BigToad

Alex Mercer was a legendary thief known for his audacious heists and cunning skills. However, his criminal streak comes to an abrupt halt when he is finally apprehended and sentenced to prison.

In the midst of his imprisonment, a revolutionary virtual reality massively multiplayer online role-playing game (VRMMORPG) is launched, called Eternal Realms, captivating the attention of the entire world. The prison authorities, seeking to introduce recreational activities for the inmates, decide to allow select prisoners to participate in the game as a means of passing the time.

Eager to escape the monotony of prison life, Alex eagerly takes up the opportunity to join the immersive virtual world. To his surprise, he discovers that his notoriety as a master thief has caught the attention of players within the game. They started offering him IRL means to reduce his prison sentence in an exchange on a daring quest to retrieve valuable treasures scattered throughout the virtual realm.

With a hidden class known as the "Shadow Hunter," Alex possesses unique skills and abilities that make him an invaluable asset to the players seeking rare and precious items. As he delves deeper into the virtual world, he finds himself entangled in a complex web of alliances, rivalries, and dangerous quests that blur the line between the game and reality.

As the stakes rise, Alex must navigate treacherous dungeons, confront formidable adversaries, and outwit both in-game challenges and real-world dangers. Along the way, he forms unexpected alliances and confronts his own inner demons, questioning the choices that led him down a path of crime.
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For anyone wondering about the romance, it will take a long time as this is not the focus of the book.

MMORPG: Shadow Hunter

The battle between Alex and the vampire Valarian was reaching its endpoint. Both sides attacked with everything they had, and although Alex was much more powerful, winning was still challenging.

"I don't know what type of creature you are, but I will be the one leaving victorious!" Valarian yelled, dashing while grasping his sword.

Alex blocked the oncoming sword with his long claws, sharp as the finest blade. He diverted the attack to the side using one of his hands, and the other struck back, hitting Valarian on the chest. Valarian's chest bore a huge claw mark, and blood spurted from the wound, inflicting significant pain.

However, something nagged at the back of Alex's mind—a ticking timer. He had only around thirty seconds left before losing control over his body. While he might still win the fight even without control, it would be a risky gamble, and Alex wasn't one to take such risks.

A Lot of EXP, and Items