In the city of Harcardia, where technology and innovation reign supreme, the thirst for power had become an all-consuming force. Powerful families, driven by their ambition, were willing to go to great lengths to gain the upper hand. This unrelenting pursuit of power led Andrei, a brilliant and promising genius, to venture into the unknown. Andrei's journey took him deep into the dark forest, where ancient ruins held secrets and mysteries waiting to be uncovered. As he explored the remnants of a long-lost civilization, he stumbled upon a mysterious technology that had been hidden for centuries. The discovery was nothing short of extraordinary, and at its core lay the key to unlocking the secrets of Erebus. Below the ancient technology, a bold inscription in gold letters read: _EREBUS_. The name echoed with an otherworldly power, and Andrei couldn't help but feel that he had uncovered something momentous. As news of the discovery spread, other forces began to take notice. Powerful families, rival treasure hunters, and mysterious organizations all set their sights on Erebus. The fate of Harcardia hung in the balance, and Andrei found himself at the center of a maelstrom. Will Andrei be able to unlock the secrets of Erebus, or will the technology fall into the wrong hands? Will the powerful families of Harcardia be able to claim Erebus for themselves, or will a new force in form of the original keepers of Erebus emerge to challenge their dominance? Dive into this heart-pumping adventure as the secrets behind Erebus are uncovered, and the fate of Harcardia hangs in the balance.
Harcardia, a metropolis of unparalleled innovation, was ruled by a genius among geniuses. This enigmatic leader had risen to power through a groundbreaking discovery, showcasing the city's emphasis on knowledge and technological advancement.
Every four years, Harcardia's ruler was chosen through a rigorous competition among the most brilliant minds from the city's four most influential families. These families were renowned for their expertise in various fields:
*The Scott Family*; The wealthiest and most powerful family, feared for their ruthlessness and combat prowess.
*The Sullivan Family*; The second-richest family, celebrated for their exceptional weapon manufacturing.
*The Quinn Family*; The third-richest family, esteemed for their groundbreaking medicine and herb production.
*The Smith Family*; The fourth-richest family, admired for their remarkable intelligence and ingenuity.
The four geniuses representing their respective families were:
*Andrei Scott*; The Scott family's chosen representative, known for his exceptional combat skills and strategic mind.
*Kai Sullivan*; The Sullivan family's representative, renowned for his innovative approach to weapon design and manufacturing.
*Magnus Quinn*; The Quinn family's representative, celebrated for his groundbreaking research in medicine and herbology.
*Orion Smith*; The Smith family's representative, admired for his exceptional intelligence, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
The competition's primary criterion was protection, as Harcardia's wealth and fame had made it a target for theft and sabotage from neighboring cities. The genius who could provide the most effective solution to this challenge would be chosen as the new ruler of Harcardia.
With the regime of the current ruler coming to an end in six months, the pressure was mounting on the competing geniuses. Each of them was determined to go the extra mile to prepare for the upcoming event. Andrei Scott, the representative of the Scott family, decided to venture into the unknown, to the south side of Harcardia, where the infamous Dark Forest lay.
The Dark Forest was once home to Luxville, a prosperous city known as the "City of Light." Luxville was said to be the keeper of an ancient treasure, which had been the source of its prosperity. The treasure, rumored to have been in existence for ages, was said to possess unimaginable power.
However, the prosperity of Luxville came to an abrupt end when neighboring cities, fueled by greed and ambition, launched a brutal attack on the city. The once-glamorous city was left in ruins, with no survivors recorded. The treasure, which was the primary target of the attack, was never found.
The cities involved in the attack began to suspect each other of taking the treasure, but it was later confirmed that the treasure was never found. The Dark Forest, once a symbol of prosperity and light, was now shrouded in mystery and darkness.
Andrei Scott, determined to find the ancient treasure, was willing to risk everything to achieve his goal. He was aware of the dangers that lay within the Dark Forest, but he was convinced that the treasure was the key to unlocking the secrets of Luxville and gaining the upper hand in the upcoming competition.
With a deep breath, Andrei stepped into the unknown, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The fate of Harcardia and the future of the Scott family hung in the balance, and Andrei was determined to emerge victorious.
Sean Marvin, a charming college professor, leads a double life. Unbeknownst to his students, he is actually Diego Sanchez, the son of a powerful mafia leader, Christano Sanchez. Annabelle, a beautiful and intelligent student, captures Sean's heart. However, she too has secrets. Her real name is Kira Rossi, and she is the daughter of Abel Rossi, the leader of a rival gang murdered by Diego. As Sean and Annabelle's relationship blossoms, the web of deceit surrounding them threatens to destroy their love. Annabelle is driven by a desire for revenge against her father's killer, unaware that the man she loves is the same person she has sworn to destroy. As the truth begins to unravel, Annabelle is faced with an impossible decision: choose her love for Sean over her quest for revenge, or risk losing him forever. Will their love be strong enough to overcome the secrets and lies that have defined their relationship?
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
A man like Travis Sinclair wants nothing more than a woman who matches his sexual prowess and is used to getting everything he wants. A cold-hearted billionaire ,he lives by one rule - no love, no commitment. Ayanna Davies isn't looking for a relationship. She's focused on her work and the financial security it brings. As a high end escort, her client is full of filthy rich men who are willing to pay handsomely for her services. But when Travis Sinclair becomes one of her clients, she begins twice about mixing work with pleasure. Not knowing that he is an old acquaintance whom she despises.
June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!
In the previous life, Maggie Johnson was so cowardly, gullible and stupid that she was coaxed by her fiance and stepsister and then broke her legs and lost everything including her fortune, love and even life. However, she was so lucky that she was reborn in the year before everything happened. Since her life restarted, how could she repeat a previous tragedy? Therefore, in this life, she took the opportunity to improve herself and take revenge on the ones who had ever insulted her. Facing the people who had humiliated her previously, she became smart and experienced to break their frames and tricks that had caused her to hurt in the previous life. Finally, no one could stop her pace to amaze the world any more.
Iris grew from an orphaned child to the adopted daughter of the Stewart family at age ten, finding warmth in her nominal uncle Vincent's kindness. Seven years later, she became his secret lover. When Vincent's engagement was announced, gossip spread about the notorious playboy CEO finally settling down. But only Iris knew the extent of his cold, two-faced nature. Iris fell for Vincent and, through tears, begged, "Marry me," only to be met with his frosty refusal. Defeated, she accepted a lawyer's proposal, sparking public excitement. Then, on her wedding day, Vincent pleaded desperately, "Don't marry him…"
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."