A “guilty” verdict. A shot at freedom. A brave new world to explore. Hunter is a twenty-something college dropout who's not going anywhere too fast - but not for lack of smarts. When he faces jailtime for using a stolen credit card number to buy some pizza, he's given a seedy but interesting alternative: Delve into the virtual reality world of Elderpyre and provide the developers with anonymous playtest data. Things, however, are never that simple - are they? Someone slips him a mysterious note that says “this is not a game”, and the lines between fantasy and reality start getting more blurred than ever. Sometimes painfully, nigh-lethally so.   About the series: Experience an intriguing dive into the otherworldly realm of Elderpyre as Hunter finds out the hard way that choices have consequences and the stakes are painfully real. See him fight tooth and nail to forge his own path, do right by his companions, and become stronger through a unique progression system combining cultivation and traditional LitRPG elements. A weak-to-strong dark fantasy story perfect for readers who enjoy rich characters, deep world-building, and thought-provoking themes. Oh, and Skills, Abilities, monster fighting, and an MC that just… won’t… give… up!   What to expect: - VR-to-Isekai story. - Down-to-earth but smart male MC. - Stats, Skills, Abilities, progression. - Rich and varied characters. - Deep worldbuilding. - Deceptively serious stakes. - Thought-provoking themes. What NOT to expect: - OP MC. - Harem / reverse harem.   Schedule: 2 chapters per week on Wednesday, Sunday