MTL - Reborn Capital Empire - v2 Chapter 768 turnaround

Abandoned by Fate, but Chosen by Chaos.A world where magic reigns supreme and the mightiest wizards stand at the apex.A world where one’s mana affinity, if one even had it, determines one’s status in society, whether one could soar through the skies like a dragon or remain grounded, scraping by like rats or chickens.This was the world Hal Fennec was born into.Raised in the poverty of a border village, Hal had one wish: to give his mother a better life, one free from the constant fear of beast attacks and invasions by the Fellkin.But fate seemed to be playing a cruel joke.Despite being the brightest and most confident among his peers since childhood, Hal turned out to be barely qualified to become a wizard.His natural talent, contrary to his expectations, was nowhere near enough to fulfill even his modest dream of a decent city life.But then, just when his final hope was snuffed out and the future seemed gray and bleak, a twist of fate—or more fittingly Chaos—granted him a system that would turn everything around.

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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She was originally an assassin. After rebirth, she was reduced to another world’s Di family’s most inferior concubine-born daughter. With an extremely hideous appearance and no way to cultivate, she was the object of everyone’s humiliation and bullying.

Ever since inexplicably finding herself in this new world, Chu Chi was quite satisfied with her newly acquired brain. Although she didn’t understand why she suddenly had two young children, Chu Daidai firmly believed that if something was incomprehensible, it must be true!And so, the dimension-hopping, ditzy zombie happily became both birth mother and stepmother, frolicking with her two little ones. Even though her mind was still filled with echoing emptiness, now flooded with water courtesy of that naughty child.But at least she was open to advice!When brains fall short, brawn picks up the slack.Thus, Chu Daidai allowed herself to be persuaded by various factions, coaxed from the countryside all the way to the capital, winning hearts along the way with her tiger-head shoes and physical charms.Ever since Lin You’an had gone to great lengths to trick himself a stepmother, he often found himself questioning his life choices. Why was he always either dealing with trouble or on his way to deal with trouble?“Hehe, Great Uncle, my mother doesn’t quite understand…”“Dear clansmen, please hear me out, my mother is still young…”“Honorable gentlemen, my mother is but a frail woman…”The poor child, burdened with an adult’s worries, raised his little sister with one hand while guiding his mother with the other. It was only years later that he realized – this wasn’t just scamming a stepmother, was it? He’d basically found himself an active father!(Both are pure and chaste! The main couple is Dai Xiaoqi vs. Shen Xiaowu, with a fateful connection spanning past and present lives. )