Ghostwriterr

"They say power corrupts... but what if corruption was the price of power?"

Lucian never sought power—he only wanted to save his grandfather. But when he inherits the Book of Envy, a cursed tome that grants desires at a terrible cost, he is thrown into a world where the strong devour the weak.

To master the book, he must train under Veyren, the twisted holder of the Book of Lost. Along the way, he meets Kael, a skilled swordsman with the Book of Blades—a boy whose abilities Lucian secretly covets.

Betrayal, obsession, and an unstoppable hunger for strength drive Lucian down a path of no return.

But what happens when he faces a power too great to steal?

A dark fantasy tale of ambition, sacrifice, and the descent into power.

Hollow Crown: The Book of Envy

The air was thick with the scent of iron.

Lucian took a step forward, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his katana. The creature loomed ahead, its form shifting, writhing—as if it had been pieced together from something that was never meant to exist.

Elara exhaled sharply, her staff glowing faintly. "That's… not in the bestiary."

The Book of Envy pulsed against his chest, hungry.

This thing—whatever it was—was strong. Stronger than the average monster.

But was it strong enough to resist him?

A single step—then a blur of motion. He closed the distance instantly, blade flashing.

Lucian barely twisted in time as a limb—or something like one—lashed out at him, striking the ground with a force that cracked the earth beneath it.

He landed a few feet away, eyes narrowing. That wasn't luck.

The creature's many eyes blinked, rippling across its shifting flesh like raindrops on a pond.

Lucian's grip on his sword tightened. This thing was thinking.

Her staff glowed, the air around her humming with power. A sigil burned into existence beneath her feet as she whispered an incantation.

Lucian barely had time to process before a chain of golden light erupted from the ground, wrapping around the creature's form.

It shrieked—a sound that made Lucian's vision blur at the edges, his skin crawling with something primal.

Elara clenched her jaw. "Now! Hit it while—"

Lucian barely moved in time as it lunged at Elara.

She threw up a barrier—just in time.

A sickening crack rang out as the beast slammed against the magical shield, Elara staggering back from the impact.

Lucian clicked his tongue. Resisting bindings, adapting mid-battle—

Lucian moved, katana glinting in the moonlight. He needed to test it.

A feint to the left—no reaction.

A sudden shift in speed—it adjusted instantly.

A downward slash—it dodged before the blade even came close.

Lucian's eyes flickered. It wasn't just reacting.

His eyes sharpened, something within him clicking into place.

Condition One: The target must be within his level—or weaker.

Condition Two: He must land a decisive blow.

That meant this wasn't just about hitting it.

Because this was what he had trained for.

The Things That Should Not Be