Viridian Gate Online

October, 2042. An extinction-level asteroid is cannonballing toward Earth. World governments are preparing deep-earth bunkers for a lucky few, but Jack Mitchel, a thirty-two-year-old EMT, isn't among the winners. His only chance: permanently upload his mind into Viridian Gate Online, a brand-new ultra-immersive fantasy VRMMORPG. The transition kills his body, one in six die in the process, and even if Jack beats the odds he'll face vicious monsters, domineering AIs, and cutthroat players. When Jack stumbles upon a secret conspiracy to sell off virtual real estate to the ultrawealthy — transforming V.G.O. into a new feudal dark age — the deadly dungeon creatures become the least of his concerns.

Three days ago, Jack Mitchel saved his life by dying — uploading his mind into Viridian Gate Online to dodge an extinction-level asteroid. Unfortunately, he's stumbled headlong into a secret conspiracy that will transform V.G.O. into a new feudal dark age. Jack expected to live out his fantasy life in peace, but now he and his misfit crew of rebels are the only ones preventing a tyrant emperor from taking power. With only a handful of supporters, he's going to snatch one of the empire's key cities right from underneath their noses — but to pull it off he'll need to develop his Shadowmancer powers, raid dungeons, and make some very shady allies.

Three weeks ago Jack Mitchel died. Two weeks ago he founded the first Faction in Viridian Gate Online. A week and a half ago the world ended. Seven days ago, he conquered the Imperial city of Rowanheath, bringing all of Eldgard to the brink of war. Jack knows his truce with ruthless tech genius Robert Osmark can't last — it's only a matter of time before the Empire moves to wipe out the Crimson Alliance. A new quest, the Path of the Jade Lord, may be the ticket, but it will push Jack to his mental, physical, and moral limits.

The Imperial Legion marches, and war looms on the horizon. Jack Mitchel and his misfit rebels never wanted a fight with the Empire, but the time for diplomacy has passed. Ruthless tech-genius Robert Osmark is coming with a vast army determined to wipe the Crimson Alliance from the face of Eldgard. Impossibly, Jack has united the warring Murk Elf clans under his banner, but even with their aid the Alliance is badly outnumbered — and an ancient evil is stirring in the heart of Viridian Gate Online that will change the game forever.

The Vogthar Horde has come, and they bring real death with them — not even players are safe from the power of Malware Blades. Worse, the Realm of Order is slowly being corrupted by an ancient evil: the Lich Priest. If he succeeds, it could mean the end of Sophia and the downfall of the Crimson Alliance. Grim Jack never thought he'd find himself siding with the Empire, but with this terrible new threat, making friends of old enemies may be the only way to survive.

Jack and the Crimson Alliance have finally made it back from the Realm of Order, but the threat to Eldgard is deadlier than ever. Vogthar incursions are increasing, dungeons falling in droves, towns and cities ravaged by Darklings — players and NPCs who have sided with the Dark Overmind Thanatos. A priceless artifact recovered after defeating the Lich Priest may offer hope: a Doom-Forged relic, one part of an ancient weapon capable of killing even a god. But assembling the legendary god-killer means finding the other relics, locating the fabled Doom Forge, and unraveling a mystery five hundred years in the making.

Grim Jack didn't set out to lead Eldgard's united armies, but with dungeons falling and hordes of Vogthar pouring into the material plane, it's up to him to save both citizens and travelers from digital destruction. His doomsday weapon will take him straight into the heart of Morsheim, but even the combined might of the Empire and the Crimson Alliance might not be enough. He'll have to uncover secrets buried for millennia just to get within striking distance of a death god gone mad — and the choices he makes will change him and the world forever.

The Darkling City has fallen, but its final Stronghold remains. With the Reality Editor in hand, Jack thought the assault on Skalaholt would be swift, but his army has been stopped cold — and someone close to him has been taken by the Overmind of Death. Stranded behind enemy lines with only one shot at victory, Jack faces seemingly impossible challenges that will require him to think outside himself, to change, and even to lose. As the other Overminds finally reveal their hands, it becomes clear that more than just the war is at stake — Eldgard's future is being written in Jack's every action.