• Action
• Adventure
• Drama
• Fantasy
• Harem
• Martial Arts
• Mature
• Romance
• Seinen
• Supernatural

• Virtual Reality MMORPG
• Real World Cyberpunk Future
• Game and Real World Intersect
• Artificial Intelligence (True AI vs. Programmed Constructs)
• Megacorporations
• Dystopian Society
• Post-WWIII Reconstruction

Protagonist:

• Mysterious Past
• Hidden Identity
• Adopted Protagonist
• Overpowered Protagonist
• Hard-Working Protagonist
• Cares Deeply for Loved Ones
• Devoted Protector
• Ruthless When Necessary
• Master Strategist
• Charismatic Leader
• Double Life (Real World vs. Game World)

Romantic Subplots:

• Strong Romantic Bond
• Loyal Love Interests
• Protective Protagonist
• Terminal Illness Love Interest
• Beautiful and Pure Female Lead
• Love Interest in Peril
• Slow-Burn Romance
• Character Dynamics & Party
• Powerful Allies
• Strong Female Leads
• Beastkin Companion
• Princess-Type Companion
• Noblewoman Companion
• Healer/Support-Type Ally
• Assassin-Type Ally
• Subordinates with Unique Abilities
• Team Synergy and Role Specialization
• Gameplay Elements
• Skill Leveling
• Equipment Leveling
• Unique Class System
• Character Stats and Builds
• EXP Boosters and Multipliers
• Epic Weapons with Growth Potential
• Life-Saving Tech (like MELSS)
• Player Housing / Customization
• PvP and PvE Systems
• Boss Raids and World Bosses
• Guilds and Faction Warfare
• Conflict and Antagonists
• Tragic Backstories
• Secret Organizations
• Corporate Espionage
• Government Conspiracies
• World-Changing Technologies
• War Between Nations (via VR Competitions)
• AI Manipulation
• Game Exploits and Hacks
• High-Level Bosses
• Betrayals and Scheming
• Revenge Subplots
• Face-Slapping Moments
• Fantasy/Sci-Fi Fusion
• Magic and Technology Blend
• Bio-Augmentation and Genetic Modification
• Fantasy Classes in Sci-Fi World
• High-Tech Magic Equipment
• Legendary Creatures (Dragons, Phoenixes, Giants)
• Artificial World Creation
• Myth-Inspired Powers and Lore
• Dimensional Merging (Real vs. Game World)

Other Themes:

• Social Stratification
• Loss and Redemption
• Ethics of AI
• Determined Protagonist
• Saving the Girl
• Secrets of the Past
• Hidden Power Within
• Resistance Against Fate
• “Man Becomes God” Theme
• Endgame is Godhood

The Grim Reapers had several hideouts located throughout the United States. Most were located in cities that had been abandoned due to the war and Mortems Disease. Such cities were located in every nation. While they were called abandoned, it was not completely true when the government claimed that no one lived there, as the dregs of society often made these places their home. Cities like this were filled with criminals and often subject to gang violence. This was, of course, despite the international policies that forbade killing.

Humanity has a long history of violence. It had been argued by war theorists that violence was an innate part of human’s evolutionary heritage, rooted in their survival instincts. Many people had, at the time of the treaty's signing, argued that it was impossible to eliminate violence entirely. It also raised questions on where violence might be justifiable such as self-defense.

A ban on killing not only brought into question human morality, but it required a robust system of enforcement and punishment for those who violated it. This was what had led to the surveillance cameras being installed in every major city and population center. Every government in the world had also enforced mandatory classes that promoted non-violence.

Of course, it was not possible to enforce this in every city, and larger cities, like New York and Los Angeles, had their own criminal underworld. The peaceful life that the government painted was but a facade to fool the average citizen into thinking nobody engaged in acts of violence.

Going back to the mostly abandoned cities, the American Federation Government had at one point tried to go in and stop these people from killing each other, but the results had been more violence—borderline genocidal even. The American Federation Government had no choice but to kill anyone and everyone within these cities because those who lived there responded to their requests to cease their violence with, well, more violence. After a brave reporter aired what was happening on various social platforms like MeTube and TokTik, the people rose in protest. After that, many of these cities were segregated so the violence wouldn’t extend beyond them.

The American Federation would have taken a major blow to its reputation had this occurrence been an isolated incident, but fortunately for them, such uprisings had been happening all across the globe due to everything from food shortages to a lack of public order in places struck by the worst of the nuclear bombings.

The hideout where Adam, Aris, and Lilith traveled was in an abandoned section of New York City. It was located close to what had once been Clove Lakes Park. The park was no more. It had been turned into a desolate wasteland. The once fresh, clear water had evaporated and what trees remained were little more than decayed skeletons to stand as symbols of a time long gone. This was one of the places in New York City that had yet to be restored.

Adam, Aris, and Lilith walked down a flight of stairs behind Leviathan. The woman decked in black skin-tight clothes walked with confidence, messy hair tied into a ponytail that swayed back and forth. They reached the end of the stairs. Leviathan slid a card through a small slot, which caused a panel to open. A red light appeared from within and scanned her retina. There was a beep. Then the door slid open.

Beyond the entrance was a dimly lit corridor, the walls of which were constructed using thick concrete. Harsh fluorescent lights flickered overhead. They cast irregular shadows that danced along the passageway. Exposed pipes ran along the ceiling and ventilation ducts clung to the walls. The hideout had been made with a focus on functionality rather than aesthetics.

Security cameras were mounted on the walls at regular intervals. They followed Adam and his party as they moved. Further inside was the hub, living quarters, medical bay, and training room. The hub served as both a tech room and lounge, with multiple computer screens lining the walls, displaying maps, surveillance feeds, and streams of data. A small kitchenette sat off to the side. Between the kitchenette and the tech hub was a couch with neon lights lining the bottom.

“Wow! This is just like the secret hideout for a group of vigilantes! I’ve seen stuff like this in movies!!” Aris exclaimed.

Her words caused Adam and Lilith to share a look. His dark-haired companion gave him an uncertain smile, which caused him to chuckle. Meanwhile, the young woman they were with was looking around everywhere after they entered, eyes shining like a pair of stars in the night sky.

“Well… you’re not quite wrong,” Adam confessed.

He wouldn’t call themselves a vigilante group. If he was going to be technical, they were criminals. They took on jobs like assassinations, espionage, and sabotage. Of course, every person they worked for was vetted before they did anything, and they never took jobs that involved killing innocent people. That still didn’t change the fact that they had killed people before and would continue to kill people so long as it turned a profit. Saying that, most of their jobs were now in the virtual world instead of the real world. They made a lot more money that way.

Adam sat down on a couch with a heavy sigh. He had been up all night fighting against Levon’s forces. Sure, he could stay awake for several days and not suffer much, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t tired. Fatigue was something anyone would accumulate after fighting an entire night without rest. This was also the most fighting he had done in a long while in the real world. He pinched his nose to stymie the slight headache pounding near his temples and frontal lobe. The couch shifted as someone sat on his right. Blinking his eyes open, he glanced over to find Aris.

“You okay? You look tired?” said Aris.

“I’m all right.” He smiled, then took a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling slowly through his nose, and leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “Even if I’m not, we can’t afford to rest. Levon won’t stay quiet for long. We need to figure out what our next move is.”

Leviathan sat on a stool near a bar table. Lilith, meanwhile, had taken to leaning against a wall. She had her arms crossed and wore a passive expression. While it didn’t look like they were paying attention, he knew they were listening carefully to his words.

“You plan on going to Los Angeles, right?” asked Leviathan.

“That’s right.” Adam nodded. “We can’t remain in New York. This is where the Pleonexia Family’s influence is strongest. The only way to ensure our safety is to travel somewhere that their influence doesn’t reach. Los Angeles is home to Daggerfall Dynasty. The Daggerfall Family might not be as powerful as the Pleonexia Family, but they are still one of the strongest families in the American Federation. The Pleonexia Family won’t make trouble for them unless they’re willing to risk losing at least half their manpower and social influence.”

“So let’s just go there,” said Aris.

Adam shook his head. “It’s not that simple. First, we need to ensure that Levon can’t come after us. I’ve already sent the video content of the Pleonexia Alliance forces attacking us to Susan, who should have given it to her father by now. I believe he’ll know what to do with it. After that, we’ll wait for a while to see what Levon’s next move is. Only after we know what he’s going to do will we leave. Our method of transportation will largely depend on what he does.”

Their situation was precarious and they needed to prioritize their safety and survival. If they made a move without assessing Levon’s next steps, they could walk into a trap and put their lives at risk. Understanding their enemy's next move would allow them to formulate a more effective strategy. With the evidence Adam had given to Susan’s father, Levon should temporarily withdraw, which would allow them to escape… but what if he didn’t? What if he did something unexpected? If Levon planned a direct assault or pursuit, they would need to plan an escape route, fortify their defenses, or seek assistance from someone.

And regardless of what Levn did or didn’t do, traveling to Los Angeles required resources, including procuring transportation and supplies. Making a hasty move without knowing what Levon would do could lead to wasteful resource expenditures. The Grim Reapers were not short on money, but they weren’t money banks either. There was a limit to what they could use at any given time.

They spoke a bit longer, but their plans were mostly laid out, and it was late—or rather, early, so they all decided to get some rest. This hideout, Delta One, had several rooms with beds. They weren’t as comfortable as the one Adam normally slept on, but they would do for now.

Adam did not sleep alone. Aris was with him, and she had dragged Lilith into the bed as well. He found himself squished between two gorgeous women. Aris’s petite frame was snuggled firmly against him. She was wearing a shirt, but she wasn’t wearing a bra or panties, so he could feel the contours of her body and her stiff nipples quite clearly. He wondered if she was doing that on purpose. Knowing her, it was a very real possibility. This girl was a minx… and maybe a sex addict. Lilith wore black panties and a spaghetti strap t-shirt. Her chest was much larger than Aris’s, and his arm sank between them as she hugged him tight.

There was no light in this room. It did not have windows, and the only source of illumination came from cracks in the door. Adam could only see because of his enhanced vision. Even then, he could only make out vague outlines. Lilith was already fast asleep. As an assassin, she had trained herself to sleep whenever she could. Assassins like them never knew when they would be able to rest again.

“Do you think we’ll be okay?” Aris asked softly.

Adam would have rubbed her head, but his arms were pinned by her and Lilith.

“We’ll be fine. Now, get some rest.”

“Okay…”

Adam waited for Aris to fall asleep. Sighing when the young woman’s body grew slack and her breathing even, he closed his eyes and finally allowed sleep to take him.

***

Eugine Forebear sat in his office. The lights were on, showcasing a warm and friendly atmosphere. Soft carpet, beige walls, and shelves lined with old books gave his room the aesthetic of a scholar rather than a politician. His desk was made of mahogany and polished to a glossy shine. Nothing sat upon it. Most people would have suspected there was nothing there. They would be wrong.

Susan had just gone to bed, but before doing so, she had given him something that shocked him. He stared at the small memory drive in his hand, turning it this way and that. It wasn’t much larger than a finger. It was hard to believe something so tiny could hide such a dirty secret. Moments passed. Then he depressed a panel on the desk, which opened seconds before a small tower with numerous outlets appeared. He hesitated before putting the memory drive into one of them.

A holographic screen appeared in the air before him. He reached out and pressed the folder that had appeared. There was only one file inside, a video file, which he tapped once. This video file showed the Pleonexia Alliance attacking someone. He could not see who because the camera had been installed on the person’s head, but he could already figure out who they were.

Susan wasn’t close to that many people. Her only friend for the longest time had been Fayte, but that list had recently expanded to include a few more, and among them was one young man who had helped rescue her when she had been kidnapped. This was Adam’s video file. He had been attacked by the Pleonexia Alliance and not only fended them off but destroyed and killed several of their militiamen.

He knew why Adam had Susan give this to him, but he questioned whether that was the right decision or not. Should he do this, he would undoubtedly make an enemy of the Pleonexia Alliance, which he was already in hot water with because he had reneged on his marriage contract with Connor Sword. Yet if he didn’t help out Adam, he knew that Susan would be disappointed in him. He pursed his lips for a moment. Should he contact Levon or not?

With a sigh, he created a copy of the video file and sent it to Levon Pleonexia via email. He could not bear to disappoint his daughter, and Adam had saved her life. He owed that man. Eugine was the kind of person who always repaid his debts. He sat back and waited after sending the message. Only a few seconds passed before he received a call. It was a video call instead of a normal one. He had expected that.

He accepted the call. Levon’s face replaced the folder. The man looked quite enraged. His face was red, his eyes were narrowed in anger, and a vein throbbed along his temple. The man’s normally handsome appearance was marred by ugly malice.

“Levon, it’s a pleasure to see you. We haven’t spoken in a long time.”

“Cut the crap! What the hell was that video you sent me?!”

“Are we doing away with pleasantries? Very well. I don’t think I need to tell you what the video is. You would know that better than me.”

Levon scrunched up his face like he had tasted something foul. Was he shaking with rage? Well, that was natural. The forces he had sent to kill Adam had not only failed, but they’d been almost completely wiped out, and to top it off, video footage had been taken. If this content went public, the Pleonexia Family’s name would be dragged through the mud.

Influence and power beget economic opportunities. Society in this new era was stratified, with a clear hierarchy based on the power of a person’s family. Noble families like the Pleonexia’s enjoyed incredible privileges derived from their wealth, fame, and social influence. Maintaining their prestige had become a way of securing their social standing and maintaining that privilege. Any threat to that had to be dealt with immediately.

“… What was your purpose in giving this to me?” Levon asked at last.

“Do you really need me to spell it out?” countered Eugine.

Levon’s nostrils flared. “Is that man really worth making an enemy out of me? Out of the Pleonexia Family?”

“That man saved my daughter when she had been kidnapped,” Eugine countered. “He was under no obligation to do so, but he risked his life for her sake. How can I call myself Susan’s father if I don’t protect the man who saved her life?”

Levon had to know what he was talking about. Eugine was certain this man was at least somewhat responsible for Susan’s near kidnapping. Connor Sword was the only person who had the motivation to kidnap her, though they couldn’t accuse the man in court because there was no evidence against him. But Eugine was certain Connor was the culprit, and he would not do something without Levon’s knowledge.

Of course, Levon could not admit to knowing about Susan’s kidnapping.

“I had not realized that man had done so much for you. However, you should still be aware of what protecting this man will do. He has become persona non grata with my family. If you choose to side with him, it means you are siding against me.”

Eugine shrugged calmly. “If you wish to paint this matter in such a black-and-white picture, then there’s nothing I can do. I’m merely returning a favor owed. If you don’t want this video going live, you’ll cease any attempts to harm Adam and his colleagues.”

Silence met Eugine’s declaration, but he didn’t mind. This gave him time to think. By threatening Levon with this video content, they could limit what actions he took. He couldn’t afford to let it go live. However, this was only a temporary measure. He would create a countermeasure soon, which meant Adam’s window of opportunity to escape from New York City was limited. Eugine figured the young man would have a day at most.

Levon finally broke the silence. “… Very well. I’ll let this matter go… for now. However, I will never forget what you did tonight.”

“I’ll bear that in mind,” said Eugine.

Nothing more needed to be said and Levon ended the call soon after. The holographic screen disappeared. Eugine removed the memory drive from his outlet, tapped a button that caused it to disappear back into the desk, and leaned back in his chair. He closed his eyes and allowed the silence to engulf him.

I’ve done everything I can. With this, my debt to you has been paid. The rest is up to you… Adam.

Step-by-Step Guide to Sideload EPUB Files Purchased from Shopify onto Kindle

Amazon now supports EPUB files on Kindle, but you need to send them through Send to Kindle or convert them. Follow these steps to get your EPUB books on your Kindle.

Method 1: Send to Kindle (Recommended)

Amazon now allows you to send EPUB files directly to your Kindle via email or the Send to Kindle app.

Step 1: Find Your Kindle Email Address

Go to Amazon → Manage Your Content & Devices (Link).

Click the Devices tab.

Select your Kindle device and note the "Send-to-Kindle Email" (e.g., yourname@kindle.com).

Step 2: Send EPUB to Kindle via Email

Open your email client (Gmail, Outlook, etc.).

Compose a new email to your Send-to-Kindle Email.

Attach the EPUB file you purchased.

Send the email. Amazon will convert it and deliver it to your Kindle.

Alternative: Use the "Send to Kindle" App

Download the Send to Kindle App (PC, Mac).

Drag and drop the EPUB file into the app.

Select your Kindle and send it.

Method 2: USB Transfer (For Advanced Users)

This method requires converting the EPUB to Kindle’s MOBI or AZW3 format.

Step 1: Convert EPUB to MOBI or AZW3

Download Calibre (Link).

Open Calibre and add your EPUB file.

Click Convert books → Choose MOBI or AZW3 as the output format.

Click OK to convert.

Step 2: Transfer to Kindle via USB

Connect your Kindle to your PC/Mac using a USB cable.

Open the Kindle folder in File Explorer (Windows) / Finder (Mac).

Drag and drop the converted file into the Documents folder.

Eject your Kindle, and your book will appear in your library.

Bonus: Use a Third-Party App

Apps like Send to Kindle for Android/iOS or Readwise Reader can also sync EPUBs to Kindle.

Now, enjoy your book on Kindle! 📖🔥