I was once a mighty Paladin of Darkness, mother of all the Elements. The one and only of my kind. Some called me the chosen one, a savior destined to rescue the world; others insisted I would be its downfall. I never got the chance to discover who was right. Society conspired with the traitors to trap me in the deadly Element of Time. But a year later, I managed to break free . . . wait, how has it been 700 years?

I led a quiet life, peacefully ruling the underworld until that mother of *** showed up with her people and angels. They destroyed everything I'd built with so much effort and nearly killed me. But I managed to return! Wait . . . My only disciple and candidate for a new body is a sick kid who's about to die? Are you serious?!

They shouldn't have pissed off a virtual world top player by erasing his character for a highly questionable "violation of game rules"—and taking away his valuable in-game possessions. After returning to the virtual world under a different nickname, an unknown newb puts everything on the line by selecting the most difficult Hardcore mode: a single life that's so easy to lose in the dangerous game world.

Jay, a young mixed martial arts trainer, never expected his life to change in an instant. Selected by the mysterious System as one of Earth’s eleven Alpha Chosen, he is thrust into the Trial Program—a brutal intergalactic challenge that sends him to the Trial World, a deadly planet overrun by monstrous creatures. To survive the horrors of the Trial World, the Alpha Chosen must fight, adapt, and grow stronger. Jay, however, possesses a unique talent, a game-changing edge that allows him to grow faster and stronger than anyone else. Rising rapidly through the ranks, he carves his path to ...

When you're the sole surviving noble of junior lineage, don't expect much of a future. That's what some might think. Not Gregor, though. The way he sees it, being last of a line means he can dispense with social niceties and do exactly what he wants. And if any unwelcome visitors have a problem with that, this guy's got one or two surprises for them.

Freddy Stern, a twenty-one-year-old cashier, has lived a plain, albeit harsh life. Having been orphaned—twice—he's spent the last ten years working and staying out of trouble. His only aspiration is to save enough money to become an archhuman. His dream gets the jump on him when he barely survives a near-death encounter and finds himself in possession of 1% Lifesteal, a bizarre talent with numerous contradictions and just as many uses.

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.

Bernt might have graduated from the Mage Academy, but not everyone has the money or connections to launch a prestigious career as a mage. Bernt finds himself working in the city sewers as an Underkeeper among the other rejects of Halfbridge's magery. He may spend more time unclogging pipes than fighting monsters, but hey, it's a stable job, and that's what counts. With the help of his unregistered soul-devouring demonic familiar, he'll save enough to launch his career as an adventurer—just as soon as he can afford some proper gear.

Sylvas Vail is a big fish in a small pond, the most powerful mage on his planet. But when the doors to the cosmos come crashing open and all the untold wonders and terrors of the universe come pouring in, he is left with only two options: Ascend or die.

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.

People awake in a strange place with no idea of who or where they are. There is only a bizarre message carved into a metal obelisk and the growing awareness that every single living creature in this new world is a deadly threat. Even a seemingly cute and fluffy bunny has a taste for human flesh . . .What are they to do? How will they survive? How do they stay sane?

Thomas Lowe was destined for a life of mediocrity, working a dead-end job in rural America. But fate seemed to have other plans for him. One card changes everything. While he's gifted a power beyond imagination, he also unlocks a prophecy that puts him in the crosshairs of Ancient Clans and Noble Houses that have existed since the dawn of the first era.

I've traveled back twenty-two years to rewrite the future and stop the nightmare threatening Earth. An apocalypse looms, promising total annihilation. No one will be spared. Now the weight of the world rests on my shoulders; I'm the one tasked with changing everything. I have come back to the past, and in five days, on the twenty-sixth of April, the day of reckoning will arrive. The event that will happen will be known as the Eclipse in the future. It will divide the history of the Solar System into a before and after.

Life on the Waves isn't easy. Especially if you're a pickpocket with no education, no prospects, and no future. For Chase and his crew of low-lives, there is one real option. If they want a path out of poverty, they will have to unlock access to the magical card system that will change their lives for the better. Of course, nothing's free in life. And nobody higher up the chain is going to give them a hand up. But what they might lack in education, riches, and, let's face it, hygiene, they have in determination.

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!

Veos has quickly proved to be far more capable than your average Dungeon Core. In the eyes of his challengers, at least. He's instinctive and motivated, with a drive to craft an intricate story and create obstacles for all those who seek to explore what lies beneath Nerian-Silex. Though Veos is certainly an unusual dungeon, what truly sets him apart is unknown to most—even himself. But now he's stumbled upon intel about the realm's dark history that, if tampered with, could reawaken a horrific enemy.

In a universe where a being’s very existence is a game and its players tussle for power, Earth is the latest battleground, but for Titus and his friends, the stakes are very real. Earth’s future hangs in the balance and power beyond imagining waits to be seized. When the System came, it ravaged Earth, destroying everything Humankind had built and killing billions in a matter of days. For those few that survived, like Titus, it was like living in a hellscape.

After Ryder Copeland wakes in a hospital after a suicide attempt, two people immediately try to murder him. A woman named Juliet saves his life and then reveals that he succeeded in his suicide after all. They’re both dead, but a mad god has granted them five more days of life... if they’re willing to kill for it. Thirteen teams of former suicides now have five days to kill each other, after which Lyssa, the divine progenitor of this death game, will reincarnate the single surviving team into luxurious new lives.

When Mason wakes up naked and alone in a whole new world, everything changes. Lying there with blades of blue grass stabbing him in his ass, he has no idea just how chaotic his life is about to become. His new world is crammed full of monsters, magic, and worse. But first things first. He's arrived buck-naked in a strange land—should he pick a weapon or clothes first?

In Sidus, notoriety comes with danger, and every enhancement is a double-edged sword. Betrayed by his species, his family dissolved, Carter Riley is the quintessential underdog turned unwilling pioneer. As the first human to interface with the legacy of an ancient race, he is thrust into the heart of the Sidus system—a game-like reality where his every move is monitored, and every level gained draws him deeper into a labyrinth of intrigue. Carter has the power to level humanity up by deciphering the legacy of an ancient civilization.

Prophecy tells of a hero who shall slay the Lord of Demons—but this is not his story. This is the story of his twin. Where he has a magical core of unparalleled talent, she has none at all. Where he is celebrated, she is shunned Yet she refuses to accept her fate. She will prove herself. Even if it means breaking a sacred taboo, and eating the flesh of demons…

Sam Levine knows what it means to struggle. After several missed opportunities, he's been forced to turn his talents to freelance work, picking up whatever dirty job he can find only to make ends meet. But there's an end in sight. An opportunity to change everything. And when a dangerous, high-profile job comes his way, he sees light at the end of the tunnel. Hope has been in rare supply, but even with the dangers inherent in his decision, he puts his life on the line for a chance to elevate his situation.

A single slip is all it takes. But the consequences of falling from a rock wall are usually broken bones and bruises . . . not waking up in the body of a dragon. So when a young bouldering instructor finds herself suddenly transported to a strange new world—and into a powerful black-scaled frame— she must rethink all the rules as well as her own expectations in order to survive.

Jenny Huang's day starts out stressful enough. Between an argument with her overbearing mom and a surprise pop quiz in first-period English, she's counting down the weeks until she can escape to college. To top it all off, she's working up the nerve to ask her best-friend-slash-crush to prom. But when an earthquake rips her high school into another realm, Jenny suddenly has much bigger problems to contend with. The Survival Challenge is in effect, trapping Jenny and her classmates in a hellish battle royale.

Eric was as shocked as everyone else when the apocalypse struck, but unlike his mother's movie, there were no chosen heroes destined to fight the beast hordes now overrunning the planet. Just people trying desperately to survive. Yet there was a glimmer of hope that humanity could hold on to. A chosen few really could level up in this brave new world, and embrace magic, adventure, and the potential for limitless power!

I led a quiet life, peacefully ruling the underworld until that mother of *** showed up with her people and angels. They destroyed everything I'd built with so much effort and nearly killed me. But I managed to return! Wait . . . My only disciple and candidate for a new body is a sick kid who's about to die? Are you serious?!

At 30 years old, Phil is an unemployed gamer who struggles to make ends meet. His only source of income is freelance writing (when he feels inspired enough to add another article to his less-than-popular blog). His wife has just walked out on him, leaving him without money, purpose, or food in the fridge. On the day his wife dumps him, Phil receives a mysterious piece of wetware. A game interface seems to have been implanted in his brain, which allows him to see the world through the eyes of an RPG player. Now that Phil discovers his real-life stats, he can see they're below average.

What would you do if you had the chance to rewrite your greatest failures? After eight years of brutal war, victory is finally in sight. The forces of North America stand united, one final enemy stronghold left to conquer. Santiago Silva—Santi to those who know him—leads the charge, his magic commanding the winds. But just as the end seems near, a desperate enemy ritual goes awry, flinging Santi back in time.

Blake never expected to meet beautiful women while studying archaeology — let alone a stunning Valkyrie. Dying was a bit of a bummer, but the chance to see Asgard with his own eyes was well worth it. Blake found himself one of the few, modern mortals found worthy of Valhalla, earning him the interest of the gorgeous battle maidens.

When professional magician Max is guided through a portal by a mysterious book from his past, it makes sense that he's classed as a Magician in this game-like fantasy world. As a workaholic and a loner, his career has been his life thus far, so why wouldn't it continue to be? But then his Soul Merge fails, and the System decides to find a compromise, classing him as something weirder: a Demonic Magician. Armed with a card deck of new tricks, his showmanship skills, and the power to summon demons, Max is ready to fight his way through this realm of pink slimes, monsters and opposing Players.