resistance Against Fate
• “Man Becomes God” Theme
• Endgame is Godhood

Because the area surrounding Suncrest Mountain contained level 30 and 40 monsters, Adam decided it was the perfect place to grind his level.

Adam glared at the current enemy he was fighting against. It walked on two triple-jointed legs. The large claws on its feet dug into the ground with each step it took. Leathery skin covered every inch of its muscular body, which reminded him of pictures he’d once seen of a dinosaur when he was really young. This creature had large, yellow eyes, a reptilian muzzle, and frills around its neck. It was also about two times taller than him.

Titania had already cast [scan] to show him its stats.

Name: Crestodon

Description: This reptilian creature is a monster that has survived since before the creation of the races of light. It’s incredibly durable and exceedingly violent. Approach with caution.

Class: None

Lvl: 32

Health: 150,000/150,000

MP: 1,200/1,200

Physical Attack: +800

Constitution: +700

Dexterity: +500

Intelligence: +10

Speed: +50

Skills:

Claw: Crestodons have sharp claws that can rend through flesh, muscle, and bone

Deals Physical Attack + 5% chance of causing the bleed status effect

MP Cost: 50

Cooldown time: 0 seconds

Head Bash: When the Crestodon lowers its body, it will charge forward and slam head first into its enemies

Deals Physical Attack + Stun

MP Cost: 120

Cooldown time: 5 seconds

This enemy had some pretty impressive stats, and since its level was so much higher than his, he would definitely gain a lot of experience points from defeating it. He would gain even more than normal since he was grinding on his own once again.

The [crestodon] scraped its left foot against the ground. Adam spun the spear around in his hands, eyes narrowed as he shifted from one foot to the other, moving as though he had eight legs instead of two. Anyone watching him would have probably said he looked like a spider. This made his movements more erratic and unpredictable, which would be useful for dodging. His enemy was fast, but that was only when it moved linearly. He’d discovered early on that its ability to turn around was limited.

He had already activated [Blood Sacrifice]. In the background, Titania was singing [Song of Vigor] to increase his attack power. Kureha was also waiting right next to her, prepared to fire off an attack as needed.

With a roar, the [crestodon] raced over with thunderous stomps that left deep imprints in the ground. Adam timed his dodge and moved out of the way, thrusting out his spear at the same time, impaling the passing enemy deep in its left flank. He activated [thrust] twice in quick succession. Thanks to [Blood Sacrifice], he did not have to worry about the skill’s cooldown time.

-36,432; -36,432!

Two large numbers floated over the [crestodon’s] head. His current Physical Attack power right now was +2,530, but that was tripled when he used [Blood Sacrifice], which was then tripled again and stacked when Titania sang [Song of Vigor]. His unique skill and Titania’s buffing magic stacked on top of each other to deal truly massive damage.

“Yip!”

The moment the [crestodon] moved past Adam, Kureha raised her second tail, which sparked with electricity and released a blue bolt of lightning. This was [Thunder Bolt]. It slammed into the [crestodon] like a real bolt of lightning and lit the enemy up. If this was a cartoon, Adam was certain he would have been able to see the enemy’s skeleton.

-7,920!

The moment Kureha finished attacking, Adam rushed in and swung at the creature with one of his newer skills. It was called [Energy Thrust]. It was an attack that ignored an enemy’s defense to deal critical damage, which right now meant dealing 150% of the damage he normally did.

-34,155!

The [crestodon] still had some health left, so Adam spun around and swung his spear once more. [Slash] activated as he tore into the creature’s side. His muscles strained with the very real sensation of tearing through flesh, though no blood emerged, and then it was over. His spear emerged from the monster’s hide and a large number floated over its head.

-36,432!

With one more [thrust] for good measure, the amount of damage Adam dealt exceeded the amount of health the [crestodon] possessed. The enemy released a final croak like a whimper, then stumbled forward and slammed into the ground, tumbling across it for several meters.

Ding!

[Congratulations! You have defeated a [crestodon]! [Crestodon] has dropped the items [Durability Ring], [Monster Bone], and 40,000 gold coins! +300,000 experience points!]

Ding!

[Congratulations! You have leveled up! You are now at level 16! +1,125 HP! +20 MP! +5 SP!]

Ding!

[Congratulations! Titania has leveled up! She is now at level 15! +200 HP! +3,900 MP! +10 SP!]

Ding!

[Congratulations! Kureha has leveled up! She is now at level 15! +200 HP! +2,000 MP! +10 SP!]

“Finally,” Adam murmured as he reached into his pouch and downed a [medium-grade magic potion]. His MP had dropped a lot from all the skills he used. “I feel like I’ve been grinding for hours to reach the next level.”

“You’ve only been grinding for maybe an hour—two at most,” Titania muttered as she landed on his shoulder. “Though I will admit it is very difficult to level up, you still have no right to complain. No one else I know can take on enemies more than 15 levels above them and come out on top. Thanks to that, you’ve leveled up much more quickly than even some of the most powerful—oh?”

“What? What is it?” asked Adam.

“It looks like your spear is evolving.” Titania pointed at the weapon in his hand.

Adam looked down at his spear to see glowing motes of light surrounding it. The motes became more numerous before they were sucked into the spear like it was a black hole, then the spear began changing. The rust disappeared, the blade grew longer and gained a more prominent shape, and the shaft became a shade of deep red instead of a dull brown. It now looked like something that could actually be used in combat instead of something that belonged in the bargain bin at Spears-R-Us.

Since it looked like his spear had gained a new level, Adam checked out his equipment along with his new level. He also allocated his new status points.

Name: Adam

Class: Seven Forms Spearman

Lvl: 16

SP: 0

AP: 1,700

Experience: 632‬‬/4,915,200‬‬‬

Reputation: 132,000

Strength: +500

Constitution: +225

Dexterity: +5

MP: +5

Speed: +10

Physical Attack: +2,600

Health: 4,475‬/4,475‬

Hit-rate: 50%

MP: 160/160

Movement: +50

Comprehension: +1

Defense: +4,500

Magic Defense: +1,125

Dodge-Rate: ???

Magic Attack: +25

Resistances:

Fire: 50%

Water: 50%

Earth: 50%
Wind: 50%
Darkness: 50%
Slashing: 50%

Skill List:

Skill name: Slash

skill where the player swings his or her sword and attacks the enemy!

Current lvl: 5 MAXED

Ability: Causes 150% damage to enemy if it hits

MP Cost: 1

Cooldown time: 0 seconds

Skill name: Thrust

Description: A basic skill where the player thrusts his or her sword at the enemy!

Current lvl: 5 MAXED

Ability: Causes 160% damage with a 5% chance at getting a critical hit

MP Cost: 5

Cooldown time: 1 second

Skill name: Blood Sacrifice

Description: By sacrificing 50% of your blood (HP), you have gained the ability to increase the damage you do

Current lvl: 5 MAXED

Ability: Causes x3 attack power increase for 60 seconds

Disregards skill cooldown times, allowing the user to attack with every skill

MP Cost: 20

Special limit: Drops HP by half

Cooldown time: 30 seconds

Skill name: Dance of Sakura Blossoms

Description: A skill only Adam can use

Attacks with numerous spear thrusts that eventually forms the shape of a sakura blossom

Current lvl: 8

AP needed to reach lvl 8: 128,000

Ability: Release a constant stream of attacks, does x3 damage increase for every hit, and resets when Adam misses an attack.

Hit-Rate: 80%

MP Cost: 100

Cooldown time: 15 seconds

Skill name: Energy Sweep

Description: The wielder of Seven Forms Spearman infuses his energy into a sweeping attack that releases a powerful attack that extends past his natural range.

Current level: 3

AP needed to reach level 4: 8,000

Ability: Attacks every enemy within five yards of the user. Does 140% damage

MP Cost: 50

Cooldown Time: 10 Seconds

Skill Name: Energy Thrust

Description: The wielder of the Seven Forms Spearman infuses his energy into a thrust that can ignore all defenses and armor.

Current level: 2

AP needed to reach level 3: 4,000

Ability: Ignores enemy’s defense and armor to deal critical damage. 170% damage dealt

MP Cost: 50

Cooldown Time: 10 Seconds

Equipment:

Item Name: Goddess of Creation Spear

Lvl: 10

Experience points needed to level up: 900,732‬/2,560,000‬

Item type: Spear

Grade: 5-Star

Use requirements: Can only be equipped by Adam. Cannot be thrown away, cannot be given away, and cannot be unequipped.

Description: The Goddess of Creation Spear was created eons ago by the Goddess of Creation and recently discovered by Adam. It has recognized Adam as its master and cannot be used by anyone else.

Abilities: Physical Attack+100; Strength+100

Special ability: Sentient Growth

Item Name: Dragon Bone Cuirass

Item Type: Armor

Grade: 2-Star

Use requirements: Can be equipped by Warriors level 10 and above.

Description: This chest plate was made from the bones of a powerful dragon. Not only does it look stylish, but it offers solid defensive abilities and some special stats.

Abilities: Defense+200; Constitution+100; 25% resistance to slashing, fire, earth, wind, and darkness damage

Ite4m Name: Dragon Bone Gauntlets
Item Type: Armor
Grade: 2-Star

Use requirements: Can be equipped by Warriors level 10 and above.

Description: These gauntlets are made from the bones of a powerful dragon. Not only are they stylish, but they offer solid defensive abilities and resistance to elemental damage.

Abilities: Defense+50; Constitution+10; 10% resistance to slashing, fire, earth, wind, and darkness damage

Item Name: Dragon Bone Greaves

Item Type: Armor

Grade: 2-Star

Use requirements: Can be equipped by Warriors level 10 and above.

Description: Greaves made from the bones of a powerful dragon. They are not only stylish; they also offer solid defense and resistance against elemental damage.

Abilities: Defense+75; Constitution+25; 15% resistance to slashing, fire, earth, wind, and darkness damage.

His Strength and Physical Attack stats had received a fairly significant boost. He also noticed that his spear’s name had changed from [Rusted Spear] to [Goddess of Creation Spear] and its class was listed as 5-Star instead of “???” now. He wondered what that meant. Did the increase in level cause it to change, or did it change because he now knew of the spear’s origins?

With a shake of his head, Adam dispelled those thoughts, opened his [Item Pouch], and looked at the new items he had gained.

Item Pouch:

Item Name: Durability Ring

Item Type: Accessory

Grade: 1-Star

Use Requirements: Can be equipped by anyone.

Description: An enchanted ring that adds to a person’s Defense and Magical Defense.

 Abilities: Magic Defense+10; Defense+10

Item Name: Monster Bone

Item Type: Material

Grade: 2-Star

Use requirements: Can only be used by the Craftsmen and Blacksmith class.

Description: This item can be turned into a weapon or armor at the hands of a skilled blacksmith or crafter.

Abilities: Defense+50; Magic Defense+50

The [durability ring] wasn’t a very good item, so he would sell that. While the [monster bone] would be useful to a Blacksmith or Craftsman, Adam was neither, so of course, he’d be selling that too. He sighed. It looked like while his level was increasing nicely, he still wasn’t getting any good item drops. He wished he had the Luck stat like Susan.

“Now that we have leveled up, what should we do? Stay here and keep grinding or travel back to Solum?” asked Titania.

Adam knelt to pick up Kureha, holding the happy fox yokai in his arms as he looked at the fairy sitting on his shoulder. He considered staying here. He really wanted to raise his level even more. However, after thinking about it, he shook his head.

“It’s almost time for Fayte, Susan, and Lilith to meet up with us. We should head back to Solum.”

“Very well,” Titania agreed easily enough.

Adam mounted the horse he had used to reach the valley near the Sunset Mountain Range and cracked the reigns to get it moving. Riding in Age of Gods was a lot like riding in the real world, but much easier. The horse obeyed all of his commands without question. That didn’t always happen in the real world, especially for people who had no experience with horseback riding. The only anomaly was the first horse he rode, but Titania took care of that problematic mare for him.

Two days had passed since Lilith gained her new hidden class and snuck into his bedroom; three weeks had passed since the game was first released. He wouldn’t say anything had changed. In fact, on the outside, nothing seemed to have changed. Lilith didn’t treat him any differently now than she always had. In public, she pretended she didn’t know him, but whenever they were alone, she still called him “Master,” a title he had never been comfortable with. She hadn’t appeared before him again like she had that night. He felt like she was waiting for him to make the first move.

While Lilith hadn’t changed—at least, on the outside—Adam felt like the entire dynamic of their relationship was different, or maybe it was just him. Maybe he had changed. He wouldn’t deny that he found himself watching Lilith more than he used to. It reminded him of… back then, back when he was still the leader of Lucifer’s assassins.

Sometimes when he was lying in bed, he would remember what happened between him and Lilith when he was younger, the times when he lost himself to lust. He couldn’t recall how many times he had explored her body. She was the first—and so far, the only—person he had ever slept with.

Back then, Adam was only using Lilith to satisfy his lust and to keep himself from going insane in a world that threatened to tear his sanity asunder. After they escaped, he had dropped her and everyone else to find Lexi, only to discover that she had gone missing. Then, when Adam was about to give up on everything, concluding that Lexi was dead, Aris had discovered him and given him salvation, which only further separated him from Lilith.

He believed part of the reason he stayed away from Lilith for so long was that he felt guilty. Lilith had completely given herself to him, but he had not treated her right, had not given any of himself back. The guilt he felt after realizing this was what made him tell her that he was no longer her master and that she was free to live however she saw fit.

And now she was telling him that she wanted was to give herself to him? How could he respond to that when he had already given himself to another?

To distract himself from these thoughts, Adam opened Kureha’s stats and checked them over. He added the SP she gained to her Intelligence stat. Everything looked pretty good. As a magic-using class, she had a lot of useful skills. He was particularly interested in her AOE skills, which would be of great help during large-scale PvP battles. If he’d had Kureha back when those idiots from the Rising Phoenix Alliance attacked him, they would have been killed within a few seconds flat.

Just as Adam was about halfway to Solum, he heard ringing from his player chat function. His friend’s list had increased from one to three, so he needed to check to see who was calling him.

It was Fayte.

“Fayte? What’s up? Are the others here yet?” he asked.

“Never mind that, Adam! You need to log off right now!” Fayte shouted at him. There was an urgency in her voice that he couldn’t ignore. It set off warning bells in his mind.

He furrowed his brow. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“It’s Aris. She’s woken up,” Fayte announced, leaving him stunned.

***

Adam did not even make it to Solum before logging out of Age of Gods. He shot off the bed like a bullet, ran out of his room, and raced down the hall. The stupid lock that needed a retina scan couldn’t work fast enough. He tapped his foot impatiently, waiting for the soft “beep” that let him know the door was unlocked. It slid open and he rushed inside.

He looked at the cryobed.

He froze.

He couldn’t breathe.

The cryobed that Aris had been sleeping in was open, and Aris was sitting up, wide awake and smiling weakly at him. Fayte was sitting by her side, but at this moment, he only had eyes for the girl inside the cryobed.

Skin like freshly fallen snow. Doe-like brown eyes that were warm and innocent. Brown hair that fell and surrounded her face, which contained a youthful innocent that left him breathless. She had a small, cute nose, and her pink lips were so kissable that it sometimes took all of Adam’s self-control to resist claiming them. Words like “pretty” and “beautiful” failed to do Aris any real justice. In Adam’s eyes, she was the most enchanting woman in the entire world.

She was also currently naked.

“Aris…”

“Adam.” Aris’s eyes glistened with tears that she refused to shed as she stared into his already watering eyes. “Are you just going to stand there all day, or are you going to come over here and give me a kiss?”

Those words made whatever restraints had been holding him back shatter. A tearing sound echoed within his mind as he surged over to the table. Fayte pushed her chair back in surprise as he moved past her and pulled Aris into a tight hug. He sought her lips with his own and kissed her with all the emotions his body contained, emotions he couldn’t possibly hold in without exploding.

He’d never felt this relieved. He felt like he might start crying.

Her lips were cold from being stuck in stasis for so long, but he didn’t care. This was perfect. He could warm those lips right up.

Aris released a startled gasp from the intensity of his kiss. She seemed unable to keep up as he kissed her like a man possessed. Yet she didn’t let that stop her from trying. Arms wove around his neck, weak and shaking, but still something he could sense, an action that had presence. Those delicate arms lightly rested on his shoulders like she didn’t quite have the strength to fully hug him.

Only after Adam had kissed Aris until she was breathless did he release her lips and hold her close, letting her head rest against his chest as he engulfed her in his arms. She seemed so small and fragile right now. She had been like that ever since contracting Mortems Disease, but he felt like she was even smaller now than she had been before. Was this the result of being in stasis for so long, or had it just been such a long time that hugging her seemed unfamiliar to him?

“I’m so glad you woke up,” Adam whispered. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“Me too.” Aris sighed and took several deep breaths, snuggling deeper into his embrace. “It only seemed like a second to me, but I’m still glad I woke up. I can’t stand the thought of leaving your side for so long.”

A soft noise alerted Adam to Fayte getting up from her chair and leaving the room. He felt a burst of gratitude toward her. She was easily one of the most thoughtful people he had ever met. Adam wanted to find some way to thank her, which was why he made a promise to himself.

He would help her win the bet she made against Levon no matter the cost. He wouldn’t stop until he had thoroughly crushed every obstacle in her way.

“I have so much to tell you,” Adam said.

“Hee-hee. I’ll bet. What kind of things happened while I was asleep?”

Adam lifted Aris out of the cryobed and sat down on the chair that Fayte had vacated. He placed her on his lap. She was naked. At the moment, however, Adam was so relieved by her awakening that he couldn’t even feel aroused. He relished in the feeling of holding this woman in his arms. It was a feeling he had missed for an entire month.

While they sat together completely embracing each other, Adam told Aris everything he could think of. He told her about how he began playing Age of Gods, what happened in the Village of Beginnings, his meeting with the Spider Queen, and how he had formed a party with Fayte, Susan, Lilith, Titania, and Kureha. He didn’t know how long he talked for. It felt like he’d been talking for hours. By the time he finished, his throat was sore.

“It sounds like you’ve been through a lot.” Aris paused. He couldn’t see her face because she was pressed against his chest, but he could well imagine the way it was adorably scrunched up like she was pouting. “I wish I could have been with you when all this happened.”

“It’s fine. You’re with me now. That’s what matters.”

“Hee-hee. That’s true. Now that I’m awake, I can enter Age of Gods and play with you and everyone else.”

Adam began stroking Aris’s hair as he spoke to her. “I think you’re going to like everyone. Fayte is an incredible woman. She’s very kind and compassionate, but she has a will of steel. You won’t find anyone more determined than her. Susan is shy and quiet, but she’s a wonderful girl. You’ll definitely like her. Once you leave the Village of Beginnings and join up with us, I can also introduce you to Titania and Kureha. I know for a fact that you’ll like Kureha. She’s the most adorable fox you’ve ever seen.”

“She does sound very cute.” Aris paused for a moment. “What about Lilith?”

Aris’s question made Adam freeze. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to answer her, but that thinking about Lilith made him remember both the times he had used her to satiate his own lust and that moment in his bedroom just last week.

“Adam?”

“Lilith is… she’s very quiet,” he began in a soft voice. “She never talks much and it’s sometimes hard to tell what she is thinking. Her quiet demeanor makes her seem cold, but she’s actually very kind and strong. She’s always watching out for the people around her and putting their needs before her own.”

Adam wondered if maybe he was saying too much. The words were spilling from his mouth before he could close it. He wanted to stop, but the more he tried to keep his mouth shut, the more he found himself extolling Lilith’s virtues.

“She’s an incredible fighter and perhaps one of the most capable people I know. She’s beautiful enough to make a man’s blood boil, but she can also freeze your blood with just a look. Her ice-cold eyes are enough to scare the pants off regular men.”

“They all sound like wonderful people.” If Aris recognized the tone he used when he spoke of Lilith, she didn’t say anything. Lifting her head from his chest, she looked into his eyes, her gaze warm, soft, and so loving he thought he’d melt. “I would very much like to meet them.”

Adam calmed his racing heart and smiled back as he stroked her cheek. “You will. From now on, you’ll be able to spend time with me and everyone else. You’ll be able to make more friends and do more things. You can enjoy life.” He paused. “Once we get you checked at the hospital. While I trust what Fayte said about this machine, I still want to have you examined by Dr. Sofocor. Is it okay if I schedule an appointment for tomorrow?”

Aris nodded once. “Of course. I would like to have confirmation that my Mortems Disease is gone too.”

Now that Adam had run dry of topics to discuss, he stood up with Aris still in his arms and carried her outside. She was still weak. Even if the Mortems Disease was gone, her body had atrophied badly thanks to it, and she could no longer move under her own power. Adam was already planning a rehabilitation program to get her walking again.

Because she was naked, the first thing Adam did after leaving the room was dress her in a set of pajamas—cute yellow shorts and a spaghetti strap shirt. The light yellow color, like sunflowers, complimented her snow-white skin. After Aris complained about her feet feeling cold, Adam also slid some wool socks up her beautiful legs to cover her small feet. The smile on her face as she wiggled her toes told him he made the right choice.

When he emerged from the hallway and into the living room, he saw Fayte wearing her usual jeans and turtleneck shirt, sitting on the couch and watching television. It wasn’t the news. She appeared to be watching old cartoons from the early 2000s. This particular cartoon was one that originated from Japan. There were a few channels that still played them like the Nostalgia Network.

She smiled when they entered. “I’m happy you woke up, Aris. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Adam look this happy when he’s around me.”

There was something about the way she spoke that sounded off to Adam, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Then again, he was so happy that Aris was awake again that he couldn’t think of much else. His heart felt like it was floating on a cloud.

“I’m sure that’s not true,” Aris said with a gentle look at Fayte. “When Adam was telling me about what he’s been doing since I was put to sleep, more than half of what he said was about you and what a great person you are. He talked for at least an hour about how you two played old-school console games and the loser had to make dinner. Hee-hee. I don’t know what you did, but you must be really incredible to have made such a strong impression on him.”

“Th-thank you very much…”

It wasn’t much as far as compliments went, but Fayte’s cheeks still turned a light shade of red. The fetching color enhanced her pure white skin and beautiful golden hair.

As someone born from the aristocracy, Fayte Dairing was a woman whose beauty was as obvious as two plus two equals four. Her blonde hair, reminiscent of threads of gold, haloed a regal face with high cheekbones, a small nose, and full, red lips. The turtleneck sweater and jeans that she wore conformed perfectly to her well-proportioned figure. While Aris was very petite, Fayte had a body that put bikini models to shame.

Adam glanced at the clock and saw that it was already 10:30 AM, which meant more than two hours had passed since Aris woke up. He’d been speaking nonstop for two whole hours. He didn’t think he had ever talked that much in a single sitting.

“I just have a great deal of respect for Fayte is all,” Adam said as he sat down on the couch next to Fayte. Of course, he had not let Aris go. She was right on his lap, and she’d probably remain there until it was time for him to make lunch.

“Is that really all it is?” asked Fayte with a winning smile. “You haven’t fallen for my charms?”

“I have always believed you were a very charming woman,” Adam admitted honestly. “But I have Aris.”

“I suppose that is true,” Fayte said, and once again there was that odd tone in her voice that Adam felt he should recognize but couldn’t quite place. She also had a strange look in her eyes that didn’t match her smile. “I thought this the first time I saw you two together, but you do look like the ideal couple.”

“Hee-hee. Thank you.” Aris wore the happiest smile he’d seen from her in a very long time, though said smile quickly turned sly. “But I think you might look better next to Adam than me.”

“You’re too kind,” Fayte said diplomatically. “By the way, I let Susan and Lilith know that Aris woke up. I told them you probably won’t enter Age of Gods for the rest of today and maybe even tomorrow.”

Adam’s lips trembled a little as he stared at Fayte with gratitude suffusing his heart. Perhaps she sensed his feelings because Fayte looked away, unable to maintain eye contact. She looked embarrassed. Even the tips of her ears were red now, which he thought was adorable. The contrast between her mature figure and innocent expression created a contradiction that he found appealing.

“Thank you,” Adam said softly.

“You’re welcome,” Fayte replied just as softly.

Aris did not say anything, but the thoughtful look on her face made Adam aware that he should probably not stare at Fayte so intently. He didn’t want his lover getting jealous or feeling left out.

Because Adam wanted to spend the entire day with Aris, he did not log on to Age of Gods even once. He spent most of that time sitting on the couch and talking to Aris and Fayte. He did leave the two women for a moment to make them lunch, but then he came right back. The three of them also spent a lot of time playing console games. Aris was the worst among the three of them and always lost, but she didn’t seem to care at all. Her smile was infectious and her laughter was the most soul-soothing sound Adam had ever heard.

Later that night, after Adam had bathed Aris, combed her hair, and dressed her in pajamas, the two of them lay in bed, cuddling under the blankets. Aris was resting her head on his chest as he stroked her arm. Her modest breasts were pressing into him. Maybe it was because of how long he had been without her, but Adam found that even though he was impossibly content, it was harder for him to control his base instincts.

He wanted to devour her.

Aris was able to pick up on this. “Adam? When do you plan on taking my virginity like you promised?”

Her words caused the heat in his loins to flare up. She had to know what she was doing to him. Aris had always been aware ever since she promised to marry him that he wanted her. Perhaps she had known about his feelings even before then.

“When you have gotten better,” he said after mastering his hormones. “First, we need to do the checkup with Dr. Sofocor to make sure your Mortems Disease is really gone. Then we need to begin your rehabilitation. Right now, your muscles have atrophied a lot. I’ve done what I can to keep them from degrading too much, but that’s not enough.”

“Then… when do you think I will be well enough for it?” asked Aris.

Adam scratched his head. He tried to estimate how long it would take Aris to heal, but he didn’t know. There was no precedent for this. No one else had ever survived having Mortems Disease, much less been cured of it.

“I can’t give you an estimated time, but I’ll sleep with you once you can walk for an entire hour without exhausting yourself and straining your muscles.”

“In that case, I’ll work really hard to get better as fast as I can so you can keep your promise to me,” Aris said in a determined voice. Adam wasn’t sure what he could say to that, so he said nothing, allowing Aris to continue. “Adam?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m not tired right now. Can we keep kissing?”

Those words caused him to smile. “We most certainly can.”

Adam spent the next several hours lying on the bed, kissing Aris until they both eventually fell asleep.

Step-by-Step Guide to Sideload EPUB Files Purchased from Shopify onto Kindle

Amazon now supports EPUB files on Kindle, but you need to send them through Send to Kindle or convert them. Follow these steps to get your EPUB books on your Kindle.

Method 1: Send to Kindle (Recommended)

Amazon now allows you to send EPUB files directly to your Kindle via email or the Send to Kindle app.

Step 1: Find Your Kindle Email Address

Go to Amazon → Manage Your Content & Devices (Link).

Click the Devices tab.

Select your Kindle device and note the "Send-to-Kindle Email" (e.g., yourname@kindle.com).

Step 2: Send EPUB to Kindle via Email

Open your email client (Gmail, Outlook, etc.).

Compose a new email to your Send-to-Kindle Email.

Attach the EPUB file you purchased.

Send the email. Amazon will convert it and deliver it to your Kindle.

Alternative: Use the "Send to Kindle" App

Download the Send to Kindle App (PC, Mac).

Drag and drop the EPUB file into the app.

Select your Kindle and send it.

Method 2: USB Transfer (For Advanced Users)

This method requires converting the EPUB to Kindle’s MOBI or AZW3 format.

Step 1: Convert EPUB to MOBI or AZW3

Download Calibre (Link).

Open Calibre and add your EPUB file.

Click Convert books → Choose MOBI or AZW3 as the output format.

Click OK to convert.

Step 2: Transfer to Kindle via USB

Connect your Kindle to your PC/Mac using a USB cable.

Open the Kindle folder in File Explorer (Windows) / Finder (Mac).

Drag and drop the converted file into the Documents folder.

Eject your Kindle, and your book will appear in your library.

Bonus: Use a Third-Party App

Apps like Send to Kindle for Android/iOS or Readwise Reader can also sync EPUBs to Kindle.

Now, enjoy your book on Kindle! 📖🔥