Mingzhu -- artwork #1
Chapter 84
Chaos of Everafter
Ethan was in a daze.
He hardly heard the remainder of the ‘trial’--the time unfroze, and the punishments were meted out, and the notification windows sprung forth with rewards, and even the exit to the Tunnel appeared… and he...
2023-10-20 19:18:04 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 83
Endless Questions
Ethan’s declaration silenced the throne room.
Even the King appeared slightly shocked at how boldly he declared that all three should be punished. Of the trio, the merchant was the only one to look up at him, while the other two r...
2023-10-18 21:07:15 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 82
In Tiny Letters It Spoke
Seconds passed in silent deliberation.
The gears of Ethan’s mind were churning at an accelerated rate. They didn’t have a lot of time to come up with a ‘solution’ that would yield the best results. In fact, Ethan was ...
2023-10-16 21:36:36 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 81
Judgement
[May your Judgement be right!]
The first notification window alarmed Ethan who was forced to use Mana to calm himself down. Battling? That, he was comfortable with. Even fighting monsters nearly twice his Level would be doable. But...
2023-10-15 15:44:06 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 80
Within Time
The root of everything.
She stared at the behemoth spanning eight miles, perfectly circular, its surface smooth and pristine. It seemed metallic, impervious to any and all external effects. Within the rivers of suffering that the world wa...
2023-10-13 21:43:16 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 79
Spinning World
The journey through the portal was staggeringly uncomfortable–unlike the entrances and exits to the Tunnel, Delilah's skill with stabilising the portals was still lacking. Everyone, even Ethan, tumbled out disoriented, falling to the floor...
2023-10-12 20:51:44 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 78
Means of Blood
[Wildtree Seed]
Rarity: Unique
Level: 1
Note: From a Seed sprouted a Tree, and from a Tree a Fruit; Borne Noble in the visage of light, from a Fruit Seeds sowed the Youth.
The seed ...
2023-10-11 21:48:28 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 77
When Life Burns
It came like a storm.
Branches of the tree sprung out in droves, belting out like tentacles. Dozens of them came flying towards Ethan, while dozens went for the other kids. Ronald quickly covered up for Elijah while Mingzhu managed to...
2023-10-10 19:12:50 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 76
Wonders of Life
Ethan mulled inwardly while the young woman stared at him as though he was mad. The memories were distant and somewhat foggy, but he could still recall that day well enough.
It was about fifteen years post-Descent, and the world had a...
2023-10-08 20:29:54 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 75
Once Upon a Time
“Ah, fucking fuck, pieces of shit. I hope you choke while guzzling down buckets of cum, you goddamn fucking shits,” Mingzhu cursed ardently as she found herself adrift inside a fog-infested forest with the visibility so low she feared ...
2023-10-07 21:35:22 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 74
Lonely Eden
Ethan barely managed to land squarely on a rather wet and soft surface. He still felt pain radiating outwards from his shoulder and pulsating throughout his entire body, though it didn't feel as though it would last long as his body had already...
2023-10-06 21:29:57 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 73
Fifty Yards
Four shadows stood inside one of the abandoned apartments surrounding a square where a rousing entrance to the Tunnel shimmered relentlessly. Ethan, Ronald, Elijah, and Delilah all stood patiently, their gazes drawn to the rows of men and women...
2023-10-05 19:01:37 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 72
Accelerated Plans
Ethan silently observed a rather spacious, underground chamber that they’d dug out through the past two days. Wooden beams stood erect scarcely about, forming a module that helped hold up the ground from collapsing. Sarah had some exper...
2023-10-04 20:45:45 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 71
Unbound
It was dark and scary.
Like a leaf in the wind, all she could do was tremble. It would stop. It always stopped. Sometimes, it stopped quickly. Other times… it lasted a while. This time, it was the latter. It was loud. Piercing. Shrikes of a...
2023-10-03 21:02:43 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 70
Lullabies of the Damned
They hung by their necks, struggling to breathe.
The world had learned of the proper way to hang a person centuries ago–drop them from an appropriate height to immediately break their necks, causing them to lose consciousnes...
2023-10-02 19:50:35 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 69
Treasure Trove
Ethan steadily worked through the sheer list of notifications that swarmed him, some of which were purely informative, but most of which regaled the various rewards that fell upon him. The Emperor’s death would likely speed up the fall of ...
2023-09-30 19:12:07 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 68
When the Head Falls
The charge, the same one that would have absolutely failed just a day ago, was beyond successful–the rows of Altukeen ushered forth carnage as their tall, broad, and strong frames spilt into the city streets. The soldiers that came to...
2023-09-29 20:26:49 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 67
Hitherto, Light
“Caleb! Caleb! Caleb!”
Chants were deafening–the light in their eyes mesmerised by the horse rider, by the visage of a valiant soul, by him. They were devout to him, they loved him, and they worshipped him. The masses b...
2023-09-28 17:13:30 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 66
Neverending Wars (V)
The entrance was a gaping maw that stretched to twenty feet of height, wide enough to berth four grown men, with a gilded arch coming together into the shape of an eskyrion, a mythical beast found occasionally in the Tunnels that resem...
2023-09-28 17:13:08 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 65
Neverending Wars (IV)
Doppelgangers.
In some ways, doppelgangers were one of, if not the weakest monsters created by the Descent. They couldn't use magic, didn't have any physical prowess, and were almost worthless in a direct fight. However, in far ...
2023-09-25 21:48:46 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 64
Neverending Wars (III)
Ethan and Michael stood side by side at the edge of a steep cliff, their eyes locked on the majestic city sprawling in the valley. The moonlight was rather fierce, illuminating the sharp edges of the buildings and giving a clear pict...
2023-09-24 15:59:15 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 63
Neverending Wars (II)
The landing party squared off with the welcoming committee–had Ethan not immediately stepped forward, chances were that the soldiers would immediately lash out and attack, believing to have been ambushed.
Rather, his worry was...
2023-09-22 21:00:22 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 62
Neverending Wars (I)
Layla gasped in awe at the rather marvellous sight in front of her–two helicopters, both seeming massive and beyond deadly, were being filled up by men and women rapidly as she, Ethan, and Ronald stayed to the side with an older-look...
2023-09-21 18:25:33 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 61
Lost Humanity
Ethan had wondered why nobody came out of the barracks when the sound of the gunshot rang out, but as soon as he entered he discovered that the singular room they were all shoved into was soundproofed. Whether by design or pure coincidence, h...
2023-09-20 18:06:56 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 60
Cold Apathy
By the time they got to the barracks that housed the selected soldiers, their group had grown from four to nine. It included Sarah, whose existence was still shrouded in the seed of doubt within Ethan, as well as the man who supposedly was the ...
2023-09-19 12:52:55 +0000 UTC View Post