I am the Monarch - Chapter 297 - A Bloody Battle (1)

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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Sanctora has known peace for generations—too long, perhaps.Built upon ancient ideals and ruled by a council bound to tradition, the kingdom believes itself untouchable. But beyond its tranquil borders, something has awakened. Whispers of vanished heroes, creatures long thought extinct, and shadows that no longer sleep begin to creep back into the land.Liora never wanted to be a hero. Orphaned young and shaped by loss, all she’s ever known is survival base on love and kindness. But when a brutal invasion exposes the kingdom’s deepest vulnerability, she’s thrust into the heart of a battle far greater than herself. Her light-element magic—once dismissed as minor and passive—may be the key to a new era of power.As Sanctora struggles to adapt, Liora must decide whether to follow the path laid out by those before her… or blaze a new one through fire, blood, and truth.Epic, emotional, and filled with slow-burning revelations, Ancient Beast Summoner is a story of legacy, buried power, and the girl who just might change everything.

After traveling for three years, Lin Yu was drawn into a horror game unexpectedly.

However, he discovered one thing.

The dungeon boss feared by countless players turned out to be the little loli who called her big brother next door.

then.

In the horror hospital, the director of the hospital turned out to be the uncle downstairs who made him and his granddaughter fall in love.

In the bloody slaughterhouse, the existence known as the bloody butcher turned out to be the uncle upstairs who wanted him to be his brother-in-law.

In Changteng Ghost School, the woman who frightens countless students is actually the long-legged sister Yu who invites her to her house for dinner whenever she has nothing to do.

…

Traveling through three years, you told me that this place is actually a horror game world?

(Introduction is weak, please read the text)

- Description from novelbuddy

In the vast world of cultivation, a talisman is formed by merging the essence of heaven and earth with the spirit and soul of the practitioner. Imbuing the formless with power and imprinting it onto paper, talismans hold immense potential. Yet, this art comes with a price—most who pursue the talismanic path exhaust their spiritual consciousness, falling before they reach their full potential.Lu An’s fate was no different—until his soul, shattered by fate, found itself reborn in a new realm of cultivation. Within his sea of consciousness, he discovers the Four Treasures of the Study, mystical tools that allow him to create talismans without depleting his spiritual energy. With this newfound gift, Lu An begins his ascent.[You have drawn a Breath-Concealing Talisman. Completion Rate: 62%. Grade: Inferior, first grade. Spiritual consciousness refunded.][You have drawn a Wealth-Bringing Talisman. Completion Rate: 73%. Grade: Middle, fifth grade. Spiritual consciousness refunded.][You have drawn a Three-Yuan Gathering Qi Talisman. Completion Rate: 85%. Grade: Superior, ninth grade. Spiritual consciousness refunded.]The world of talisman-making opens before him—mastery over the five elements, control of winds and thunder, the study of formations, the nurturing of spiritual creatures, and even the command of ancient treasures. With every talisman, Lu An’s understanding of the Dao deepens, his soul, body, and laws intertwining as one. His talismans grow in power—some divine, some forbidden—each step toward immortality.Using the very forces of nature as his tools, Lu An crafts talismans that can reshape reality. With mountains and seas as his ink and brush, and heaven and earth as his canvas, he will rise to the pinnacle of the immortal realm. Even the immortals and Buddhas will bow before him, for they know him as the Talisman Ancestor.But few recall the man behind the legend, the one named Lu An, whose journey to the top, though formidable, has only just begun.