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

"Absolutely, Shadowborn. I don't joke about these things. Now, listen to the plan."

Alex still couldn't believe the words coming from the director, whom he now knew as Eldryn. Eldryn was confident that he could bring Khalita back to life without any side effects or something like zombification, proving just how powerful Eldryn was.

The power to resurrect a person using magic was immense, and not even the most powerful clerics in the church could do something like that. Who exactly was Eldryn? Alex was starting to wonder about his age! For him, it was impossible for someone to become such a powerful and influential mage at such a young age.

'He's definitely hiding his appearance using magic. He must be an old man!' Alex thought.

The two then formulated a plan regarding the cultists who were trying to take over the school.

Eldryn's Power (1)