Female lead's Delusion of Starting Over - Chapter 35 - What Lu Li Didn’t Know

★DARK ROMANCE★^WARNING 18+^~NO RAPE~In a world dominated by organized crime and ruthless power struggles, a tangled web of trauma, revenge, and forbidden passion unfolds.Katya Volkov, the stunning but vulnerable daughter of the Russian Mafia's feared right-hand man, has endured a childhood of unrelenting brutality and neglect.Growing up, Katya was repeatedly tormented by her father's resentment, leaving her emotionally shattered and unloved.However, Katya's life was about to take a much darker turn. Romeo Salvatore, a name that was both feared and respected, emerged from the shadows.His traumatic past has left an indelible mark on his soul, rendering him cold and detached.Seeking retribution, Romeo launches a daring invasion of the Volkov's heavily guarded estate. He captures both Katya and her abusive father, subjecting them to merciless torture.Convinced of Katya's complicity in her father's heinous crimes, Romeo executes her father and condemns Katya to a life of hellish slavery.Yet, as time passes, the boundaries between captor and captive begin to blur. Katya and Romeo find themselves inexorably drawn into a forbidden bond, igniting a fiery passion that threatens to consume them both.Torn between his thirst for revenge and his burgeoning desire for Katya, Romeo is forced to confront the darkness within himself, would he be consumed by lust, passion and possibly love or would he stay loyal with his beliefs.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This story is an enemies to lover type so don't expect all fluff and rainbows.~Weak to strong female~ML is ruthless, don't expect him to be a saint.~No rape~humours, laugher, tears and blush.~ And lastly, this story is not for the weak hearted~

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

Lu Qingshan, a renowned player ranked in the top ten of the Sword Cultivators’ leaderboard in “Nine Heavens,” had been reincarnated into the very game world for which he had always strived. Sword Cultivator, a class in “Nine Heavens,” known for dealing the highest damage but also having the least amount of health, leading to their nickname “Brute.” In this life, Lu Qingshan had still chosen the path of the Sword Cultivator. However, this Sword Cultivator seemed a bit too stable???

When the First Wizarding War ended, and Lord Voldemort chased out Dumbledore from Hogwarts, he became the undisputed leader of the Wizarding World, cementing his rule as the new Minister of Magic. Yet everyone in power knew the war was far from over; it was now waged behind closed curtains and under the table. Behind the veil of secrecy, those still loyal to Dumbledore continued to fight, waging guerilla-like warfare against him and his forces, drawing in other countries' wizards and witches, opposing Voldemort and his plans to dominate all magic.The Anguine family, home of pure-blood wizards, part of Voldemort's new Ministry of Magic, were often tasked with confronting the Order of the Phoenix, raising their reputation year by year. Born into the Anguine family, Conrad just came to age, ready to attend Hogwarts to start his studies. He was excited to go to a school he had heard about from his father many times, but times have changed. It is not like in the old days. But who knows? One day, the school may return to what it was before the Era of Darkness.---- Author's Notes:Dear Readers! I'd like to welcome you to my first foray into writing fanfic and into doing a book from a first-person point of View. As to what to expect, let me give you more details so you won't be disappointed if it is not your cup of tea!- An alternate timeline: Voldemort killed the Potters and Harry as a baby. He never lost his body, thus winning the 1st Wizarding War.- Of course, a battle is still going on in the background, but that will only come later in the story.- Being in an alternate timeline, the dates may be a little bit off, but the story will mostly play out in the same time frame as the original.- Being an altered history, some main characters will not show up, and I mainly mean Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Or any of the Dumbledore supporting cast. (at least for a good portion of the story). For obvious reasons. If this is not what you want, please understand that I am going for a familiar yet different story than the original. I am taking inspiration from the original plot, but I am not planning mirroring it 1:1.- Of the returning characters, some may have altered personalities, although I will try my best to remain true to their book counterpart. But I will also think up ”what would they have done“ scenarios and modify their personality to match the alternative world we are in. I hope you will still enjoy it; that is my goal. To entertain you.- There is no transmigration, no isekai tropes, no reincarnation, no knowledge of in-lore events, none of that. The main character is someone who is born in-universe.