The Protectors: Rising from Ashes [Progression Fantasy | Action-Packed | Epic Battles]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

The story is currently undergoing a power-upgrade!

I’m refining a few important chapters to make the story clearer, stronger, and even more immersive.

New chapters will return soon with better pacing, richer emotions, and big reveals.

If you join now, you’ll be here right before the story’s next evolution.

Thank you for your patience, the wait will be worth it.

The hiatus is temporary.

In a universe of eight worlds, power is everything. Without it, you are nothing.

Magic crackles. Ancient forces stir. Elemental beings wield destruction with a thought.

Five outcasts.Avampire--burdened by a legacy he could never live up to.The falteringwitch--betrayed by her own spells and no one knows why.Dragonbornsoul--caged in a fragile human shell.A half-shiftedwolf--exiled by the instincts of his own pack.Thefaegirl--lost without her magic, shackled by a haunting tragedy she cannot outrun.

And one powerlesshuman, the key to their survival amid feasting monsters, dread myths and the spectre of dead realms.

Mocked. Dismissed. Forgotten, until fate claimed them as the chosen ones, the final light in a world on the brink.

As malign realms descend in glee, survival becomes their only truth. One battle follows another—each more brutal, more desperate than the last. Yet from ash, something stirs; not mere strength,awakening.

From chaos, they unveil abilities like none the realms have seen. Power born of struggle, shaped by pain, honed in bitterness.

And the world begins to see it. Not outcasts. Not heirs.Protectors.

Doubt them if you must—but give their story a chance.You might just believe in them, too.

What toExpect:

#Slow-burn, meaningful growth arcs.

#Underdogs rising against the odds.

#A rich world with diverse races and lore.

#High-stakes conflicts beyond just the self.

#Found family bonds at the core.

#No instant power-ups or OP protagonists.

#No harem, no romance focus.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2025
Author: Starry_Pen04

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.4/ 5.0
Followers: 199
Views: 29,248

Chapters(74 total)

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(10)

cailleanRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I started casually, thinking I'd just dip in for a few chapters... and now I’m fully invested in this beautifully layered, slow-burn fantasy that knows exactly when to hit hard and when to hold back.
There’s something quietly magnetic about Eddy’s journey—from confused outsider to someone who's clearly at the center of something ancient, dangerous, and powerful. The worldbuilding unfolds like a whispered secret: glowing sanctums, Echo Weaving, factions that watch and judge in silence. It’s not dumped on you—it’s offered, bit by bit, with trust that you’ll piece it together. And you will, because it’s impossible not to want to know more.
The writing is gorgeous without being showy. Moments linger—like the hush of firelight reflecting in someone’s eyes, or the way a room holds its breath before truth lands. And the relationships? That tension between the characters, the trust being earned (or lost), the pasts just barely hinted at—it’s all sharp and emotional and real.
This isn’t flashy. It’s precise. And that’s what makes it so good. Quietly epic. Subtly devastating. I’m in.
Dreaming AshuraRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The world is a standout, blending familiar fantasy races with a fresh, interconnected mythology. The magic and ancient myths feel alive in the story, with the cosmic stakes of balance across multiple realms setting up unique and intriguing conflicts.
Story:
The story follows five outcasts chosen to defend their world against cosmic threats, despite being deemed failures by their families or communities. It excels at weaving personal struggles with high-stakes destiny, exploring themes of resilience and unity. The slow-burn buildup, rich with suspense and foreshadowing, sets up epic conflicts.
Style:
The prose is evocative, painting immersive scenes of enchanted strongholds and mystical artifacts with a blend of mysticism and tension. Dialogue is sharp, reflecting distinct personalities. The story’s blend of personal growth and cosmic conflict is gripping, promising epic battles ahead.
Grammar:
The writing is impeccable, with no errors in spelling, punctuation, or syntax. Scene transitions are smooth, and POV shifts among the ensemble are clear, ensuring an effortless reading experience.
Characters:
The ensemble—each with unique insecurities—feels authentic, their evolving dynamics driving the narrative. Supporting characters add warmth and depth. Introducing many characters early was necessary for the story, though some readers might find it overwhelming.
stormkniveRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
There’s real heart in this story, and it shows. The writing is expressive, the world is vivid, and the emotional themes—family, legacy, self-worth—are handled with care. Each character’s journey feels personal and well thought out. But I’ll be honest: the opening stretch takes patience.
The early chapters introduce multiple protagonists across different settings, each with their own struggles. And while each intro is strong on its own, taken together, they start to blur. It’s a lot to take in before the main plot really kicks off.
Still, I respect what the author’s aiming for. The characters are layered, the worldbuilding is rich, and once things get moving, it’s clear the story has depth. If you’re the kind of reader who enjoys slow, character-driven build-up, this might really hit for you.
Night ScholarRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Overall
This story is fantastic. It’s got everything you’d want in a high-stakes fantasy, dragons, vampires, werewolves, magic, and a looming cosmic threat but what really makes it shine are the characters. Each one feels real, with their own struggles, doubts, and growth. The world-building is rich and immersive, though at times it can feel a little overwhelming with how much lore gets thrown at you.
Style
The author’s prose is gorgeous. The descriptions of the Volcanis Peaks, the Luminaries Sanctum, and the magical battles are so vivid, it’s like watching a movie in my head. The dialogue is sharp, and the different character voices are distinct, Thorne’s frustration, Elias’ quiet defiance, Alice’s insecurity, they all come through clearly. My only nitpick? Sometimes the descriptions go too hard, and I found myself skimming a few overly poetic paragraphs to get back to the action. But when the writing clicks, it really clicks.
Story
The plot is massive, ancient prophecies, fallen heroes, a magical artifact that might be waking up something terrible and I love how everything ties together. The Eclipse Heart is such a cool concept, and the way it connects the different factions (dragons, vampires, witches, etc.) is brilliant.
Grammar
No major issues here, the grammar is clean, the sentences flow well, and I never got pulled out of the story by awkward phrasing. There are a few tiny slip-ups (a missing comma here, a slightly clunky sentence there), but nothing that ruins the experience.
Characters: The Best Part of the Story
The characters are what make this story unforgettable. Thorne’s struggle to live up to his family’s legacy? Painfully relatable. Alice’s fear of never being good enough? Ouch, right in the feels. Even the side characters like Sentinel Emberwing and the snarky siblings have depth and personality. The villains are deliciously hateable, though I wish they had a little more nuance. But honestly? I’d follow these protagonists anywhere. Their journeys a
James TadhgRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
There are a lot of introductions to be had early on in this story. The cast is expansive and the traumas are deep, and we explore them all in detail with each new face we meet. This is a bold choice because it demands quite a bit of the reader at the outset - pay attention, learn the names, the relationships, and the histories of these characters and why they are the way they are. But the payoff to that choice is obvious - strong emotional bonds with all the protagonists, and Starry_Pen gives themself room to begin growing the characters right away.
Because of the fact that each character deals with their own brand of trauma and inadequacy, there's a bit of a repetition to the structure of the introductions, but I think this is deliberate, and it works because of that. They all end up converging early on at a grand event, so the structure of pointing them all to it succeeds in building the intrigue of the outcome of that first meeting.
There's also a very interesting element of history the author plays with. The characters reminisce about their own lives and the lives of those close to them, but they also have a connection to heroes of the past, and a clear destiny as heroes of the future. It's a very fine narrative weave that works quite well to give the world building the fluidity to be explored fully, and it hints at a plot that is going to be grand in scope and very personal in stakes, which, in my opinion, is the best combination.
Overall the work is polished. There were a few grammatical mistakes here and there, but they were minor, didn't interrupt the flow of the story, and weren't frequent enough to warrant taking off even half a star.
The author's prose is also overall quite strong, and there are some descriptions that are very creative and work well, but there are a few sections that are overwrought, and could be toned down. Specifically, there are occasionally too many similes and metaphors described back to back when a scene is being set, for example, a
yinyangcricketRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
I didn't really know what to expect from this since I usually enjoy having one main character, but the prose in this story really portrays their emotions well and makes them feel raw and real to us, the readers. Each and every character, while similar in their situations, is unmistakably a different person, and their personal struggles are relatable to many, including me. In addition to that, this has been executed very well, with near-perfect grammar and a descriptive, immersive, and engaging style. However, I think the story, having many characters and different POVs, can feel a bit jarring and sudden at times, though it does well to build suspense. Side-characters also need some improvement, as sometimes they feel like they are just there to "support" a lead, if that makes sense. Instead of existing to cheer the lead on or the opposite, I believe side-characters, even if they aren't developed later on, should feel developed through dialogue. But, that's just nitpicking on my part.
Overall, if you're looking for a traditional, classic weak-to-strong fantasy without any of that LitRPG fast-food type story, this fiction is overall refreshing and has good potential. However, you may be off-putted by the different characters, a world that hasn't been explored well yet, and the occasional lack of fitting dialogue.
The Writer MeaRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
I am not sure if it is the right decision to show the emotions in the form of an argument in the first part. Perhaps it would be more logical to show it with a little more expressed physical movements. The only movement this character shows is clenching his fist. There needs to be a little more expression here. The grammar is good and the characters... maybe a little too monotonous but we are still at the beginning of the story. So it is not that big of a problem. I like the style. It is open and sincere. The flow is fast. This can sometimes have a good and sometimes a bad effect. Sometimes the characters can make ridiculous decisions and say ridiculous things to create the event the author wants. This also seems artificial. The story is not unique and I remember reading a lot of stories like this in the past. If it can surpass the previous ones and find its own originality, I have no doubt that it will be a great story. Moreover, it already has 400 pages. There is no need to worry about waiting for the new chapter. I don't see any problem in giving it a chance. I wish everyone a good reading.
MonkQuangRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
After 10 chapters of genuinely giving this a chance, I can say with certainty that there’s clear effort and care put into this - but the start is a massive filter.
The style is beautiful and expressive - the scenes are painted clearly and vividly, the tensions between characters are palpable, and their struggles evoked all the intended emotions in me, I think… But overall, there’s a lot of “introduction” -more than most people can probably bear.
There’s not one, not two, but what feels like six individual, fully fleshed-out intro chapters, all from different POVs. They’re distinct, set in vastly different settings, with characters who each have their own set of problems… and yet they feel very samey. Like each chapter is just a different version of the same thing.
I get the importance of establishing the common themes that connect the protagonists - being outcasts in their own families, their shared feelings of inadequacy, the thwarted ambitions and the emotional fallout that follows - but it’s a lot of reading for little payoff. By the time the main plot finally starts moving, all the POVs begin to blur together. It’s hard enough to make the reader care about one character, let alone five or more.
The world the author is building here is shaping up to be something rich and varied, but perhaps they’re spreading themselves a little too thin. I understand the urge to give every character the spotlight they deserve, but there’s only so much the reader can absorb in so little time, and that time is something every author must learn respect.
It feels wrong to rate this lower than 4 stars, because I can see the passion here that so many other stories on this site lack. And in the long run, it probably does deserve more, but the start, to me personally, feels extremely unsatisfying.
AddictednovelicRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
First, the multiple main characters are portrayed well. It makes you look forward to their growth, despite what others think of them. Even the Sential guy is a nice addition. After all, you have that sort of guy in this kind of novel, the Dumbledore type lol. Sorry, if I derailed here.
Anyway, if you want to see a bunch of characters grow steadily, this slow-burn is for you. Second, the grammar is not bad. I don't see any mistakes. Third, the story plot is good. Even though I haven't got to action- packed part yet, I trust in his vision. All in all, I am looking forward to seeing how all of them grow. Fourth, the writing style isn't bad. It shows the main characters self- doubt, to gaining confidence in themselves, to wanting to prove others wrong. Also, the world building isn't bad. I can already see a vast world, despite only seeing a corner of it. I trust it will only get bigger.
The weak to strong is always a timeless theme. It is a fact, at least to me, even though I usually write fast. I only admire their patience and dedication. I respect their work ethic.
cursedclarkeRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
Reading this is like walking into an ancient magical cathedral, being handed a glowing map written in poetry, and told to follow two teenagers who are quietly drowning in expectation. It’s beautiful, emotional, and occasionally a little confusing. But if you stick with it, you’ll find something raw and sincere beneath the glittering surface.
The book introduces a large cast right away. Elias is the brooding, reluctant heir to a vampire family where everyone is strong, fast, magical, and emotionally unavailable. His parents, Alaric and Morgana, are regal and intimidating. His siblings, Kaela, Ragnar, Mira, and Lucien, could probably form a band and defeat enemies with sheer charisma. Then there’s Alice, the soft-spoken witch who lives under the enormous shadow of her powerful sisters and a mother who gives compliments about as often as she blinks. Her sisters, Catherine and Elara, are confident and cruel in that casual, effortless way. Her mother Matilda is best described as a magical steel trap wearing emerald robes. Supporting figures like Cassandra Vex and Pyrix add depth to the lore, but there are a lot of names and roles to keep track of early on.
Starry’s writing is lush and poetic. The Sanctum, the enchanted gardens, the battlefields from the past, all of it feels vivid and full of detail. The prose leans into the emotional weight of every scene, which works wonderfully for the more introspective moments. However, the structure of the story sometimes loses focus. It jumps between timelines, memories, and character perspectives in a way that can be hard to follow. This is especially noticeable with the dual protagonist approach. Both Elias and Alice have compelling arcs, but the constant back-and-forth makes it difficult to fully settle into either one.
Despite that, the emotional threads are strong. Themes of legacy, failure, grief, and quiet resilience are woven throughout. Elias struggles with comparison and invisibility in a family of living legends. Alice