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 journey to the west started. It would be a long ride before Alex and Jhin arrived at the location, but with the help of mounts, the time spent on the road would be much less.

"Gareth said the place isn't far, right?" Alex asked.

Jhin chuckled, "He said that to you? Maybe that was his way of not making you give up. It will take us around three days to get there. We will even have to pass through a big city on the way."

Gareth had said to Alex that the mission wasn't far, yet apparently, that was not the case. He trusted Gareth more than Jhin—he had just met the guy—but there was no reason for him to lie about that.

"Yes, he tricked you, but hey, Gareth meant it well. He just wishes you to go on a journey to develop yourself. We can even take longer if you want to check some places."

Stopping For a Rest, Trouble in the Village