Writathon - November 2024

In a fractured world where echoes of ancient power still shape the fates of nations, the land of Elysium clings to a fragile peace. Within its crumbling walls, mortals bask in the light bestowed by the Goddess, a beacon that shields them from the chaos and darkness beyond. Yet, beneath this veneer of calm, shadows stir, whispering of a time when darkness reigned—and the remnants of that era threaten to unravel the world anew.

Abad-Shai, once feared as the Black Flame, was born of the Dark Lord’s essence—a living being born of destruction, cursed to bear the legacy of an unrelenting conqueror. His reign ended when a Hero chosen by the Goddess shattered his ambitions and cast him into centuries of dreamless slumber. Now, awakened in the hollow remnants of his vault, Abad is stripped of the power that once defined him. Haunted by the weight of his past and longing to break free from his dark inheritance, he embarks on a journey to reclaim his stolen treasures and rebuild himself—not as the terror of the realms, but as something entirely new.

But the world refuses to let Abad fade into obscurity. His awakening stirs forces beyond his understanding, and he soon unravels a dire series of events that threaten to end all things—a cataclysm that his very existence may have set in motion. To avert disaster, Abad must make an impossible choice: remain free and let the world burn, or tether himself to the moment of his death, reliving the days leading to the apocalypse in a desperate bid to change its course.

With each loop, the lines between the monster he was and the man he hopes to become blur. Can Abad defy the chains of fate and forge a path beyond the shadow of the Dark Lord, or will the cycle of destruction claim him once more?

Core Story Elements

Dark High Fantasy

Slow Progression

Low Power Ceiling

Slice of Life Moments

Worldbuilding

Numbers-Lite LitRPG

Anti-Hero MC

System Native MC (Isekai World, Native Inhabitant MC)

Reflective Tone

Regression+Time Loop

Focus on Loss, Overcoming the Past, Personal Flaws, and Finding Meaning (Loss is a Major Theme in Book 1)

Third Person Limited POV (Very Few Perspective Shifts, Generally Limited to Dreams Relevant to the Plot or Moments Where an External View of the MC Is Meaningful)

Romantic Elements (Slow-Burn Relationships, Flings, Fade to Black Adult Dynamics)

No Harems Planned, but Maybe a Triangle Eventually

If these elements interest you, please read and enjoy!

This series is a dark fantasy LitRPG with slice-of-life elements. The progression and plot are intended to be slow, interspersed with adventure, exploration, mystery, and romantic elements.

That's my goal here.

I also want to write a story where the "bad guy" slowly realizes what it's like for the people on the ground. The normal people. I want the story to be about growth, inside and out.

The questions I asked myself going into this one is whether a terrible person can grow, and what would that growth look like?

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy it!

And if you like this one, check out my side series Zero to Hero. It's about a down-on-his-luck diamond in the rough doing the best he can while having fun along the way.

New chapters are published on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

I'm currently rereading and reworking several elements of the story.

Also, this is a first draft. I plan to publish it eventually, but it will go through revision before then.

Mirk has lost everything: his noble family, his home, and nearly his life. All he has left is his grandfather’s staff and the K’maneda, the strange band of foreign mercenaries who saved him. He decides to build a new life among them in their wandering City of Glass, dedicating himself to healing the outcast and forgotten men who did everything to protect him. Providence makes no mistakes. And to live is to serve.

Genesis is an expert at three things: binding magic, assassination, and cleaning potions. Everything else is a mystery to him, especially people. Which is a crucial shortcoming, considering his ambition is to launch an insurrection against the corrupt mages who have warped the K’maneda into a machine designed to grind up the poor for the benefit of the wealthy. He will never be free; his nature is destruction. Since he can’t escape it, he will use it to liberate those who aren’t bound to obey.

They’re an unexpected team: the unrelenting and inhumanly powerful Destroyer and the kindly healer with a knack for putting the right people in the right places. But will it be enough to ensure the revolution prevails? And is there more to their relationship beyond a mutually beneficial alliance?

Set in 1697 England, within a society of mages that exists parallel to the mortal world, Canticle features: an exceptionally slow burn romance between a cunning cinnamon roll and the world's cringiest neurotic edgelord, catty infighting among nobles, shady mercenaries, rightfully vengeful djinn, a growing revolution, and a whole lot of hurt/comfort.

Updates weekly on Saturday!

One could say, life only truly begins after entering the tower.

Faced with ten trials, one for each floor of the incomprehensible tower, men and women strive to reach the top.

After reaching the peak and triumphing the tower's trials, one must make a choice: ascend to a higher world, or reincarnate with a wish and adventure through the tower once more.

"I choose to reincarnate."

And so he did, countless times. Every reincarnation gave birth to a new legend, a new story.

Join one last adventure to overcome the tower at its maximum difficulty, while cursed with maximum misfortune.

What to expect:

- Dark lows and uplifting highs
- A very long fantasy (not like a typical tower climber)
- Unfortunate situations
- More unfortunate situations
- A slow burn romance

Book 1 ends with chapter 74.

Check out my other story Soulmaster's Ascent!

The year is 2038 when humanity discovers they are not alone in the universe. Contacted by a civilized universe spanning Trans-Galactic Union, humanity is ready to embark out upon the stars in a vast new world of possibilties.

Or they would, had it not been for the small fact that the entirety of the universe is destroyed shortly after making contact with them, something which most people would refer to as a slight dilemma.

Rowan, or Rory for short, finds himself in the strange conundrum of not being dead post-deletion. In fact, he is in the lobby of his childhood doctor's office, having a pleasant conversation with an alien professor about why exactly they aren't dead.

Not at least a little confused, things are only made more strange when Rory wakes up to find himself in an alien world, the only living thing aside from plant life for as far as he can see. As if that isn't odd enough, he soon discovers this new universe works by decidedly different rules.

Almost completely alone, Rory must survive, if only because there isn't much to do but survive. His only sometimes-company is an odd World Spirit that seems insistent on his continued survival and growth, a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship that feels at least a little bit like a pyramid scheme.

Universe's End is a LitRPG that follows not that upcoming plucky hero as they strive to surpass the ancient forerunners or current legendary figures but instead follows the story of one of those very precursors as they build the foundations of the LitRPGs we are all familiar with, while also answering the question of why the world follows an almost video game-like logic.

What you'll get

-Weak to strong progression over an extended time frame

-Exploring the story of the very first few to experience a System-based life.

-Little to no edge. MC is not a revenge-thirsting, all-black-wearing, trench coat having bad boy.

-Heavy crafting focus

-No number bloat. You won't see any stat sheets with tens of thousands of stat points with amplifiers that mean nothing

-Little to no hax.

-Adult MC.

In the vast expanse of space, a colony is created after surviving the death of its home galaxy. This is the story of Axel Thunderstrider, a young man who must overcome his disabilities and turn them into his strength to save his home from evils both human and eldritch. In a world of storms, both physical and metaphorical, will they wash away our hero? Follow Axel on his adventure from an ill-fated duel to trials of will that must be overcome. Set in a world where the remnants of a lost civilization strive to rebuild and protect their new home from lurking threats, this novel explores mature themes such as overcoming pain, death, survival, and horrors.

But all is not doom and gloom; there is love and beauty to be found in a world so deadly if one only has the courage to looks for it. Will you join me on this journey to find it?

Authors notes:
 I hope if you are reading this enjoy the journey and my first book.

Current Chapter release is Tue / Thu with the odd bonus chapter thrown in there to spice things up.

Welcome to the Game! You’ve been chosen to fight for your planet’s place in the Multiverse.

Lucas Altan and his friends are among the one-thousand people ripped out of Colorado and teleported to an alien planet. Lucas wakes up alone, with an overly friendly AI as his only companion. Game on.

Here, magic is real and the clock is ticking. The rules are simple: Find your team, then fight through four stages of monster-infested wilderness before time runs out. Fail, and you die . . . and condemn everyone on Earth too.

Lucas has done a lot of crazy things in his life, from fighting forest fires, to teaching skydiving, to starting an online company to hunt scammers. Now he finds he’s got a knack for killing monsters, winning unique loot, and surviving against long odds.

Wielding fast wits, cool spells, and a magical sword that can’t cut anything physical, he needs to level up faster than the odds stacking against him. Getting stronger is the only way to survive, save his friends, and not become that guy who let Earth die.

This fast-paced action fantasy litrpg adventure hurls Lucas into a crucible of combat, magic, and nonstop adventure.

Posting Schedule:

Launch Day: 10 chapters.

Rest of the 1st month: Two chapters per day, 5x/week M-F, 9:00 am NZT (2:30 pm PST)

For the next several months: One chapter per day, 3x/week M/W/F, 9:00 am.

 Things to expect:

 - 1st person POV.

 - Tons of action, lots of monsters, super cool loot, entertaining AI, inspired by classics such as HWFWM, PH, DOTF, and more.

- A great cast of side characters

- No harem or spicy romance.

Enjoy! I look forward to reading tons of comments and feedback :)

Patreon is 40 chapters ahead.

What makes a hero? To be powerful? To be selfless? To stand tall and do what’s right?

One thing is certain—James Novak is certainly not a hero, at least not yet. But he could be one if he’s willing to put in the work. His big sister Harley could be too, assuming she survives. And so could Yoyo, his little brother, but he’s missing right now and might be dead.

You see, the Novak children have fallen into a strange new world fraught with danger, though they won’t give up without a fight. Besides, heroes do what they have to, even if things seem uncertain, or even if a bird flying over the mountain does signal the end of the world…

What to Expect:

Immediate Isekai - The story begins with the characters already in the new world. Backstory is provided in later chapters.

Three Main Characters - The story follows James, Harley, and Yoyo. Sometimes other perspectives are shown to expand the story. No POV switch mid-chapters for ease of reading.

Character Driven - The story focus is on the characters, their personalities and goals, and family dynamics. No litrpg or system.

Slow-Burn Progression - The story develops slowly as the characters learn more about the world. Progression occurs through knowledge, items, and magic.

Aiming for 1,500 to 2,500 word chapters.

Release Schedule: Monday / Thursday

Please leave a comment, rating, or review. Let me know what you think! Thanks in advance.

Participant in the Royal Road Writathon Challenge.

Volume 1 (Ch1-16): Karine, a.k.a. Monseigneur Tanking, one of the foremost raid streamers of Massacre à l'Alcool (MAA), a MMORPG, prepares, along with her guild, the Death Fiscalists, for the race to world first. While running a dungeon with her followers, she realizes that the game's world faces a wave of unrest that's not consistent with any of the game's bugs. Will Karine be sensitive to the plight of MAA's world, as it's losing control, or will she keep playing the game that provided her with fame?

Volume 2 (Ch17-28A): On Taladu, an alien world facing a housing crisis, a near-bankrupt real estate developer is ordered by the creditors to replace much of its staff, but the creditors impose conditions to keep the real estate developer in operation. Karine is then summoned to Taladu, believing that she would prove better as a project manager than what the real estate developer can get on their own world. She reluctantly accepts this role, hoping to return to her own world once her obligations to the real estate developer are fulfilled.

Volume 3 (Ch29-50): Enno, the Lord of Kaeshana, plans on building a haunted park on his territory, in hopes of attracting commerce and travelers to his land. However, he is about to realize that building a haunted park comes with a different set of challenges compared to regular infrastructure projects.

Volume 4 (Ch51-78): Caroline, a video game streamer that turned to a new game after her last one, Massacre à l'Alcool, closed, was challenged on a stream to write a hockey romance book in November, and to write the book on air. She dives headlong into reading hockey romance books before deciding on the challenge issued by her faithful subscriber, not suspecting that memories of her hockey-playing days are about to resurface...

Volume 5 (Ch79-): Marjorine, a fresh college graduate, works a job she feels is a little unsatisfying and then turns to a video game that promised to fill the voids she feels in her life. What she has yet to realize is that the game will take an increasingly big role in her life. Will Marjorine keep control over herself, or will she fall prey to the promises of its manufacturer?

With the fragmented memories of countless lives remembered in his dreams, a young boy stares at the battles of the immortals in the sky and wonders if this time things will be different.

Taunted as slow and different, given a diminutive name, and treated as a simpleton, Little Bug's disjointed memories have one thing in common. In each of his past lives, he died young, well before he could achieve anything significant with the life he was given.

This time has to be different, he refuses to allow the tragedy of his last life to repeat itself.

As the echoes of the heavenly battle fade, the healing of the earthly realm begins, but things do not get better. Not for his village, and not for Little Bug. Not until a misunderstanding with a merchant brings him to the attention of the local sect, where his differences are finally recognized for what they are.

The signs of prodigious talent.

But with talent comes suspicion and jealousy. And within Little Bug’s soul are secrets which should not be unchained. Some things are sealed away for a reason, and even the benevolent have their limits.

(This novel is entered in the 2024 november writathon)

(Book 1 of this novel is available on the author's Patreon)

After years of torture and torment in the most brutal prison in the Five Planes, the famous 600-year-old Demon Shepherd escaped along with several prisoners, taking advantage of a mysterious incident. However, the trackers that had been implanted in his body, Ka and Ba, caused him to be pursued everywhere he went.

His plight got a lot worse when he stumbled upon a Key that the Heavenly Union seemed to desperately want. The bounty on his head skyrocketed; the whole world was after him.

His life turned into a nightmare. He couldn't even shit in peace, let alone cultivate.

And now, they have finally cornered him.

Fortunately, he knows a Yantra, and his only chance to escape death is by... killing himself.

[TRANSMIGRATION - WEAK TO STRONG - UNIQUE CULTIVATION SYSTEM]

Disclaimer: The MC is evil and will do... horrific things.

Earth is guilty of genocide through mana deprivation. No one alive knew of this, they found out when the Greater Mileu Council reintroduced mana to Earth and gave the sentence: At their coming of age, some would be chosen by Lottery to participate in the game. 

Earth was told they would be removed from being punished, the lottery rescinded, but not when or how. And in the meantime, their children were selected and sent into the Game where they fought, they changed and were never the same.

Mosh was an ordinary farm boy, with dreams of being an academic and working to advance knowledge. Instead, he finds himself in the Game, fighting for his life, fighting for his existence, fighting to not become a monster. And in the Shadows on Earth, the rebellion grows. Hidden even from them, those responsible for the long-ago genocide stir, looking to enact new plans to restore the purity of Earth, to purge mana in its entirety.

Current aim: A chapter a day through November, slowing down to three chapters a week after that, all chapters 2000 words or more

What to expect 

Clueless and weak MC, growing in knowledge and power

Cultivation and Levelling system

Evolution of class, race and more!

Multiple POV as needed.

Graphic violence, no pretending it is pretty! (not immediately but as the story progresses)

No harem!

Participant in writeathon October 2024

Thanks to my son for the latest interation of the cover. 

Living in a world of cultivators is like walking on the edge of a knife. If you slip, the best result is a deep cut, but the likely result is death. Su Fang is brought into this world completely unprepared, knowing nothing, and lacking any skills to help him. This means only one thing. He is destined to die.

Fortunately, Su Fang is immortal. Not because he cannot die, but because when he does, he un-dies.

In this world, everyone is born with a Golden Finger to help them survive. Su Fang’s blessing is to return to the beginning of his journey after every death. His System provides him credits upon death with which he can purchase absolutely anything, but he is only rewarded enough credits to help him return to the point he died. To advance further, he must rely on himself.

This is both a time loop story and a xianxia story. At different points, one element is more pronounced than the other, but it is always a combination of both.

This can also be considered a slice-of-life story. It isn’t about saving the world or defeating a big bad guy. It is about living life in an unfamiliar world where it can sometimes seem like everyone is out to kill or enslave you.

Expectations:

-Detailed cultivation and crafting.

-Limited fighting scenes through most of the story.

-Slow cultivation progression. Each level will be explored in detail.

-Somewhat unreliable narrator. Cultivation affects the mind, and it will affect the MC’s perceptions of the world. Facts can generally be trusted, but many times there are layers beyond what the narrator sees.

-Xianxia tropes with a world built around them so they make sense. Why do young masters go crazy shouting "You dare!"? Why do their guards willing throw themselves to their death against someone with significantly higher cultivation? All that and more is explained.

-This is a story of cultivation. It has cultivation in the xianxia sense, working to gain strength and power, but, more importantly, it is a story about cultivating the self. Finding ways to make yourself a better version of you.

New chapters drop 5 days a week, M-F, at 7:00AM Central Time (US)

Discord Server

Some powerful beings claiming to be gods have come to earth and spread the knowledge of magic. In exchange for this knowledge that they thrust upon humans without our input, they have forced humanity to fight against another sapient race of beings known as the fraxions in a series of 1v1 battles, where the victor gets no rest and must immediately fight against another of the opposing race. Humanity had a great head start, but has been lagging further and further behind in adopting magic compared to the fraxions.

One man has had enough.

We follow Luke's quest to give humanity the best shot he believes he can give them.

[Winner of the Royal Road 2024 Writathon challenge]

Dan Erikson took a machete to the back. 

A memorable start to his career as an agent.

In the polluted, gang-filled streets, Dan barely survives his wounds thanks to the intervention of the mysterious Alpha Corporation and given a choice: serve or die. In a bizarre landscape of warring shards vying for dominance, he is given the chance to prove his value to the corporation and crush a rebellion in the city of Amethyst.

Dan quickly discovers his new powers as a shard agent that make him a super-soldier.

Is Dan up for the job? Or will he be another statistic in the Alpha Corp’s desperate arms race against rival shards?

Alpha Agent follows Dan in a pulse-pounding LitRPG Post-Apocalypse with missions, challenges, and progression within a war between shards. This journey will captivate fans of The Primal Hunter, Blood for Power, and He Who Fights with Monsters. 

Join Dan as he embarks on a quest to become the ultimate agent in a world where power is the only currency that matters.

Book 1 (Amethyst raid): Ch. 1 - 39
Book 2 (Heist): Ch. 40 - 86
Book 3 (Combat Games): Ch. 87 - 130
Book 4: Ch. 131 - onwards

Subscribe to my Patreon for as low as $5 to read ten chapters ahead!

In Neo-Kyoto, a rain-soaked city where ancient temples clash with neon lights, supernatural forces lurk beneath the surface. Wraiths—beings born from human emotions—secretly shape the world, their influence felt but rarely seen.

Hiroki Tsukishiro, a lonely orphan, drifts through the city's shadows until he encounters Arkan, a dangerous Wraith. This bond unlocks a terrifying power within him, pulling him into the hidden realm of Soul Smiths.

But before Hiroki can master his abilities, The Hollowing occurs—a disaster that breaks the barrier between worlds, flooding Neo-Kyoto with rogue Wraiths. Now trapped in chaos, Hiroki must join forces with Takeshi, a cunning outsider, and Abeni, a former friend, to uncover the truth behind The Hollowing and save the city before it's too late.

In the human realm of Cedirc, an assassination attempt is made on on the king on the eve of an important treaty signing, leaving King Alfred DeCarren near death. Unaware of events in the capitol, the king's children make ready to receive the Eno'Kalian delegates in the port city of Aldar, even as forces conspire to stop the foreigners arrival.

Meanwhile, far away in their sacred forest, an ilvarri patrol discovers that the gal'roth - twisted, evil creatures - are not as close to extinction as thought decades before. Recovering from near eradication in the wake of the Cataclysm centuries before, they must either turn to the humans of Cedirc, or try to defeat this enemy on their own.

Though separated by hundreds of leagues, these two events are connected, and the choices made by each party will have a lasting impact not only on themselves, but on the others as well. Old biases and hatreds will have to be overcome for all to survive, or none will.

For all the while, another force works in the shadows, helping both sides and none, their agenda known only to themselves as an old threat, long cast aside in memory, begins to reemerge...

Conspiracies. Secrets. Lies. Mouse has lived her life in the shadow of the Empress, bound to her as both her lady-in-waiting and her decoy. But when she discovers the truth of her own identity, she must decide whether to keep playing the role of the dutiful handmaiden or pursue her own ambitions. Will a series of unexpected encounters lead Mouse closer to the person she longs to be or down a dark path from which she cannot return? 

The Blade That Cut the Mouse’s Tail is a story of alliances and betrayals, love and heartache, revenge and absolution. But above all, it is a story about finding the courage to do that which you never imagined possible and become the person you were meant to be.

What to expect: The Blade begins as a character-driven slow burn that leads to a world of political intrigue, treasonous plots, and dark revelations. Romance and humor emerge as a natural course to the characters within the story. Occasional mild language and minimal violence.

Planned length: 1000+ pages

[participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge]

Months after an extra-dimensional invasion ravaged Florida, the world is still reeling from the consequences; global economy is in crisis, political relations are strained, religious and scientific beliefs have taken hits. By far the greatest upheaval is the development of superpowers; originally seen only in survivors of the invasion, now they're appearing randomly to dangerous results.

Maya Wennefer has spent months recovering from the horrors of the invasion and now only wants to rebuild her life. Unfortunately, as one of the survivors with the strongest powers, she will have to get involved in the developing situation before others do it for her...

A strong-lead, progression superhero story with LitRPG elements.

[Participant in the Royal Road November 2024 Writathon challenge] 

[completed the November 2023 and April 2024 Writathon]

Hope Lauren has read her share of comics. She’s seen supers around her city and even been saved by some on occasion. And she always hoped that she’d be able to join them. 

With Jack, her grizzled older mentor with secrets that could shake the world, and Pantheon, a new team of heroes, Hope will have to fight against monumental odds to save Oleander City. 

In a world of action, comedy, tragedy, and adventure, there’s plenty for a new hero to do.

*Readers can expect a mostly adventure-themed superhero journey that will include a slice of life, action, and hopefully exciting world-building. It will also contain a slow-burn GL/Yuri plotline, which I'll eventually get to when I feel like it, I guess. This will be a very long story with many arcs*

New chapter every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 

Plunging into the depths of a dark cavern, a novice adventuring team stumbles upon a sinister secret. A bloody battle unfolds as they fight the dark forces, but things go horribly wrong. Once mistake and Ryland is brutally murdered but the cave's inhabitants. In a rage, the team tears through their adversary in a quest for vengeance. As the necromancer falls, they return to Ryland once more. Blinded by grief their cleric attempts the unthinkable: resurrection. Even with all his sacrifices and vows, nothing seems to work.  As the cleric utters his last desperate prayer, the body shifts. But the group is horrified to see what he has become: A zombie. Unable to kill their friend a second time. The group decides restrain and leave the monster within. He is only one minor undead, with the necromancer gone he will perish naturally anyway. Packing their bags, they return to town to report on what they found. 

For Ryland the spell worked...kind of. Torn from the grip of death, he was brought back to the land of the living--Just not in one piece. As a spirit, he tries to grab the attention of his friends, begging them to turn and see. He can only watch as they leave the cave in silence. With his friends gone, Ryland is left alone. His moaning body the only thing to keep him company. 

What to Expect:

Slow MC Growth 

Not overpowered, but crafty

Bits of comedy and horror intertwined

Updates 2x a week. Tues/Friday