tanhuayixian

**Behind the Scenes + Ensemble Cast + Lovecraftian + No System + No Female Lead**  
Gods, demons, dragons, and apocalypses have all become mere fairy tales. The mysteries of this world have long since faded, but someone has dragged these bygone entities back into the light. All clues and accusations point to a man named Chen Ye.  
"Gentlemen, are you willing to shed your mortal shells and join us in embracing evolution?"  
**Expanded Synopsis:**  
Sequence 001 — The Mimic  
Sequence 002 — The Deep Diver  
Sequence 003 — The Invisible Man  
...
I will publish this story on RoyalRoad.com

Cthulhu: I Created the Monster Sequence

Several men exchanged glances as they watched a drunken girl slumped over the counter. "Hey… she's ripe for the picking," one muttered.

A blond man stretched lazily and approached the girl.

Just as he reached out, his wrist was abruptly seized by a man in a raincoat.

The raincoat-clad man remained silent, applying slight pressure to snap the blond's wrist with a crack.

The blond howled, clutching his wrist as he collapsed to his knees. He cursed and immediately signaled his gang. But when the others saw Li Yuan, they froze.

"Uh… Hao-ge, maybe let this go?"

Strangely, everyone except the blond trembled in fear. This wasn't their first encounter with Li Yuan.

Once, they'd found a dying stray dog and decided to "entertain themselves" by putting it out of its misery. Li Yuan had beaten them senseless when he stumbled upon the scene. They'd retaliated by calling in their local gang leader, rallying dozens of men.

Li Yuan single-handedly took down every last one. The cycle repeated—bigger bosses, more fighters—until the entire district's underworld lay defeated. From then on, Li Yuan became their unspoken ruler.

After the gang explained this to the blond, he paled at the mention of familiar names and fled.

Li Yuan said nothing. He approached the drunken girl, who glanced up blearily.

"Hmph… Even if… you came to apologize… I won't forgive you, Li Yuan…" she slurred. "Unless… you drink with me."

The bartender looked at Li Yuan. "What'll you have?"

Water was Li Yuan's greatest weakness. He didn't drink it—didn't need to.

The girl squinted. "Then why… are you here…?"

She pouted. "Give me… your phone."

"Afraid of water damage. Don't have one."

Li Yuan hadn't carried a phone in years. Past experiences—drowned devices, shattered screens during fights, the hassle of replacing SIM cards—made it pointless.

The girl rambled drunkenly until she finally passed out. Without a word, Li Yuan slung her over his shoulder.

Getting no coherent reply, he took her to a hotel. As he turned to leave, she grabbed his arm.

Before he could answer, she yanked his collar and kissed him. Her tongue slipped into his mouth—only to find it bone-dry, devoid of saliva. Instantly, fish scales erupted across Li Yuan's face, his teeth sharpening into fangs.

Panicking at his transformation, he shoved her away and spat out any moisture.

The girl stared, hurt. "Do you hate me that much? Then why come?"

Li Yuan had no answer. He turned to leave.

"If you walk out now… never come back."

A cold truth: Intimate contact relaxes the mind and produces sweat. For Li Yuan, this was lethal.

Perhaps this was for the best. To protect someone, he could only distance himself. Other monsters—like the Queen Bee's faction—wouldn't care about his feelings. If they suspected this girl knew their secrets, she'd be marked for death.

Walking down the street, Li Yuan was suddenly approached by a man who knelt before him.

"Boss… please… turn me back into a human!"

Li Yuan coldly turned. "Even I can't revert. Why think I'd have answers?"

"The world isn't fair, but the power 'that being' grants is. To gain, you must lose. That's the price. You begged for this strength—you should've known the cost."

He walked away. His followers multiplied across the city, some willingly becoming his "blessed." None understood the sacrifice.

Li Yuan looked up as transport helicopters blotted the sky.

The Nine-Tails Unit!