Binding to Geniuses To Become Stronger - Chapter 98 - The Ten Great Sects’ Fight for the Champion

“Before the towers fell, before everything was consumed by darkness...”Leo Astralis whispered to himself while traversing through the rubble of the ancient structure.His body bore the scars of survival, bite marks that throbbed against the coarse, blood-stiffened fabric of his clothing.“..I wonder what the world was like.”After humanity failed to complete the Tower almost 700 years ago in time, it exploded, spreading monsters all over the word.Even the system, which blessed humans with power, had abandoned them. Or did it?[Run]A singular message urged Leo to escape, yet it was short lived as was he was caught like an animal in a trap.And just like an animal he lashed out until the very end, taking one of the captors to the grave with him.But as darkness closed in, the system spoke again.[One time Regression activated][Congratulations. You've activated the Heart of the System]

The world was cruel.....Especially for those who had lost their chances to shine.Aether was one of them....Aether, an individual born with a silver spoon, found himself discarded like a defective product. He had longed for love and tenderness, but what others showed him was nothing but pain.Even in the face of that pain, he smiled not because he wanted to, but because he had no other choice. Despite the heartbreak, he entered into a hell called society with a beautiful smile.....“Can't you do a single thing!!”“...”“You are fired!!!”“....W-Wh..”“I am sorry, Sir, but you need at least a bachelor's degree to enter our company!!”“....I-I am...”“I am sorry, Sir, but we cannot provide a loan for your ideas without reassurance!!”“....W-Why?”“I heard your father is a politician.... So, You know....”“...”After a long struggle, he finally got a job, but his brother's words rang in his ears:“Yeah, yeah… I know you got the job thanks to me, of course. So, don't ever contact me or even MY parents” his brother declared.“...Heh...”Just as he believed he had earned society's recognition, an unforeseen event claimed his pathetic, seemingly worthless life....“HONK!! HONK!!”Yet, amidst the cruelty of society, he defiantly cried,“I JUST WANT TO LIVE!!!!!”Witnessing his heartfelt cry and desire to live in the hellish place called society, he was granted a second chance.~Ding!~However, even in this new life, his situation remained unchanged. He continued to struggle not only to live and eat but also..... seduction.“HOW DARE YOU SEDUCE THE PRINCESS!!”“.....he..he... B-But I didn't seduce her!!”“HOW DARE YOU SEDUCE MY MOTHER!!”“...Hehe”“YOU HAVE SOME NERVE TO SEDUCE MY WIFE, DON'T YOU?”“HEHEHEHEHEE.....”

Starting from today, I am retired. But what should I be doing? I neither have the skills, nor the mind to do business, my only advantage is this pair of hands which have taken this world. What a headache…

Note: The usage of the term “retired” here doesn’t mean retiring from old age, work etc. It’s a specific term to refer to not involving oneself in the affairs of a certain society.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A DEVIL FALLS IN LOVE?***Alice was told that she was cursed.Perhaps she didn't need to be told. It was as clear as day.The only thing she wanted was MONEY. And she would do anything to get it.Even if it meant pretending to be her twin sister to change her fate.For one year.She didn't mind being a fake and marrying the Wildfire Heir. He would barely be around, she had been told.'He doesn't seem like much trouble,' she had also been told.'The third son, on the other hand, is crazy. Stay away from him.''As for the second son... avoid him at all costs.''Do not cross his path.'But she did. She crossed his path. In fact, she went right into his path herself.And as if that wasn't bad enough, the groom was changed at the last minute.To the Second Son!He was as hot as he was cold.A terrifyingly sexy man who looked like the man she always saw in her dreams. Was this all merely a coincidence?But that wasn't all. She hadn't expected pretending to be her sister to be this tough. First of all, she missed a very important detail: her sister was a Lawyer. She, on the other hand, was only familiar with “You have the right to remain silent...”Secondly, her sister was picky. She was vegetarian. She didn't drink. And... she was bullied? And just maybe... there was more to her sudden disappearance.Her life was about to get much more complicated. Especially with those scary blue eyes watching her every move like a predator on a mission.One year.Was the benefit worth it—worth putting her life on the line to deceive the Wildfires?She might die before the year was over.****“Women like powerful men, Boss. They like to feel powerless when they are with a man.”Hades had initially scoffed, but the idea had wormed its way into his mind.So when he saw her coming from the opposite direction, he decided to test this theory on her.Women liked to feel powerless?As soon as she saw him, her gaze sharpened, wondering why that madman was looking at her with a determined glint in his eyes. Should she run away?But he was already in front of her.“What are you—”He scoops Alice off the ground in one swift motion and drapes her over his shoulder like a sack of flour.All shocked eyes turned to the scene, but no one dared say a word, as they froze mid-air.“HADES!! YOU IMBECILE! PUT ME DOWN THIS INSTANT!” She thrashes wildly, kicking her legs and flailing her arms.Hades, however, remains unfazed, carrying her out of the place with a triumphant smirk.He didn't believe in love theories, but he had a feeling she would be falling in love with him after this.At the other end, three of his underling watched the scene.“I think Lady Boss is enjoying it. She looks… happy.” One noted.The other underling tried to stare intently at Alice's upside-down face. “I think so... I've never seen her look so bubbly around the boss.”The third underling was watching, slack-jawed. He facepalmed dramatically. This wasn't what he meant when he told them women liked to feel powerless.Meanwhile, Alice... (Still screaming)***EXCERPT II:“She is not answering your calls and told you to STOP calling her. Boss, I think your little bride might be mad at you.”He snorted. “You are so clueless.”“What's your insight, Boss?”“If she keeps rejecting my calls, it only means one thing...”They all leaned closer to hear his powerful insight.“She wants my physical presence,” he said with a smug look.One of them wanted to say he didn't think so, but he was too scared to say anything.“Should I go. Should I not go?” He contemplated with a bored look on his face.“GRANT HER WISH, BOSS!”The other clueless henchmen echoed passionately.He smirked. “If you say so,” and then he stood up. “Get the car.”****Pleasee add to your library.A bit of dark and fluffy romance.18+Comedic.Makes you sit in the edge as Alice tries her best to never get caught (quite futile)See you in the comment section!