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

Alex returned late to his apartment. The night with his friends had been a long one. He parked the car where he got it — Emma's parking spot — and then took the elevator to his floor.

He briefly considered knocking on Emma's door to return the key, but it was too late. Waking her up at this hour wouldn't be a good idea.

'I'll return the key to her in the morning,' he decided.

The first thing Alex did was go to bed. His body and mind were tired, and all he wished for was to rest and prepare for the following day.

Alex woke up to the sound of knocking. His mind was still foggy, and his hair was a complete mess.

With slow steps, almost stumbling a few times, Alex made his way to the door and answered it, finding a concerned Emma standing there.

"You look like you've had a rough night. Did you drink too much?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.

Alex gave her a thumbs up. "Absolutely. Just a bit too much fun. Wait here."

A Moment With Emma