Description

[WSA Gold Prize Winner 2025]

Ash Burn was just an ordinary gamer—an orphan scraping by in the real world—until he accomplished the impossible: beating the hardest VR game ever created, Apocalypse Online. But instead of the promised riches, he’s thrown into another world—one eerily familiar.

It doesn’t take long for Ash to realize where he is: the chaotic, doomed universe of Heaven’s Favorite: Wrath of Gods, a novel he once read. Worse, he’s not the protagonist or even a supporting character.

He’s just an extra.

Armed with fragmented knowledge of the future, an unyielding will to survive, and the secrets of the Runes—mysterious power coveted by gods and demons alike—Ash must outmaneuver a reckless hero, power-hungry angels, and an inevitable war that threatens to consume everything.

But as he treads the fine line between altering fate and unleashing chaos, he begins to realize something chilling: the endgame may not be as simple as he thought.

In a world where survival hinges on power and cunning, can an ordinary extra change the fate of an entire world, or will he become just another casualty of destiny?

Was he ever just an extra to begin with?

Discord: https://discord.gg/nZUQaVmnPD

What readers say about Power of Runes

“These first two chapters of "Power of Runes" immediately grabbed my attention. The opening, with Ash beating the final boss in Apocalypse Online only to get a "wish" as a reward, is a hilarious bait-and-switch. His sarcastic wish to transmigrate and the sys…”

sp0nt101Royal Road4.5 / 5

“Standard novels extra troupe, the writing is kinda bland and the characters are a bit two dimensional. What killed it for me was the power system. It’s like those Chinese novels where you’re either born with potential to be GOD or you have a golden finger t…”

SlukinRoyal Road2.5 / 5

Community Reviews(2)

sp0nt101Royal Road

★★★★★ 4.5

These first two chapters of "Power of Runes" immediately grabbed my attention. The opening, with Ash beating the final boss in Apocalypse Online only to get a "wish" as a reward, is a hilarious bait-and-switch. His sarcastic wish to transmigrate and the system's actual granting of it are great ways to kick off the story. I like how you portrayed Ash's initial disappointment and then his gradual acceptance of his new reality.
Chapter 1 effectively sets up the world and Ash's situation. The details about the game, the reward, and Ash's past struggles create a compelling backstory. The transmigration itself is handled well, with Ash's confusion and eventual realization that he's in a different world. The reveal that this world is actually the setting of a novel Ash read, "Heaven's Favorite - Wrath of Gods," adds a fascinating layer of meta-narrative. The fact that he knows how the world is doomed and that the MC is to blame makes it more interesting.
Chapter 2 dives deeper into Ash's predicament and his ambition. The status screen reveal and Ash's reaction to his weak stats are both humorous and concerning. The mystery surrounding his partially awakened unique class and his hidden trait adds intrigue. The realization that he might die before the story even begins is a chilling moment. But Ash's determination to change his fate, his plan to find the Rune of Stability, and his journey to the Mana crystal mines all build a strong sense of momentum. You did a great job of conveying the danger and uncertainty Ash faces, even with his knowledge of the novel. The ending, with Ash stepping into the mines, leaves me on the edge of my seat.
If I were to suggest anything, perhaps a little more description of the world he transmigrated to and the tech involved in the new world. While the 15G network is mentioned, a few more details about the setting could help the reader visualize it better. Also, while Ash's internal monologue is effective, showing a bit more of his interactions

SlukinRoyal Road

★★★ 2.5

Standard novels extra troupe, the writing is kinda bland and the characters are a bit two dimensional. What killed it for me was the power system. It’s like those Chinese novels where you’re either born with potential to be GOD or you have a golden finger that far surpass anything else. If you just want to read something to pass the time it may be your thing.