The CEO’s Villainess Childhood Friend (Web Novel) - Chapter 22

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 .

What if you could hack the strongest heroes and turn them into your devoted companions?Once feared as the Heavenly Demon, Zain stood above all—unstoppable, unrivaled, unchallenged.But his reign came to an end when so-called righteous cultivators banded together to eliminate him, believing they had purged the world of its greatest evil.Yet death was not the end.Reborn in a world dominated by heroes and champions of justice, Zain awakens a mysterious Hero Hack System—a power that doesn’t just defeat heroes but rewrites them.With a single command, he can shatter their convictions, twist their destinies, and rebuild them into something new.A ruthless warrior queen? Now a loyal blade at his side.An untouchable holy maiden? Now eager to obey.The strongest hero who once stood against him? Now kneeling before him, waiting for his command.With every hero he hacks, his harem of once-unshakable warriors grows. But as he reshapes this world to his will, one question remains—who gave him this system, and what price will he have to pay?They ended his reign once. This time, he’ll reign over them all.

Shadow was an assassin with no family, no friends, and no purpose beyond the missions assigned to him. Kidnapped at the age of five and forced to serve a ruthless assassin organization for fifty long years, his life was a series of shadows and bloodshed. On the eve of his fifty-fifth birthday, he completed his final mission with hope in his heart. A hope that freedom and a better life were finally within reach.But that hope was shattered. Betrayed by the very organization he had devoted his life to, Shadow was ruthlessly killed, his decades of loyalty repaid with treachery. As his life slipped away, he swore one thing.“If he had a second chance, he would live life on his terms, unshackled and free”.In the void between life and death, Shadow's soul was met by “Syl”. The enigmatic Shadow Monarch's System. Syl offered him what he craved most. Another chance at life, but in a world far different from his own. Without hesitation, Shadow accepted, eager to grasp the life he was denied.Reborn into a realm of gods, magic, and chaos, Shadow soon learns the truth.He is a Wild Card, a pawn in the gods’ celestial game. Amere source of entertainment for their whims. But Shadow is no ordinary human. With the sarcastic and unpredictable Syl by his side, a glitching system that grants him powers beyond imagination, he embarks on a journey to defy the gods and forge his destiny.

I am a female doctor, an obstetrician and gynecologist.

I have only two goals:

To make one person disappear,

To bring a child into this world.

Yet his fragrant medicine-scented presence

Blocks my way!