The Last Aether King

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

If you're reading this, then somehow I saved the world. That, or you probably want me dead. Either way, you're not getting your shit back. I really should have appreciated the little things in life while I had them. I used to like long walks on the beach, Hallmark Christmas movies, and living an easy life as a New England mailman. Then the system came and reworked my priorities.Now,the beaches are crawling with inter-dimensional monsters, America has dissolved into nothing but lawless territories governed by magically enhanced humans known as "Breakers", and worst of all, there's no more cable.And what happened to me you ask? Why, I became a new kind of delivery boy of course, delving into the ruins of the old world in search of magical artifacts for the highest bidder. It was on one of these little excursions when, whether by chance or sheer misfortune, I became "Integrated", and suddenly, my career prospects started to open up. Now, I have a bounty on my head, a sentient smart-talking shotgun, and a yeti cub with boundary issues. Can I take these "gifts" and survive in a world gone to hell? I mean... obviously. How else do you think I wrote this? Signed:Doc McGuire The Last Aether King What to Expect - A gritty journey through a post-system-apocalyptic United States, accentuated with dark humor and hard hitting action scenes, and written from the perspective of a jaded older MC whose main coping mechanisms are sarcasm and self-deprecation. - A simple streamlined LitRPG system that bonds a soul with a sentient object, and is enhanced by crystals found inside of dungeons or from slain monsters. - A continental territory grab between five major factions of Breakers each hailing from their own corner of the US. - Shotguns, Shenanigans, and a shitload of swearing. Note: The main character will not acquire a system interface or any sort of status screen until chapter six. Please keep that in mind as you go through the early chapters and wonder where the LitRPG aspect comes in. It's there I promise. Posting Schedule Chapters will be uploaded every weekday, Monday through Friday and will be no less than 1500 words. Releases will be moved to two days a week starting May 4th and drop every Monday and Friday from that point onward.

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2026
Author: N.P. Knight

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.9/ 5.0
Followers: 376
Views: 17,907

What readers say about The Last Aether King

“As someone who was once an avid reader this book has reignited my love for literature! A unique narrative style with an incredible blend of post apocalyptic sci-fi and fantasy that scratches all those mental itches. As a native New Englander the setting is…”
BeatenBeaverRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“Keep up the posting man. Get them hooked and you got this. Fantastic story so far. The 30 to 45 year old mom love story is a bit weird though gotta say . Jesus just let me post a review and not completely have to post 50 words gosh darn it.”
BiscuitMuncher12342Royal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(7)

BeatenBeaverRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
As someone who was once an avid reader this book has reignited my love for literature! A unique narrative style with an incredible blend of post apocalyptic sci-fi and fantasy that scratches all those mental itches. As a native New Englander the setting is even more endearing. While reading, I often found myself envious of a fictional Soul Bond along the protagonist's escapades. I am currently impatiently waiting for the next book in the series!
BiscuitMuncher12342Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Keep up the posting man. Get them hooked and you got this. Fantastic story so far. The 30 to 45 year old mom love story is a bit weird though gotta say . Jesus just let me post a review and not completely have to post 50 words gosh darn it.
Jamie DuncanRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Great book so far. The MC has an interesting background and I am looking forward to reading how it plays into how it manifests into the storyline. The side conversations he has with Morty have me snickering which has the wife asking, “what’s so funny?” I love how the story is developing and how the Litrpg hasn’t been over done. Keep it up knight. I will definitely be looking for more chapters and future books from this author.
Leahcim ZanathaxRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Okay, so I'm going to start out bluntly.
I absolutely ADORE this story... but I'm not much of a fan of the name the author decided to give it. It sounds way too Korean web-novelly for my tastes.
That said, this story is VERY well-written. It has interesting, oddball characters, which is nothing but a Plus in my book!
Its in first person, but with how well its written, that's not a problem for me.
The MC starts out as pretty much an Average Joe. He gets stronger pretty fast, but we have very little in the way of things to compare him to in order to decide just HOW strong he is. VERY strong, at the least, though. With some caveats. Doc, the MC, didn't go from Ordinary Joe to Super Saiyajin in ten chapters.
He's not THAT strong.
Overall, with the exception of the story's name, I genuinely rate this a Five Star story, easily! Not that its perfect - no story is - but the grammar, plot, and character development are all there. This is a very solid start!
Lutt The MogRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Human, funny, chaotic, exactly the kind of protagonist you can root for, gotta loove his Jackass attitude !
Later when i saw the rarity of the cristals i was a little worried ...an overpowered character can be hard to write but then the author did describe it very well from the recent fights, a grenade can be deadly to your enemy but if the one throwing it have two brain cells that is another story.
The way the author handle Doc’s “oops” moments had me laughing, it is refreshing to see a certain realistic "maladresse" that breaks away from the typical “overpowered" protagonist.
The story doesn’t rush things and lets the world build gradually. It makes the stakes feel more real, and the progression more satisfying. There’s a good balance between action, humor, and character development that keeps me engaged chapter after chapter.
For me, the story feels like it’s going to be a wild ride, and I’m all in for it. Can’t wait to see where it goes next! Keep it up, Sir Knight!
No_Creative_NameRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
As someone who's followed his writing for a while, I have to say that NP Knight's got that sauce. He's got heart, humor, and a great presentation style, but I'll get into the specifics.
Style: Knight's got a special way with words, an ability to turn regular phrases into things you laugh at in the moment and remember after you've read. His story structuring's solid, and his action's phenomenal. If for nothing else, read his work for the masterclass in style that it is.
Story: Again, Knight's just got the sauce. He writes characters (its own section, but they're a key part of the presentation of the story) to be human, likeable, but imperfect, and that's how you get to the meat of the story. Here, the misadventures of our MC are a fun romp, while also carrying stakes.
Grammar: It's good, no real issues, and doesn't impede the telling of the story.
Character: On top of style, this is the number two that I'd say Knight's got down. He makes fun characters, whether gritty or humorous, and it's a ton of fun to follow.
In short: read this. Even just as a character study of what to put into your own work, because it's well-done and a ton of fun besides.
bwt2qRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I'm only 12 chapters in, but this one warrants a review. The author's voice is terrific, conveying a gritty but good-hearted character in a relatable way. The author does a great job of worldbuilding. This is a system apocalypse scenario with just enough differences to distinguish it from the pack. The litRPG system is interesting and different, although I haven't seen enough yet to get more than a little taste.
What sets it apart is the writing style, which is far more polished than a typical RR fiction. I didn't see any typos or awkward grammar. The story flows really well, and is an easy read. The pacing kept me turning the pages (clicking the next chapter button?), eager to see what was next. It's not all frenetic combat - far from it - but the pacing of worldbuilding, system revelations, and character building kept me wanting more. I am sad that I have already finished what's available and eagerly looking forward to the next chapters.