The Sword and The Shadow - Chapter 0 – The Brewing of a Storm

Betrayed and condemned to death by the very family he served, Vikir, the hound of the Baskervilles, refuses to accept his fate.

With eyes ablaze and canines sharpened, he vows vengeance against his former master, Hugo. No longer a mere loyal companion, Vikir becomes the hunter, determined to exact bloody revenge and reclaim his honor.

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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He is an extremely wealthy empire president who is obsessed with his wife and loves to pamper her.

One day, the bodyguard came to report: “Master, the young lady has gone after her fiancé!”

“Master, the young lady confessed her love live worldwide!”

“Switch the photo and name to mine!”

“Master, madam, go to the hospital to have the child aborted!”

The handsome and noble man was furious, “Get the young lady back to me so that I can serve her well! Stop, I will catch you myself!” [After Marriage]

Su Fu glared at her extremely possessive husband: “Get a divorce, we can’t survive this life!” Shangguan Ling smiled coldly: “It’s just that, whoever you don’t leave is your grandson! I will give you the property and the little buns, and I will give you the property.” Here you go! Wherever you go I will go too!” (Nuan Chong)

- Description from novelbuddy

After being betrayed and killed by his own brother, 17-year-old orphan Elias Black is given a second chance—by a mysterious, demonic entity. Reborn with the “Devil’s System,” he must now collect souls, gain abilities, and exact revenge on those who ruined him.But each power comes with a cost—and the devil never makes a deal without expecting something in return.As Elias grows stronger, unlocking deadly skills and forming uneasy alliances, he faces an even darker truth: his rebirth is part of a much bigger, bloodier plan.