Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord

Zoe ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍turned her head. On the wall, that enormous cannon muzzle had already begun to glow, specks of orange-yellow fire converging from behind like streams of fire dragons gathering toward this side.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍priests of the Church of Candlelight quickly noticed it as well. They tried to charge toward the Giant Cannon, but this time the advance was no longer as smooth as before.

More ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Investigators successfully rushed in, yet their offensive was entangled by the followers of the Mechanical Sanctum.

Once ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍an Investigator closed in on a Mechanical Priest, the situation immediately turned into a one-sided slaughter.

But ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a slaughter still required that they could actually kill their way through.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍battle line of the Mechanical Priests stacked layer upon layer, densely filling more than half the hall.

No matter how powerful the Investigators were, they were still alone. They were almost squeezed into the middle.

And these Mechanical Priests were not so easy to kill.

The higher their rank, the more modified limbs they carried, all forged of steel.

Flesh was indeed frail and weak, but a body of steel could endure blows far better.

A single punch from an Investigator could smash a mechanical body until sparks flew and it lost mobility, yet it could not make steel vanish.

Sometimes dead Mechanical Priests were even more troublesome than living ones. Especially as the crowd grew denser, the Investigators charging in felt as though they had been squeezed into a wall of steel.

Some extreme Mechanical Priests even stuffed explosives inside their own bodies. Upon death, they would begin to detonate—and the proportion of extremists among them was rather high.

Thus, the Investigators suddenly realized that these Mortals were not as easy to deal with as they had imagined.

They were being blocked here, but the Giant Cannon on the wall would not wait.

Soon, the humming of the cannonfire grew louder and louder. It was clearly not far from being able to fire.

Zoe grabbed Gaia’s sleeve in panic. “What do we do? If this continues, everyone will die!”

Gaia gritted her teeth and pointed to a thick pipeline nearby. “You brought the Dragon’s Breath Cannon, right? In a moment we’ll rush to that pipe, blast a hole with the Dragon’s Breath Cannon, then drill inside!”

“Where does that pipe lead?”

“I don’t know! I only know it should be hollow inside. Someone from the Mechanical Sanctum just crawled out of it!”

As the Church of Candlelight was locked in bitter combat, the Mechanical Sanctum frantically buying time, and Zoe and Gaia preparing to flee, in an unnoticed corner of the battlefield, a figure wrapped in a windcoat excitedly lifted their head.

A thick stitched leather mask covered their face, the edges even sewn to the skin.

If Zoe had been closer, she would certainly have recognized this person—the guest from the Southern Continent, the Skin-Shedder of the Sleepless Sanctum.

At this moment, however, there was not the slightest trace of tension in them. They merely gazed expectantly at the Giant Cannon as its energy gradually gathered.

The humming of the Giant Cannon suddenly stopped, and the energy at the muzzle swirled like flowing magma.

Everyone turned to look at the muzzle, fear, regret, hesitation, and confusion flashing across their faces.

The intense energy caused the entire cathedral to tremble. No—not just the cathedral. Everything around it, even the High Wall of Reality itself, was trembling.

The Investigators present immediately abandoned their enemies and fled madly in the direction away from the muzzle.

But suddenly, all the Transcendents paused, then turned back in shock.

Zoe and Gaia, who had just rushed to the pipeline and were about to pull out the Dragon’s Breath Cannon, also stopped.

“The High Wall of Reality…”

“…has shattered.”

The tremendous energy tore a gap in the world. Something was frantically pouring into the present world. The surging seawater of the Sea of Unawareness began to flood back toward this side!

In just moments, the Investigators closest to the muzzle all lost control. Amid screams twisted to the extreme, their flesh split apart, and new grotesque limbs burst out of their bodies.

More than a dozen monsters instantly appeared in the Banquet Hall!

Meanwhile, the Mortals of the Mechanical Sanctum and the Church of Candlelight beside them simply stood there blankly, without the slightest reaction—neither fleeing in fear nor raising weapons to fight.

The seawater of the Sea of Unawareness directly scouring them was no different from throwing someone entirely into pollution.

Although Mortals were more resistant to pollution than Transcendents, it was not by much. Before long, they too would be eroded by pollution.

Only Zoe and Gaia, standing in a corner of the Banquet Hall some distance from the rift in reality, had yet to be reached by the flooding seawater of the Sea of Unawareness.

Both of them shuddered.

Gaia hurriedly pulled the Dragon’s Breath Cannon from her chest and aimed it at the pipeline, preparing to fire. But Zoe patted her shoulder and pointed forward.

“What is it?! Don’t get in the way! Let’s run first—”

Gaia followed Zoe’s finger and instantly froze in place.

That Skin-Shedder… seemed fine. He had not lost control.

No—not only had he not lost control, he was walking against the flooding seawater toward the crackling white-glowing cannon muzzle.

“How is that possible? That’s seawater from the Sea of Unawareness! Even in that world, one would have to wrap the soul in consciousness to touch it. He’s contacting it directly with his body!?”

Gaia felt certain she had gone mad.

Was there truly someone in this world who could physically touch pollution?

Oh, Lord could—but Lord was purifying pollution. The Skin-Shedder before her, however, stood within the backflowing seawater of the Sea of Unawareness without the slightest abnormality!

No—on closer look—

Gaia activated her spiritual sight. The entire world instantly turned black and white, and the transparent seawater of the Sea of Unawareness became a dense, inky black that could not be dissolved.

And that black seawater was pouring into the Skin-Shedder’s body?!

“Impossible, impossible—what is going on?!”

Endless seawater mixed with pollution surged in, yet the Skin-Shedder showed no abnormality. Step by step, he walked to the enormous cannon muzzle, before the blazing white sphere of energy, before the rift in reality, and slowly extended his hand.

“So this is the power of a 【Named One】…”

“Fortunately, the Ritual succeeded. Had there been even the slightest error, I would likely have been instantly eroded by this surging pollution, losing control on the spot and turning into a monster.”

He slowly turned his head and looked toward Gaia and Zoe in the corner of the cathedral.

“Heh. I originally kept you as an extra Contingency Plan. Now it seems that won’t be necessary… Witness my ascension!”

With one hand, he tore off the mask. The mask stitched to his face ripped away a large piece of flesh, which was immediately repaired by the seawater and pollution flooding into his body.

Beneath the mask was the face of a young girl.

Looking at the stunned Zoe and Gaia, the girl suddenly smiled.

“I almost forgot to introduce myself. I am Beatrice Perlanis Rhine Joanne, the Pope of the Church of Candlelight and the Mechanical Sanctum, the Emperor of the Holy Mill Empire, the new 【Named One】. Do remember to send my regards to Hughes.”