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.
*
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 force behind Sybille's blood magic was tremendous. It easily destroyed Alex's shield, and the spear pierced through his torso.

A massive damage to his health bar appeared before his eyes, and the pain spread through his body. Lots of blood spurted from the wound, making it difficult for Alex to keep fighting for long.

Emma grew worried when she saw Alex getting hit by the spear while protecting them. Instead of crying and yelling, she decided to strike back.

"Hey, you bitch, eat this!" Emma yelled.

Emma had prepared her usual Fireball spell. It was often the first spell most mages learned, but that didn't make it any less effective. The Fireball spell was a core attack of many mages.

Mary, on the other hand, focused on a spell to hinder Sybille's movements. The spell she chose was a wood-type spell, Thorns! Vines erupted from the floor, enveloping Sybille's feet and immobilizing her for around three seconds.

Fireball, Fireball, and Maybe One More?