In a lively group of with countless members, a whole hour passed without a single message reaching 99+.
Only after everyone took a while to adjust did they finally take a deep breath, stiff fingers typing as the conversation burst into a frenzy about Merlin and Coral of the Moon.
Some were exhilarated, some somber…
Others openly wept for the story's main characters, moved to tears.
It was hard to imagine that Coral of the Moon could have such an intense and lingering impact.
While that sweeping, somber feeling was somewhat reminiscent of Steel Earth, this story's depth and vivid portrayal resonated even more profoundly, with its delicate, hazy beauty bringing the world alive, creating an overwhelming sensory experience.
It seemed almost hypnotic, drawing readers into a despairing world, struggling to survive.
If Steel Earth was a shot of strong liquor,
Then Coral of the Moon was a concentrated tea.
Maybe it didn't hit as intensely at first. It didn't rely on lavish language or shocking aphorisms.
It simply told a story.
A grand, sorrowful world slowly unfolds through the protagonist's perspective.
The more time passes, the more one reads, and the truer its meaning becomes.
The suffocating feeling, an indescribable emotional resonance, starts to reveal the reality of that apocalyptic vision.
The entire text had a strange allure.
Stirring the heartstrings.
The ocean glimmers, and the coral softly sings. I still love you, even now.
It's a story that captures you, its quiet gentleness can only be described as romantic.
Although the protagonists never truly came together, and barely spoke to each other,
Their love was communicated, even without words.
---
Brilliant, utterly brilliant!
The novel struck right at the heart, leaving readers trapped in its grip.
More dazzling even than Steel Earth.
It left the readers in awe.
"Where did Merlin hone his skills? His writing has visibly improved!"
But that didn't stop the readers from flooding the chat with messages.
[Hakurei Reimu: "It's not just a good story... no, it's a masterpiece."]
[Kuro Neko: "The old thief actually finished it this time?!"]
[Lord-sama: "I'm so in love with it; Merlin's heart grew three sizes today!~ (￣▽￣～)~"]
[Qianlong Featherdust: "He had time to start a new project, but Steel Earth still isn't finished. Merlin's heart can only be so big!╮(￣⊿￣)╭"]
[FFF-Class Brigade Member: "The new work is excellent, so we'll spare Merlin… for now. He might even get to finishing Steel Earth one day."]
[Bull Demon: "Not likely. The guy's as unreliable as me."]
[Shixuan: "Hey the Fool from the above, are you messaging here instead of updating?"]
[Bull Demon: "Cough, cough, working on it!"]
[Literature Girl: "I shed so many tears over Coral of the Moon! Seventy-six pages, yet every tear was worth it."]
[Justice's Companion: "+1. Cried my heart out over this, curse you, Merlin!"]
"So, everyone felt the same way~."
Utaha Kasumigaoka murmured, lifting a delicate hand to wipe her tears with a tissue.
Seeing everyone lightening the mood by flooding the chat made the oppressive sadness lift a little.
Still, the profound impression left by Coral of the Moon, the unprecedented impact, remained deeply imprinted on her heart. She couldn't forget the silent collapse of human civilization…
For her next book… maybe she'd try an apocalypse story?
Following the trends, maybe a long-winded light novel title would suit it.
Blending the elements of Steel Earth and Coral of the Moon, and crafting something new…
Wait…
Would there be any hope for humanity left?
The girl scratched her head, abandoning the dangerous idea.
Ding, ding—
Another message popped up.
Kasumigaoka curiously clicked her mouse, seeing the sender marked as "Blonde Flat-Chest."
["Hey, fat girl, did you read Coral of the Moon? It's way too good!!"]
["Go read it; it might even give you inspiration."]
["Don't forget to thank me!"]
"Pfft~."
The girl with long, dark hair couldn't hold back a chuckle.
She could already picture her friend standing in front of her, pouting and tossing her twin-tails, adorably fishing for praise.
Though pleased, Kasumigaoka couldn't resist teasing her.
Her lips curved in a slight smirk, eyebrows raised, as she typed a biting response.
Her fair fingers danced over the keyboard, tapping out a quick, rhythmic reply.
---
["Eriri, surely you know I'm an admin in the Steel Earth fan group, right? I'm a devoted fan of Merlin's~."]
["I finished Coral of the Moon the moment it came out."]
["Didn't realize Eriri is not only flat-chested but also… adorably clueless~."]
---
"Damn fat girl…"
In her room
The blonde, twin-tailed girl gritted her teeth in frustration, feeling utterly exasperated. This person truly was like "a dog biting Lü Dongbin"—unable to recognize a good deed even if it bit her!
"Next time, I definitely won't share anything with her!" she huffed, turning her head away in a display of defiance.
Eriri Sawamura's pout and indignant glance could only be described as pure tsundere.
---
Tonight was destined to be a sleepless one.
The release of Coral of the Moon was like a deep-sea bomb detonating across the world, creating massive ripples.
It dominated trending searches worldwide with topics like "Merlin," "Coral of the Moon," and "Arthurian Legends." These were not just isolated tags; they wove together in endless discussions.
In every sphere—literature, music, visual arts—people were swept into a fervor. The excitement reached a crescendo, and even the political arenas of various countries responded in real time, forming think tanks to analyze whether this Merlin was indeed the real Merlin.
If it were, was he from this world or a parallel one? What purpose did the "Heavens" hold?
And if Fate/stay night's Servants or heroic spirits were to descend upon reality, how would they even begin to cope?
Among them, the leader of Ameriga felt particularly on edge.
With native tribes almost erased from their homeland, what if the feathered serpent god, Quetzalcoatl, returned? Should they kneel… or prepare nuclear warheads?
And if those couldn't kill him? What if they couldn't even hit him?
Boom…!!
The world's fate shifted with unprecedented momentum, coalescing into an unpredictable direction.
Golden thunder echoed across the heavens, a proclamation of change as if heralding the rise of new heroes, the descent of the great and noble. An era of splendor was beginning to unfold.
In this era of upheaval, countless monsters lurking in the "shadow world" stirred awake.
"Will this planet's future truly belong to humankind?" murmured Estwald Ghul Argis, a vampire queen.
As the Second Progenitor, "the Eye of Extinction," she had once reigned over East Asia, crushing countless races in an era of her kind's ascendancy. But her dominion faded, lost with the retreat of vampires from the stage of history.
Humanity's era seemed far from over. On the contrary, it was flourishing, boundless as far as the eye could see.
So long as no one disturbed that sword, things would remain as they were.
Though its brilliance had faded, that holy sword was still the bane of her kind.
---
"Well, not bad at all. I just gained another million Divine Gems."
Luo Shu's lips curled into a faint smile, like a gentle breeze rippling over water.
Two hours after Coral of the Moon was published, it had already generated considerable gains for him.
Proof that the "more holes, the better" strategy worked like a charm!
The "Merlin" account's followers had already surpassed a hundred million, with terrifyingly high loyalty. If Merlin were to show up now and do a livestream sale, addressing everyone as "family"… well…
Wait, wrong channel.
It would be more like:
"Family, Witch Morgan mocked me for being broke. Merlin may take an insult, but I can't let her disrespect you, my family!"
"Let's light up the carnival! Show Morgan what the Merlin Army is made of!"
"Too hilarious to imagine," Luo Shu chuckled, covering his face.
Before long, he glanced at the silver ripples at the edge of his vision, pondering what to do next.
All those random thoughts aside, with plenty of Divine Gems at his disposal, where should he spend them first?
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