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

Joseph was acting a little mysterious with Alex and Tess. He was not telling them where they would be staying for the night.

They entered a nice car Joseph had rented beforehand and drove toward a secluded part of the city. It was kind of outside, in the middle of a greenery scenery, at the top of a mountain.

"A five-star hotel!" Alex exclaimed as he saw the sign in front of the building. It was a type of place he had never been before. The building itself was huge, with pools, saunas, free food, bars, restaurants, a playground, and anything you might think of.

The price for a one-day stay would certainly be quite expensive, but Joseph was rich, so no problem with that.

A woman came to see them the moment they walked through the front door, bringing some hot towels and a drink. "Welcome, sir. Please, feel at home. If you need anything, just ask," the hotel's worker said.

Five Star Hotel