Antarctica Arc Update: A Shift in the Story's Rhythm
Hey everyone, just wanted to take a moment to talk about the upcoming arc in the story and what you can expect going forward, especially as we begin the next phase of Reign of the Forgotten. If you've been reading along until now (whether you're up to date or still catching up), thank you for sticking with me through the wild, fast-paced beginning. It's been a blast getting the early arcs out, setting the tone, and exploring the world... but it's time to change gears.
Let's talk about the Antarctica arc.
A Different Vibe
To put it simply: this arc is going to be slower.
Deliberately so.
If the earlier parts felt like sprinting, plot bombs dropping, characters thrown into chaos, lore sprinkled in between high-stakes moments, this next stretch is more like a long, thoughtful walk through frostbitten wilderness. And that's by design. This is where the foundation starts to settle.
Not in a boring way, I'm not slowing down because I ran out of ideas or energy. In fact, quite the opposite. The Antarctica arc represents the part of the story where I've started to find my rhythm, both in terms of the writing process and the type of narrative I want to tell.
Scaling Begins Here
Up until now, you've been seeing pieces of Entro's life unfold in a world full of broken systems, buried tech, and sharp teeth in the dark. But now?
Now comes the scaling.
This is where abilities start expanding. Where what characters can do begins to matter less than what they should do with it. Think evolution over spectacle. It's not going to be leveling up just for the sake of cool powers (though trust me, there will be plenty of cool stuff coming). It's more about the implications of growth, what happens to the world when Entro makes big decisions, when Agri changes, and when environments shift in response to their presence.
Expect to see more world mechanics, slower burns, deeper introspection, and consequences.
Real ones.
Let's be real, the earlier arcs were fast. Sometimes too fast. That was intentional at first, I wanted to establish the tone, drop you into the action, and make sure nobody was bored.
But it also served another purpose; it let me explore what kind of story this wanted to be.
I needed that high-speed chaos to test out structure, tone, pacing, and see what stuck.
What clicked with you guys.
What clicked with me, etc etc. while the story isn't going full slice-of-life anytime soon (don't worry), the Antarctica arc is a reset button in the best way. It's the eye of the storm. A pause that allows characters and readers alike to take a breath before things get really, really wild.
So if you've been waiting for more character depth, emotional arcs, ecosystem consequences, and deliberate foreshadowing, this is your time. If you loved the previous action-driven pace and are scared about a slowdown, I hope you'll stick with it. Trust me, the weight this arc carries will ripple forward in a way that makes every beat matter even more down the line.
Schedule Changes: The Daily Grind
On a side note, and this is a positive one, I want to talk about update frequency.
Originally, I'd been aiming for a Tuesday and Friday schedule. That gave me structure and helped me find momentum in a way I could manage. But something weird happened… I realized I could actually handle more. Like, a lot more. It's way easier than I expected to maintain a daily upload rhythm, and I've been loving the consistency it brings to both my writing and my life.
So going forward, I'm going to give the daily upload schedule a shot. It won't always be exactly 24 hours apart, and real life could throw wrenches like it always does, but barring any sudden disasters, expect a new chapter every day for the foreseeable future.
What's Coming Up;
Without spoiling too much, here are a few things to expect during the Antarctica arc:
Entro's Lab: A place that was once hidden and forgotten becomes a new center of focus. This lab isn't just a refuge, it's a symbol of who Entro used to be, and who he's becoming again.
Agri's Growth: The poor guy's been struggling, and it's time for him to get some real agency. But with new power comes new responsibilities, and risks. Watch how the land starts to respond to him.
Terraforming as a Theme: This arc dives deep into the idea of changing the environment, not just as a visual, but as a metaphor for identity, control, and survival. You'll see ice turn to green, and snow to soil, but not without consequences.
Loneliness and Legacy: There aren't any big civilizations here. No bustling cities or armies. This is personal. Just a man, his creation, and the ghosts of an old world trying to decide what comes next.
Final Thoughts
I know shifting pacing mid-story can be a risk. But I believe it's a necessary one. The story I want to tell isn't just about moving fast, it's about meaningful momentum.
Sometimes that means taking time to walk through a forest before you realize it used to be a wasteland.
So, if you liked the speed before, sorry to break the news, but it's time to slow things down.
If you thought things were moving too fast before, congratulations, this arc's for you.
I hope you'll stick with me through this shift and give the next part the space to grow. We're building something here. Something weird, cold, and green, and it all starts with one step across the ice.
Wish me luck, guys.
Let's make Antarctica unforgettable.