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

After waiting for a while, Alex and Joseph decided to talk, knowing that it was safe to do so.

"What should we do?" Joseph asked.

"You go back and warn Emma and Mary about this and explain everything. I will go by myself and follow this group of players. If anything happens, I will send you a message."

Joseph did not question Alex's reasons. He trusted Alex, but more importantly, he trusted his skills. Even if the players spotted Alex, Joseph knew his friend would find a way to get out of the location unharmed. That was how great he was.

So, Alex looked toward the location the player group went to and started moving. He knew the players were tracking their footprints, so he didn't need to track the players but follow their footprints.

'I should stay farther away. Their rogue is skilled.'

Chasing the Chaser