I'd dedicated my whole life to becoming the next Guardian of the Empire. I'd seen it all: endless killings, wars, and coups. I was gifted, and I became the youngest of the Genius rank, striking fear into the hearts of my enemies.

Evidently, that wasn't enough.

My real journey only began when I lost everyone who was dear to me, and then used a secret Guardian technique to travel one day back in time - so I could get revenge on those responsible.

Only now it seems I've gone back much further than one day, and there’re many more culprits to tackle than I expected...

Imagine you find yourself in a world that prizes martial arts above all else, and that I am the descendent of an ancient clan who have honed their skill from generation to generation to rise to the ranks of the most powerful…Bet you’re surprised, right?

The thing is, most of my teachers say I’m a hopeless, talentless loser. No big deal, at first glance at least. I can survive just fine without talent.

There’s just one catch – I’m already dead. Or am I?

From book 1:

As the years start running out, you often find that life has left you completely alone. This is what has happened to one military veteran who’s lived through many of history’s “flash points”. In order to inject some color into his final days, the former soldier signs a contract with a company that has developed a fully immersive virtual world.

Project Alpha Rome is a multi-level city plagued by endless wars between humans and mutants. You can play as either species. The best argument in favor of living here is the firepower and the reflexes of your weapons. Our hero chooses the nickname “Volper” and sets out on his path alone, preferring not to fall into the ranks of an existing clan.

Thanks to this strategy, he manages to spot things other players have missed, even in the simplest of locations, meaning he progresses much more quickly than they do. His attentive and reflective attitude to his surroundings prompts him to ask more and more questions about the purpose of the project. Why has Alpha Rome really been created?

I am the best warrior in Earth’s history. I led the Armies of Humanity to victory in the Last War. I brought the long-awaited peace, and then, I was no longer needed.

But Humanity couldn’t cope without me. It’s now just an “appendage” of the Aliens, making our enemies stronger, helping them to continue wreaking havoc and destruction in the Galaxy. I’ve lost all my powers, but I still have my wits and skills.

You think a single soldier loses against an army? Not if that soldier is me—Absolut Alexander Voronov, Ideal #003 “Achilles”. The full power of Humanity used to back me. Today, I am Humanity.

Maximilian is the last of the noble Valevsky lineage. His entire family was put to death for an alleged attempt on the powerful Duke Odoevsky, who had his eye set on the Valevsky’s land.

The young man managed to avoid execution, but not punishment. From here on out, he’s condemned to life as a suicide soldier: the front line in the fight against the dark god Skron’s mutated creatures. “Do or die” — that’s the motto that has been drilled into his head. The Duke took everything from him but his honor and a thirst for revenge.

Maximilian makes a vow to dig himself out of this hole he’s been driven into and lay claim to his birthright. But first, he needs to get through training and survive. A rookie can’t afford to dream of anything else.

I was the greatest mage of chaos of my time, spending sixty years defending the world from rift creatures. If there was a mission—I completed it. If there was an enemy—I destroyed them. I was loyal to the Empire to my bone, until it decided to wipe out the Chaos clan and every last one of its members. But life has a way of surprising you, and I got a second chance to walk the entire path again. Except the rules were different this time around. Now chaos is the weakest of the six elements, and its mages are considered bottom-feeders.

Well, time to show this world just how dead wrong it is. Chaos is mighty, and so is its true warrior!

They shouldn’t have pissed off a virtual world top player by erasing his character for a highly questionable “violation of game rules”— and taking away his valuable in-game possessions. After returning to the virtual world under a different nickname, an unknown newb puts everything on the line by selecting the most difficult Hardcore mode: a single life that’s so easy to lose in the dangerous game world.

In search of his former character’s treasures, the newb breaks old stereotypes to become the sandbox terror, punishing everyone: those who banned him, monsters, rivals, enemy players, and anyone else who happens to get into his sharp-clawed paws!

What would happen if our world turned into a computer game?

It might sound tempting at first, but there's one small detail you should know: in this game, people are nothing but non-playable characters, useful only for the service they provide to the real players. Experience, development, loot, levels - none of that is for us. Our role is merely to dance to the tune of our masters, who have come to our world to turn it into a character farm and a space for their own entertainment.

Doesn't sound quite as nice anymore, does it? But nobody ever gave us any choice in the matter: the update known as "Earth" has already been installed!

If anybody has a problem with that... Well, that's their own personal problem. The system will devour everyone!

Genji Tanaka wanted to become the leader of Gakko Academy, but he overestimated his own power. After he lost a battle, the soul of a psy-master from the planet Skayd transferred into the body of the dying teenager.

Is the leadership of the school really worth a war of all against all? Especially when you consider that it is a school for wizards, and Genji couldn't even rightfully use the power of his own clan...