Rise of the Living Forge - Chapter 89: Vile

What is a story without a reader?Nothing.Stories are for the readers to define.What about a story with four readers?It is a lot for the story, but for the author the story is far from being satisfactory.So when the author closes the story beloved to only four readers.How do they deal with it?How do they deal with the end?What happens when the author swallows the key to the story’s life.Especially when it simply became beyond human terms.

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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Hell's Awakening: The Guardian's RiseIn the fiery depths of Hell, where infernals, demons, and ancient creatures reign, the balance is fragile. At the heart of this underworld stands Azrael, the Guardian of Hell, a powerful being tasked with keeping the infernal realms from chaos and preventing the resurrection of fallen demons. With mastery over fire magic and the strength to command Hell itself, Azrael's existence is defined by vigilance and control.But when a powerful force of rogue infernals escapes their prison, led by a ruthless and vengeful faction, Hell’s foundation begins to crack. As these infernals break free, their goal is clear—to unleash an uprising and bring back the dead. Azrael must face not only these deadly foes but also confront his own inner demons. As the situation escalates, Azrael discovers his own potential for evolution—powers he never knew he possessed that could either save Hell or destroy it entirely.Amid this turmoil, the arrival of deities, including gods of light and purity, threatens to further destabilize Hell’s delicate ecosystem. They believe Hell must be purified, even if it means eradicating the guardian himself. As battles rage, alliances shift, and Azrael’s strength grows, he must decide whether he will uphold the order or reshape Hell in his own image.In this battle of gods, demons, and guardians, Azrael’s evolution is just beginning. The question is not just whether Hell will survive—but if Azrael will become its ultimate ruler—or its ultimate downfall.

“Xavier Lancaster, the richest and most influential man on Earth, lives by one simple motto: 'Money First'. A brilliant strategist, ruthless businessman, and master negotiator, he built an unshakable financial empire. But when a mysterious incident transports him to a medieval world on the brink of collapse, he finds himself… the ruler of a weak and crumbling kingdom.Faced with corrupt nobles, hostile neighbors, and a shattered economy, Xavier decides to use the one thing he knows best: the law of the market. Armed with his cunning, modern strategies, and cutthroat business sense, he turns every problem into an opportunity and every enemy into an investment.His goal? To become the richest and most powerful emperor this world has ever seen. But in a land where strength rules and magic exists, will money really be enough to buy everything?Get ready to witness the rise of a man who’s ready to put a price on the throne itself.”