Path of the Pioneers

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Fifty years ago, the Pioneers awakened; the first of those blessed with special powers and abilities. More followed in their path.

In Hyperion, that path is forbidden for those outside of the noble caste. Commoners are cursed to never be able to awaken, and no one ever has - save for one: Sybil Sagecrest. It's been six years since she unlocked the 'Apprentice' class, and two since the death of her master. In a small village of little note, she does her very best to avoid being noticed - after all, the punishment for being an unsanctioned awakened is most oftendeath.

But in order to save a life, Sybil emerges from her hiding-becoming the target of a plot older than herself soon after. The young witch must learn every secret and trick to the blessing of awakening in order to survive the figures that now seek to claim her life.

What to expect:

*Creative uses of mana and energy

* Dangerous fights where each action counts

* Earned progression

* Mystical creatures and magical intrigue

SCHEDULE:New releases on Monday/Friday.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2024
Author: alerie

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.5/ 5.0
Followers: 604
Views: 211,994

Chapters(101 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(4)

EsclainRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The story has an interesting start as the main character becomes fed up with the status quo of the world. There are hints of much more going on with how the society is structured. I’m very interested in seeing it go on. Royalroad definitely needs more stories with LGBT protagonists. Also the idea of the story taking place a few decades after the introduction of a “system” to the world is something that I find interesting. The vast majority of stories I’ve read have the protagonist be at the start or have the system just always have been there as long as anyone could remember.
Sybil is an interesting character who is quite but also seems to be kind of dramatic with her internal dialogue.
Additionally, Adeline is a fun character. She however might take things way to far and seems to be on the far end of the combat junky scale.
The prose for the story is also good as the author is able to keep things interesting.
Finally, they are able to describe what goes on in each scene. Allowing the audience to really understand what is going on.
I don’t really know what else to say. I just really like the story.
MxOberonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
When I realized that in this litrpg your average person isn't just unable to access the system, but it's in fact illegal to access the system unless you're of an authorized class, well, I knew I was in for a good time.
Path of the Pioneers is in some ways a rare kind of litrpg to me. It's one that both plays an even hand with many of the tropes and expected pieces of the genre, but consistently plays them an inverted or sideways positions. Only certain people have access to the system? Check, but let's make it be a function not of intrinsic "I am more special than the NPCs around me," type shit but rather a systematic approach to protect the interests of powers and institutions. Tons of fight? Check, but let's do more than pay minor lip service to the idea that claiming another human life is difficult. Instead, we see our protagonist feel challenged by the dichotomous urge to survive held against the desire to not kill. Giving weight and consideration to each life taken, and underlining the importance, even to those characters for whom killing has stopped being a problem, of someone whose perspective is that of life's sanctity. (Real shoutout to Adeline, my new fave lesbian fight pervert who also knows that her worldview is not fully reasonable and should never be how society is organized. You're a real one.)
I could wax further, but for me Path of the Pioneers comes in as a litrpg, but has started to pull me into a story full of consideration toward the ideals and people we take not just take for granted but try to ignore. A sign that perhaps there's more to litrpgs as a genre than number goes up.
TipperRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The LitRPG aspect of the world is amazing - it's a neutral party in the world that has recently been introduced, and the world is growing to adapt to these changes.
The world itself is a fairly stock-standard fantasy world with noble houses, with the twist that the kingdom is openly using the introduction of the system to strengthen their own power at the expense of the common folk. The author lays bare their abuses of power, while also outlining some of their benefits - the characters have their own opinions on the matter, but it's up to the reader to determine if they agree or not.
Overall, the author isn't scared to explore sensitive topics, magical concepts, and other literary topics that aren't usually discussed in your typical LitRPG setting.
As a fan of in-depth and mechanical magic systems, the avenues in which the MC explores their magical powers is creative enough to allow me to imagine new ways to use it - keeping me engaged and entertained. And magic has potency in this system that is often ignored or subdued in other LitRPGs - if the MC shoots you with a magic bolt, and that magic bolt is strong enough to pierce you, you're getting your organs shredded as it tears through your weak body.
Lastly, this story explores a couple LGBT themes (specifically the MC being trans and the romance being lesbian) this story walks you into these themes and isn't slapping you in the face with them. So if you're straight and looking to explore these themes, I'd recommend you give this story a shot as opposed to writing it off as not being for you.
superlloydRoyal Road
★★★★ 3.5
I am conflicted on this story... It will undoubtedly appeal to some but disappoint other.
First, I really like the magic and progression. It's NOT one of those system gacha, "what random power the system gave me today" kind of thing. There is a sense of R&D made by the MC toward improving her power, I quite like that.
Second the grammar is fine and, story wise, the author did come up with some conflicts and tension and hero journey. It's all there. With possibly some interesting twist here and there. Even a little bit of oneiric mythic feeling at time. Which is nice, if somewhat arbitrary.
However, there is a je-ne-sais-quoi that leave me unsatisfied. I call it "too much power of friendship", I am not quite sure I could put my finger on it. It feels like the target audience is young teenager or younger yet. Could be a Disney story.
Anyway, the story itself and the power of the MC leave me curious, and I am still reading so far! ^_^