I used to be the greatest Earth Mage in my world. The head of the entire Order of Architects. But the older you get, the more you come to realize that at some point, you need to retire, so that you can have the chance to enjoy a peaceful life and to cede your place to the young, some of whom have already turned two thousand years old . . .So that's what I did. But I failed to account for one thing: during the course of my long life, I'd accumulated too many enemies, and they had decided to spoil my retirement. So they died along with me. And I hope their deaths were final. But mine was not!

When the ark began emergency jettisoning the colonists, I got unlucky three times. The first occurred when the runic defenses of the Kel shot down my capsule above a forbidden Circle. The second was when it crashed next to the White Devil's tomb. And the third time, when I climbed into a wounded noxwolf's lair and discovered Starblood. Other Ascendants would call it good fortune, but I'll put it this way: had I left it alone, I might have remained a normal person.

Silas is inducted into the System, becoming the last in a long line of Earth's "forerunners." The rewards are great, but the danger is greater. We are not alone in the universe. The fate of five worlds hangs on how their forerunners perform. Will Silas have what it takes to win Earth a place in the multiverse? Or will Earth become another mining world stripped of all resources and left a barren husk floating in the cosmos?

I have been reborn from an advanced techno-magic world into a world where magic is still in its infancy. In this new world I have the body of a young baron and my entire worldly possessions are one village—a village surrounded by monsters and hostile aristocrats on the fringes of a young, rapidly expanding empire. The other thing I have, though, is knowledge beyond what this world has dreamt of, and nothing will stop me from building my own magic empire!

I was the most powerful healer in my world—the best, having devoted my entire life to mastering the art of healing. And yet, for whatever reason, my brother feared that I sought to claim his throne, and he marshaled his forces against me.

Imagine you find yourself in a world that prizes martial arts above all else, and that I am the descendant of an ancient clan who have honed their skill from generation to generation to rise to the ranks of the most powerful . . . Bet you're surprised, right? The thing is, most of my teachers say I'm a hopeless, talentless loser. No big deal, at first glance at least. I can survive just fine without talent. There's just one catch—I'm already dead. Or am I?

Hi, my name's Max and I'm one of the Selected. What's the first thing that pops into your head when you read those words? A great hero, chosen from among all the billions of people on Earth? A lucky man who has ended up on an unknown world and gained superpowers? An explorer of new worlds who has discovered his destiny? Well, that's all true, but there is one but . . . Actually, if I'm honest, there are a whole load of buts. And there are rules. And the first rule of the Selected is: "Try not to die. It is expensive and impractical."

In my past life, I heeded the Blood Code: I rescued people, slaying monsters from the inner plane. For my trouble the Inquisition condemned me for blood lust and burned me at the stake. And in my current life my family is dishonored in the eyes of the emperor, there's a bounty on my head, and I'm the subject of a divine dispute. Well then, no better time than now to surprise them all. Give me but a drop of blood—and the hunter will become the prey.

In a world ravaged by endless battles and wars, the life of an ordinary person is as fleeting as a moment. Kai, a young orphan raised in a remote shelter, struggles daily for mere survival. But when he faces the brutal realities of his world, his fate takes an unexpected turn. Mysterious circumstances lead him to the mystical Sphere, an artifact that unlocks untapped powers. From that moment on, Kai gains abilities beyond his wildest dreams.

Orcs and elves come streaming out of portals. People lose their grip and are transformed into afflicted. If this is a zombie apocalypse, it's a pretty weird one. The rules are simple: kill an orc or anything else—gain life energy, reducing your chances of becoming a walking corpse. But fail—and become a zombie, AKA an afflicted.