The Hallowed War
Community Rating
Description
X-CommeetsFinal Fantasy VIImeetsLeft 4 Dead
“The good news? I just got superpowers. The bad news? I have to fight cannibal lunatics or I’ll turn into one."
Additional Content Warnings:
Blasphemy, underage drinking, non-ironic use of anime tropes, petty theft, destruction of city property, unsafe use of a ventilation shaft, non-recreational drug use, inappropriate ogling of a superior officer, teenagers tasked with military engagements, breaking and entering, dead or absent parents, ludicrously overpowered weaponry, mixed gender military squads, hormones, inappropriate restroom behavior, overuse of melee weapons in combat simply because they are cool, high kicks, unauthorized discharge of portable tank weaponry, unauthorized discharge of weapons-grade sarcasm, expedited training, human mutations that are neither scientifically nor fictionally plausible, one flagrantly disrespectful nut shot, use of non-regulation hair dye, fraternization, references to tabletop RPGs, cannibalism, train rides, poor sportsmanship, battery (physical), batteries (electrical), dismemberment, incorrect attribution of a doctoral degree, vandalism, multiple dress code violations, unauthorized decapitation, authorized decapitation, oversized storm drains, attempted vivisection in a non-medical setting, arson, unwarranted cremation, violence involving a police animal, brooding, and unresolved sexual tension.
Release Schedule:
5 chapters a week (M-F)
(Currently on hiatus. Arcs 1 and 2 are complete. I'll be returning with a third arc in early March 2022)
Average Chapter Length:
~2k
General Structure:
Explosions, followed by segments of character building and interpersonal relationships, followed by more explosions. Not every chapter will be about combat missions, but I'll try to keep the non-combat chapters relevant to character growth.
Video Game Homages:
My world and setting are heavily inspired byFinal Fantasy VII, with a large corporation of questionable morals and a big round city which is simultaneously futuristic and old-fashioned. Hallowed, my super soldiers, are similar to SOLDIERS from Final Fantasy VII as well, right down to their superhuman strength and softly glowing eyes.
The primary antagonists, Mutes, are similar to the "fast" zombies and tanks you fight inLeft 4 Dead, though there's definitely some necromorph (Dead Space) inspiration as well, and a fighting style reminiscent of genestealers (40k).
My battle scenes are usually squad-based battles against scattered groups of Mutes in urban environments, similar to the normal missions inX-Com: Enemy Unknown. I've also added casualty reports after each mission for my own entertainment.
Finally, you'll likely stumble across some Easter Eggs. I apologize in advance.
Discord
I don't have my own Discord and will likely not be creating one (mainly due to sheer laziness) but if you'd like to hit me up on the Aethon Author discord, you can find me (and many other authors!) hanging out there.
https://discord.gg/erPcZGVWkE
Information
- Status
- Ongoing
- Year
- 2021
- Author
- SummaryInferno
Royal Road Stats
- Rating
- 4.4/ 5.0
- Followers
- 931
- Views
- 44,492
Chapters(5 total)
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!
Community Reviews(10)
- toolazytobreatheRoyal Road★★★★★ 5.0I like it really really like it. The guy starts in the slums and ends up worse. Everyday risks his life
and survives to tell the tale. He's lucky one can't say that for others. The vr simulations shows their enemies as wild animals not able to plan. They attack mindlesly just to devour, but are they really only that? If you want to know read this story . I can only say it's worth it. - toddRoyal Road★★★★★ 5.0I have to admit, it wasn't until I finished reading the additional content warnings that I decided to actually check out the story. For all that the author humbly states that this story is a mashup of Final Fantasy, Left 4 Dead, and X-COM, it reads as a surprisingly well rounded sci-fi action set in a semi-dystopian future. The relationship to the aforementioned games is clear, but more in terms of similar flavor than any sort of outright fanfiction. The characters feel consistent and real, the unironic anime tropes don't result in an arrogant edgelord MC, and the action flows well in a fully fleshed out world.
Style: I never have much to say here. It's told from a first-person perspective without getting bogged down in the main character's own thoughts. Action is clear and understandable, while descriptions are neither overwhelming nor too sparse.
Grammar: Nothing jumped out at me as far as inaccurate or improper. I might have missed things, but it's an easy read regardless.
Story: Surprisingly well built given the humble synopsis description. The world is currently constrained to the floating island of Dio, divided into districts and compartmentalized. The origin of the MC as a street-rat feels real and more importantly influences their interactions after they're recruited from the slums. The powers are consistent with the world, as are the monsters. And the organization they work for is just sketchy enough that you can comfortably dislike and distrust them, but not so sketchy (yet) that it'd make you wonder why they're not contemplating escape. Even the big fuck-off weapons make sense given what they're fighting, and are suitably disastrous to the surrounding environment. Overall, the foundation of the story is solid and meshes smoothly with the more fantastical elements.
Characters: Given the content warning of "unironic use of anime tropes," I really didn't expect much from the characters. That said, they're all well written. Each has distinct personalities tha - GunsruleRoyal Road★★★★★ 5.0I love finding diamonds in the rough and this book is one such example. This takes a much appreciated look at an underused setting, a practical dystopia with some obvious, and openly stated, inspirations that still manages to feel original without getting drowned in lore. While it could perhaps benefit from a slight increase in action I feel it has been handled excellently and can only continue to hope that the author continues to write such excellent character driven scenes which are often far to infrequent in other novels. I honestly have no critiques, as long as the releases continue I'd say this is the best novel I've discovered in far too long.
- HearthenstoneRoyal Road★★★★★ 5.0Reading a description that says "X-com meets Final Fantasy meets Left 4 Dead" can be a bit confusing especially trying to see how those three concepts could possibly work together. But I think SummaryInferno was able to wonderfully meld the concepts of said worlds beautifully.
The characters are interesting, Riven the main character acts and thinks logically given his background. His interactions with his squadmates are also quirky and funny. The fights are fun to read and the plot leaves enough intrigue for you to want to know more about the enemies. This story is one of the creative and interesting stories I wish would get more attention on royal road. and I highly recommend everyone give it a read. - InsanElderRoyal Road★★★★★ 5.0yep, the sumary is pretty on point.
X-COM: Small units composed of elite soldiers fighting a yet uncomprehended treat.
Final Fantasy VII: A big self sustaiuned futuristic megalopolis.
Left 4 Dead: Hords of not very clever enemies.
Review at chapter 27.
Besides that, i am liking the characters development. The combat is also fun.
One thing that i liked a lot is that the cursing, sexual inuendos, etc, apear in a expected dose and is not the focus of the story. It is there not to make it cool, but to contruct and refine the characters. - Lance WheelerRoyal Road★★★★★ 5.0This story has a good mix of a lot of story types. Dystopian, post apocalypse, and maybe current apocalypse occurring around the characters. Mystery as they try to figure out what is going on. Sci-Fi mutism super power hero freaks!
Back story is compelling enough to want to hear it but not overpowering of the current interplays. Characters that feel real and emotions that make sense.
Good progress and discovery of the world the author is creating with no dragging down in the weeds of the minutia of the world.
Sexual tension and flirting make it fun without making it weird.
All in all a good read with a main character that is kind of a jerk but a likeable jerk. - MusicarnaRoyal Road★★★★★ 5.0To be honest, I was already drawn the sypnosis, despite its brevity. The rest of the summary is the definition of "Eh, why the hell not? Sounds like a good time."
Being a mash between three of my favourite games of all time is an additional bit of biasness I am conceding here.
As of the current chapter this review is based on, the story pays homage to the series that it has drawn inspiration on, while keeping itself as a fresh and enjoyable tale with its own charms. All in all, it has come out as an impressively unique blend that has established itself, without relying on references to other series to prop itself up.
Style:
This story is told in a first-person perspective. The dialogue is witty and the overall flow of the story is easy to follow. Action heavy chapters clearly convey the danger they face in every mission, and in the downtime, we can see the world clearly through Riven's eyes, coloured by his perspective.
The tradition of using a quote from the chapter without context as the chapter title is also something that I personally enjoy.
Story:
The floating island city of Dios is a paradise, a utopia where one can live their lives at ease.
That is, if you don't live in Rocham. As Riven fittingly puts, Rocham is a prison sequestered into a corner, so everyone else doesn't have to think twice about those filthy peasants.
It doesn't take long for the fact that this is a dystopia to rear its head at all, although that isn't the focus. Nope, the focus is on the organization that Riven is fighting for now, that he has numerous suspcions about.
The story lays the foundation by showing the state of the city, builds on it with Riven's perspective on the fighting, and his views on the overall (depressing) state of Rocham. It is finished off by fantastic action scenes that serve to further illustrate the dangers of using super soldiers in an urban area, and the lengths that bureaucracy can go to be obstructive.
The only tiny bit of critique I have to offer here is that - Mylan74Royal Road★★★★★ 5.0Not the best at reviews but I'll try. Love the concept, can't wait to see where the story goes. Decent amount of mystery that lets you draw out your own suspisions, but not overbearing. Good combat scenes. SUrprisingly, I love the characters and their interactions more. Believable characters.
Romance is decent and doesn't take up a huge amount of the story. Hopefully it is concluded well.
Keep up the good work!
update: author did an amazing job on this, loved everything about it and just sad I can't reread it again for the first time. - crackheadRoyal Road★★★★★ 5.0I am enjoying the book I like the idea of the muts are human so we have to fight them with a lesser evil. just waiting to see how we the humans made this happen and yes it all but has to be a human geed thing that started the mutasion to start.
- argusthecatRoyal Road★★★★★ 4.5There's a lot of cool stuff going on here. It kind of reminds me of a YA version of the novel Armor, and I mean that in a pretty positive way. The author's description of their writing style as "explosions, then feelings" is pretty apt, but the feelings they're writing feel lived in and grounded, which I find very cool.
Also, even if they hadn't announced their inspirations for this story, I think I could have puzzled them out at least a little bit. Giant swords and scenes that make me relive XCOM cutscenes in my head are all over the place. And none of it feels out of place or overly silly; it all flows together really well.
I look forward to seeing where this goes. I'm not sure yet if it'll be a long term favorite of mine, but I do know that I've had fun reading it so far.