Mask of Humanity

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

A centuries old cyberpunk assassin is reborn into a world of Cultivation. Heaven’s Great Game begins anew.It extends grasping arms through the Material, clutching at hundreds of planets and peoples, none of whom have any idea of what they are about to be plunged into. One of these arms reaches for a planet known as Earth. In the streets of New London, year 2493, Nicolai is a centuries-old killer whose brain was implanted into the body of Zero-Twelve, a militarized killbot. He spends his days mostly numb and apathetic, a cog in a machine. But when Heaven arrives, and the Great Game with it, Nicolai is reborn as a human, his old body recreated—along with the madness and blood rage that characterised his past. To orient himself in this new world he is only given one direction:find the Lizard. Watch Nicolai try to survive when thrown into Nightmare, a world of Cultivation, Undead, Demons, Spirit Beasts, Sects and Clans, and much, much more. He finds himself in a rambling castle constructed long ago by the mysterious People. Now it is a decaying ruin, filled with undead who lack a purpose. But there is a war raging in this castle, one that started long ago and which is now entering its final stages, with no care for the human arrivals. In the midst of this he seeks to remain in control of himself, struggling against the dark urges which are ever eager to erupt from him. For Nicolai, in spite of all difficulties, this new world is a dream come true. After a century trapped within Zero-Twelve, he is free. Now, he can resume his endless goal. To become the greatest fighter alive. What to expect: Mc is something like 40% villain, 40% anti-hero, 20% oddly noble/heroic, and 110% just straight up weird. It's not pure murderhobo. Mc will switch from solo to grouping up to solo and so on throughout the series. No forever-friend group anytime soon. Lots of manipulation via dialogue. There is a theme of exploration of what it means to be human/how human MC wants to be. Magic system is very in-depth and blends Cyberpunk + Cultivation. Qi gathering isn't really a thing, getting powerful is more about finding resources/things and developing skills. LitRPG elements are more abstract, e.g. helldivers/call of duty style call-ins rather than +1 to strength. Characters are as real and consistent in their behaviour as I'm capable of making them. This story is primarily for people who have read a lot of this sort of thing and want a read that's less popcorn, more gritty and real. Where power is earned by grabbing for it and fighting for it and being a sneaky bastard. Where plot armour doesn't exist (well, as much as this author is able to make it not exist). Basically, the goal is to create a world where if a character fucks up, there are consequences, but if they make smart decisions, there are results! Also, the Modules and the whole killbot thing shown in the early chapters is a core part of the story, not just a once-and-done thing. Though they appear to be gone after chapter 6, they begin to return over time, with the banter and different skills and so on showcased in those early chapters. Schedule and Info:Releasing three chapters a week, on the Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedule.They release at either 12:03pm or 1:03pm EST.(varies due to British daylight savings time messing with me >_<). Read 16 chapters ahead on thePatreon. Come chat on theDiscord.For those who like the cover art, it was done byYam4817.

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2024
Author: SlaughterBot

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.5/ 5.0
Followers: 4,562
Views: 2,399,552

What readers say about Mask of Humanity

“TLDR: you should probably read this. 10/10. Overall: It's one of my favourite books, I've recommended it to all of my friends who are interested in Cultivation stuff, the cyberpunk side is also extremely well done with the first chapters being set on earth…”
FrebRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“Very interesting story. Nicolai, who used to be a killer bot, now is a human, yet again. He fights for perfecting his combat arts and the purgatory gives him a perfect opportunity to become stronger. There is little cultivation at this moment. Still, I thin…”
GreenFacedRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

FrebRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
TLDR: you should probably read this. 10/10.
Overall: It's one of my favourite books, I've recommended it to all of my friends who are interested in Cultivation stuff, the cyberpunk side is also extremely well done with the first chapters being set on earth and extremely solidly done. (I don't have friends who are massively into cyberpunk otherwise I would have recommended it to them)
Now onto specifics.
Style: I'm not much for technical details, but I can safely say that I loved it. Fight scenes were excellent. Exposition was well done. The interplay between cultivation and cyberpunk was extremely well managed. The cultivation system is a lovely twist on the usual, not a hint of qi gathering to be found. Personally I like the way it works and am very excited for deeper exposition in the future.
Story: Plot points were well created and woven together to create a very engaging narrative.
Grammar: Good grammar, solid punctuation, enough said.
Character: Nicolai is a very fun character to read about, as the title says, he's not a very normal person and the way the author writes that perspective is incredibly engaging. Side characters serve as an interesting counterweight in that they have relatively normal thought process, and seeing them serves to highlight how abnormal Nicolai is, they are also very well done.
GreenFacedRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Very interesting story. Nicolai, who used to be a killer bot, now is a human, yet again. He fights for perfecting his combat arts and the purgatory gives him a perfect opportunity to become stronger. There is little cultivation at this moment. Still, I think there will only be more, as in recent chapters the author gives mc some cultivation related powers.
Casille_VRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
You like characters who put logic (and sometimes bloodlust) above emotion and morality? You like Dark Souls and fights against powerful opponents, with an MC who's willing to do what it takes to survive? Who's clever, careful, slightly crazed from the Dark urges clawing at his mind, and all around competent?
Then why are you still reading my review instead of the story?! Go! You won't regret it! (Unless you dislike bloodshed...)
I didn't know how much I wanted to read about people using tactics and guns alongside what amounts to magic powers until I was reading this book. Nicolai starts off scarily good at everything to do with stealth and murder - then decides to also get good at manipulation and magic. Badass.
Five6212Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Mask of Humanity. The title already gives you an idea of what this story will be about before you even decide to dive into it.
I was among the few to beta-read this story as well, so I know what I’m talking about.
Slaughterbot and I write in the same style so automatic 5 stars here. His use of 3rd person narrative is perfectly fitting for the story as it showcases both the world and the characters at the same time, immersing you deeply.
The story takes you on a ride through its sci-fi elements for the first half of the story, but also showcasing you glimpses of its cultivation aspects through the interactions of the divine beings in the cosmos. I promise you there’s no lack of any intrigue.
The action is crazy. My favorite part. It’s fluid, and actiony. And Nicolai’s experience as an assassin also helps greatly with that, as he knows the ins and outs of fighting, tacked on with his cleverness and psychopathic tendencies that crawls out from time to time. Don’t blame me, another 5 stars.
Nothing to say about the grammar. Slaughterbot helped with mine when we were beta reading, that’s enough proof that he knows more about that daunting exercise than I.
Characters are characters, they move the plot, the plot doesn’t move them. They are not flawless, and they try to improve, especially Nicolai. You’ll see what I mean when you read. Well, that’s basically the premise of the whole story, isn’t it?
So, don’t have doubts and read this story. Take my word for it.
CyuriaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I don't normally review stories, but I read an absolutely incredible one (not this one) and I guess I'm on a roll. Anyway I feel like this story is something I would actually recommend someone to read. If someone asked me for a good story, I could give them all sorts of other stuff, but I might genuinely recommend this one unprompted to someone.It's honestly refreshing, lately I've found a few stories on this site I enjoy just way more than everything else and this is most definitely one of them. I fully believe that the author could still completely screw this story over, but at the moment it has all the hallmarks (imo) of a really satisfying and fullfilling read. While I can think of exactly one story that is simply better than this one, mask of humanity definitely takes one of the top few spots in my favourites.I would highly encourage anyone reading this to at leaststartthe story and see from there.
Droy17Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story blends sci-fi and xianxia in a way I’ve never seen before, and it’s honestly refreshing. The combination of sci-fi tech and xianxia martial arts creates a world that’s both unique and captivating. The main character is far from one-dimensional, and the way his journey unfolds keeps you on the edge of your seat. What I really appreciate is how the supporting characters have their own depth. They’re not just there to be yes-men to the protagonist; they’ve got their own personalities and motivations, which makes the story feel more real.
The world-building is another standout. It perfectly captures a dystopian future on Earth alongside a crumbling apocalyptic system, and the way these two elements interact adds so much richness to the narrative. You really feel the collapse of society, and it’s a fascinating backdrop to the characters’ struggles.
The fight scenes? Incredible. They’re so detailed and intense that you can almost picture every move in your head. It’s not just action for the sake of it; it’s well-crafted and thrilling.
And honestly, the grammar is top-notch. You can tell it’s been polished by a professional editor, which just makes the whole experience smoother. Overall, it’s an amazing read, and I’d highly recommend it.
Fanatical FanariusRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is an absolutely incredible piece of work, in every way shape and form. The world is built cleanly from the ground up, with several clear inspirations and very original takes. The concepting and systems are all incredible, well explained, and well built upon. I would like to comment that at times, not unlike many other novels that are similar thematically to this one, there are info dumps of systems, namely the cultivation system. Personally, I skipped these moments, and lost little in ways of story, but it's not a large detractor and many people enjoy this. Now, on to the meat and bones.Style!Style is something this author achieves very well, their writing and vocabulary do not at all in any way shape or form disappoint, and their action is always lovely to read through, many scenes being absolute badass standouts that are vividly depicted, and in each of them the MC defies the odds, plays his hand well, and you can never be sure if he'll truly make it through or not. The stakes are high, and always climbing higher. All or nothing.Grammar is very good, there are occasional lapses in spelling and written word, but these are few and far between, and with the speed of updates I will not even try to knock the author. This is an incredible pace with incredibly high levels of quality.StoryStory is good, nothing extremely standout, but the theme of becoming a better man, and of someone completely baffled by interactions with people, trying to be human, is extremely well executed and, frankly, is an absolute favourite of mine. If you like hardass bad boys who have a mad streak but want to be better, this is all for you. The story brims with masculinity, sexual tension, blood, guts, and constant intruige that will have you gasping for more.CharactersOverall, I think the characters of this novel are exceptionally well executed, if at the rare moment, a bit weak. For all intents and purposes, they work, and of course our MC is written completely coherently, but there are
FeynixRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I had the opportunity to read this before it was posted.Holy crap, it's good.Style: The style is right up my alley. There's a lot of intelligent thought put into the interconnected themes and the prose flows well from one bit to the next. I haven't read a story of this particular type before and I'm definitely going to be reading more of this one.Story: I don't want to include any spoilers here, because the opening chapters cover it and it's unique. I love the setup for the world, both before the transition and after. The overall concept is very well done and it's a little bit of a twist from what you would expect, especially the origin of the story's system.Grammar: There are no issues of note here. The sentence structure is well formatted and it's a smooth read all the way through.Character: The MC is really well done. I loved the opening scenes before the MC is thrown into the new world and the change they undergo is unique. I'm really curious to see how all that plays out with the new rules in place.Overall, this is a unique and very well done example of LitRPG/Progression. If you're reading this review and haven't read the story, quick, go do it.
AutophagiaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The protagonist, Nicholai, is somewhere between an anti-hero and a true villain. But that's the thing, no one, and I mean no one, is the hero. SlaughterBot (beep boop beeep boo) makes this extremely obvious in how every single person is somehow flawed. Every single person is liable to gut another if it comes to it, if they need to do so in order to survive. Something all too common in their new home.That's what really pulls me in, although the actual cultivation bit is similar to Reverend Insanity. Just with more traditional wuxia concepts thrown in. I do like the system quite a bit though.Technology plays a large part as well, often taking precedence and later readily available. Although it's more so tech + magic/cultivation then tech vs cultivation.On another note, Nicholai often "wins" through extensive experience, combat ability, and actual planning. He is in no way infallible, and plot armor doesn't really exist. Sure he gets lucky sometimes, but it's never luck alone that carries him forwards.Apparently I need more words. Not sure what to really write. Although I'm really wasting away so much of my life reading this stuff./ This was by far one of my favorites though. Legitimately got depressed when the next chapter button disappeared. I couldn't read anything else until then and for awhile after./
Kia LeepRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Overall: 5/5
I was lucky enough to be a beta reader for Mask of Humanity, and I've read over the first 200k words of this story, so I can speak from experience when I say this is a wild, fun ride. If you enjoy cyberpunk or gritty fantasy, you'll be right at home here. Nicolai, an ex-assassin and sociopath, found ways to manage his condition through brain implants. However when the System comes for Earth and he's restored to his organic fleshy self, he begins to struggle with demons he thought long buried once more. Mask of Humanity is a dark, psychological science-fantasy which explores the idea of pitting cultivators against cybernetically enhanced humans (and sometimes merges the two) written with a high degree of skill.
Style: 5/5
The story is multi-pov 3rd person past tense, although it largely focusses just on Nicola's pov, our slightly psychotic protagonist. It's difficult to be able to write a main character doing heinous acts and still have the reader root for them: which only underscore's Slaughterbot's skill with storytelling and prose.
Story: 5/5
Each chapter moves the story forward at a fast clip, so you're never left waiting for action or progress. I really enjoyed the cyberpunk aspects in the early chapters, and frankly can't wait for those elements to begin to be re-introduced into the world as the story progresses.
Grammar: 5/5
There were very few grammar errors in the early draft I reader, and there's even less now. The prose is very clean: much above the RR standard.
Character: 5/5
Nicolai is the main character, who goes solo for a big portion of the book. He's resourceful and intelligent, which makes him interesting to watch solve problems, and his internal struggle with his identity and sanity also provides an interesting degree of depth to explore. The side characters, when they do show up, are interesting and feel like fully fleshed out people - especially fun when we get to see Nicolai's actions from their PoV. Altogether, a complex cast set i