Shadow's Hand - Chapter 32: City Gate

Born into a lower middle class family, Ace Lander grew up being told there was a simple formula for success: get an education, graduate, and work hard to build a prosperous future. But that formula failed him during the final stretch of his senior year when a local gang targeted him, putting everything he had and was building towards at risk.Trapped and desperate, Ace felt his life spiraling out of control—until Ria Hart, a fellow classmate, discovering Ace's innate aptitude to become a Curse Master, a being capable of wielding curse energy and abilities but haunted by Curselings, took pity and introduced him to the secret world hidden beneath the mundane surface of their world, the World of Curses.Awakening as a Curse Master, Ace discovers he possesses an extraordinary innate curse tool: the Cursed Toybox. This tool comes with a unique class, Toymancer, granting Ace powers unlike any curse master the world has seen before. The Cursed Toybox allows him to animate and actualize toys, transforming them into powerful, living beings bound to his will.From overpowered heroes to legendary gods, any toy that falls into Ace's Cursed Toybox springs to life with powers beyond one's imagination but bound to him in eternal servitude. Armed with his Toy Summons, Ace must navigate the perilous world of curses, protect his loved ones, and reclaim control of his destiny before the gang—and the darkness of the hidden world—consume him entirely.[ — Status Screen —> Your Cursed Toybox is animating the doll 'Silicone Sailor Stella' as a toy summons…> Your Cursed Toybox has animated the doll 'Silicone Sailor Stella.'> Toy summon 'Silicone Sailor Stella' added to your toy space.> Toymancer can now summon Sailor Stella.Summoning Toy Summons...Name: StellaRace: Curse ToolClass: Toy summonTitle: Silicone SailorDurability: (100/100)Enchantment: 1-StarIndividuality: (100/100)Curse Energy Consumption: 5 units per hourSkills: Toy Actualization, Seamanship, Armed Security, Adult Gratification.Toy Actualization: Bring Toy Summons' original character design and skills to existence when they are animated based on their individuality stats.Addition Effect: Toy Physiology.Seamanship: Expertise in navigation, sailing, and ship handling alongside wilderness survival, first aid, and emergency procedures.Armed Security: Proficiency in the use of small arms and other naval weaponry with training in close quarters combat, surveillance, and counterintelligence.Adult Gratification: Creatively addressing emotional, mental, and physical needs of Toymancer till gratification.]“Cursed armies, Curselings, and Curse slaves are nothing—I've got a Toy legion of overpowered action figures and unrealistically beautiful silicone goddess.”~ToymancerJoin the saga of the Toymancer's rise to become the Strongest Curse Master.

Sa Bina was on her way to write her SAT when she suddenly finds herself in a strange world. She is sent to be the old emperor’s concubine, but on their wedding night, the emperor gets murdered by no one other than his own son and the heir! To survive, Bina makes a deal with beautiful but deadly Lucretius and her life in this dangerous kingdom begins.

When she was eighteen, she was forced to take her sister's place and married him, who was disabled in both legs and impotent therefore.Despite all this, she has accompanied him through the darkest period of his life.However, two years of marriage and companionship still couldn't compare to the return of her sister.In order to treat her sister's illness, he even cruelly forced her onto the operating table, disregarding her pregnancy.His cold-bloodedness and ruthlessness left her heartbroken. After leaving the weak and sickly second child with him, she disappeared with the other two children.It wasn't until he completely lost her that he realized he had already fallen deeply in love with her.......Five years later, she returned with mini versions of their child.Looking at the adorable child who seemed like a spitting image of his son, his face turned pale.“Why do you look exactly the same?”The little one replied, “Biologically, only identical twins look exactly the same.”“?...”Did she give birth to twins?He angrily cornered her against the wall and asked, “So, you had twins back then?”She chuckled awkwardly, “If I say it was triplets, would you kill me?”

For ten years, Ethan Carter was cursed.No matter which club he coached, he never won a single match. The world called him “The Cursed Coach.” Fans ridiculed him. Players disrespected him. The media destroyed him.But on one fateful night, his Bundesliga team—the weakest in the league—was leading 1-0 against a footballing giant.Ninety minutes. One last chance. The biggest upset of the season.The final whistle blew.Victory.His first-ever win. The curse was broken.And then… his heart stopped.When he opened his eyes, he wasn’t in Germany anymore.He was in a run-down office with peeling wallpaper and a broken desk. His hands were thinner. His face was different.A small nameplate sat in front of him:Jake Wilson – Head Coach, Bradford FC (Fifth-Tier League)Before he could even process what had happened, a glowing screen appeared before his eyes.[Ding! The Coaching System Has Activated!]Now, armed with a system that grants real-time tactical analysis, scouting reports, player growth insights, and legendary tactics, Ethan—now Jake—has a second chance.From a forgotten, unknown club to the top of world football—can he use the system to become the greatest coach in history?He was once the most mocked coach in the world.Now, he will become unstoppable.Because this time… he refuses to lose.DisclaimerThe Coaching System is a work of fiction. All characters, teams, events, and organizations depicted in this story are purely fictional or used fictitiously. While the novel is inspired by real-world football mechanics, tactics, and leagues, it does not represent any real-life football clubs, managers, or players.