Dungeon Hunter

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

ACT I:

Glitched stats. Ultra luck. Regression foreknowledge. A god's blessing. Dual minds.

Lee Castillo has none of these. He does, however, have panic attacks.

When every human around the world is registered as a "player," Lee is sitting across from his ex-best friend and flatmate, Axel, mentally practicing how to break it to him that he wanted to move out.

~System Loaded. Dungeons Active~

Now, Axel's personality has flipped on its head, all comms are down, and there's a foreign desire compelling Lee to enter the Dungeons despite his lacklustre system stats.

As he delves into the secrets of the Dungeons alongside his increasingly bizarre party, Lee must confront both his past and future to divine what he truly wants.

What to expect:

-First-person perspective with an overthinking MC-Diverse, queer cast-Slow MM allo/ace romance—explored as a core story element-Silly, inane conversations, and sensitive,mature topics-Low-crunch system apocalypse-Gradual progression; system mechanics woven into story-3k~ chapter parts released Mon & Thurs

[Inspired by ORV, The S-Classes I Raised, SSS-Class Suicide Hunter, Survival of a Sword King, and Dungeon Reset, Dungeon Hunter is basically my response to other MCs and their ride-or-die besties never canonically falling for each other.]

[Act I and II have been edited and published. They'repurchasableon multiple platforms. This version is the original and may contain typos as well as consistency errors, as subsequent Acts are based on the published versions.]

ACT II (SPOILERS):

A nihilistic gym-junkie weeb. A tough-as-nails romantic. A devoted but broken partyer. A mysterious ageless savant. An occasionally sailor-mouthed orphan.

And then there’s their party leader, Lee—he forgot how to want. While his team, Just Friends, might be bizarre, it’s one he's realised he wants to protect.

In order to stay alive, Just Friends must grind through Dungeons and reach LVL 10 before the Deities orchestrating this system apocalypse grow bored and cull Earth.

As Lee navigates equally challenging problems, from courtship to multiple deaths, one thing has become clear:

Levelling up has never been so important.

ACT III (SPOILERS)

Existential loneliness. Ignorant devotion. Abandonment issues. A saviour complex. Imposter syndrome.

Just Friends is going through it, but they’ve finally hit the ground running. Plans are advancing, as are their levels, and party leader Lee is starting to unravel Axel’s secrets. But a countdown has begun—one with an inescapable cost.

Humanity's fate hangs on the whim of uncaring gods, and as Just Friends entertains the heartless Deities watching their every move, Lee is forced to question things that once were fact and wrestle with pasts come to haunt his loved ones.

Time is running out. Who will survive until the Culling?

Cross-posted to AO3 & ScribbleHub.Discord serveravailable!

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2024
Author: lazarusjames

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 3.9/ 5.0
Followers: 218
Views: 88,969

What readers say about Dungeon Hunter

“The character development here is mint. None of the characters actually know what they are doing in any capacity and that makes this all the better. It's a refreshing break from the ubiquitously competent MCs that overrun the genre. And, speaking of the gen…”
iRobotikRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“I really like the characters and how the interact with each other, it makes it clear they are individuals with their own opinions, secrets and goals. Not everyone agrees with the main character, and the main character doesn't always get their way which is p…”
CrankyCaterpillarRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(7)

iRobotikRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The character development here is mint. None of the characters actually know what they are doing in any capacity and that makes this all the better. It's a refreshing break from the ubiquitously competent MCs that overrun the genre.
And, speaking of the genre. This is a nicely fresh take on the genre that is more focused on Lee's journey in getting to understand the world, their own mind, and the party better. Sometimes characters with low emotional intelligence & self awareness are awful, this is not one of those times.
Despite this being a sysapoc, the system is about as helpful as a wet bag of potatoes in the Antarctic. The fact that the system is just kind of...there...without any significant impact or agency is not bad either.
I'm still getting to know the characters, and I think that's intentional. Part of what keeps me reading is the slow process of getting to know the characters better. I'm a few chapters in and could probably only list out a handful of bullet points of things I know about each character, and that's fantastic.
Also, props for the lack of expository worldbuilding. Instead of several pages of stats and descriptions, we get a skill name if lucky and [REDACTED] if unluckily. Seriously, who in their right mind would choose to play this game?
10/10 would recommend.
CrankyCaterpillarRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I really like the characters and how the interact with each other, it makes it clear they are individuals with their own opinions, secrets and goals. Not everyone agrees with the main character, and the main character doesn't always get their way which is pretty refreshing. The banter between characters is pretty solid without distracting from the story, and being able to hear the main characters internal thoughts definitely help with feeling connected to them.
I do think they interact with the world weirdly at some points, but I kind of feel that way about any character that doesn't go full murder hobo. I would definitely love to see more information about what they find out about their abilities and the world even if it means more forced expositions, but that might be a personal preference. It probably falls under the same umbrella, but I would love to see more abuse, or attempts to abuse, system mechanics. Anyone who doesn't at least try using their personal storage to summon a fridge onto their enemy is missing out imo.
Would definitely recommend it, the characters are growing on me fast. It wouldn't hurt to try the first 20 chapters would it?
Great work to the author, I still have chapters to read so I better get back to it!
JxtqRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Engaging novel with a well written plot, nuanced discussion of queer themes, and occasional use of non-linear story telling. The latter trait is used with heart wrenching efficacy and overall the story leans into the emotional impacts of post apocalyptic portal fantasy. The characters are not the typical Shonen style protagonists who only show emotional stress during pivotal growth, but rather show the constant, somewhat insidious nature of grief as they preserve.
C. L. DionevRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Review of Dungeon Hunter:
Style
The writing style in Dungeon Hunter is sharp, immersive, and effortlessly engaging, blending humor, introspection, and action in a way that feels organic and dynamic. The first-person perspective gives the story an intimate and personal feel, making Lee Castillo’s experiences and thoughts immediate and compelling. The prose is fluid, balancing casual, modern dialogue with deeper, more introspective moments that add emotional weight to the story. The humor is natural, arising from character interactions rather than forced comedic moments, and it serves to make the characters feel even more real. The pacing is strong, with a steady flow of tension and relief, keeping the reader engaged throughout. The way the system mechanics are introduced is subtle and unobtrusive, never overwhelming the narrative but instead allowing the protagonist to gradually uncover the world’s mysteries alongside the reader. The stylistic choices, particularly the balance between action and character-driven moments, make for a highly engaging read.
Story
The story of Dungeon Hunter is a fresh and exciting take on the LitRPG and dungeon-crawling genres, with an emphasis on character development and psychological depth. The concept of every human being suddenly registered as a "player" is intriguing, but what truly makes the narrative stand out is Lee’s atypical reaction—rather than being gifted with overpowered abilities or an exceptional system, he starts at a disadvantage, making his journey feel much more personal and grounded. His complicated relationship with Axel adds an interesting emotional core to the plot, and the slow-burn nature of the unfolding events makes the reader feel the same uncertainty and curiosity as the characters. The tension is well maintained, particularly with the mysterious nature of the Dungeons and the compulsion that seems to be influencing everyone. The way the world shifts and crumbles into chaos feels believable, and the story’s
Npc3Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Classic system integration into dungeon runs story BUT that's just the basis for a lot of unique characters and dungeon designs. Action is realistic, our party isn't infallible, they do have the capacity to lose. Seeds planted for long term story are very interesting, pacing is appropriate.
Romance is 9/10, a little schlocky but also it was written well enough to make me miss my ex for the first time in a long time lol. Only docking to a 9 because the author understands the relationship of the main couple is less represented and therefore could use some explaining.... but if you're already familiar then it can feel a little like a lecture on things you already know.
Overall, cannot recommend enough, best story I've read on here in a while. If you're questioning, give it a shot!
catzeeRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The characters are so true to life it's heartbreaking, Axel and Lee have a complicated past with years of baggage and seeing them resolve their fears and work out their true feelings has been a real treat! Each of the supporting cast is critical too, their own feelings and desires clashing and producing a genuinely captivating dynamic.
There's a few typos I noticed, but they're few and far between, not detracting from the experience at all. I'd recommend checking out the kindle version when it's finished too if you prefer the novel format as opposed to the web serial one.
The writing style is great, though there were a couple moments where I was wishing for some more prosaic descriptions, though that's entirely a personal preference thing and the story as is is definitely complete without that, the current descriptions and prose being very well written.
The story is so damn touching that I found myself crying at many parts and I'm almost afraid for how much the eventual ending will affect me. The romance is truly top-notch and the action scenes aren't half bad either, though Axel and Lee are definitely the focus of the story. Truly fantastic story, definitely one of the best hidden gems on this site!
KwiqueRoyal Road
★★★ 2.5
Alex is just too whiney and pathetic for my taste. Perhaps, if there was more "showing" of his history as a downtrodden person vs. being told ((in snippets) of past traumas, then I could empathize. As it is, I just wish he wasn't such a doof.
Who knows how I would behave in a system-takes-over apocalypse, but all three of the original party seem annoyingly dumb. For example, both Alex and Lee have gamer history but neither apply decent game logic. Okay, Lee is clearly having a hard time but what's interesting about watching him fumble around while wearing "plot armor"?