gulag archipelago excerpt

Ghost Archipelago is an interactive saga where every choice shapes the destiny of Matulo — a young man cursed to wander among forgotten islands, vengeful spirits, and civilizations that time has swallowed. In this vast archipelago, where the supernatural and the mythological are as real as the salt of the sea, you will guide Matulo on an epic journey: Will you unravel the secrets of the Shipwrecked Gods or surrender to the whisper of drowned souls? Will you be a hero revered by mystical tribes, or a feared villain who commands dark tides? Will you choose peace, power, or... oblivion itself? Create your Matulo: define his past, alliances, spiritual abilities, identity, and hidden desires. Navigate haunted seas, make decisions that change everything — alliances, loves, betrayals — and dive headfirst into an odyssey where death is only the beginning. Experience chapters inspired by a variety of genres: "Tides of Blood" – Survive an invasion of ghost pirates on floating islands. "Breath of the Ancients" – Explore living ruins that remember your every step. "Heart of Coral" – Discover secrets buried deep where light never reaches. "Songs of the Abyss" – Negotiate with entities beyond reality.

What happens when football transcends sport and becomes a matter of national survival? Welcome to the Ghost Archipelago, the competition that redefines the meaning of "consequences." Club and national teams from around the world face off not just for glory, but for a prize that can change the fate of a nation: a miraculous bonus of 50 billion in GDP. Victory means ascension, development, and prosperity. But what would a colossal prize be without an equally high price? For the losers, the punishment is bankruptcy. The World Bank will step in, draining their nations' GDP until the next edition of the competition, condemning them to a decade of stagnation and misery. In this archipelago of games, every pass, every shot, and every goal carries the weight of millions of lives. Stadiums are battlefields, and players, heroes and villains alike, fight to save their homelands from ruin. Will the top team of a nation on the brink of disaster achieve victory? Or will they succumb to the pressure and become just another ghost in the archipelago? Prepare for a story where football is the last hope and failure is a real sentence.

Miguel Salazar, a modern historian, military strategist, economist, and businessman, wakes up in 1895 as the heir to a wealthy Filipino hacienda—just as the revolution against Spain looms. Armed with future knowledge, he must navigate colonial rule, foreign invaders, and internal power struggles to build a strong, independent Philippines. But power is a double-edged sword. Will he become a liberator, a tyrant, or the architect of a new empire?

When mysterious dungeon gates erupt across the Philippines, unleashing monsters born from Filipino folklore, the fate of the archipelago rests on a new generation of hunters known as Gatekeepers. A young man burdened by a hidden bloodline of gatekeepers finds himself forced to journey south through blocked roads and dangerous territories. As he battles monsters and forges alliances across towns, he uncovers ancient clans sworn to protect their regions and a mysterious interference isolating the Philippines from the rest of the world. With every fight, he grows closer to unlocking his true potential—but an even greater threat, the legendary Bakunawa, stirs in the shadows. In a race against time and shadowed by a broken communication network, can he and his allies defend their homeland and uncover the secrets behind the gates before it’s too late?

The story follows Darius "Ryo" Santillan, a young Filipino with the unique ability to mimic any skill, ability, or trait of hunters and monsters he observes. In addition to this rare talent, Ryo possesses a secret bloodline trait tied to shadows, granting him the ability to manipulate darkness in powerful and mysterious ways. Unbeknownst to him, his family's legacy is deeply entwined with an ancient shadow organization known as the Obsidian Order, which aims to dominate the world from behind the scenes. As Ryo embarks on a quest to uncover the truth about his family's past, he finds himself caught between rival factions, monstrous adversaries, and his own inner demons. Along the way, he encounters allies and foes, some of whom hide deadly secrets of their own.

Sebastian's life was filled with love and happiness when he found his soul mate. However, his world turned upside down when she passed away due to cancer. He now has to navigate life as a single parent while grieving for his loss. But hope arrives in the form of Cassidy Drew, who walks into his life and shakes things up. With some daunting secrets threatening their future together, Sebastian must learn to let go of the past and embrace a new future with Cassidy. **This is a second chance, he fell first romance**

JAG excerpt or history parts Just for those who want to look at organized Starting Excerpts from my Story It's Just a Game.

Qin Yao opens her eyes and finds herself transmigrated from a post-apocalyptic world into the body of an ancient peasant woman. Her family consists of four stepchildren needing care. A good-for-nothing husband, who has nothing but looks, is causing a ruckus. They live in a thatched hut, without a grain of rice, the family is emaciated like refugees. If that wasn't enough, someone even comes to collect debts! Anger rises in Qin Yao's heart, and she kicks the wretched husband out, "Debt collector, feel free to just beat him to death!" The four stepchildren: !!! With the world quieted, Qin Yao rolls up her sleeves to revive the family. Hunting, carrying bags, fighting bandits, she's an expert in all. But facing the fields, with her back to the sky, and her face to the earth, even a top-tier fighter from the post-apocalyptic world waves her hand: Can't take it! Really can't take it! Qin Yao scratches her head: In the ancient times where agricultural taxes are extremely high, how can I avoid farming? At this moment, the lazy husband who was sent away to die (twisting and crawling) (struggling to stand up) (screaming and roaring): My dear! I think I can be saved!

Shocking! The rough husband is the hidden master in the time-travel novel. She is the sacrificial victim for the male lead's pursuit of true love, the pitiful person who transforms grief and indignation into motivation, the obsessive person who constantly wants to slap the male lead's face with money, the lemon essence contrasting the female lead’s gentleness and generosity. Xu Qinghuan: Emma, is this talking about me? Xu Qinghuan transmigrated into a book, into a time-travel novel written by her best friend, where her father died early, her mother remarried, and she was raised in her second uncle's home since childhood. Her cousin and fiancé are entangled? "Break off the engagement, whoever wants the central air conditioner can take it!" Her biological mother manipulates her with work? Isn't it just going to the countryside? The Great Northeast's black land is fertile, where every year you can lie on the heated kang and eat for half the year. Which corporate slave wouldn’t love it? Most importantly, there is a big shot she wants to cling to. Jiang Xingye is someone that even the male lead admires, the future global richest man, the hidden master in the book. After going to the countryside, Xu Qinghuan goes straight to Jiang Xingye. Her original plan was to be a little follower for the big shot and never thought of developing an inappropriate relationship with him. When the man gruffly raises his eyebrows and coaxingly tells her to hold on a little longer, she only wants to ask: What about being wealthy and detached? What about having a strong career ambition and no time for romance? What about being a 007 workaholic who doesn’t even return home?

Fu Shinian, an extra character in the original book, awakens to find that her whole family are the vicious villains in the story. Her father, unable to establish relations with the Marquis Changping's residence, is demoted and exiled by the male lead. Her mother is beaten to death on the road to exile, and Aunt Cheng is humiliated to death protecting her chastity. Her elder brother opposes the male lead to win over the female lead and dies saving her. Her elder sister makes life difficult for the female lead, and after their father is exiled, she is divorced by the male lead and sent to a pleasure house. To protect her family and change their tragic fate, isn’t it fair for her to absorb all the male and female leads' fortunes? * [Ding! Male and female leads' fortune -1000, Fu Mansion's fortune +1000] Mr. Fu: "I attended the morning court session, why did His Majesty promote me again!" Madam Fu: "I went to the temple to offer incense, and the master said I was surrounded by a powerful purple aura!" Aunt Cheng: "How did the Cheng Family suddenly become the imperial merchants!" Elder Brother: "It seems like I suddenly have gained intelligence, I know all the exam questions!" Elder Sister: "How come right after I broke off the engagement, Little General Gu came to propose?" * The Marquis Changping can only live to 25, in two years the title will belong to the male lead? She frantically absorbs the fortunes of the male and female leads to boost the Marquis Changping's fortune! During the plague lockdown, Fu Shinian brings medicine and travels long distances into the city to safeguard his health. He understands the girl's intentions, but he only has two years left to live, how can he drag her down. However, why does his heart ache so much watching her with someone else? Finally, the Marquis Changping forces Fu Shinian into the corner of the study, lowering his head to seek her lips: "Niannian, I was wrong."