Ashes of the Elite - Chapter 20: Crowd Control

Ryuk’s life in the forsaken Grade E city was bleak, but it truly shattered when a Knull raid took his last family and left him for dead. On the brink of despair: [System Activation Complete.] [Congratulations, Host has awakened the Draconic Pets Evolution System!] [Welcome host, to the path of domination.] Thrust into Endearth, a shattered mirror of Earth teeming with mythical creatures—vampires, werewolves, cosmic gods—and the unstoppable Knulls, Ryuk sets out on a journey of relentless growth, vengeance, and discovery. But power comes with a price, and the dual nature of his gift could either save humanity or destroy everything. This is a story of evolution, redemption, and defiance. Join Ryuk as he rises from nothing, building unshakable bonds with allies and carving his path in a world where strength is the only currency.

Xue Xi is forced to fall in love at first sight with this dangerous man on their first meeting. With death being the only other option, she makes the first move:

Elaine Monroe never meant to fall in love with him. She never meant for her heart to betray her like this. But as she watches him stand beside another, hand resting on the waist of the woman he’s meant to be with, she wonders if she was always destined to be the outsider.“You knew,” she says, voice barely above a whisper. “You knew how I felt.”His jaw tightens, but he doesn’t deny it. He never does.“It wouldn’t have changed anything,” he finally says.She laughs bitterly. “I know.”Loving him was always impossible. He belonged to someone else. To his family’s expectations. To a future where Elaine had no place.“Forget whatever you think you feel,” he tells her, voice firm, but there’s something unspoken in his eyes—something that makes it hurt even more. “It will never happen.”And yet, his gaze lingers, just for a second too long.Then there’s her best friend—the one who stands beside her when the world turns its back. The one who sees her pain without asking.“You don’t have to do this to yourself,” he says, handing her his jacket on a cold night. “You deserve more than waiting for someone who will never be yours.”She wants to believe him. She wants to move forward. But some loves are impossible to forget. Some wounds never truly heal. And some desires, no matter how forbidden, refuse to die._____“loving him best decision i ever made” Elaine“you are my world”

The protagonist, Winnie (文尼), confesses his love to his childhood friend—the princess he’s been secretly in love with for years—but is brutally rejected in public. His heart shatters, he’s humiliated and ridiculed, and he collapses unconscious. When he wakes up, he vaguely remembers his past life’s memories and realizes he has transmigrated into the world of an otome game he played before. At first, he’s thrilled, thinking, “Nice! I must have been reincarnated as a villainous side character who disrupts the protagonist’s romance, right?” But then… surprise! He’s not just the villain—he’s the “Saintess”!