REGRESSION OF A HUNTED ANOMALY

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Leo Vane was executed as a traitor. Three hundred engineers died in a temporal breach.The Empire called it an accident.The Patriot Guard called it justice. Then the System rewound him three days. He wakes before the catastrophe that will slaughter his team and tear open the world.This time he knows who betrays him.This time he knows how it ends. But the System knows too. Marked as an Anomaly, Leo becomes the target of military hunters, corporate kill teams, and a government that wants him erased. Every move he makes is tracked. Every deviation is logged. Every success forces the System to escalate. Worse, using his power costs him pieces of himself. Memories vanish.Sensation fades.The more he survives, the less human he becomes. If he hides, millions die.If he fights, the System adapts.If he exposes the truth, the Empire burns him again. This is not a second chance. It is a countdown. A progression LitRPG featuring a hunted protagonist, military escalation, adaptive system intelligence, and permanent consequences.

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2025
Author: Phantom Sage

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.3/ 5.0
Followers: 109
Views: 29,926

What readers say about REGRESSION OF A HUNTED ANOMALY

“This is strong.The opening execution scene hooks immediately. The sensory details (cold rock, blood, crowd noise) are sharp without being overdone. Kael is a top-tier villain : calms, corporate-evil and believable. His manipulation of truth, tech and public…”
MistboundRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“The story managed to grip me in a way quite unexpected. At first, I was about to complain about the grammar, but the comment mentioned it was a Stylistic choice. So I read on, and it actually read very well for me. It sometimes felt like I was reading a scr…”
YorueRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

MistboundRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is strong.The opening execution scene hooks immediately. The sensory details (cold rock, blood, crowd noise) are sharp without being overdone. Kael is a top-tier villain : calms, corporate-evil and believable. His manipulation of truth, tech and public perception works really well and feels disturbingly realistic. The Eli moment ? Yeah. That hurt. Good job. That’s the moment that makes the rewind feel necessary, not convenient.The pacing is strong The time reset reveal lands cleanly. It doesn’t feel gimmicky because the emotional weight is already there. The switch from despair to fury at the time reset feels powerful and earned, not cheesy. The stakes are crystal clear : three days, lives on the line, truth vs propaganda. That clarity is a big strength.If I nitpick: you might tighten a few exposition-heavy lines about stasis-global and chrono-synergy. Some of it could be shown later instead of told in kaels monologue. But honestly? It still woks because it feels like a villain flexing.What I liked most :The protagonists anger feels controlled, not whiny.The ending line is confident and cinematic.The set up promises strategy, not just revenge.Overall: compelling, readable and very promising. Keep cooking. Looking forward for the next chapter.
YorueRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The story managed to grip me in a way quite unexpected. At first, I was about to complain about the grammar, but the comment mentioned it was a Stylistic choice. So I read on, and it actually read very well for me. It sometimes felt like I was reading a script, but it was very good. It became easy to follow on waht is happening.
Leo himself is very capable, the way he quickly acts in a non-nonsense way, perhaps at first was a bit sudden, but I like no-nonsense Mc. The plot grips you from the get-go; it's like holding onto a monorail, and you have to keep up. I would prefer some quiet moment or two for Leo, so we could get to know him better. Also, my other complaint is that I lost Leo's name. I don't think any other character calls him by name, or maybe I'm just mistaken.
The short, punchy sentence fits the whole chase aspect of the story; it's like watching an action movie in the form of a novel. This story is absolutely worth a read. The standout character is, of course leo himself. I think currently the world around him was moving too fast for him, so we did not yet get his true self as he was chased by fate itself.
drinklotsofsodaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I think this is a really well done regression story with genuine emotional stakes.
What makes it work is that there's costs. Leo isn't super OP because he has regression powers---he saves people an his Fugue drops permanently below 40%---and that's when I realized that this story was going to be genuinely interesting. There are actual consequences that Leo faces for the decisions he makes.
And consequences compound. Every win creates a new problem. Leo finally gets a big win: broadcasting truths about Kael all over. And his reward? Attacks on civilians and refugees, and the narrative quickly being flipped.
And Leo adapts. He stops trying to fight Kael head on and starts taking him down through scheming. The whole thing is super interesting. He literally sends Kael into panic by having Kael get a performance review. He uses audits as weapons.
Also, the deaths hit hard. I'm not going to spoil who dies or how it happens, but it's not always heroic, guns-blazing. Sometimes it's quiet, or futile and meaningless. Simply put: it's realistic.
The Unperson mechanic is worth mentioning too. The team gets erased from public systems---no medical access, no transit, no food vendors. It carries weight when someone nearly dies because a kiosk won't recognize them anymore and treat their infection.
Grammar is good throughout. Consequences are real. Very good story.
mrcbooksRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Man, I sat down for a review swap expecting to skim a few chapters and knock out some notes… instead I blew through eight in one go and now I’m sitting here pissed because I forgot to take any!
Chapter 1 opens with a straight-up execution. You watch the whole team get bolt-gunned one by one, including this terrified seventeen-year-old kid, and then Leo wakes up three days earlier with every single memory intact. The coffee burning his hand while he stares at the countdown on the wall was such a cool visual. The writing is sharp, the dread is thick, and that seventy-two-hour timer starts ticking in your head immediately.
The real hook is the Fugue Meter. It’s not some clean little mana bar that refills with potions every time Leo pops Echo Sight, it genuinely feels like he’s burning himself out. By chapter 8 the safe zone is down to 30 % and the System makes him relive a trauma memory just to bleed off XP overflow. That kind of cost makes the power feel like it’s dangerous and ramps the tension like crazy.
The System comes across as actively hostile, like it’s personally mad Leo even exists. The hunters, the auditors, the way it just erases him from public records and calls it “official narrative”… it’s unsettling but awesome. Kael starts out as this smug, untouchable villain and then you learn he’s basically a mid-level suit with some money and a kill order, which somehow makes the whole thing feel even bigger and meaner.
Pacing never lets up. The team gets smaller, the clocks drop, Fugue climbs, new threats roll in right when you think they might catch a break. The action scenes land hard; the crane drop in the foundry, the Reaper fight where Leo forces feedback into its null field, all of it played out clearly in my mind without dragging.
Side characters are still filling out (Marcus, Eli, Vex and the rest), but they already feel like actual people I’m worried about instead of just warm bodies. I’m already braced for the next loss.
Look, this is seriously one of t
onoderamyshkinRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I was expecting the usual regression story, but I was pleasantly surprised. You know the type, like: go back in time, know the future, outplay everyone, collect easy wins.And this isn'tthatstory. And honestly... That's what hooked me.What really got to me is how seriously this treats time travel. It doesn't feel like a gimmick. Whenever the main character does something, something breaks. Sometimes it's the world. Sometimes it's him. Even when he makes the "right" choice, things still go wrong, just in different or often worse ways. The story's always hitting you with the idea that time is fragile, complicated, and cruel, and that no one gets to rewrite it without paying a price.I also liked how much author focused on how time travel affects a person. The mental strain, the guilt, or even the fragmentation; it all feels earned. Leo isn't some cool, detached mastermind. He's also a pretty angry guy. He's tired, competent, and slowly losing it.His guilt, especially where Eli is concerned, stayed with me long even after I finish reading the chapter. The Fugue mechanic actually deepens his character, which is rare and really well done.In terms of the story, this goes in a much darker and more interesting direction than I expected. It's not about just "exposing the truth and everything will get better." That never works here. The middle section can feel brutal, with so many escape attempts and losses, but it all feels worthwhile. Every failure changes the board, and nothing resets cleanly.The supporting cast is a bit distant, but that distance feels intentional, I guess...? People disappear before you fully get comfortable with them, which honestly reinforces the story’s themes. Still, it would've been nice if some of the characters had a bit more depth, because then the losses would've hit even harder.The writing is solid. The grammar and formatting are pretty clean, the system messages are easy to follow, and the action was always clear. There are a few minor hiccups h
NoPath615Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This book hooked me first chapter...It blends action, sci-fi systems, and world mechanics in a way that feels cinematic yet grounded. The use of LitRPG UI elements and system feeds is smooth and enhances rather than distracts, making progression and stakes feel concrete.Leo is a fascinating anti-hero with depth and personal stakes driving the plot. The regression is quite unique coming back not months or years earlier, but just three days. That alone makes it stand out from other regression stories. I also really like the system he suddenly obtains.What I like the most is your descriptive writing. It makes me feel as if I’m actually there, in his place, experiencing that world myself.The supporting cast also matters; the team interactions add texture and keep the mission feeling like a real unit under pressure, not just background NPCs.Fast, tense, and genuinely fun sci-fi progression with real emotional weight.Overall it was a good read and yes, Leo did impress at least me as a reader! Looking forward to more!In the end, your story really left a strong impression on me and made me want to keep reading. I really hope you don’t get discouraged and release the next chapters soon...
zyrelRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This one grabs you by the throat right from the start and refuses to let go. The opening execution sequence is brutal, the villain is instantly hateable, and it has a cinematic sci-fi progression feel where every scene ends on a knife’s edge.
The pacing is the main feature, like sprinting a marathon while the world collapses around you. Action sequences are easy to follow, and the tactical problem-solving feels grounded in the world’s rules. The central conflict is compelling, with a constant sense of pursuit that never loses momentum.
The futuristic setting is vivid and functional, with systems, districts, and authority structures that feel coherent and lived in. I especially enjoyed how the UI-style readouts and alerts are integrated in a way that heightens tension instead of interrupting the flow. The progression mechanics are clear and satisfying, giving every decision weight and making the stakes feel measurable.
The main character’s future knowledge isn’t treated like a cheat code, but as something that shapes his choices under pressure. That balance keeps the story exciting because even smart moves can create new complications and time pressure.
The supporting cast contributes meaningfully, creating a team dynamic that feels like a real unit adapting on the fly. What stood out most is the atmosphere of relentless urgency, where systems and bureaucracy feel as dangerous as weapons.
If you like sci-fi progression thrillers with tight mechanics, intense momentum, and a strong survival drive, this is absolutely worth reading.
Shadowlord4318Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Regression of a Hunted Anomaly is a regression, survival fantasy that takes place in a futuristic world ruled by a system that operates on cold logic and lies. Leo Vane, our MC, was framed for an accident that cost many lives. Executed along with his entire team, he was regressed to a few days before the accident happened. Deemed anomalies and Hunted by the world around them while their fragile reality seems to tear apart around them, inviting Demons into their world, Leo and his team must find a way to make sure the accident from the previous timeline does not repeat itself. Make sure that both timeliness do not align.
Leo did not seem all that shocked about his regression, so I assume that it is not that out of the ordinary. From what I can determine, the system deals with technological, time, space and reality alteration, and I hope that the author will give an indept explanation in later chapters as the system itself seems very interesting.
The characters in the novel so far has been written to be smart, mentally strong individuals, which isn't surprising considering they are scientists for the most part. They behave with cold logic, making you wonder how cruel the world has to be to shape individuals in such a way. The Patriot Guards and Hunters, despite being human, behave like cold, calculating machines as they pursue their targets. This is a bit of a refreshing from the dumb MC trope, though I hope the author will allow them to show a bit more emotion to make them seem more human.
The writing style used is as cold and logical as the characters themselves, like a science report. The grammar is flawless as far as I have read with no mistakes to be found.
This novel is a refreshing read from the more generic novels and if you are looking for a unique regression fantasy, then this is the novel for you.
StiggasRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story surprised me a lot. Not really my usual genre but it hit that spot. So even if you're coming from other genres, I'd suggest giving this one a try.
What makes this story compelling is the constant sense of pressure. The MC is not looping to optimize comfort or power, but to survive. Every reset feels costly. Every decision carries weight. The regression is real.
The pacing is sharp and purposeful. There is little filler, little downtime, and the tension rarely breaks. Action scenes are direct and readable, but more importantly, they feel earned.
The system actually matters. It influences choices, limit options, and shape strategy instead of serving as a stat dump. Progress feels constrained, deliberate, and grounded in the story’s internal logic.
What stands out most (to me this one is the most important point in every novel) is the tone: this is not a power fantasy. The protagonist wins by thinking, adapting, and enduring, rather than steamrolling the narrative with future knowledge. This gives off a very grounded and mature vibe while still being innovative enough.
Overall it was a good read and yes, Leo did impress at least me as a reader! Looking forward to more!
DeepBlueRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story is a total rush and for anyone who loves progression Litrpg but wants something that actually feels risky and intense.
Right from chapter one, it hooks you hard. Leo Vane gets executed as a traitor for a disaster he didn't cause, then the System yanks him back just three days before it all goes wrong. That short window changes everything. Knowing the future isn't a free win here. Every time Leo uses his regression powers, his Fugue Meter ticks up and starts messing with his head for real. The System sees him as an Anomaly and sends everything after him: corporate hit squads, military teams, and those super creepy Auditors who keep getting smarter about stopping him.
The world mixes gritty cyberpunk, dystopian sci-fi, and military thriller vibes with a dark edge. Monsters spill through time rifts, companies treat people like trash, and Leo is fueled by grief and pure stubbornness to save his team this time. He's tough and smart, but every win costs him something big.
The LitRPG stuff fits perfectly: UI alerts, efficiency ratings, bounty notices, Unperson glitches. It all ramps up the tension instead of feeling extra. The writing is quick, cinematic, and super addictive, even if it's still polishing up as an early story.
If you like The Perfect Run for clever time tricks with consequences, Mother of Learning for a sharp protagonist against crazy odds, or just want a darker hunted-regressor vibe with corporate and military heat, this is your next read. It's only at 14 CH’s but the setup is strong and it's already gripping.
If you're after a regression story that feels dangerous and alive, jump in now. You won't regret it!