Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord - Chapter 144: Did the Symbiotic Contract Go Wrong?

Ethan's head throbbed violently as he opened his eyes, his vision hazy and unfocused. A dull ringing filled his ears, drowning out his thoughts.“What’s happening…?” he thought, his mind sluggish, struggling to catch up with reality. One moment, he was asleep—or at least, he thought he was—and the next, searing pain forced him awake.His vision swam, shapes blurring together in a disorienting mess. But then, muffled noises filtered through the haze—frantic, panicked sounds. Someone was trying to scream, their voice smothered, choked by something.A cold shiver ran down his spine.As his sight gradually sharpened, Ethan's breath hitched.He was on all fours, looming over someone. A girl.Her body twisted and writhed beneath him, ropes biting into her wrists and ankles. Her mouth was gagged, muffling her cries. Her wide brown eyes, brimming with fear and fury, glared up at him.Ethan's body locked in place, his blood running cold.“What the…?” His mind reeled, thoughts slamming into each other in chaotic disarray. “What kind of bizarre dream is this?”Panic clawed at his chest. His breath came in ragged, uneven gasps as he scrambled backward, only to realize his limbs felt sluggish, uncooperative, like they didn’t belong to him.“Is this… is this some kind of twisted fantasy I never knew I had?” A sickening thought slithered through his mind, making his stomach churn.The girl's frantic squirming slowed for a moment, her gaze flickering with confusion as she took in his expression—his trembling hands, his wide, horrified eyes. But the fear returned just as quickly. She struggled harder, her body arching, her muffled screams rising in pitch.Ethan wanted to speak, to say something, anything, but before he could force out a word, a glowing blue window materialized before his eyes.His breath caught.A translucent, hovering screen?“What…?”Lines of glowing text scrolled across its surface.---[System Activated…][Host Confirmed.][Simulating Previous Data…]Ethan awakens in a mysterious world, shackled by a curse that clouds his judgment and drives him toward choices he never wished to make. Burdened by guilt and responsibility, he must navigate the fallout of his actions while unraveling the truth behind the curse—and his place in this enigmatic new reality.

In a world where black holes, magical talents, and formidable hunters form the fabric of everyday life, Ethan Cross—a freshly graduated student with an uncertain future—once believed he would lead an ordinary existence like everyone else. However, everything changed when he awakened a seemingly feeble and inexplicable ability known as “Coexistence with Darkness.” No one took his talent seriously—until a catastrophic dimensional rupture unleashed terrifying creatures known as the “Demons of Corruption” upon him.On the brink of death, the pendant he had inherited from his father suddenly activated, summoning three dragon girls—beings of unimaginable power, yet with complex and rebellious personalities. Cursed in the past and trapped within that pendant, these three dragons have now become inexplicably bonded to Ethan. The twist, however, is that they neither recognize him as their master nor believe he is worthy of such a union.Now, Ethan must unravel the mystery of the darkness within him, learn to control his burgeoning powers, and find a way to tame these proud dragonesses—forces that could either aid him in his quest to conquer the underworld or lead to his ultimate downfall.A power that no one had believed in has become the key to mastering the shadows. Can Ethan harness it without being consumed by the darkness?

[This is a daily novel about a seasider going up and down the mountain!

There is no pretentiousness, only the leisurely uphill and downhill!

Chronology, daily life, rushing to the sea, farming, raising children, parents who have short stories, don’t enter if you don’t like it, don’t spray it! 】

Ye Yaodong just couldn’t sleep, he wanted to go to the deck to blow some air and take a pee, but he fell into the sea and went back to 1982.

It is still the familiar small fishing village, but he is not the same as when he was young.

He’s been an asshole for half his life, this time he wants to live a good life, but why doesn’t everyone believe it…

He had no future in his previous life, and he doesn’t have any big ideals or ambitions in this life. He just wants to redeem his regrets, live a good life with his wife, and have a safe and happy family.

[To clarify, I changed my pseudonym. It used to be called “A Cup of Iced Lemonade”, but now it’s changed to “Rice’s Rice”]

- Description from novelbuddy

Prince Kaelen Verath is a royal disgrace—a “good-for-nothing” heir who drowns his shame in wine and brothels.But when traitors slaughter his family and reduce his kingdom to ashes, Kaelen’s desperate pact with the Voidwell, an ancient power that consumes souls, grants him unimaginable strength… and hollows him into a monster.Death offers no escape.He becomes a regressed prince who once watched his kingdom and family burn, only to fail in avenging them without losing himself.Now given a second chance, he refuses to settle for mere survival or revenge—this time, he wants everything.Every empire, every kingdom… all under his control.But with every soul he consumes and every ounce of power he gains, a piece of his humanity is lost.How will he balance power and control?Can he become a supreme ruler and still remain himself?What is the cost of Absolute Sovereignty?————Send Powerstones for a guaranteed mass release!