Could they be the same person?
Netizens from every country clenched their fists, took a deep breath, and, filled with intense curiosity, began reading the mysterious Steel Land word by word...
Then they were instantly hooked.
Excited, thrilled, their imaginations running wild...
This book was just too good. They could reread it dozens of times without getting tired of it.
That dense, authentic apocalyptic atmosphere rushed straight at them, making it impossible to tell truth from fiction as the mystery slowly unfolded through the characters' perspectives.
But the infuriating part was that the author stopped updating right at the end, digging a hole and refusing to fill it. It was maddening!
What a bastard!
When it came to screwing readers over, who could beat Merlin?
The netizens all exploded, leaving furious comments demanding updates.
"Old thief, update already!!"
"Damn it, if you don't update, I'm going to die!"
"This is going to be a lifelong wait."
"There were once many novels before me, but I chose Steel Land, and from then on, I embarked upon the path of healthy living?"
"You know, I have a friend who writes too. Because she updates regularly, she got rich. Ah, I don't mean anything by it, just telling you."
"I seriously suspect Merlin forgot about this unfinished novel."
"Merlin, Merlin... Your name really suits you. No conscience at all!"
"It feels like I'm addicted to something. Reading it leaves me blissed out and utterly immersed in the plot. If it doesn't update, I refresh every three minutes and feel awful all over (▔□▔)/."
"I clicked in with a snap, and before I knew it, I'd finished it. I advise this author to behave himself and pump out more chapters!"
"Hello, Merlin. I'm your loyal reader. I hope you'll update more diligently and stop being so ungrateful, or I'll kneel down and beg you with drool running from my mouth. Sob sob."
The readers' resentment was practically about to pierce the heavens.
Several early joke comments demanding updates had already received tens of millions of likes.
Some foreign netizens had climbed over the firewall out of curiosity to read the novel, only to be so enraged by the cliffhanger that they coughed up blood.
Damn it, at least finish writing about the battle for the survival of Ali-hundred Species and humanity...!!
"Next time for sure~."
Luo Shu looked at the comments and chuckled mischievously.
His alter ego was Merlin. He had to stay aloof and keep his style at the maximum.
Did readers' resentful demands for updates mean he actually had to come out and update it?
How could that be allowed!
Still...
Even if he did not fill in the old hole, digging another new one was not a bad choice.
Having "Merlin" release another Moon World work would not only maximize the sense of mystery, but also stir up hype. If he appeared in the real world wearing Merlin's identity, it would definitely shock the entire world.
But what work should he choose?
Luo Shu rubbed his chin and fell into deep thought.
How about the opposite of Steel Land... Moon Coral?!
"Splash~"
As silver ripples spread, wisps of fluorescent light fell into the boy's pale palm.
Looking at the dozen or so NTZ-48 pills, Luo Shu considered for a moment before swallowing them all in one gulp.
At once, thoughts poured forth like a spring. Countless inspirations surged in like a tide, his eyes shining brightly as he sat before the computer and pressed the power button.
Internet, activate!
Humanity's Final Ending, Part Two: Utaha Kasumigaoka's Sorrow!
Luo Shu took a deep breath. He felt better than ever before, with a sense of sublimation beyond human nature, as if he had become an omniscient and omnipotent Divine Spirit...
All right, that was an illusion.
He closed his eyes in thought, recalling Nasu Kinoko's Moon Coral.
As the saying went, before writing, one had to immerse oneself in the role.
After continuous adjustment, refinement, and careful deepening...
Luo Shu slowly opened his eyes, his expression mournful as his fair fingers rested upon the keyboard.
--
Humanity's Final Ending, Part Two: Moon Coral.
Stars shone brightly, the sea whispered, and coral spoke of its love for humanity.
Heaven contained water, water filled heaven, and beneath the moon, a shattered ocean spread across the sky.
Beautiful illustrations appeared one after another.
An ethereal, sorrowful BGM began to play.
It was like a lament, like longing, like weeping, like a plea. The lingering notes drifted on without end.
After the lunar immigration policy was implemented, humanity suddenly lost its passion.
It included the passion to forge ahead, the desire to explore the unknown, the thirst for knowledge, and even the drive to reproduce...
The tension in the words seeped through the page, saturating hearts with profound sorrow.
Merely witnessing those few lines of text struck people with an incomparably powerful impact.
This was not some trivial matter like a housewife complaining that her son was a shut-in. Rather, the entire human race had become indifferent to everything.
Humanity...
Had lost its future.
This cold fact ran through everything.
But this was not the end of the story...
In the end, the people on Earth sent almost all the fruits of civilization to the Moon.
Because people on the ground could survive without civilization, but the Moon people would perish without it.
"Preserving the crystallization of human wisdom is your responsibility. We already find it troublesome enough."
The Earthlings grumbled, impatiently shoving everything onto the Moon people.
Writing up to this point, Luo Shu let out a faint sigh.
In the Type-Moon world, humanity always marched toward the final end of destruction.
Humanity centered around magecraft, and through excessive exploitation of planetary resources, moved toward Steel Land.
Humanity centered around technology, lost all passion, and moved toward Moon Coral.
Still, the writing style of Moon Coral was simply too gentle...
It was like a blade coated in candied sweetness, allowing people to savor it beneath a sorrowful, saccharine tone.
"Damn it, when is Steel Land going to update!"
In her room, Utaha Kasumigaoka muttered resentfully, deeply dissatisfied with Merlin's habit of abandoning updates.
Ever since she discovered this masterpiece, she had been unable to think by day or sleep by night. Every day, she logged in four or five times just to see whether Merlin had filled in the hole.
And then...
There was no then.
That conscienceless Merlin had no idea where he had run off to. There was only a lone Steel Land post sitting there.
Utaha was so angry she wanted to curse.
With such great results, you still refused to update?
You irresponsible author, just let me catch you~
Otherwise, you'd be in for it!
"Beep beep beep—."
The girl frowned and lowered her head, discovering that the chat group in her social app was flashing nonstop.
Everyone in that group was a diehard Merlin fan.
Ah, no...
More precisely, they were diehard fans of Steel Land. There were netizens from all over the world in the group, and every day they cursed Merlin, that dead eunuch who dug holes and never filled them, while also praising Steel Land.
The messages were coming so quickly now. Had something happened?
Utaha Kasumigaoka grew curious, moved her mouse, and clicked in.
Steel Land Update Demand Group—Group 67 (Full).
Fallen Angel Black Cat: "@Everyone, holy crap, the old thief updated!"
My Online Romance Can't Be a Girl: "@Fallen Angel Black Cat, Really?!"
Never Take an L: "Good heavens, Steel Land actually came back from the dead!"
Your Highness: "Unfortunately, I checked Merlin's homepage. He didn't update Steel Land and instead opened a new hole called Moon Coral..."
Moment of Chaos: "That conscienceless Merlin really deserves to die. Can you have even a little integrity...!!"
Chiryu Yujin: "Digging holes and not filling them, you motherf—...!!"
"Merlin!!"
Utaha Kasumigaoka became furious as she looked through the chat logs.
That guy had opened another new hole again and again and again.
Could you have a little integrity? At least finish Steel Land first!
She rushed to Merlin's homepage comment section at lightning speed, cursing as she hammered wildly at the keyboard. Her pale fingers left afterimages as she unleashed twenty thousand words of abuse.
Only when she was tired enough to be slightly out of breath did the girl give a soft snort and stop her profanity-laced tirade.
Cursing was one thing, but she still had to read Merlin's new work.
Moon Coral?
That was such a beautiful name.
Filled with anticipation, she clicked into the new story.
"Though it may sound a little ridiculous, my grandmother seemed to have been a person from the Moon."
"This year was finally nearing its end as well."
A sorrowful BGM melody began to play. That familiar level of quality instantly drew people in.
Utaha Kasumigaoka's eyes lit up.
There was no mistake. This novel was another masterpiece personally written by Merlin.
Though that old thief loved leaving holes behind, his storytelling ability was beyond question.
Satisfied, she put on her headphones, her lips parting slightly as she happily hummed along with the tune.
--
One hour later.
"..."
Before you continue