Mark of the Fool - Chapter 5: The Coins and the Priests

Ethan Blackwood wasn’t used to being defied. As the CEO of a global empire, he crushed obstacles with a single glance. But when Lily Anderson stood before him, her chin lifted in quiet defiance, and something in him snapped. “Sign the contract,” he said, his voice like ice. “30 days. You’ll obey every command. After that, you’re free.”She hesitated, her fingers trembling as she gripped the pen. “And if I refuse?”His smirk was cold, but his eyes burned. “Then you’ll spend the rest of your life paying off your father’s debts. Your choice.”Trapped, Lily signed. But she vowed one thing: she wouldn’t let him break her.From the first day, their clash was electric. He demanded perfection; she gave him rebellion. “You think you can control me?” she spat, after he criticized her for being late.Ethan stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “I don’t just control you. Lily, I own you.”But as the days passed, the lines between them blurred. Late nights in his penthouse turned into whispered conversations. His cold demeanor cracked, revealing glimpses of a man haunted by his past. One night, after a heated argument, he pinned her against the wall, his breath hot against her ear. “Why do you fight me so much?”Her voice trembled. “Because I’m afraid if I stop, I’ll lose myself to you.”Their connection deepened, but danger loomed. Secrets from Ethan’s past resurfaced, threatening to destroy everything. When Lily discovered the truth behind his obsession with her, she confronted him. “Was I just a pawn in your game? A way to settle an old score?”His eyes darkened with pain. “You were never just a game, Lily. You’re the only thing that’s ever felt real.”As the final days of their contract approached, their bond was tested like never before. Enemies closed in, and trust hung by a thread. Could they overcome the shadows of their pasts, or would their love crumble under the weight of secrets and pride?

In the midst of a ruined forest, due to the result of the clash between peak powerhouses, a body of a man lay. He was known as the 'Evilest Villain', the worst man ever born in humanity.His body was full of wounds with a spear piercing his heart. However, even in his final moments, he was calm and collected, with his usual cold face.

The only thing on his mind was, “Forgive me, I couldn't keep my promise to you.”

He closed his eyes, ready to begin his eternal slumber in the darkness.

Suddenly, a blue light appeared, with ancient text that read, 'Do you want to turn back time, my child?'

He laughed and said yes.

| Fate Devourer System |

[Initializing......................24%]

[Authority: Deus Time Control (Rank ?!?) used]

[The Goddess of Time wishes you the best].

Fight. Heal. Survive.The Integration didn’t just change the Earthen Union—it tore it apart. Monsters, mayhem, and madness turned civilization into a battlefield.Yet, while the world crumbled under the weight of despair, David felt something unexpected: he felt at home.Even after being forced into the [Cleric] Class, David refused to yield. He adapted, turning his unwanted gifts into tools of both healing and destruction, forging himself into a battle-hardened healer unlike any before.

Burdened by the crushing debt of his parents, Lex never imagined a life beyond endless work and grief. But fate had other plans.One fateful day, an accident ends his mundane existence—only to thrust him into a world of fantasy. Reincarnated as a side character doomed to fail, Lex now inhabits the body of a so-called teacher—a fraud with no real skills, destined for disgrace.Standing at a crossroads, he faces a choice: follow the canon and flee from his inevitable downfall, or defy fate and carve his own path.Just as he considers running… a voice calls out.[Need some help?]Grasping the talent that his predecessor never realized he had, Adrian decided to defy his fate and become a true Runesmith.However, he never expected that once he would start on the path of becoming a Runesmith, he would start gaining so many connections.[Ding!][Cross-dimension group chat has been activated!][Hero of World Nebula: Old man, when can I get my sword done?][The untamed witch: When will you help me with my staff?][The obsessed one: Darling, when will you do me-I mean, when will you do something about my blades?]....what the heck is all this?°°°°°°°°°A/N:- Read the first few chapters, before deciding to drop it.English won't be perfect, but it will be readable.Additional tags: Cross-world group chat, possessive characters, sudden strength gain, overpowered MC, broken engagement.