I haven't finished it, I'm writing this review because it's one of the rare good novels people should really try out, even if the ending might not be my thing.
Personal rating up to where I read: 5 stars.

The writer is not only talented, they actually know how to write.
I'm quite impressed with how they handled certain aspects, got around plain repetitions of information and plot points that might have been forgotten/overlooked by some readers after 100+ chapters, and other things.

Characters are diverse, have likes and dislikes, live even when MC isn't around, have their own relationships that are progressing in the background, etc.

The mystery is layered, interesting, and builds up over time, everything stays consistent, internal logic is preserved, and the mix of different mythologies and religions is done very well.

MC is OP, and I mean God-level OP, you know he's going to win, there's no suspense.
Instead, the players and NPCs are where the stakes are at.
That way, MC's absolute OPness is perfectly fine, expected even, it doesn't take away from the thrill of battles and worry you have about central characters.

Characterisation is one of the highlights.
There are very little 100% good people, most are grey, even central characters have massive flaws, kill and commit crimes, because it's what they think needs doing.
They don't get whitewashed or change, being like that is part of their core personality.

Considering that the novel takes place in an insane, brutal and lawless world, this is exactly like people should be.

There are a lot of comments/chats, something I usually hate, and it's indeed annoying for a while, because it's nothing but "omg MC is so good-looking/he's my wife" etc.
But that changes, the development is in-line with MMORPGs, from the initial clowning to more and more plot-relevant things, players planing, speculating, and so on.
Nearly everything has substance, it either adds some humour, fleshes out characters, gives hints or theories, or is an actual part of the plot.
Very well done, especially to people who took part in the birth and development of MMORPGs.
Nostalgic and real, if you can hold on until the nonsense stops.

Objective rating is 4 stars, mainly because of two things.

Pacing.
The novel is split into arcs and cities, while the first one is done extremely well and kept me up until 6am, the ones after that are rushed.
Part one takes around 100 chapters, the novel has only 266, the second city takes only around 30, and so on.
It's not enough time to make use of the location and story connected to it, everything feels pretty rushed and the connection you should have with certain characters just doesn't develop.

I think the writer just had more fun with the first and didn't have the patience to slog through the middle part of the story that acts more as a connection to the ending, and isn't a big highlight like the first.
Understandable from a writer's perspective, not great for a reader.

Second point, romance.
I've seen this being a rather big point in Chinese comments and have to agree, the novel would have been better without it.
MC and ML interact maybe every 30 chapters for three sentences, there's no buildup, their sudden romantic interest comes out of nowhere.
And before anything can develop, ML is gone for quite a long time.

Don't read it for romance, I would say try to ignore it.
Give it a chance if you like grand mysteries, legends, religions, battles, gore and horror, a brutal world with equally complex characters, power dynamics, and rather professional writing.

MTL: You technically can if you are willing to cross-check with a dictionary, but some sentences make little sense and player names can lead to very funny ones. Translation on here: Haven't read.
Translating yourself: I would say it's around B2, maybe lower if you are dedicated enough to look up a lot of things. I'm around that level and mix it with MTL during slow sections (because I'm lazy), but specific parts, like the mythological passages, player chats and battles, definitely need at least a good dictionary or solid language skills.

If your Chinese isn't great, I suggest waiting for the translation or using G. Translate + Baidu for everything you don't understand.

Wow, huh, I didn't expect this novel to have already been translated (or been taken up for translating) since it wasn't super popular in the Chinese community. This is quite possibly one of my all time favorites and I was planning to do it myself, but since it's already being done, I'm just glad that it is being recognized and will send this to my friends so they can finally read it:D

Edit: Ok, so looks like this is machine translated with editing. In that case, I would like to still... more>> take up the project after checking in with the original author. The least I can promise is the inconsistencies with character names will be fixed and will be the most accurate version as intended by the author. <<less

This is frickin hilarious XD

A real gem of a story.

Even if you're only vaguely aware of lovecraftian horror stories, as I am, you really get s**ked in.

... more>> The world building is fantastic!

The romance is practically non existent for at least the first 100 chapters, but you don't mind as that is not the point. The point is watching all the hijinks the players get into while pursuing their collective "wife" and building his empire. XD

This is probably one of the few novels where I don't mind the online mob commentary because it honestly feels like a bunch of players sitting around a DnD table creating off the wall backstory, while the DM just sits back and rolls with it. <<less

I managed to complete it!!!

The story has a different point of view, like someone else mentioned, the protagonist seems like a passer-by most of the time, and the main characters are more like the players of the game.

MC Lann is strong from the start, but he grows even stronger and slowly learns about the reason behind his powers.

Lann and ML's relationship develops quite late, and they only get together at the end of the official story.

... more>>

Spoiler

ML is Ogrier

personally, I was interested in amos x lann because I read LOTM and loved that ship lmao

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My favourite player is.... God in the Human World! I love how the story describes in detail how the players overthrow all the plot and schemes of the evil gods, and this player in particular shines to me. His charisma spreads across my phone screen hahaha

Lastly, about the extras. For those dissatisfied by the lack of romance in the main story, the extras can only satisfy it barely. But if you love seeing how the players interact, it'll be fantastic! I love the growth from players seeing NPCs as dispensible to being so protective of them

Spoiler

My favourite extras:

When Lann goes to the human world and does an impromptu photoshoot at an anime convention (everyone was so shocked I wish they knew it was the real Lann)

When the players realised that the skills they obtained in the game translated into real life (it highlights how the game is not just a vr game but an actual other world that the players experienced)

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This story is more focused on action (characters battling against oddities), adventure (characters exploring gameplay and different maps), and fantasy (cthulu, lovecraft), and not so much on the romance. But if you're not feeling in the mood for over-the-top, mind numbing, cavity inducing bl fluff, this is great! This is good for readers who wished that LOTM had bl XD <<less

Currently still on first arc, but I can't help making review because this novel is one of the rare gem that I can find on horror theme novel.

Unfortunately romance is pretty much not here as of my reading, (still speculating who's the ML is because everyone have other side to them), but I adore the characters, the plot and the mysteries.

Lann is just an unfortunate, normal human soul that got transmigrated into a supremely beautiful man after his death and with a lot of twist and turn he was... more>> dubbed the malevolent god by everyone lmao.

The side characters have their own story and important parts on the story, and doesn't really feel like paper characters, which I love.

While the side side characters like the game players act more like a comic relief, they too sometimes have assisted Lann on his adventure (that he did not even wish to get involved with in the first place 😄).

Overall on my reading experience I have been very happy and hooked on the story. The misunderstanding makes things more light on the horror aspect too. It can sometimes be sad, sometimes scary, and sometimes comedic, but I truly enjoyed it. Love Lann my boy with his ability to play along with the misunderstanding 😊 <<less

After the first section of the story the MC is more of a side character, he observes everybody else and act as the audiences pov for what's going on but his existence is the literal deus ex machina of the story, he's the God that comes in last minute when everyone else has done their best and all hope seems lost to fix the situation. It's an amusing way to tell the story at least for the first city's story. The chat rooms are arguably the best part of the... more>> story. The biggest problem I found was the lack of romance because there was potential there that just wasn't tapped into. <<less

This novel is really entertaining.

It has suspense, an op MC..... and mad people who aren't mad and non mad people who are mad.......

• I read this novel like all day and even at night. It's scary sometimes....... like in the night and more scary when in night you hear something falling down or the voice of people which happen to me.
• I am still thinking of continuing this till the end and wish that it won't end quickly as I read.
• For now there is not much of any rom com. I purely come here to read bl rom com and experience horror but I can't find rom com......!! I want the ML and MC to intrac more. I think ogeir is the ML there are other love interests but they don't seems to be suitable. I am rooting for Oran ship. But it doesn't matter if it becomes gangb
• For me it's 4 and half. Or 5 but I press the wrong stars now I can't change it.....
• I recommended it to every one who like enchanting MC filled with beauty that even a glance can make you obsessed. MC is a really beautiful entity which I really like every one is charmed by him old or young, man or women, animals or humans,