Sacrifice (Give and Take Part 3)

lightpurplelilies | tragedy | Complete

**this is part 3 of a 3-part story. parts 1, fear-driven, and 2, renegades, are up and available on my profile** sacrifice synopsis: back home, on the beach, and all to find aber's sister again. well, they've found her, and it's not quite what they've expected. the world is upside down and backwards and the only way to make sense of it is to find the people who make sense of you. a reminder of the characters (plus a few updates): ABER -- he has spent all this time trying to get away from his wife and back to his sister. but now that they are here and he has to choose, the choice is harder than he thought. AVA -- she's a miracle. she's a brat. she's the most important person in the world. she has no idea what she's doing. she's losing her mind. she is going to save them all or die trying. again. NUA -- he got away. he went back. he must be out of his mind. ABIGALA -- what has she been doing for the past year? isn't that the million-dollar question. PENNY -- family reunions are never fun, per se. especially not this one. BAYAN -- everything happens the way it was meant to happen. but why was this meant to happen? and LILLY -- everything comes down to her.

33.18 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 11:03

Ascension & Damnation

Andrew_Udell | tragedy | Complete

Every year on her birthday, Mirus tries to rescue his mother's soul from the underworld. Every year for a decade, he has failed. As the dark magic he practices threatens his position as the king's court mage, the highest honor an elf may obtain in a land of humans, he stands on the cusp of losing everything. Once his assistant, Syma, uncovers his dark secret, they work together to pierce the veil that separates their world from the underworld. They encounter mad professors, wicked monsters, and challenges that put their very souls at stake. With his goal in sight, the salvation of his mother's soul, he's forced with a sacrifice that makes him consider the price. [Series Complete] (Cover by Vlad Bagacian and used per the conditions from Pexel.com)

19.22 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 11:04

Reino de Fuego y Sombras I: Un mago inutil (Version Spanish/español)

Heguen D'merak | tragedy | Complete

Xavier es un chico de un pueblo marginado de la frontera de dos reinos, que ve una oportunidad de cambiar su destino al despertar como mago; sin embargo, su magia no resulta muy 鷗il al verse arrastrado por los diab髄icos planes de un miembro de la nobleza. La que se supone que era su oportunidad, acaba destruyendo las pocas cosas que dan valor a su vida.Ahora; exiliado, criminal pr骹ugo, lucha por subsistir. No hay h閞oes en esta historia, solo sobrevivientes. *** Esta historia esta completa. Es un libro de 117000 palabras, unas 380 paginas, publicado en f韘ico (23 euros) portada blanda, kindle y todo eso, en amazon y otras plataformas. Es una serie, aunque se pueden leer por separado, ojala os entretenga.

60.62 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 14:50

The Cold Void

fully_harmless | tragedy | Complete

Yuri's mission is to be the first of the Collective Union to make contact with the Sol Alliance after 1500 years. His home ship has barely lasted through the long exile in a lifeless solar system, and the only hope for the Collective is to surrender and return to humanity's home system. But no one knows what's been happening on the other side of the wormhole. He's about to find out.

5.27 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 14:43

A Tale of Tricks and Knowledge

Emersyn Hart | tragedy | Complete

This story was written for the Royal Road Community Magazine Jan 2024 Ezekiel craved one thing: knowledge to become immortal. Each day he studies in a library worn down by time, hidden away past the forest. Each day, he returns with the same information. Immortality may have existed, but it can't exist anymore. The first human girl visits his hometown. Enamoured by her desire to fill her life with adventure, Ezekiel shares the library with the traveller. What was supposed to be a simple test of resolve was anything but. Secrets are uncovered. Decisions must be made. What to Expect: - 1.5k - 3k word chapters - Enemies to Lovers Romance Side Plot - A medium paced story - Non-human x Human relationship

14.70 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 16:48

Quiet kids

Losing_Dog2 | tragedy | Complete

The following is a work of fiction, which includes a triple murder, bruises, a lonely house, a girl who wants to disappear, and quietness.

11.76 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 16:50

The Faith of the Flesh

The First Firefly | tragedy | Complete

In a forsaken church, an elderly priest faces haunting confessions and encounters Ikovmel, a mysterious entity. As their clash unfolds, reality intertwines with the supernatural, unraveling eerie transformations and unsettling truths. Amidst a battle of faith and otherworldly forces, the priest grapples with identity, belief, and unearthly revelations.

1.21 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 13:52

Restart (Reborn as a Reluctant Demon Lord, Book 2)

TitusGM | tragedy | Complete

This is book 2 of the series! If you haven't read book 1 (which you can find here https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/34776/new-game-reborn-as-a-reluctant-demon-lord-book) then you should probably do that first to avoid spoiling yourself in the synopsis. But that's just a suggestion. If you want to be confused, go ahead. Have I used enough space so that you can't see this in the preview yet? Okay, good. ----- For a [Demon Lord], not even death is the end. So, after death, I found myself revived once again in the world of Placeholder as a grotesque monstrosity. That was my first reincarnation, but it would not be anywhere near my last. Disillusioned with the admins and their quests, and wanting nothing more than to fix the mistakes of my past, I set out with a new goal in mind. To bring back the woman I loved. Or maybe... to ensure that she never died in the first place.

248.68 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 18:06

Caledon's Fall

TG Parsons | tragedy | Complete

Caledon was in ruins. The dukedom had fallen, pillaged by its enemies and the incompetence of the former Duke. Kal, inheriting a world left in shambles, struggles to regain what was lost. To return to the halcyon days of his past. Artwork by Tan Ho Sim www.Patreon.com/TGParsons for additionalcontent.

164.14 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 17:55

Continue Online

FrustratedEgo | tragedy | Complete

Follow Grant Legate's trials and tribulations through:Memories, Made, Realities, Crash, Together. Memories: A man broken by despair and depression, Grant Legate finds himself in a once-in-a-lifetime situation after receiving an Ultimate Edition copy of Continue Online. All hewishes foris a distraction from the thoughts plaguing his waking hours. He dives in headfirst, unknowing of the AIs intentions. They offer him the chance to play as one of their own, a NPC deserving of a proper send off. What he discovers during the journey shakes Grant to his very core. Made: No longer playing as a Local from the world of Continue Online, Grant Legate's adventure can begin.The Voices offer him a unique title along with a test and reward.To starthe'll have to survive underground horrors, old girlfriends, become a warrior.To winhe must become an imp familiar and kill another player, one with a dozen tricks up his sleeve. Realities: Worried for his sanity after poor in-game choices, Grant Legate's sister, Liz, blocks access to Continue Online. With no way around the restriction, he ventures into a new worlda VRMMO game based in spacecalled Advance Online. There he must help his companion AI, Hal Pal, overcome an identity crisis, race to the center of the universe to bring back his true love, and figure out where he stands on the scariest implication of all; AIs are bringing the dead to life. Crash: Grant's prior adventures tie together and he finds himself back in Continue Online, as Hermesin jail. He's forced to experience life as a digital convict and earn redemption points to gain his freedom. Each in-game death pushes his goal of helping his friends out of reach. The AIs Grant's grown to love, trustand sometimes fearare facing extinction, he holds the key to their survival. Together: The game is no longer about adventures in a new world or exploring fantasy lands. Grant's digital wife faces deletion, along with everyone else he cares for. He, and those who know this is more than a game event, search for clues to salvation left behind by the game's creators. Even if he finds them all, the Voices have one last task for their messenger. A sacrifice.

380.09 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 18:22

Descendants of a Dead Earth

HeWhoLooksSkyward | tragedy | Complete

In the future, Man has traveled the Cosmos. In the future, Man has discovered many other races. In the future...Man has no home. 200 years after the great war that destroyed Earth, humanity struggles to survive; fractured, divided, wanted by no one. Until Maggie, of the Tinker Clan, makes a discovery, setting in motion a chain of events that could change everything.

485.54 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-21 12:14

Sprig

hueyhare | tragedy | Complete

A seed of hope in a world of hate War rages as land runs out. Elves, Dwarves, Humans, and other races fight for control of the limited space they have. When a land mass suddenly appears out of nowhere, people flock to it, only to be caught up in its mysteries. Kaia, one of the last living members of the Treek race, heads to the new land to find others like herself and escape the war that surrounds her. With conflict at her back, and untamed wilderness ahead, she and the companions she makes discover the truths of the new land and themselves. Sprig was completed in November of 2022 and is now also available in Paperback, Hardcover, and eBook.

168.84 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 15:40

{The Dragon Within} (Completed)

SlyOkami | tragedy | Complete

Meeting his fate at the hands of seven great heroes, the wicked drake now stands in Death's hall. Met with the Grim Reaper itself. Defeatedand its pride broken, the drake doesn’t beg or grovel, it simply awaits judgement. It waits for the God of the afterlife to send it on its way, to either the heights of bliss and peace or where it knew it would be sent. The depths of agony and torture, the halls of Tartarus, the father of monsters. Grim looked up from its oaken desk and down at the creature that would haveotherwise, if grown wiser and older, matched the reaper itself in power. Its faceless guise, hidden by a black hood and whirling shadows, it briefly stared at the drake. “You are unfit for the sky yet also too fit for the abyss,” Grim spoke, its voice a cracking whisper. “Your time came too soon, the actions you have taken will lead your world to ruin…Be reborn, pitiful serpent. Yet remember what you have done, see what your actions have made that realm into. Let me show you, how your greed and gluttony have warped such a wonderful place and time.” Grim raised its black-feathered pen towards the beast “Be reborn, as the weak pitiful creature you should have been born as. Take this both as a punishment and…a learning experience. For failure, can be the best teacher.” The drake took a step back, hoping to escape this cruel fate. Yet none escaped Death, less so its embodiment. Screaming shadows engulfed his form, ripping away at his body and shape. Fangs of darkness sinking deep into his draconic flesh, warping it, changing him into something else… Opening his eyes, the wicked drake felt none of its power, none of its magic and none of its might. As it stood at the edge of a cliff, looking down upon a ruined valley of rot and miasma. It glanced down at itself, seeing none of its sturdy scales or sharp claws. The drake had been reborn... As a Human. Will also be posting on CreativeNovels found here;CrN Where chapters will be posted earlier than RRL.

177.72 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 15:37

New Game (Reborn as a Reluctant Demon Lord, Book 1)

TitusGM | tragedy | Complete

Portal Fantasy. Isekai. A daydream of nerds everywhere, leaving behind their boring world and living in a fantasy one that is full of adventure. A daydream that became a reality for me and 1000 other Comic-Con attendees. Except for me, it was more of a nightmare. Wanting nothing more than to find a way home, and also saddled with being the world's new [Demon Lord], I found myself trapped in a gamelike world and also somehow a part of the [Hero's] party. So join me as I tell the tale of my struggles. A tale of levels and skills. A tale of cagey game admins and bugs. And a tale of our party's grand quest to defeat... Well... Me. ---- What to expect from this book? 1. A main character who is not overpowered (and instead has to go fromnear-useless to strong. Not just weak to strong). If you are looking for an OP [Demon Lord] who laughs at his weakling enemies... This isn't for you. 2. A meandering pace as the characters aren't told how a lot of the world works and have to figure it out themselves. (And because there are a lot of characters. Whose idea was it to have a party of 9? I blame Jake) 3. A tragedy. A lot of things arenot going to go well for the protagonist. (Not that everything is tragedy all the time. There is humor, laughter, friendship, and even a mascot monster character who got way more popular than I expected. But this is not a story that will leave you uplifted and inspired after every time you read it). ---- Release Schedule and publishing information: Book 1 is complete! I will include a link to book 2 once it has been started. Feel free to give feedback, positive or negative. ---- Other notes Book 1? Yes, this says Book 1. There are probably going to be 3 books. No, the plot as you can guess is not going to be tortured to drag out all the way to book 3. That would be ridiculous. If you can guess the plot of books 2 or 3 at any point before the last chapter of book 1, please use your clairvoyant powers for something more productive. TitusGM? This story is intentionally told under the username TitusGM because the idea is that he was the one actually writing everything down what happened after it all is over. I initially planned to answer everything in character on this site, but that just really didn't work out. If you want an in character response to a comment, simply prefix it with IC: (I also try to leave that as a reminder in the author's note after each new chapter) Cover art? Made by a friend who shall remain nameless at this time by his request

212.00 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 15:40

I love this world (Complete)

Mrsound | tragedy | Complete

A man gets thrown into an alternate world after what was supposed to a harrowing escape from death. Follow him as he uses his knowledge from his previous life of research to adapt and survive in a place that is void of human contact, only to find out later how absurdly ridiculous his abilities are. Journey alongside this man as he attempts to change the new world for a better place, to turn it into one that he loves. PS, it will follow the reincarnation template very closely in the beginning (what do u expect? this is RRL), but will deviate from it as the story progress Warning: Crude language

139.76 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 15:47

[Cryoverse] The Last Precursor (Completed!)

Klokinator | tragedy | Complete

One hundred million years ago, an unknown cataclysm rendered humanity extinct. After conquering seven galaxies and becoming a super-civilization, terrankind vanished from the cosmos. Time passed. Their animal descendants (Cats, dogs, and crocodiles, among others) all evolved and Uplifted themselves to become the new overlords of the Milky Way. But the newly Uplifted were not ignorant of the past. How could they be? Countless records lay scattered among the stars of the ancient Precursor civilization which came before them. Their ancient facilities and installations dotted countless worlds. Their superweapons fell into the hands of the Uplifted, and countless wars followed. Once the Uplifted established their empires, a tenuous peace followed. Finally, it seemed as if the old wounds had begun to heal, leaving only a cold war that stretched on for several centuries. But what they did not know was that one human had survived. One last Terran, a super-soldier employed by the most powerful military humanity had ever conceived. Jose Rodriguez awakens from stasis sleep to find himself alone, his entire species wiped from the universe. He is the last living Terran. He is the Last Precursor. This story is a fully completed serial of about 350,000 words. It was originally completed in mid-2021, and has been significantly rewritten for the RR-release to be more concise and higher-impact. The Cryoverse is a Nobledark universe. It features all sorts of Warhammer 40k moments, Deus Ex themes (Including vast conspiracies and plots and a cyberpunk feel), and big fights that are written to knock your socks off. If you enjoy intricate power systems all interwoven together, you will appreciate my goals for Cryoverse battles. Do you like Astartes? Do you like Deus Ex? Ever read Chrysalis? What about this music video? How about this one? If you enjoyed several or all of the above, you will enjoy The Last Precursor.

219.69 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:32

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

Dice Cultivation: Brotherhood

Ihdob Laprok | tragedy | Complete

Roll for power! Enril and Zelek, cousins who's bond knows no bounds, are about to come of age - a pivotal moment which will change their lives forever. In Heaven's Vale, power reigns supreme. Under the guidance of their clan, they form the one-hundred-sided object which will shape their future: the riken Filter. Not all Filters are created equal, though. Can these boys overcome their clan's lowly status and grow into power? Will their bond persevere through trial and tribulation, or force them apart in disgust and jealousy? Join these boys on their journey in growth, understanding, and self-discovery in this tale of cultivation where dice determine destiny!

30.45 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:26

Dream Chaser

DarkSun | tragedy | Complete

When I was born, I was discarded as worthless for I had no sense of Energy currents. When I became the sword of the realm, I was disowned. Now that I was one vote away from passing an edict of equality between Energy users and not, I had my life’s work burned in my hands. “Who are you to change this world, silly boy?” the true ruler of the empire, the head councilman,asked me. There could only be one answer. Your son. Elecar Winteridge, 7 B.S. (Before the Scourge) ________________________________ Ragnarök, judgement day or the day of reckoning. Every religion and cult has foretellings of the final day. For most people it is just an old tale, something to frighten misbehaving children or a tool for scaring the masses. But for Shea and her world this became a despairing reality. Forests turned into deserts and seas became salt lakes. Continents were smashed together, becoming one or disappearing without a trace. The whole world was covered in the ashes of fires. When Shea awoke in her shelter, not only was she injured but everyone and everything she knew was gone. All she had left were her memories and the innate talent to use the shaping ability to aid in her survival. _________________________________ Author of Flight of Icarus Member of Scribble

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

The Fall

DarthKirby | tragedy | Complete

Perhaps the most well known of all devils, demons, or fallen angels is the one known as Lucifer, Satan, the Father of Lies. The cultural influence of this figure throughout history is by no means small. Despite that, it wasn't until the time of Milton's classic  Paradise Lost  that we saw an attempt to portray a dramatized version of the events leading to this figure's fall from grace and power. And while this is the case, Paradise Lost is not about Lucifer  though it goes into great detail about his potential musings. No, Paradise Lost was, and still is, about the fall of mankind. So, in light of this, and the feeling that the classical story deserved another telling, I present to you all The Fall  a story focused particularly on Lucifer's fall from grace and his musings both before and after.

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