Bastion of Immutability [HIATUS]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Rahul was flying back to San Francisco after a fulfilling company retreat to Japan. Halfway through, somewhere in the middle of the Pacific, the 'system' arrived.

The integration of the earth into the multiverse brings with it many perils and as many opportunities. What chance do 160 stranded employees of a tech giant have in a world without technology? Follow their journey as they scramble to survive and defend their island against all manner of beasts, gaining levels, skills, and titles in the process.

See how 'regular' humans without an infinite pool of resolve and courage deal with system integration.

I have attempted to avoid overused tropes and write a story from the perspective of regular people who find themselves in an impossible situation. The characters will struggle and grow, and there will be opportune circumstances that'll give them advantages, but they won't be OP right out of the box.

If rational characters, large-scale defensive battles, dungeon conquests, and fighting as part of a party are elements you enjoy in a story, then take a look!

Minor Spoiler: The story starts with a heavy theme of settlement management, but after the first minor arc, the content focuses exclusively on party-based combat (think RPG dungeon diving). There's an entire book's worth of content before we see settlement mechanics again around chapter 41.

Release schedule

3 chapters a week - Posted Monday, Wednesday and Friday (around 6pmUTC)

Chapters(88 total)

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Community Reviews(10)

  • Ace-omiRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    In this captivating excerpt, we are introduced to Rahul, a software engineer who finds himself in a bizarre situation after his airplane disappears mid-flight. The author masterfully builds tension and intrigue as Rahul navigates his way through a world where the earth has been integrated into the multiverse. The use of abstraction as a problem-solving tool is a clever nod to Rahul's profession, and the rational human emotions that the author promises to infuse into the characters are evident in Rahul's logical thought process. Overall, this snippet leaves the reader wanting more and excited to delve further into this fantasy world that is grounded in mysteries.
  • BananaDragonRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    For some context, I don't really read litRPG stories, but I have read one that was 10k pages... so take this review with a grain of salt lol. That being said, I really enjoyed reading this, and a lot of this felt like an interesting and new premise.
    This starts with Rahul flying back to San Francisco with his coworkers and bosses when suddenly the plain vanishes as they are teleported into a new world. They are forced to survive on an island while enhancing their ranks and class.
    Style: In terms of writing, I really liked the style. It was clear, concise, and some of the lines were really incredible. The ending of the prologue especially stood out to me. In general, the writing felt descriptive enough for me to really grasp the situation, but it wasn't overbearing or difficult to read. The only reason I would take off some points here is because the character reactions felt a little bit out of place at the start. They were suddenly shocked and then very level-headed which made it feel a little bit unrealistic. The author did address this though in a comment saying that it was because Rahul passed out for some time, but I do wish there was some more chaos or panic at the start. I'm marking this under style, because the overall plot was strong and this wasn't really a character issue, it was more of just an awkward time jump.
    Story: I really liked the story! It took some unconvential twists from the typical litRPG story. The MC isn't super OP (he isn't even the strongest), there are giant frogs for monsters, the whole plane scene was really cool, the system is unique, and it overall has been really interesting. I can't wait to see how the island continues to progress as well as the Bastion.
    Grammar: There were a few grammar mistakes and odd choices, but the author fixed all of them before I could even finish typing up this review (kudos to you, author!), and they do the same for all other suggestions. Because they're open to suggestions and the existing errors didn't
  • RainHarlowRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    You pretty much get what it says on the tin out of this one — this is community survival in the Litpocalypse by a very cooperative group of white-collar, capable thinkers and engineers, to boil it down. You've got team energy, you've got synergy, you've got managerial speeches you can imagine begin with a too-enthusiastic clap by a semi-charismatic corporate fellow... who is just trying to keep everyone's engine running in a bizarre, nightmare scenario.
    Everybody is trying to cling to what they hung their hats on before the New Rules of Reality came into play, stat-blocks and all — including Rahul, a software engineer we spend the most time with, including from the starting viewpoint. He's a normal guy for the most part, and you can expect him to push through his limitations over the course, much like every other member we peek in on. Their backgrounds are all relevant at each step, from their skills and specialties to their outlook on what to do.
    This is a story to see clever group problem-solving executed and tactical decision-making splayed out, with a heavy grounding in the skill and stat system everyone progressively learns more of. It's a bit like a company competitive team-building exercise expanded into a game where, you know, you can die. Your whole team can die. And you don't even get to roast s'mores or anything!
    Well, I'm rooting for them, at least.
    Personally, I'd say each element is executed as designed, from a clean, clear, matter-of-fact style to the character flashes and viewpoints never fully dominating the collective narrative.
    Finally, all I can say on grammar is it is just as I would expect, with a typo here and there (no, I'm not gonna bloody deduct for that, please, I've found them in hardbacks :P).
    Overall, I find the whole work endearing and it has inspiring qualities. I hope that some groups of people would function just like this is depicted in such a scenario, and behave logically. May Rahul, and Daniel, and Mark, and all the rest continu
  • SarthakRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    Pretty engaging premise. I like the gamer vibe it gives at start and fully delivers on. Also, I really like Isekai trope so the island theme fits quite well. The thought of starting in a small island and prospering also gives a peaceful energy but I doubt that'll remain lol.
    Plus stats make me feel very nostalgic, reminding me about the time I used to play Runescape on my potato laptop when life was simple. The story seems far from simple and quite rich though. A bit strong on the software dev stuff lol but doesn't get too nerdy with it.
    I have no complains about the grammar or the style and the sentences flow quite easily. The vocubularly isn't too complicated either and I didn't have to look up any words on google as of now
    I wish the main character was a mage, that's always the class I go for in Skyrim and the like, but a story from a warrior might be more engaging I guess. Overall it was a quite a good read so far.
  • Sketch SanchezRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    Bastion of Immutability [LitRPG] is an incredibly engaging story that takes readers on a thrilling journey from start to finish. The plot begins with a group of coworkers stranded on an island after the earth gets integrated into the multiverse, presenting both dangers and opportunities for survival. The story is filled with exciting twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats, wondering what will happen next.
    The characters in the story are well-developed and unique, with each one having their own personalities and behaviors that come together to form a cohesive group of survivors. Although the focus on the main character might be a little weak, the other characters make up for it with their compelling backgrounds and story arcs.
    The story's writing style is well-paced, with a slow introduction that allows readers to get to know the characters and build suspense for the story's main events. The vocabulary is simple, and the sentences flow naturally, making it easy to read and understand without feeling overwhelmed by technical jargon.
    The use of stats in the story is an excellent nod to simpler times of playing games like Runescape, Ultima Online, and the like. The author strikes a good balance with the use of these stats and doesn't go too nerdy, making it easy for readers to follow along.
    The grammar in the story is good, with only a few typos here and there. While the first two chapters might have been a little weaker in writing, the rest of the story makes up for it with more colorful words and better sentence structure.
    If one thing could be improved, it's the main character's development. While the other characters are well-rounded and developed, the main character might feel a little lackluster compared to them. Still, this doesn't detract from the overall enjoyment of the story.
    I would highly recommend this exciting and engaging story to anyone looking for a thrilling adventure in a new world. It's a solid 5 out of 5 stars from me, and I
  • Titania136Royal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    Simply put I goddamn loved this. Mostly because goddamn finally I've read a story on here where the characters react like real goddamn human beings. The world isn't great with it essentially being the usual multiversal system apocalypse with some random things moved around. But the really good part is the characters. Each acts in the way they act because of who they are also allowing us to get a good look at them in a subtle but interesting manner, and at the very core don't act stupidly just because the author forces them to be stupid. Rant incoming on human nature.
    Sorry for the rant but I have been really disliking all the apocalypse stories with such a pessimistic view on human nature. And I'm a bit disappointed at the seemingly pointless actions of one of the characters.
    Style:As I said the system, and world is a system apocalypse akin to Primal Hunter, and DotF with some stuff moved around. It does add little bits of shine that can come in unique ways, but I would prefer either a more unique or a more standard story. This is why it gets a 4.
    Story: So far the story hasn't wowed me like the characters, but it is pretty goddamn good, and at the very least it exists which is a shockingly hard thing to say.
    Grammar: It has no real errors and as such it gets a default 5.
    Characters: What more can I say I absolutely love the characters, their actions, and their interactions. My only complaint is that I want more.
    So if you want to read a System Apocalypse story where the characters act like real human beings, and not like whatever high school bully the author had then Bastion of Immutability is for you!
    Titania the ardent supporter of this book.
  • drewmcgunnRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    I felt a bit of trepidation about the story when I started, just because it didn’t start with a bang, but chapter 1’s last sentence sucked me in and I had to click on chapter 2.
    Style – The style is a somewhat untraditional approach to litRPG, in that the setting is an island in the middle of nowhere. If you’re looking for blue boxes and stats, they’re here. One thing I really like is that stats have to be earned. You don’t just get them because you level, you get them because you’ve done what’s necessary to obtain them.
    Grammar – The grammar is clear. In seven chapters, if there were typos or misspellings, they didn’t detract from the story or pull me out of it.
    Story – The unique spin on the LitRPG genre was fun. As mentioned above, setting it on an island as a cooperative endeavor was a bit of a fun departure. Each chapter left me wanting more.
    Character – In seven chapters, I felt connected to one of the characters, even though the story is told 3rd person through several POV characters.
    Overall – full disclosure, this review came out of a review swap. But I’m glad I read it and I’m inclined to keep reading. Second Law has crafted a fun read and if LitRPG is your cuppa tea, then you can’t go wrong with this gem.
  • sid255Royal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    I recently had the pleasure of reading this thrilling adventure fiction story that kept me on the edge of my seat from the beginning to end. What I loved the most about this story was the depth and complexity of the character. Overall, I would highly recommend "Bastion of Immutability" to anyone who loves a good adventure story. With it's gripping plot, well-drawn characters and excellent writing, it is sure to keep you hooked from beginning to end.
  • Dylan KingRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    Bastion is a settlement-building LitRPG about a group of software engineers as they're thrown into the deep end of a litrpg system and told to survive. The Story moves at a good pace, with a satisfying feeling of progression as you move through the story, and the characters begin to learn the system and make progress. The plot element of the story is tight, but, by chapter 7 at least, is starting to feel like the level of conflict and tension could be ramped up a little.
    The Style and Grammar is also solid. The prose is functional and suits the style of the story really well - sparse, but giving just enough to avoid white-room and talking head syndrome. There were also few, if any, grammar issues.
    My biggest bug-bear with this story is that the characers fall a little flat. It's clear that a lot of work has been put into them being well-rounded and developed, which is a huge plus. However, for the most part, the characters as a whole fall a little flat. Their reactions to extreme events are incredibly understated, and its a little difficult to swallow that out of 160-odd people that were on the plane at the start of the story, none of them have panicked massively, or caused any significant problems or disagreements. This adds to the aformentioned lack of tension, and makes it a little too easy to stop reading.
    All in all, I feel this is a story and author with a lot of potential, and I look forward to reading as problems for the characters really start to mount up, and they're forced out of their comfort zone!
  • Eric VanderlipRoyal Road
    ★★★★★ 5.0
    Bastion of Immutability is the story of Rahul, a young man flying back across the pacific after a fulfilling company when suddenly everything changed.  Can he and his 160 stranded coworkers survive in a world without technology?
    Style:   The perspective is consistent and smooth.  Dialogue feels natural.  The text is a tad verbose at parts, with too much tangential details spelled out.  Also there's another issue worth mentioning.
    While the corporate consensus building provides an interesting flavor to the story, at times it's dived into to deeply, with every step described.  Same with character though process, it's occasionally too fully explained, including every nuance.  Both of these slow the pace.
    Story:  Conversation and events flow naturally together.  Motivations and actions make sense.  Great care has obviously been given to the worldbuilding, with attention paid to how things would realistically play out given the corporate backdrop, which is itself a really interesting twist.
    While some sections of the early chapters feel slow, there is a point in chapter 5 when everything clicks into high gear.  The litrpg element comes into play and the first looming threat is introduced, driving the narrative forward.
    Grammar:  Excellent.  My need to edit (for grammar reason) went mostly unfulfilled.
    Character:  Rahul makes a satisfying, down-earth protagonist.  The corporate backdrop with its consensus building and focus on problem-solving allows the cast to show their competence, but somewhat mutes their ability to show their personality.  However, it's obvious the shifting focus of the story to a more individual level means character development is undoubtedly ahead.  I am going to give the benefit of the doubt here.  5/5
    Conclusion:  Despite its early pacing, I recommend Bastion of Immutability because once the narrative is firing on all cylinders, it's a really fun ride.