one last word by nikki grimes

Cast out by his own family as useless, Justin Lowe opens a supermarket in the apocalypse and staffs it entirely with S-rank anomalies. His monsters clock in, follow orders, and keep the shelves stocked while human survivors trade hexcoins for goods that shouldn't exist: prehistoric snacks, high-tech weapons, supplies from no known supply chain. Each transaction upgrades the store. Each upgrade unlocks something stranger. The anomalies are terrifying everywhere except inside Justin's shop, where they are, inexplicably, perfectly obedient. Dragged repeatedly into the power struggles and crises of the survivor world, he navigates each one with wit and nerve rather than force. In the end, it isn't a weapon or an army that defeats the cosmic evil bearing down on what's left of humanity. It's a commercial contract, and the man who signs it becomes the world's last savior.

Clare was the woman Axel begged and coaxed for—writing 99 love letters—before finally winning her hand in marriage. By their fifth year,however, Axel grew restless and began spending time with a young nurse. The girl, Emma, came from a poor family yet carried herself with quiet pride. When she firmly rejected the black card Axel offered,declaring she would never be anyone's kept woman, he became obsessed. Axel started appearing around Emma more and more,drawing the attention of all their friends, while briefly forgetting the wife he had once courted with 99 heartfelt letters. Clare neither cried nor argued. Instead, each time Axel broke her heart, she burned one of those letters. And when the last of the 99 was reduced to ashes, it would mark the day she left him for good.

Rene Morgan is the long-lost daughter of the world's top tycoon. Tragically, her parents lost their lives searching for her. Consequently, the task of finding her was passed on to her three brothers. The eldest brother is a financial tycoon, the second brother is a movie star, and the third brother is a top surgeon, both locally and internationally. On the day her brothers received news of her whereabouts and rushed to find her, Rene was nearly killed by a malicious classmate. In their attempt to save her, her brothers got into a severe accident: one lost his memory, another became mentally impaired, and the last fell into a vegetative state. As a result, Rene work various part-time jobs to support them. However, when her adoptive parents force her into marriage, her three brothers suddenly recover. From that moment, she reclaims her status as a wealthy heiress, teaching a harsh lesson to those who wronged her.

On my eighteenth birthday, Alpha called me up in front of the whole pack and told me to choose—one of his sons as my mate. Whichever I chose? He'd be the next Alpha. I didn't flinch. I picked Cayce, his eldest. The room went dead silent. Everyone knew I used to be stupidly in love with Kain, the younger one. I'd confessed at every pack dance. Took a silver dagger for him once. Cayce? Coldest, meanest wolf we had. Total menace. No one got close. But they didn't know the truth. In my last life, I was bonded to Kain. On the day of our Bonding Ceremony, he slept with Lena, my cousin. My mom lost it. Shipped Lena off to Duskwolf Pack to get bonded to their Beta. Kain? He blamed me. Paraded in she-wolves with Lena's same ice-blue eyes. When he found out I was carrying his pup, he made sure I saw him with every one of them. It was torture. When labor hit, he locked me in the dungeon. Blocked everyone out. My pup got crushed. I died hating him. Maybe the Moon Goddess felt sorry for me—she gave me a second shot. I came back. This time? I let Kain keep Lena. Didn't think he would ever regret it.

Liam Wayne is minding his own business when the apocalypse arrives and drops his entire residential complex, Greenhill, into a monster-infested forest with no warning and no exit. He awakens a survival system almost by accident, unlocks a point exchange store and the ability to merge spaces, and makes a choice that surprises even himself—he is not leaving anyone behind. He pulls together an unlikely team, a motorcycle queen, a firefighter built like a wall, a surprisingly lethal young girl, and more, exchanges system points for weapons and supplies, and turns a community of ordinary neighbors into something that can actually fight back. Seven days of relentless undead waves.Internal betrayals from the selfish and the desperate. And through it all, the quiet stubborn solidarity of people who decide that survival means nothing if they do it alone. Liam leads them through every wave, every threat, every knife in the back, and carves a path out of the wasteland for every last one of them.

Frank Collins is invincible inside the Starter Village but helpless outside. After escaping with a temporary buff, his high-level teammates misread his kindness as genius and clear all enemies for him. When a bully attacks his level-one character in public, the system binding to him finally delivers an Invincibility Trial Card at the last second.

Joe Holt, the fearsome legend of the mafia underworld in the past, has recently gotten released from prison after serving his sentence. He washes his hands of his sinful past and decides to become a law-abiding citizen so that he can spend the rest of his life with his wife, Lily Archer, in peace and quiet. He even finds himself a job as a delivery trucker in order to earn honest money.One day, Joe happens to come across an owner of a BMW, who's used to bullying others in his daily life. The owner wastes no time in jeering and humiliating Joe verbally.When Joe's old friends receive word of the incident, they hurry over in an attempt to back him up, but Joe merely waves a hand calmly and refuses their help. He intends to stick to his principles by not causing any chaos and conflicts.Joe is bent on severing all ties with the mafia underworld as well as his past. All he wants to do now is protect his family and live out his life in peace and stability.

Joe Holt, the fearsome legend of the mafia underworld in the past, has recently gotten released from prison after serving his sentence. He washes his hands of his sinful past and decides to become a law-abiding citizen so that he can spend the rest of his life with his wife, Lily Archer, in peace and quiet. He even finds himself a job as a delivery trucker in order to earn honest money.One day, Joe happens to come across an owner of a BMW, who's used to bullying others in his daily life. The owner wastes no time in jeering and humiliating Joe verbally.When Joe's old friends receive word of the incident, they hurry over in an attempt to back him up, but Joe merely waves a hand calmly and refuses their help. He intends to stick to his principles by not causing any chaos and conflicts.Joe is bent on severing all ties with the mafia underworld as well as his past. All he wants to do now is protect his family and live out his life in peace and stability.

In the 262nd year of the Dragova Era, melting polar glaciers and rising seas swallow countless nations. Ancient sea beasts awaken, invading human lands. On January 1 of year 263, the Rank-10 beasts strike humanity’s last territory, Taelsky. Led by General Alaric Thorne, the elite Dragova Squad fights bravely—but by March 12, they are all annihilated.

He is the supreme Grand Duke, a powerful leader with the world at his command. With his return to the South Valley, he has taken up the mantle of bodyguard to the gorgeous company President. Watch as he conjures miraculous wealth while stomping through all the nobodies that dare stand in his way. There's a new sheriff in town — let's see who gets the last laugh!

The Judge, holding the power over life and death, has always drawn much attention.Hemera Yates, the last Judge on earth, faced many trials. Eight years ago,near death among corpses, she was rescued by Frank Gates. Grateful, she vowed to forgive him 101 times and stayed by his side, even having his daughter.But her love was unreturned. When the chances ran out, her identity as the Judge was revealed.

Leo, the young heir of a powerful family, was framed by his first love and thrown into prison. After that, except for his aunt, his entire family died tragically in an "accident", and his legacy was seized by his ex-girlfriend, Jenny. While Leo was in prison, he mastered various skills, from antique collection to medical treatment. Invincible as Leo was after he was released, Leo protected his last family, dominated the city, and started his revenge...

The Judge, holding the power over life and death, has always drawn much attention.Hemera Yates, the last Judge on earth, faced many trials. Eight years ago,near death among corpses, she was rescued by Frank Gates. Grateful, she vowed to forgive him 101 times and stayed by his side, even having his daughter.But her love was unreturned. When the chances ran out, her identity as the Judge was revealed.

Clarissa Yowell once saved Julian Slater's life. In return, he promises that if he ever becomes emperor, he'll make her his empress. Now that he has finally ascended the throne,everyone is eager to know who the new empress will be. Clarissa is certain it's her—how could it not be? But in the end, she's the last to find out that the woman Julian chooses is his childhood sweetheart, Sophia Lynch.

While others survive by hiding, Evan Ryce survives by "collecting rent." In the last luxury air-conditioned apartment, he faces the chaos of his employees:Maya, an SSS zombie who zaps and dances, a security zombie saving crystal cores to marry his neighbor, and more SSS zombies running a moving and delivery biz with 100% reviews. When 30,000 survivors and his freeloading family show up, Evan declares: "Pay the crystal cores—or my zombies will deal with you!"

In his last life, Yael Summers wrote several songs for his eldest sister, making her a famous singer, but his brother Zayne took the credit. After being misunderstood by everyone, Yael died on a winter night. Unexpectedly, Yael was reborn and went back to five years ago. This time, he had already known the true colors of his family. So he decided to leave the family, sing those songs himself, and try to become a top singer.

In his last life, Yael Summers wrote several songs for his eldest sister, making her a famous singer, but his brother Zayne took the credit. After being misunderstood by everyone, Yael died on a winter night. Unexpectedly, Yael was reborn and went back to five years ago. This time, he had already known the true colors of his family. So he decided to leave the family, sing those songs himself, and try to become a top singer.

Abigail married Jonathan three years ago, but his family believed she did so for their money. The in-law's dislike and a looming homewrecker pushed Abigail to a breaking point, with Jonathan's indifference being the last straw. Seeing Abigail beyond disheartened and ready to leave, it was to Jonathan's surprise to learn the things Abigail endured these three years. Even more to Jonathan's surprise, Abigail is revealed to be... As the truth unveiled and misunderstandings lifted, will the two rekindle their love in the end?