Panda_Novel

In the mystical city of Yūrei-no-Machi, where destiny is dictated by enchanted playing cards, the legendary Kagura Mei reigns as the Scarlet Queen. Gifted with the power to alter fate with a single draw, Mei is both feared and worshiped, her decisions shaping the rise and fall of empires. But when the exiled prince Ryūji Takeda seeks her aid to reclaim his lost throne, Mei finds herself caught in a dangerous game against unseen forces who seek to control fate itself. As treachery weaves through the shadows and the boundary between destiny and free will blurs, Mei must wager everything—including her own heart—to uncover the truth behind the cursed deck that holds the world’s future.

Scarlet Queen Of Fate

Yue Rin lunged forward, golden flames surging along her spear's length. The temple ruins shook with the force of her charge, the ground beneath her feet splitting apart.

With unnatural grace, he sidestepped, avoiding the flaming spearhead by the width of a breath. Then, in a blur of motion, he twisted and struck back—his palm cutting through the air with terrifying speed.

Yue Rin barely managed to block, crossing her spear in front of her just as the impact sent her skidding backward, her feet carving deep trenches into the stone floor.

Her arms burned from the sheer force of the blow.

He's toying with me.

A deep chuckle echoed from behind the silver mask. "You're holding back."

Yue Rin's eyes flashed with fury. Holding back? She wasn't. She was fighting to survive.

She didn't respond. Instead, she attacked again, this time feinting left before spinning mid-air, aiming a downward strike at his exposed shoulder.

And caught her spear with two fingers.

For a single heartbeat, time seemed to stop.

An explosion of energy sent Yue Rin hurtling backward. She flipped mid-air, landing in a crouch just in time to see him still standing in the same place, completely untouched.

"This isn't enough," he said, voice calm, almost disappointed. "You'll never defeat Zhao at this level."

The mention of Minister Zhao sent a fresh wave of rage through her veins.

She had to be stronger.

Her grip on the spear tightened. The golden flames around her intensified, roaring like a living beast.

The masked man's golden eyes gleamed. "Now, that's better."

This time, he attacked first.

He moved like a shadow—one second he was standing, the next he was right in front of her, a black blade materializing in his grasp. Yue Rin barely managed to dodge as the blade sliced through the air, leaving a trail of dark energy in its wake.

She countered immediately, twisting around him and thrusting her spear at his ribs.

Sparks erupted as metal met metal.

The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the ruins, stone pillars collapsing around them.

They exchanged blows at blinding speed—spear and blade clashing in a deadly dance.

Each movement was precise, calculated, and devastating.

But the masked man was still faster.

With a flick of his wrist, his blade scraped across her shoulder, drawing a thin line of crimson.

Yue Rin ignored the pain.

Instead, she used the opening to slam her knee into his chest.

The impact sent him stumbling back—the first time he had been forced to retreat.

The man looked down at the dent in his coat. Then, slowly… he laughed.

"Good," he said, voice filled with amusement. "You're learning."

Yue Rin was breathing heavily, but her gaze remained fierce.

Blades of Fire and Shadow