Ambitious Soul

SingleCell | action | Complete

Karolina Grant is desperately unhappy living in a world that she can't change. When she is transported to a new world, one governed by a mysterious System, she will do her best to gain enough power to finally be able to make a difference. However, this new world is violent and dangerous, and Karolina isn't alone. Will she merely survive in this new world, or will she find a way to thrive? Ambitious Soul updates every Monday and Thursday.

51.96 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 10:01

Restraining Silver: Warding Gait Book III (#7)

NicoleHayes | romance | Complete

In the finale of Sagan's trilogy, and the seventh in the overall Vast Collective Series, Sagan and the other Progeny pay for the mistake of trusting in the wrong people. Trapped and terrified, Sagan fights her way back to the worlds where she belongs. Likewise, Korac battles the restraints of his past to save her. With Sagan exhausted, starved, and disarmed, it seems impossible. Razor, the Pain Curator, made certain of it. Meanwhile, Imminent and Enki close in on the Shadow. The former culminate millennia of careful scheming and test the Progeny's familial bonds. The latter moves closer to finding the Ancient's Atheneum, a library of bones. A sleeper, a puppet master, and a black flame threaten the Shadow's worlds while Razor arranges the ascension of his empire. With Sagan gone, will he remain unchallenged?

57.67 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 13:40

Palus Somni

Ohmwu | horror | Complete

It is the final days after the end of the world and you only have one month left before the last sanctuary erupts into chaos. There's a dead body hanging from a tree and cadaverous giants watch you sleep at night. The end is already here, you just don't know it yet. Now rated in the top 3% of all novels on Royal Road! Palus Somni (Marsh of Sleep') is a worldbuilding webnovel about what happens when your God forsakes you. Inspired by gothic horror and mingled with British myth and folklore, join the Alucinari nuns as they struggle with day-to-day life after the world has ended. Every night when the sun sets the monstrous Gol, colossal beings with too many teeth, awaken and roam the marshlands. Only those with a faithful heart will be spared. Young acolyte Wille has never seen the walls fail, but when a fellow nun is murdered within their sanctum the very safety of the monastery is thrown into question. Did the Gol find a way to breach their defences, or is there a human traitor amongst them? The answer lies both far in the past and deep beneath the earth, through the maze of ancient catacombs. With a cast of over thirty different characters, watch as your friends and enemies spiral into inevitable madness at the hands of a callous and unforgiving world. Discover the secrets of Palus Somni through letters, diary entries and notes found scattered across the monastery. Uncover the mystery of the grotesque giants that stalk the night and bring your challenge to the Gods themselves. Each character has their own handmade pixel art, and every update includes a music recommendation for a dark atmospheric dungeon synth album that you can listen to while you read. Slice of life meets cosmic abomination: Palus Somni is a collection of intertwining stories, some chapters are stand-alone tales while others feed into the overarching narrative. It is an exploration into a community, and rather than focusing on any one character the story meanders through the convent, exposing the hopes and fears of its inhabitants. Story updates every full moon.

83.11 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-13 10:57

The Court of Souls?

Andur | romance | Complete

Author's Comment: I was asked about reading my work on other sites. The answer is simple: Currently I am not active in any other networks than royalroadl.com. Only here, I correct mistakes and errors. If you read it anywhere else and have to pay for it, or have to deal with an annoying amount of advertisement, You Are Being Betrayed. You would do good if you make other people in that network aware of it. This is a free project of mine for the purpose of having fun. And if people try to make money with it you shouldn't bother visiting their website. The only one whom I actually allowed to have my work on his website is Armaell who invested the time to compile them into pdf. (http://armaell-library.net/author/andur)  Reading Order of the Multiverse-Books  What do we talk about tonight? ~"How about a story?"~ Fine by me. Which story? Hopefully a good one. ~"There was once a lonely child in a world filled with myths, gods and demons. Only power counted there and the weak were worse than cattle. A world where survival of the fittest ruled."~ Was it strong then? ~"No, but the child had a power. One that made him stand between light and darkness. Nothing could escape him, so he was shunned by his people."~ What did he do? Did he fight his fate? Did he hide his power? What was it? ~"Oh, he fought. He fought a lot. And no thing could escape his power. It was something that everyone had to live with."~ So he became a hero and changed the world? ~"&"~ Tell me. ~"Nooo, that's not how the story goes. This isn't a story of a noble man, doing good amidst a sea of monsters. This is a story of a demon who was... kinder than the rest."~ A kind demon? How boring. ~"I think it would be better if I tell the story, so you can judge for yourself."~ So tell the story!

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

Agent of the Realm?

Andur | romance | Complete

I am Seria, the goddess of life and death. I was fathered by Chaos and born by Order. I am the first ambassador who leaves the realm of Dedessia to make contact with the other realms. Dedessia is a harsh place, a place in which even immortals, demons and gods struggle to survive. Nonetheless, we carved a path for ourselves and created a great kingdom. Something to be proud of. I am their representative and the first to make contact with the other realms. Can you imagine my surprise when they greet me with a fireball to the face? Me, the one who governs life and death!? Well, my wrath should be the least of their fears. They should hope that my parents never pay them a visit. But until that happens I'll play a little...  Reading Order of the Multiverse-Books  Author's Comment: I was asked about reading my work on other sites. The answer is simple: Currently I am not active in any other networks than royalroadl.com. Only here, I correct mistakes and errors. If you read it anywhere else and have to pay for it, or have to deal with an annoying amount of advertisement, You Are Being Betrayed. You would do good if you make other people in that network aware of it. This is a free project of mine for the purpose of having fun. And if people try to make money with it you shouldn't bother visiting their website. The only one whom I actually allowed to have my work on his website is Armaell who invested the time to compile them into pdf. (http://armaell-library.net/author/andur)

83.80 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-11 16:38

Die, Dragon, Die!

noct | satire | Complete

A man who only wants to kill dragons. The only man who can save the world. A man... who might be the most obnoxious force in the entire universe. The adventures and misadventures of a man named Gideon. Die, dragon, die!

55.54 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-11 17:41

Sect Leader

Weavervale | satire | Complete

In the wake of an attack by a divine beast, the world blinked and transported Jessica Kim from Denver and her life as an accountant into the Sect of Coldsteel, replacing the now dead leadership. Can she get the support together to build the school back up and running while providing support to the refugees left by the divine beast? Will she be able to use her knowledge of the scientific method to improve the sects standing with local clans? Sect Leader came out on Mondays and Thursdays.

52.36 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-11 17:28

The World That Was

J3P7 | historical | Complete

Planet Earth is broken. Civilisation was plunged back into the Dark Age when the Sun spewed forth the largest solar flare in recorded history. But amidst the ashes, a lone physicist made humanity's greatest scientific breakthrough  time travel. A decade later, the fledgling technology is ready to send a pair of daring pioneers on a one-way journey into the past. When the portal shuts there will be no communication. And no coming back. Even then, Matilda and Harry were enthusiastic volunteers, eager to impart their futuristic knowledge so a subsequent civilisation might mitigate the inevitable celestial cataclysm. But when the inaugural mission goes awry in its opening heartbeats, Matilda finds herself trapped and alone in 12th Century England . She is Chronomad One. Humanity's first time traveller. Check out my website to pre-order a physical copy and see how the book was written, how the cover was designed and how physical copies were hand-bound.

70.48 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 11:35

Gnarlroot the Eld

RaccoonMage | mystery | Complete

Skeletal Minions aren't supposed to be sentient, but when a Spirit Mage called Azwold bends game rules to complete step 4/11 of his epic questline, he summons the only talking player pet in the game. Join the Eld, his player 'master', and a cast of unforgettable party members as they explore Realms of Lore and work their way through "Gnarlroot the Eld's Stolen Bones" questline.Can they thwart a mounting, game-breaking threat from the cult-like Telemoon guild? Will they discover how the Eld ended up stuck in the role of a video game player's skeletal minion? Or will the Eld remain trapped, forever hungering for answers?***Book One is complete. Finishing 2nd book Summer 2022***Thanks for reading!***Cover art by the lovely and talented Oona Machina***

71.74 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 12:05

Halcyon Nightmares [A Magical Girls LitRPG]

Aest Belequa | sci_fi | Complete

Alice grew up idolizing Magical Girls. Now, she's one of them! When murderous machines attack Alice's graduation, she's asked to don the skirt and blazer. Now, she'll need to learn how to use her powers and work with a team of other Girls to protect her city from disaster - all while trying to get herself un-grounded! This was my first story on Royal Road. I'm currently re-writing it as a system apocalypse story, taking it in a completely different direction after the first chapter and a half or so, and tightening up as many of the plot holes as I can. I'm moving a lot slower on this project than my other, Magical Girl Undergrad. Expect The Halcyon System to be available to read in May 2024.

50.63 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 15:27

The Hero Raised by a Monster

Silent Ruins | psychological | Complete

Have you ever woken up in a strange fantasy land for no discernible reason? Don't worry, I know you haven't. But I did! Before we go any further, full disclosure: I am a monster. At least, that's what people tell me. Now, you don't need to be too worried about that because I've got a hero around to make sure I don't cause too much trouble. Well she isn't really a hero yet, but I'm going to make sure she becomes one. After all, I'd really rather not be hunted down just for being what I am. Or maybe it's the murder and property damage? I'm not really sure what it is that sets people off.

83.01 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:07

I Got Reincarnated As A World!

Benjamin Mwakonya | tragedy | Complete

Life, in its every form, is invaluable. So what if a person who did not value life at all was given the responsibility of caring for billions of lives? I Got Reincarnated as a World aims to answer this and many other questions. What if a man simply known as "Eshu", a cold and ruthless hitman, died and found himself being reborn as an entire planet? What if life grew on that planet? What fate would befall that life? What to expect: � An adventure that spans the lifetime of an entire world. (The story will be divided into volumes which cover separate "Ages" in the world's history). � A cast of colourful characters who will experience all this world has to offer from the littlest of conflicts to wars that will engulf the skies in flames. � Isekai meets the entire geographical, biological and economical history of an entire planet! Schedule: I upload on Mondays, Wednesdays and sometimes Friday! (At 00:00 GMT+2) Art by - @robincmodeya

88.81 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:30

The Skies Beyond the Cage

elim__08 | tragedy | Complete

[participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge] The Birdcage. Despite being one of the largest criminal super-syndicates in the future year G02, with agent affiliations spanning the globe, it has somehow remained as one of the best kept secrets of the underworld. Prospective affiliates are sent an exclusive invitation to enjoy the privileges of its world wide alliances and seemingly endless assets, both monetary and physical, but to forfeit the invitation is to forfeit your life. No one who enters the Birdcage leaves it alive. The Skies Beyond the Cage is a collection of stories about several characters before or after they have been extricated in varying levels to the Birdcage. These characters are agents of the primary affiliates, code-named the Clipped. They had no idea what they were getting themselves into when they became agents of the Clipped, but then again, most of them never had a choice. CURRENT STORY- WATER OF THE WOMB Seoul, Year G-19All Baek Jaehyun has ever known is a life of struggle trying to repay his father's never ending debt. His older brother, Taejun cut ties to his family as soon as he could, leaving Jaehyun behind in the process. Crisis brings the brothers back together, but as they try to repair their damaged relationship, outside forces continue to push and pull them apart. UPDATES EVERY OTHER DAY UNTIL I DIE OR FINISH VOL 1

97.39 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 12:32

The Desert Sun

Capwallcroft | sci_fi | Complete

 LIGHT SPEED TOWARDS INFINITY AND BEYOND! -Space Pickle  Scorching Star - Bellwether  Ambitious and Epic -JEPayne Imagine if the key to omnipotence, to benevolence, lay only in the forgotten depths of your own mind? It has been eight centuries since a disastrous experiment ended the glorious reign of the universe's most advanced civilization and put fate into the clutches of the omnipotent. However, as war of expansion burns through the stars, a quest to ensure the almighty's death and free destiny has emerged. Stranded and left for dead in the desert wastes our hero takes their stride, Will they succeed? Or will fate forever be in the clutches of another

59.28 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 13:37

Birth of an AI (completed)

LoneLeaf | drama | Complete

On the fringes of human controlled space in the distant future, a weathered scientist carries out the thankless task of creating complex artificial entities— AI. Humanity needs and fears their greatest creations in equal measure, because without AI they will never travel the stars again. A team of Mercenaries, led by a demolitions expert calling herself Princess, has been tasked with bringing critical components, along with themselves, to a space station secreted within a debris field left over from a galaxy spanning war, The Synthetic Revolution. When the job's darker nature surfaces, the team will have to contend with killer robots, an unhappy client and the lingering scars of wars both recent and long past in order to finish their contract with their lives and their pay.

60.73 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 15:38

Just One Look Won't . . .

Cai Tan | drama | Complete

About an orphan orphaned by noble stupidity over spoiled cheese. She's capable, curious, definitely opinionated, but not entirely consistent. Her name is Sammy and this is the story of her doom. Sammy's head whips around and she says with wide, surprised eyes that quickly narrow with suspicion, "Huh? What?!" [I am planning to submit on Saturdays and Sundays, with unscheduled drops as I so desire.]

68.56 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 16:55

The Main Character Legendary Origin Stories: Broad-Spectrum Assassin

Of The Exps Author | horror | Complete

The story of a quirky assassin's shadowed past, his transformation into an other-worldly being and his adventure as the father of a guardian angel.Predates the events of The Main Character!: The Hero's Epic Journey Begins! and Guardian Angel.

54.14 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 17:15

Deep Mettle Volume II: Tools of War

Jay Campbell | mystery | Complete

'Little spark . . . you are changed.' Antissa has come under Ratheine attack; not from the walls, but from below - her ancient pipes. The flooded Hub threatens collapse of the Deep under the fortress, while the scheming Sanhedrin council creeps ever closer to removing Rusper Symphin as Viceroy; the engineer whose protection of the refugees from Naemia amounts to treason. Tool to a nation on the brink, a Naemian boy enters the desert. Armed with the Disc's arcane "Sight", Florian Flint now takes his place on a secret task-force contingent led by the High Commander Plamen. Its urgent purpose - in nine days - to locate the hidden river system by which the Rath accessed the pipeworks: the key strategic advantage in Vorth's return to open war. The Disc itself has other thoughts. Cover art by Natasa Ilincic Additional images, inc. maps: https://photos.app.goo.gl/CdNo1rEjvR7RdVzD7 Tools of Waris the 2nd volume of Deep Mettle, a 2-volume fantasy fiction. Pipes and Fusils,the 1st volume,is also available to read on Royal Road. Available from AMAZON in paperback, hardcover & e-book formats. Find out more at https://www.voidstep.com/

76.66 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 18:43

Unique Delivery System

Camrad RIP | comedy | Complete

The cruel conditions of the bet put him on edge! Can the smart, energetic and fat hero find the right path to the customer? Where will the great and almighty Delivery System lead him? Translation of the original work by Michael Dulepa. The original is here.

51.29 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 10:12

Blood for Wages

Joe Coates | drama | Complete

Fia McCrae looked past the ancient oak with its brace of blood-stained bodies spinning peacefully in the slight easterly breeze. The light was seeping out of the evening sky, leeching the colour from the yellow gorse that covered the southern hills in such profusion. "Where's the ruddy comfort in dyin'?" the slumped man bleated miserably at her feet. "Well," Fia said over her shoulder as she walked away, "you've a fine evening for it." Exiled and grieving, Fia McCrae has spent the past eleven years wandering the island nation of Fallaros, with its numerous seperate tribelands, trying to atone for a mistake that has come to define her life. Raised in privilege. Fallen into disgrace. She rides the lands trying to redress those small wrongs that she can, using her innate ability to find that which is lost. Torsten Gunn is the most infamous outlaw to ride the roads, valleys and hills of Fallaros. Unencumbered by the notion of law, and accompanied by his loyal crew of bloodthirsty longriders, he has made it his merciless mission to make the lives of any Counts and Countesses that ride the roads of Fallaros a living hell. Chafing impatiently as he waits for his mother, who sits the High Seat of Fallaros, to die, Redmond Marr plots on how he will be the first man to subjugate all five tribelands. It is a feat that has never been attempted before, but to accomplish it the ambitious Marr has made a deal with an unknown power from across the sea. A power who has more than the dominion of a single island nation in mind. As Fallaros falls into chaos, witches are burned in the streets, longriders roam the roads, and dissent amongst the peasantry begins to boil over. As the threat of war from across the seas draws nearer, an unwilling Fia soon finds herself coerced back into a life she'd thought she'd left behind. What starts as a simple hunt for a wanted man quickly escalates as hidden truths start to emerge. Before long, Fia is confronted by a revelation that might bring her to her knees, even as the people of Fallaros need her to stand and fight. "You can't try do good without rubbin' someone up the wrong way," Fia said. "Folk'll do some truely disgustin' things for pride. Only thing they'll do worse things for is pay."

51.37 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 14:32