MTL - It’s a Stepmother, Not a Sister [70s] - Chapter 132 first prize

Deep below the earth's surface, a mystifying subterranean seascape lurks, an archipelago bathed in inky blackness where suspense and horror hold court. Here lie strange islands and even stranger monsters, far beyond the realms of human imagination. In this domain, mankind is far from dominant; instead, madness and death rule supreme.

Pleading for mercy from the unknown creatures of the deep only leads to a slow, tortured existence. The trapped survivors gradually distort, losing what made them human, both physically and mentally, to the gloom as they remain trapped in this eternal obscurity. Their only hope? A perilous expedition into uncharted sea territories.

Fueled by determination, Charles embark on this daunting voyage aboard his steamship, aiming to reclaim humanity's past glory. Together with his crew, they sought a way out of this hidden sea world, a path back to the sunlit world above, where humans once stood tall.

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I read a few comments from Chinese readers that compared this novel with Lord of Mysteries because of similar elements: Lovecraftian, western fantasy, first industrial revolution, and steampunk. However, I have yet to finish reading Lord of Mysteries to do any actual comparison, but I do think those who have enjoyed that novel would enjoy this as well. Also, the author of LotM, Cuttlefish That Loves Diving, also did a shout-out for this novel, so I guess he approves of it too?

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Dear readers! Without any ads, maybe you will prefer .

The wind follows the dragon, the cloud follows the tiger, fame and fortune, dust and soil

Looking at Shenzhou, the people are suffering, thousands of miles of fertile land are barren

Look at the world, make all the hustlers, and make up for the incompleteness of heaven

Good man, don’t be parents, only for the common people, not for the Lord

Holding ninety-nine steel knives, killing Hu Erfang

I am a dignified man, why am I a barbarian as a horse and an ox

The strong man drank the wine in his bowl, and he traveled thousands of miles without looking back

The golden drums roared in unison, everyone roared, never breaking the Huanglong oath!

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In the eleventh year of the Shunzhi reign in the pseudo-Qing Dynasty, Zhou Shixiang, a Han from Xinhui in Guangdong, said, “My Han man will never be a slave!”

- Description from novelbuddy

Haruto Saito, was playing a mobile game called “King of Cards” when his phone exploded due to overheating. He then transmigrated into the world of Naruto and found out...Why can I see the name, identity, and reputation of each of them?Killing hostile ninjas will drop cards? Ninjutsu cards! Taijutsu cards! Forbidden jutsu cards! Mystic jutsu cards! Can cards be eaten? Will you gain corresponding abilities after eating them? What are equipment cards? Killing Uchiha clan ninjas can drop Sharingan bloodline cards? Killing Hyuga clan ninjas can drop Byakugan bloodline cards? What if I kill Kaguya? ! !Naruto world is gamified! Reputation exchange! Ninjutsu enhancement! Achievement rewards! Unlimited first kills!“Excuse me, I'm not targeting anyone, I just say that everyone here is garbage!” At the Five Kage Conference, Haruto Saito said lightly, tapping his fingers on the table.

Ezekiel recognized early in life that he didn't want to follow in his parent's footsteps and spend the rest of his days as a mere farmer. No, his eyes are set on a grander stage, a place where tales of monster hunters, mighty generals, and benevolent heroes hold court — A world of Magic and mysteries.One day, the opportunity he had been waiting for arrives. Without a second thought, Ezekiel throws himself headfirst into the adventure. However, not everything turns out to be as magical as he had dreamt it to be...THIS IS A SLOW BURN FANTASY PROGRESSION LITRPG STORY:Even though you are not going to see blue boxes from chapter one, I guarantee you that this IS a LitRPG story. This is, however, NOT a pure “game world”! Instead, I have tried to integrate the interface elements of a LitRPG into a world with a very thought-out magic & power system, which will be explored over the course of the first book.This world doesn't work like a game, where you can put '5 points in strength' and the body somehow changes magically into a stronger version of itself. It might take a couple of chapters for the world and magic to start to make sense, but I feel like a power system built on solid principles is a lot more rewarding in the long run (...and more IMMERSIVE!).