The Devil's Duchess - Chapter 73: The hidden shadow

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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When Zhaozhao was ten years old, she was brought back to the Marquis household as the true daughter. Her parents doted on her, her brother was close, and even the fake daughter treated her with warmth. Zhaozhao once thought she was dreaming, and she treated them with all her heart.Until they personally sent her into the Tomb Guard City, a place that devours people whole, she realized she was merely brought back to exchange and protect the fake daughter.For five years in the city, the Marquis household ignored her.They let the sons of nobles from distinguished families use her as a punching bag, abusing and beating her, leaving no part of her intact.She died in despair the day before she was to leave the city.At the moment of her death, Zhaozhao awakened.—A hundred years ago, the ghostly gate opened, and the Ghost King led thousands of ferocious ghosts out of the underworld to wreak havoc on the world.She was originally King Yan of the underworld, descended to experience trials due to dereliction of duty.Once Zhaozhao opened her eyes again,The world changed colors, and she held the Book of Life and Death, transforming into King Yan to claim lives.Judging good and evil, slashing enemies.Once she gathered eighty-one evil souls and captured the Ghost King, she could return to her position.—On the day she left the city, the Marquis couple and her brother came personally to pick her up.Zhaozhao didn't even glance at them, turning to get into Prince Su's carriage.Her parents cursed her as an ungrateful ingrate, and her brother sneered that she would come crying back to beg them.Later, all of them knelt on the ground, crying, begging her to return home.Zhaozhao watched coldly.She would no longer want anything tainted.—Prince Su was born shrouded in Evil Qi, and anyone close to him would either die or be injured. Everyone thought he would be lonely for life.He had a delicate young lady by his side.She appeared to be pitiful and charming, but was ruthless and decisive behind the scenes.Once she absorbed the Evil Qi and gathered the evil souls, Zhaozhao planned to pat her butt and leave.Prince Su's eyes reddened, saying, “Zhaozhao, take this prince with you!”

She had a lifetime of fake virtue without receiving a virtuous ending. In the next lifetime, she controls fates with the flip of her hand. To the jerk who wasn’t faithful, she’ll draw a premature death talisman for him. For the poisonous step mother, she’ll send a death flower. For the step sister who is two faced, she’ll personally rip off that fake pretty face!

But when she personally offered up her body to her nemesis because of a child who she had no fate with, something unexpected happened. The night of the big wedding, the groom changed and a cold and luxurious man pushed her down. “You can marry whoever you like, but you can only give birth to my children!”

- Description from Novelupdates

After announcing it will be discontinuing all service, the internet game ‘Yggdrasil’ shut down… That was the plan, but for some reason, the player character did not log out some time after the server was closed. NPCs start to become sentient. A normal youth who loves gaming in the real world seemed to have been transported into an alternate world along with his guild, becoming the strongest mage with the appearance of a skeleton, Momonga. He leads his guild ‘Ainz Ooal Gown’ towards an unprecedented legendary fantasy adventure!