Ahem:
This book has already far surpassed every book I've written before in word count, several times over.
I've never written a book this long, nor have I ever spent this long writing one. In another two months, it will have been three years. This is something I've never experienced before...
Before Rayne became emperor, I felt that I still had a decent handle on the plot. There were some places where it went off the rails, but not too badly. After that, though, it seemed like I suddenly lost my direction. I didn't manage to capture the feeling I wanted for the Southern Continent arc at all. A lot of people said it was padded, and I knew that too, so I ended that section quickly and moved on to the next arc: killing Akeon and unifying the New Continent.
Then I became lost. I couldn't get into the zone for several hours today, and I'm mentally exhausted.
Actually, there aren't many plot points left before the book ends.
I finished the outline two months ago. There won't be any more side plots; I'll write straight through to the end.
After Akeon comes the Abyssal Lord arc, followed by another encounter with Master Ogulvi. Then the story will officially enter the apotheosis arc, rising to clashes on the level of the gods. At the same time, it will move into the Magic Energy Network storyline, which is also connected to the Goddess of Magic and Kailstone's magic research. After that comes the final battle, and there may even be a ninth volume.
I will definitely finish the book before New Year's Eve. I don't want to spend the New Year writing this year. I wrote the chapter containing the grand finale last year.
It's easy to say and hard