My Beloved - Chapter 1 - FAMILY TRIP IS FUN

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 .

【This story features a vibrant and outgoing female lead and a gentle and devoted male lead. It is a romance novel filled with pampering moments and post-marriage love.】Mi Jing, 27 years old, unmarried.She comes from an ordinary background, has a warm family, and loving parents.Shen Lingxing, a major shareholder of M Group, a private hospital director, and a second-generation government official.Despite being an eligible bachelor with such a prestigious status, he struggles to find a wife! Instead, he always shows up to blind dates pretending to be an ordinary doctor. After nineteen blind dates, the results are always the same—either the woman rejects him, or he rejects the woman.And Mi Jing has been a witness to all nineteen of these blind dates, ultimately becoming the one to end the streak.She asked, “Still haven’t found anyone suitable?”He responded with a simple “Hmm” and nodded.Then she asked, “What do you think about me?”He answered, “You’re pretty good!”So she suggested, “How about we get married?”Upon hearing this, he wasn’t overly surprised. Instead, he readily agreed, “Sure, let’s go get the marriage certificate later.”【The most heartwarming love story unfolds after twists and turns when she meets him at her most mature and beautiful years.】He was a regular customer at her coffee shop. At first, she didn’t really pay attention to him. But since the girls in the shop often mentioned him, she gradually developed some awareness of him.He liked drinking Blue Mountain coffee and often went on blind dates.In fact, she herself also frequently went on blind dates, although hers were not voluntary but driven by her mother’s pressure.One day, she ran into a particularly troublesome blind date. Coincidentally, he was sitting at the next table. In a moment of desperation, she pulled him over to pretend to be her shield.Another day, at a university classmate’s wedding, she ran into him again, along with her ex-boyfriend and the third party who had come between them back then.When faced with provocations from “the third party,” she held his hand and pretended he was her boyfriend—venting her frustration, though it cost her financially.…They were both at the age to be considered “older youth,” pressured by their families to frequently attend blind dates. With marriage as their ultimate goal, they hit it off instantly and decided to marry on a whim.【Scene 1】One evening, Mi Jing brought Shen Lingxing home for dinner.After dinner, Mi Jing and Shen Lingxing went downstairs together.“You…” Mi Jing was suddenly kissed by Shen Lingxing, leaving her wide-eyed and stunned.“Don’t move. Mom is watching.” Shen Lingxing held Mi Jing tightly and whispered softly in her ear.“My mom? Where is she?”“She’s on the balcony.”Shen Lingxing glanced at a black car not far away. Seeing the twisted expression on Mi Jing’s ex-boyfriend’s face, a glimmer of light flashed in his eyes.

[WARNING THIS NOVEL IS A SEX NOVEL WHICH INCLUDES SEX CONTENT][Author Note: I have changed the story entirely]Arthur's head hurt like crazy as he woke up. He kept his eyes closed, rubbing his temples and feeling a super comfy bed under him - definitely not his cheap mattress back home.“What the hell...?” he mumbled as he finally looked around.He was in some rich person's bedroom with a fancy four-poster bed and red silk sheets. Sunlight came through pretty stained glass windows, making red patterns on the marble floor.Everything screamed royalty - fancy mirrors, portraits of hunting scenes, and even a painting of a barely-dressed goddess that seemed to be watching him.“How did I get here?” Arthur wondered, getting out of bed. “I definitely drank too much at Mark's party last night”The last thing he remembered was almost getting hit by a car while crossing the street.Looking in a mirror, he got another shock. He didn't look like himself at all! Instead of being skinny with acne scars, he now had muscles, clear skin with just one cool scar on his jaw, with a reddish brown hair, and green eyes.“Damn, I'm hot,” he said, touching the scar.For a moment, he remembered his old life. He pushed up his glasses. Kids made fun of him. Jessica laughed at him when he asked her out. “Like I'd be with a loser like you,” she told him.Suddenly Arthur realized what was happening. “I've been transported to another world! Just like in those stories online!”He spun around excitedly. “I must be someone important here. This is gonna be so cool! Watch out, fantasy world, your new hero has arrived!”Right then, blue text appeared floating in front of him:[System Starting Up...][Host Found: Prince Arthur Lionheart][Soul Check: Person from Another World][Magic Type: Incubus Powers Activated]“Incubus?” Arthur asked in shock. “Like, those demons that seduce people?”[That's right. Your family's magic has changed because of your Earth soul's hidden desires. Congrats on finding your true potential.]“Can I change it? I want to be a cool battle wizard or something!”[Not possible. Your soul has permanently connected to the Incubus powers. Accept it - your charm is your weapon, attraction is your shield.]“Fuck,” Arthur groaned.[Exactly. The more sexual intimacy you have, the stronger you'll become.]Arthur's eye twitched. “Very funny. Just... tell me what I can actually do.”

In a world where mana nodes inherently decode spells, acting as the pre-built magical processors of all mages, Zephyr awakens with just a single node, putting him at a disadvantage.Unconcerned with fame or glory, he initially shrugs off this profound limitation, even dismissing his father's final and seemingly useless gift. But when a relentless spiral of uncontrollable events threatens his very existence, Zephyr has to figure out a way to utilize his inherited legacy.His survival now depends on understanding the fundamental nature of mana nodes and how they tick in a world that takes the process for granted. His method of conscious processing pushes the boundaries of conventional magic and draws the attention of formidable world powers and ancient noble houses. As Zephyr delves deeper, he begins to uncover disturbing truths about their world and the very origins of magic itself. How would he navigate this treacherous landscape where every discovery could be his last?What to expect:- Unique power system that draws inspiration from modern processors.- Extensive character development and world building.- MC starts out weak and capped... until he figures out how to process better. Power is earned.- Mana cores, mana nodes, spell processing, noble houses, knowledge gatekeeping, great world powers, hidden factions, a touch of sci-fi, multiple worlds, soft kingdom building...