Return of the Swallow - Chapter 504.2: Faith

[When a Veteran Gamer Becomes the Game's Villain, Can the World Still Be Saved?][Villain + Light-hearted Fun + Semi-invincible + MMORPG = Ultimate Enjoyment!]After completing his seventeenth game order in an all-night session, Victor unexpectedly finds himself reborn into a game world he knows like the back of his hand—as its infamous villain, no less.In the original storyline, he was destined to face the hostility of the entire world alone:- The proud female Valkyrie leader (his fiancée) longs to take his life- An all-powerful female heiress dreams of burying him alive- The Grand Duke wants to tear him to pieces- Even the stray dogs on the street bare their teeth at himNow, this “villain” possesses a player's cool-headed mindset and comprehensive knowledge of the game world.Faced with a predetermined death sentence and countless players coveting his experience points, how will Viktor use his profound understanding of the game and his calm, rational mind to turn the tables?Can he establish an unbeatable position in this world?When a player who has mastered the game's mechanics becomes the villain within the game, what kind of sparks will fly?In this marvelous journey filled with strategy, humor, and unexpected twists:- Every level-up could be a life-or-death decision- The line between villain and hero blurs under Viktor's careful calculations- What kind of chemical reaction will occur when game skills collide with real-world magic?- Will Viktor's gaming skills and his newly formed alliance with the evil god be enough to change the tide?Are you ready? Step into Viktor's world, where the “villain” has never been so charismatic, and the future? Well, who can say for sure?

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 .

On that day, due to the outbreak of an unprecedented and abnormal event, 41 students from class 2-7 of Shiromine Academy are summoned to a different world, one full of magic.

Separated and summoned inside a vast dungeon, where the only way to escape is to head to the deepest area, they are given the power of a Divine Protection 『Vocation』 as the only means of survival.

While some of them are brave, some just do whatever they want, and some harbor treacherous intentions, they all aim to capture the dungeon.

In this place, one person gained a 『Vocation』 whose skills are unsuitable for combat, attendance number 19, Momokawa Kotaro.

A boy with a small and lean build from the Literature Club wasn’t blessed with a physical ability, swordsmanship, or strong magic, rather he only had the 『Shaman』 vocation to rely on.

After being driven out of the group and left behind by his powerful classmates —– his survival instinct starts running at full throttle!

Pushed to the limit of survival in the different world’s dungeon, what starts with trusting and loving each other soon ends in killing and betrayal.

The most beautiful and gruesome battle royale has raised its curtain.