Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord

Click. ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Click. Click—

A ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍series of mechanical transmission sounds rang out. Behind the great doors, countless locking mechanisms snapped shut one after another, the bolts slamming down and bracing the doors firmly against the ground.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍entire hall fell into sudden silence.

People ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍looked in confusion at the sealed doors, and gradually their gazes gathered upon Hela, who was slowly advancing through the center of the hall.

Clack. ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Clack. Clack.

Each ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍of her steps produced the sound of metal striking metal. There was not a trace of flesh upon her face or body. Exquisitely precise mechanical structures crawled across her form like densely packed worms, moving slowly.

The crowd on both sides instinctively parted to make way for her. Immediately, Mechanical Priests clad in red robes followed behind.

Gaia scanned the surroundings vigilantly and discovered that from seemingly inconspicuous pipes and hidden panels, followers of the Mechanical Sanctum were rapidly pouring out. In their hands were various complex firearms and weapons.

“Followers of the Machine Spirit, devout warriors of the Sanctum!”

Hela spoke loudly as she walked. Only now did the guests begin to sense that something was terribly wrong. Some looked around in panic for an exit. Others stepped forward to question her—only to be forced back by dark gun barrels.

Hela stopped.

She had reached the wall directly opposite the main entrance of the banquet hall. A heavy curtain covered the entire wall behind her.

She turned around.

Her face of steel and gears was icy and emotionless. The power furnace in her chest spun rapidly, glowing crimson like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

Zoe and Gaia exchanged a glance and quietly edged backward, trying not to draw attention.

But very soon, their steps froze.

Not just them—the entire hall fell into deathly silence.

Behind Hela, the massive curtain dropped.

Revealing—

A yawning, black cannon muzzle.

A cannon nearly the size of the entire wall.

Zoe swallowed and whispered in a trembling voice, “Gaia… you were being conservative. They didn’t bury explosives. They just built the whole banquet hall in front of the cannon.”

Gaia’s eyelid twitched.

“Warriors of the Sanctum! For the sacred machinery, for the Machine Spirit—eradicate the enemies of the Sanctum!”

From within the dark cannon barrel came a shrill metallic scraping, followed by a low, heavy hum. Like a machine slowly awakening, it began to turn.

The Mechanical Priests who had already encircled the crowd raised their weapons and aimed at the guests.

“Damn you! This is rebellion! You have betrayed the great Candlelight!”

A priest shouted angrily—but in the next instant, a bullet blew open his skull. The Candlelight did not protect him.

The gunshot seemed to signal the beginning.

In an instant, battle erupted throughout the hall.

The Mechanical Priests were numerous and armed with firearms. It should have been a one-sided slaughter.

But those surrounded were mostly the upper ranks of the Church of Candlelight.

And the upper ranks of the Church of Candlelight… were often Transcendents.

In a single moment, at least a dozen people simultaneously activated their Extraordinary Power.

Bullets poured in like a storm. Mortals dropped to the ground in panic. The group of Candlelight priests who had entered last largely remained standing.

“Profane flames—how dare you contend with the Candlelight?”

The old man at the front slammed his Scepter against the floor. An invisible force surged around him. The Mechanical Priests noticed and opened fire at once.

The spinning bullets stopped midair before him, unable to advance an inch.

But this was already his limit.

The Scepter that he had held in one hand now required both. Soon, he was struggling to maintain the barrier.

“What are you waiting for? Act!”

The Candlelight clergy around him responded, but under the heavy fire of the Mechanical Sanctum, they could not break through immediately.

Seeing the situation worsening, the old man’s eyes flickered as he prepared to speak—

The entire church suddenly trembled.

Clang!

Several Mechanical Priests fell to the ground.

Another heavy crash resounded. Zoe and Gaia, still lying prone, exchanged puzzled looks.

“That wasn’t the Mechanical Sanctum, was it?”

“Doesn’t look like it… probably something from the Church of Candlelight.”

Indeed, the tremor knocked down several Mechanical Priests, weakening their firepower.

A few Candlelight priests seized the opportunity and charged toward the Mechanical Priests.

One of them slipped halfway through his dash, stumbling for a split second. By the time he regained balance, several black gun barrels were already pointed at him.

He immediately attempted to activate the Extraordinary Power of an 【Investigator】 to block the bullets—but in the next instant, terror appeared on his face.

That fall had caused his arm to cramp. The physical abnormality disrupted his concentration. Instead of influencing the Sea of Unawareness, the tides within it washed away his Anchor.

His ability lagged for a brief moment.

Most of the bullets were stopped.

But several still tore into his body.

He looked down at the blood blooming on his chest in confusion before slowly collapsing.

Unlucky. One of the bullets had passed directly through his heart.

Aside from that unfortunate one, the remaining 【Investigators】 successfully broke into the Mechanical Priests’ formation.

Like a hot knife through butter, flesh and blood exploded everywhere.

【Investigators】 had almost no weaknesses. They excelled at direct combat—direct combat against other Transcendents.

Against Mortals—

It was pure slaughter.

He needed no weapon.

He merely extended a hand, pierced through the red priestly robe, parted flesh, and grasped a still-beating heart.

With a casual squeeze, he crushed it.

The hot blood sprayed outward, flung across the faces of nearby followers. In the next instant, the 【Investigator】 charged forward, forcibly carving a path of flesh.

The Mechanical Sanctum’s followers immediately shifted their gunfire toward him, pulling triggers without hesitation, ignoring the friendly units caught in the line of fire.

The battlefield dissolved into chaos.

Zoe and Gaia cautiously remained prone beneath a table, observing the carnage.

“So—who do you think will win?” Zoe whispered.

“The Church of Candlelight,” Gaia replied. “They have fewer people, but their combat strength is genuinely terrifying. The Mechanical Sanctum’s firepower is already thinning. And look at their weapons.”

She pointed at the firearms in the hands of the Mechanical Priests.

“They look like rapid-fire weapons, but in truth they’re just multiple barrels and triggers stacked together. Essentially, it’s several guns tied into one. Not even as advanced as Jeremiah’s duckbill gun. They’ll run out of ammunition soon.”

“They shouldn’t be lacking supplies here, right?”

“Not necessarily. I think these people are just stalling for time. That giant cannon over there is about to fire. Listen to that sound—it’s wrong.”

She pointed toward the cannon embedded in the wall.