Blade of Exaction

thayle | one_shot | Complete

In the depths of the past a cat picked up the sword.He only knew simple jabs, and he was not driven to improve.However... Blade of Exaction is a crackfic about combat, and should be taken as such.

0.71 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 17:44

Carousel of Lives [Immortality is a Myth - January 2024][Completed]

E.J.Lockwood | one_shot | Complete

Ardeus's existence is a cycle of countless lives, each a wheel of death, choice, and starting anew. This latest death, ended by a sharp blade wielded by wild eyes, has unlocked an unprecedented choice. The Magnificent, the overseer of his eternal journey, presents Ardeus with reincarnation options new even to the timeless being. Now, Ardeus stands at the crossroads of life, death and determining the elusive value of eternity.

4.52 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 17:56

Stone Ascendant

Qiander | one_shot | Complete

Lost souls enter the multiverse.We follow the story of one of them as he rises. Novice writer of terrible talent writing in his second language.

3.55 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 17:56

Kill Shot

Jeffrey B Wolf | one_shot | Complete

Kill Shotis an action heavy science fiction short story, set in a time where the rich mind-ride the combatants of intergalactic battle royale matches, experiencing everything the fighters do, whether those warriors are human, alien, or machine.

3.55 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 17:56

SAIN

Meakashi | one_shot | Complete

In a city without a past or a future, a world with an iron sky, where soulless beings called humans live under the reign of ruthless megacorporations. A bounty huntress receives a contract from one such conglomerate to retrieve a specimen from a rival corporation - just the repetition of the daily scuffles between monopolies to trump each other. But something is different this time. ________________________ This is a one-shot, first conceived as a script for a short film that could be turned into a feature film or series.

2.69 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 10:57

The Black Unicorn

Ralts Bloodthorne | one_shot | Complete

The Sterile Queen Aveliene, the most feared of the legendary Wraithkillers, has been sent by her step-mother, the Eternal Elba, to look into rumors that the black unicorn has returned. After over a century of war, the Six Worlds lie in ruins, and an ill omen like the black unicorn appearing could mean that the troubles are still not over. A story set in the Six Worlds of Shtar, it takes place during the same time period as Echoes of War, but is a complete, stand-alone work.

12.61 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 18:01

Gibit and Claude

Riven Auroren | one_shot | Complete

A Grimm-style inspired fairytale. One twin has it all, the other remains meek, until she no longer can.

1.06 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 18:00

To Run Again

drewhead118 | one_shot | Complete

Dr. Laura Brandie is ready to change the world. She's the lead researcher behind the KSE, a revolutionary cure for paralysis and neurodegenerative conditions. And now, by good fortune, she's found the perfect candidate for her first human trial: a man who suffers from locked-in syndrome. Brett Harmon's paralysis is total: he can't move his arms, legs, torso, neck, or face. To the outside world, he's little more than a statue that breathes... but Dr. Brandie's KSE might be the miracle that allows Brett to run again.

7.96 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 17:38

Leave No Survivors [RRCM Winner Jan. 2024]

Aest Belequa | one_shot | Complete

The Highwayman leaves no survivors. He hasn't in over a century of terror on the Old King's Road. His reputation for ruthlessness and immortality is his greatest weapon. When a dying noble begs him to spare his daughter, the Highwayman is faced with a choice; he can protect his reputation, or he can do the right thing. One choice lets his myth live on forever. The other may mean the Highwayman's end. Edit: I'm incredibly honored to have won the January 2024 Community Magazine Contest. Thank you all for reading!

5.10 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 18:13

A Broken Pact

cathfach | one_shot | Complete

All living things have needs that must be met if they desire their life to continue. Such needs range from the universal requirement for sustenance, to the more specific, such as the requirement of all higher life to sleep, or even the esoteric, such as the requirement of a pain demon to inflict suffering. The ability to exploit those needs is what separates, to pick a random example, a successful summoner from the shrivelled (but very happy) corpse that had, a few minutes earlier, conjured up a succubus with no plan of how to control her. The Cruithia Kingdom is well known by its neighbours (or at least, by the subset of them that aren't carbonised silhouettes) for exploiting such needs to bring a shining example of the world's apex predator under their control. For the past hundred years, anyone daring to encroach on the kingdom's territory has found themselves faced, very briefly, by a dragon. But perhaps 'control' isn't quite the right word, and it's that very dragon that the kingdom's betrayed crown princess is going to need to convince to aid her if she ever wants her position back. A creature of selfishness and pride, evil by any human standard, and yet occasionally steerable by those who know the correct levers. Not that convincing the dragon to help her take back her kingdom is her primary concern. That accolade goes to the need to convince the dragon not to eat her. Again. This is a short story (8 chapters/17k words) about a betrayed princess and an evil dragon. Neither has a particularly great time. Published here and scribble hub. If you see this anywhere else, it's stolen.

9.82 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 15:24

A Day in the Life of a Combat Maid [A LitRPG Short]

zechamp | one_shot | Complete

Francesca is a combat maid and she has one simple job - ensure that the carefree and idyllic life of the young lady of the Albergoni family is not disturbed. Many would seek to harm the young lady, so Francesca must ensure that all of the dirt of the world is discreetly cleaned without her noticing.On a day like any other, the young lady sets off to play with her friend at the park, and as usual, Francesca expects to have a busy time. The cleaning work of a maid never ends after all.

4.35 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 15:26

Oneshot - Jack of all Trades: Magical, Mystical, and Miscellaneous Services (Complete)

wercwercwerc | one_shot | Complete

Inspired bythe following writing prompt: Your car changes slightly to accommodate your day, the day it snows, it magically has snow tires, the day it floods, it becomes a four by four. Today you walked out the door, and it's a tank. (Complete)

3.22 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 15:26

Monsters of Terra: A Compendium

DarenGillingham | one_shot | Complete

Demons, Dragons, ghouls, and gheists. The monsters of Terra are many. I, Nicholas Wolfram shall tell you all about them in the hopes you may avoid the fate of some of my students. Read on, lest a lack of knowledge be your undoing. These monsters are based on those found in The Alchemist Series.

20.83 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:22

The best thing since sliced bread

Wulfrann | one_shot | Complete

The best thing ever invented, you tell me one morning, is sliced bread. "Really?" "Yeah," you say, waving your buttered slice around for emphasis. Your fingers will be smeared with butter, and I know that later, you will complain about it. For now, though, this is a necessary part of your explanation. "I mean, it's obvious, isn't it?" Spoiler: Story Warnings Obsessive-compulsive behavior & Nonverbal shut-down

0.76 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:19

Codename: Ghost

Trish | one_shot | Complete

Everyone has superpowers, and mine wasn't anything special... until I got recruited out of prison. [June 2023 RR Magazine Contest] This short story is a study of a background character in a collaborative project I've been working on with a fellow RR author, Arlen K. Our collab is projected to start posting in 2024, so if you are enjoying Codename: Ghost and would like to see more of this world that he lives in, smash that "Follow Author" button to be alerted to new releases. If you would like more of this world now, check out Portal to Regret. Maybe you'll recognize the MC. = As always, comments, follows, favorites, ratings and reviews are appreciated, especially as there is a lot more planned for this world. Codename: Ghosthas been exclusively published on RoyalRoad. All other sites have stolen the story. If you find this title anywhere else, please PM me on RoyalRoad or email me at [email protected]. Thank you!

8.64 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:22

Royal Road Community Magazine [January 2024 Edition]

RRM | one_shot | Complete

Official page for the [Royal Road Community Magazine] Contest. This page includes the first chapters of all entries submitted before January 10th, 2024. Check out the first chapter for more details.

205.02 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 09:56

Dragon Riders - Chronicles of Edalom

diesel64 | one_shot | Complete

An Long is an outcast boy from Ha Gian, a small village at the gates of the Khaz'Tiber. After the invasion of the Darenis, An Long loses everything. Everything but his dream. And thanks to his perseverance, he manages to make a place for himself on the Sky Combs, where dragon riders are trained. But riding a dragon is no easy task, and the training has taken away many apprentices. Will the boy be able to fulfill his dream?

10.99 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 14:01

The Storm

Mad Sadie | one_shot | Complete

A guard has a conversation with a storm. A short story.

0.52 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 13:38

Lock Pick Hero: LPL Loose in Another World! [OP MC Parody]

KeeperAbra | one_shot | Complete

No shackle can bind him. No seal can stop him. He's the Lock Picking Lawyer...in another world. An OP MC parody of LPL. You ever see those lowkey memes where he's unstoppable? Yeah... A short story by KeeperAbra.

5.22 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 13:44

Cheater's Play

Mad Sadie | one_shot | Complete

The final game in a chess tournament doesn't go quite as anyone planned... A short story.

0.56 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 13:43