Against the Clock: The Team Leader's Pursuit of Glory - Chapter 18 - Isn’t this Negligence?

The strongest doesn’t need cheats.

Haruka, a high schooler who spends his life as a “loner,” is suddenly summoned to another world with his classmates.

Noticing the god in front of him, Haruka was going to get cheat abilities by picking what he wanted from the skill list so that he could live in the other world――or so he thought, but the skills were first come, first serve.

All the cheat skills were taken by my classmates?!

After not being able to get any amazing skills, Haruka’s “loner” skill made him unable to join any parties. Even in another world, he’ll adventure in solitude.

Haruka, recognizing the crisis of his classmates, decided to secretly help them out while not relying on cheats. He’ll surpass cheats as he walks the path of the strongest――.

Let the curtains raise for the tale about the strongest loner’s attack on the different world!

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.

=========================================

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?

……………………………………………………………

Dear readers! Without any ads, maybe you will prefer .

Born different in a family where everyone has black hair and golden eyes, the boy was labeled a cursed child; yet, he didn't let despair swallow him. He would live on and understand the reason why he was different and what made him unique.Follow him as he embark on his journey of self discovery. This is the Chronicles of the Cursed Child, the one who will later be known as the Primordial Heir, the Elemental Lord.

[Congratulations! You are the Pioneer of the Mutation Abyss. Brace yourself - The Apocalypse begins now…][Main Quest: Eliminate Fellow Survivors][Description: The strong will thrive, and the weak will perish]Theo was never lucky. Bullied for his appearance and always underestimated, he lived his life as a pushover. But everything changed the night a meteorite struck him. His life takes a drastic turn.Chosen by the Mutation Abyss, he gains access to a mysterious system, granting him an evolutionary advantage.The world is doomed. An infection is spreading, turning the world into a deadly battleground. As the human Infectees mutate and portals to unknown realms open, otherworldly forces threaten humanity’s survival.Theo must harness his new abilities to survive in this brutal world. But in a place where strength is everything, will Theo keep his humanity, or become something worse?