Katahane no Riku - Chapter 9.Ten years later…

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 .

Wendy Waltz, a diehard anti romantic! Though born as royalty, she had been neglected by her father and bullied by her stepmother and younger sibling. To make this worse, she had been betrayed by her lover. She throws away her royalty and name and starts anew with a new name and a strange power! But who is this Head of the Imperial Guards, Lard Shroder, who keeps appearing beside her?

In the age of mutants and technology, everyone is after power and eternal life, but Kiba lives for his dreams of lust and vanity.

A man on a mission to live the life to the fullest. The tale of the legendary Wife Hunter whose very name terrifies husbands around the globe.

This is the story of the devil who does as his heart pleases, unafraid of the labels of good and evil.

That night, the delicate purple-eyed woman in a wedding dress sat on their bed as her husband observed her with a grin.

“So,” he drawled, his voice wicked and magnetic, “I can't see my wife's face even on my wedding night?”

“My lord has promised to fulfill my one wish,” the woman commented, securing the veil that covered the lower half of her face with slightly trembling hands.

He stared into her mysterious rare purple eyes. “May I ask, why such a wish?”

She stared back at him. “My lord might not like to see ugly things.”

He smirked and stepped towards her. “I never had a liking towards pretty things.”

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Seren, the infamous daughter of the witch, and Drayce, the ruthless and vicious son of the Devil.

No one had ever seen her face as the witches are meant to be ugly, but he was the one who never searched for beauty.

She was cursed to never fall in love, but he wished to be the only man she would ever love.

A cursed princess married off to the Devil's son to destroy his kingdom but the Devil's son had a different plan for her.

The secret of her birth will be revealed only to lead the way to unleash the hidden powers inside her which no one can control.

With the hidden dangers desiring her power, can Drayce and Seren protect one another or will the darkness swallow them whole?