Strongest Mage with the Lust system - Chapter 17: Ridicule

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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Rumor had it that Qiao Xi had a weak constitution—a sickly beauty. Rumor had it that she spent a fortune every day on medications—eating them like candy. Rumor had it that ten servants waited on her by her bed every day—a burden to everyone. They were all waiting for the Qiao family to toss Qiao Xi back to the countryside and leave her to fend for herself.Qiao Xi: "They're all saying that I'm weak and can't take care of myself. Apparently, I spend money recklessly as well.”She looked down at her tattered shirt and was exasperated.Qiao Xi: “Are you saying that this wealthy family lets their daughter wear tattered clothes every day?”The Qiao family's rich daughter? She had enough! She would not be it anymore! Therefore…Scumbag guy: "Without the Qiao family, you're nothing."Qiao Xi: "If I'm kicked out of the Qiao family, I'll be done for."Scumbag girl: "Sis, don't be too disappointed. As long as you work hard, you'll be praised one day.”Qiao Xi: "Shut up, I don't know a traitor like you."The scumbag guy and girl: "???"Rumor had it that the Gu family's youngest son, Gu Zheng, rashly married a woman who had nothing but looks.Qiao Xi: "Is someone looking down on me?"One day, Qiao Xi saw one of Gu Zheng's employees racking his brains over a series of numbers on the computer screen. Since she was free, she lent a hand.Did she just crack the firewall created by the joint efforts of top elite hackers?!Gu Zheng inched closer with every step. "Qiao Xi, what else are you hiding from me? Hmm?"Qiao Xi: "Oh, no! I feel dizzy again! I'm so weak. This body of mine is just too weak!"

In this world, a cataclysm has caused the appearance of monsters and other disasters, emerging from dimensional rifts and gradually pushing the world toward its destruction. To face it, some humans having awakened various magical powers are fighting against this apocalypse.

Dora, one of them, has a special “Avatar” class which gives her access to all the other classes, at the cost of great difficulty to level them up. Despite his enormous potential, he chose to appear incompetent to get his team kicked, just so he could live a lazy life with his family, but his habit of fighting and beating the woman's brother the strongest in the Kingdom reveals her talents and she decides to enroll her in the royal academy.

Reluctant at first, his mother gives him the motivation he needs to pursue this past, but little did they know what kind of monster they threw to the world. Dora is not a hero wishing for peace, but a monster getting addicted to the taste of power, wealth, and freedom.

With his strange condition of being not one but many people inside one body, each with a different personality, but the same thirst for more, “they” use a strange system giving them a new vision of the world around them.

Dora pursues an unknown goal until he meets someone who knows more about his true nature than himself and sets him on a path that will nourish his eternal first, to the cost of his humanity, but in a world collapsing, isn't a monster the greatest weapon?

With many personalities in one body, each having a different relationship with different people, a system taking them further and further away from their humanity, and an increasingly hostile world where humans kill each other while monsters slaughter them, could the situation be worse?

Well, it looks like Dora isn't the only one with a system.

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A story about a traveler who crossed into a parallel universe, relying on his Proficiency ability to continuously grind experience and become stronger.