Last year I started my own isekai light novel series. Seeded with cliches of it’s genre and spinning them in different ways, makes for an interesting read. But I might be bias, as it’s my story. Being a fan of anime and manga helps build the style, but you can also look at it as a fantasy otherwise. Below is a short summary, some insight, and part 1 of the story. [Note: It’s possible this won’t be the final edit of the story, or that changes may be made if it ever goes to print.]

Plot Summary:

The story follows a protagonist who, after dying in his previous life, is reincarnated into a fantasy world by a god who mistakenly turns him into a duck instead of a human hero. Despite this unexpected form, he retains powerful magical abilities, setting him on a journey of survival, self-discovery, and adventure.

The story begins with the duck hatching in a deep dungeon, where he must fend for himself against various monsters. Over the course of five years, he hones his magic, learning to manipulate elements like water, air, and fire to battle formidable foes.

Eventually, he escapes the dungeon and encounters Lyra, an elven princess. He instinctively protects her from an attacking wolf-like creature, catching her interest. Lyra, intrigued by his abilities, takes him as her pet and names him “Duc.” Along with her protector, Gavin, they travel back toward her kingdom. However, their journey takes a dark turn when they’re ambushed.

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Author’s Notes Insights:

1. Concept & Approach:

The story was created on an improvisational basis, with world-building and character development unfolding naturally alongside Duc’s journey.

The decision to make Duc a duck (rather than a human) was intentional for comedic effect and to subvert isekai tropes.

2. Character Development & Themes:

Duc’s journey is focused on growth and adaptation, balancing humor with moments of genuine struggle and danger.

While Duc is strong, he is not overpowered. His battles are about creativity and survival rather than sheer dominance.

Lyra was meant to be more than a damsel in distress; her development is key to the story’s progression.

Bea was introduced to diversify interactions and provide additional world-building elements.

3. Tone & Audience:

The novel is written with young adult and teen audiences in mind, balancing action with lighthearted and introspective moments.

Violence is present but not excessively graphic, focusing more on adventure than grimdark themes.

4. Duc’s Abilities & Future Conflict:

His abilities stem from both the god’s blessing and his fusion with the black slime.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

The story hints at an internal struggle between heroism and the potential darkness within Duc.

Duc’s unique status as a magical duck raises questions about his longevity and future role in the world.

[The first volume sets up an engaging mix of action, humor, and mystery, leaving room for future development as Duc and Lyra prepare for greater challenges ahead.]

Without Futher Ado:

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1. An Egg in Another World

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How did I get here? Actually… where am I?

“You don’t remember?” asked an old man wearing a white robe who looked to be playing on a giant touch screen computer.

Oh, excuse me sir. Wait… this is weird. How am I talking? Where is my body?

“Ah I see. You don’t remember you are but a soul now.”

A soul?

“Yes my boy. You died.”

Died!? Oh… is this, heaven? Or the other place…?

“Neither. I snatched your soul from your universe and brought it to mine. I am the god of this realm and am in need of someone like you. A good hearted and good natured, hero if you will.”

A hero? Me? I don’t think you’ve got the right person.

“I think time will tell on that. When it came down to it, in the last moment of your previous life, you gave it to save others. And that’s a heroic heart indeed.”

I see. Well, if I died to save others, at least I ended up doing something with my life. I never really accomplished anything otherwise, at least, not that I can remember.

“I thought you’d feel precisely that way. Thus, I’m giving you a second chance. A chance to be a hero from the start.”

A hero?! In like a fantasy land? Am I seriously being isekai-ed??

“It may seem that way, yes. A world of knights and monsters and of course, magic. I’m customizing the hero you’ll grow into now. A human being with exponential magic to save the world!”

Wow! I hope I can live up to your expectations. Hopefully I’ll be better looking this time around…

“Don’t worry lad. You’ll be great.”

The old man finished typing and tapping on his touch screen showing a very fit and handsome man that I looked to become in this new life.

I’m getting excited!

“All that’s left is for you to get started.” said the man reaching to initiate the sequence, when he caught a wrinkle in his nose, and at the most inopportune time, the man let out a sneeze causing his finger to swipe the screen and initialize the birth of the new hero. Only…

“Oh dear. That wasn’t suppose to happen. All the changes I made are there, but his body, it switched to an animal. It’s too late to do anything!” exclaimed the old man, slapping his own head.

𓅹𓅹𓅹𓅹𓅭𓅹𓅹𓅹𓅭𓅹𓅹𓅹𓅹

What? Where am I? Old man? OLD MAN?!

It was dark and I was but an embryo now, inside some sort of hard shell. My soul seems to have attached to the vessel even though it hasn’t developed yet. It’s an odd feeling to just exist but not be able to do anything. It seems, I wasn’t alone at least.

There was a ruckus going on outside. I wasn’t strong enough to push out of whatever this cacoon was. I’m not even sure I had a body yet. However, I could feel the mana poured within me, extending around me. It was a shell!

What the-? I’m in an egg? Is this how humans are born in this land?

Whatever was going on on the outside sounded like an attack of some sort. The egg I was in was knocked away from the battle. I rolled and I rolled, until… I fell.

I fell and fell for what seemed like forever. Until I came to a surprisingly gentle and slow stop into something that felt odd and mucous-y. I sensed that it wanted me, but my mana and shell were too much for it. So much so, that I began to absorb from it instead.

It was a living beast of some sort. A giant black slime that dwelled there. Nothing else seemed to be around. Perhaps, out of fear. I slowly oozed out of the slime to a halt in a cave like structure underneath it.

Oh great. Now what?

Time passed. What felt like forever, was probably days, before I formed a body and was finally able to crack my shell. I kicked out the bottom, then rolled out and over, only to find… I wasn’t a human at all!

I had tiny yellow wings and a small yellow body. Plus, the black slime I had absorbed for so long was still on me. I tried to shake it off, but all it seemed to do was even it out as a translucent layer across my body. It was like I was glowing or sparkling, but harder to tell in whatever this cave system was. However, there was some kind of ambient lighting that I could see well enough to navigate.

A small stream of water was near by, and I did feel a little parched. I waddled my way ungracefully to the stream for a drink and saw myself, jumping back for a second.

What the duck?!

That’s right. I’m a duck in a world I don’t know. I don’t think this is what the old man had in mind, but what could I do about it now?

I turned to getting a lay of the environment. I could see, but it didn’t really seem like there was much to see in a deep cavern. Then some noise came. It sounded like scratches on the ground, but they were faint. So, I followed the noise through the caverns as any brave hero- duck… would do.

As I trotted along downward through the cave, it began to light up more. The walls reflected a fiery red, and eventually I came to where the scratches were coming from. In front of me sat a beast that looked like a giant lion with bat wings tearing the flesh off a slightly smaller but dead beast. I accidently let out a scared shriek that of course only came out as,

“Quack?!”

I’ve got to get out of here!

My being startled and letting out a noise got the beast’s attention. It’s dead yellow eyes sniffed the air as blood and drool leaked from its mouth. Slowly creeping towards me, it bared it’s fangs, ready to strike!

The ground cracked beneath it with each step it took. A low guttural grumble exhaled from its disgusting mouth. I backed into a wall, unable to move out of fear. Panic was setting in.

Dead again so soon?! This wasn’t the plan. At least, I don’t think so anyways.

The creature inched closer and I was shaking. I began looking around for anything that would help me, but there was nothing. Nothing except some of the water reflecting the light that trickled down from where I first glanced a peak at my duck self.

The beast was about to strike and I was thinking, if only I could fight back or scare it. If only I could blow it away! Then in that instant, my body began to glow. At the same time, the water flew up from the stream, blasting the beast backwards with such force that it blew it’s head clean off, falling over dead, leaking out purple blood from it’s stump.

Woah! I may be a duck, but I still have magic like the old man said. Well, this makes me feel like not all is lost!

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End Part 1

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⋆༺𓆩The.Fellow𓆪༻⋆