The Shrine Between Worlds

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Kazuki Arata didn’t ask for power.But now it’s inside him—and it grows every time he breaks something.

After a strange encounter at a remote shrine in northern Japan, Kazuki finds himself in theYokai Realmand bound to a cursed stat calledKegare,a corruption meter that feeds on destruction.

Each time he destroys, he grows stronger.Each time he protects, he weakens.

A cat with golden eyes watches.A fox calls him kin.An enemy waits beyond the edge of memory.And far away, something monstrous stirs that sees across time.

If Kazuki doesn’t master his Kegare soon,he won’t just become strong… he’ll become amonster.

What to Expect:

A dark, Japanese folklore-inspired LitRPG with a unique corruption-based power systemCinematic battles, deep worldbuilding, and moral consequences for every skillA reluctant MC struggling to survive without losing himselfFound family, betrayal, creepy yokai, and ancient secretsNo harem. No reincarnation. No system narratorSlow-burn progression, surreal discoveries, emotional stakes

Information

Status: Completed
Year: 2025
Author: foxrunner

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.9/ 5.0
Followers: 65
Views: 14,057

What readers say about The Shrine Between Worlds

“The Shrine Between Worlds is a cool blend of urban fantasy and Japanese mythology with a strong coming-of-age vibe. It follows Kazuki Arata, a lonely guy dealing with grief, who ends up on Japan’s “Cat Island.” A run-in with a mysterious shrine pulls him in…”
Dante's BladeRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“Reviewed at The Dark Rider The story gets off to a fast start. Kazuki is likeable and Kuro is Kuro. Never trust a cat. And always do the tutorial. I really like the ability progression. The yokai world is mysterious without getting confusing. Overall, if yo…”
DwayneDTRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(6)

Dante's BladeRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The Shrine Between Worlds is a cool blend of urban fantasy and Japanese mythology with a strong coming-of-age vibe. It follows Kazuki Arata, a lonely guy dealing with grief, who ends up on Japan’s “Cat Island.” A run-in with a mysterious shrine pulls him into a strange, supernatural world where he’s forced to choose between becoming a hero—or something darker.
Story: The setting is creepy in a good way—foggy forests, an abandoned village, and a shrine that mirrors Kazuki’s emotional mess. The use of yokai and Japanese folklore adds a unique twist, and the story explores themes like grief, self-discovery, and facing your past. If you’re into moody, myth-heavy fantasy, this one delivers.
Character: Kazuki is ver relatable. He’s lost, sarcastic, and trying to avoid his feelings—until he can’t. Watching him shift from passive to active, grappling with what kind of person he wants to be, is the heart of the story. His internal struggle makes him feel real and keeps you hooked.
Style: The writing strikes a nice balance—eerie and introspective, with vivid imagery and a conversational tone that fits Kazuki’s voice. It flows well overall, though a few surreal moments could be smoothed out.
Grammar: Clean and readable. Dialogue feels natural, especially between Kazuki and Kuro. A few rough transitions here and there, but nothing major.
DwayneDTRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Reviewed at The Dark Rider
The story gets off to a fast start. Kazuki is likeable and Kuro is Kuro. Never trust a cat. And always do the tutorial. I really like the ability progression. The yokai world is mysterious without getting confusing.
Overall, if you like Yokai stories, I'd recommend The Shrine Between Worlds. I think you will enjoy it.
PeterLokWritesRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I'm enjoying this story with its Japanese setting that involves yokai and other Japanese mythology. The mythological elements are nicely woven in with some extras like the Eye of Izanami. It has oni, nekomata, shrines, and a mysterious foggy mystical dimension.
The writing is nice and terse, well suited for action and there is plenty of that, with snippets of imagery and detail woven in. Nothing to complain about.
The main character, Kazuki, is a reluctant protagonist like the author advertises, and you know this is going to cause him trouble. Still, when he trusts someone, he's hurt, so I'd be reluctant too!
Just when you think there's too much action, the story slows a bit and new characters and detail about the world are brought in to deepen the story.
I'm not a big reader of LitRPG, but the Kegare concept of corruption bringing both great power and your potential destruction is a nice touch and obstacle to Kazuki's rise.
All I know is that he's in for a ton of trouble and that an evil lord wants him, so there's plenty of story to come.
RN204Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Alright, The Shrine Between Worlds is like if a Japanese myth and an urban fantasy had a baby…and that baby went on a quest to save the world, one supernatural mess at a time. Kazuki Arata, your reluctant, grief-stricken protagonist, stumbles onto a foggy island where things aren’t just “haunted”, but they’re full-on possessed by mythology. Think abandoned villages, creepy shrines, and more yokai than you can shake a katana at. But not all yokai are bad!
My favorite character so far has been nekomata. A cat yokai that brings the MC up to speed in the type of place he's in. The way Nekomata talks to the MC really hammers in the immersion into the novel and where he sits in this unfamiliar place with unfamiliar beings interacting with someone otherworldly like him. I'm a big reader, fan, and author of LitRPG and Systems, so the Kegare corruption concept of corruption bringing both great power and your potential destruction is a nice touch and obstacle to Kazuki's rise. While the corruption aspect is seen here and there, it is a fresh take on it. Every level-up feels like you're taking one step closer to being consumed. Yeah, that makes Kazuki’s journey a real page-turner. Looking forward for more
HikerGalahadRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Hey! Always love stories with myths and legends from cultures outside my own! I find seeing new words I have never heard or read before fun, being able to learn and look them up is how my vocabulary grows! Some people might enjoy a list of used words in the pre-chapter section, just as a suggestion! I enjoy your writing style, informative and understandable! Keep up your writing! Excited to see where you go with it!
QuickDucklingRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
We frequently see litrpg stories in isekai settings, but oftentimes, this is a permanent situation. The character has left the regular world and entered the new, typically pulling upon traditional fantasy tropes (Elves, Dwarves, Dragons, etc.). The Shrine Between Worlds takes an interesting direction by deciding not to do either of these things.
We are given a character thrown into a rather unique isekai world inspired by Japanese folklore and shown that he can still potentially cross over into the real world. This makes this story more of an urban fantasy. I honestly don't think I've ever read an urban fantasy litrpg in the "Magic is hidden behind the curtains" style, which makes this novel rather refreshing.
I will say, I do find the main character slightly annoying, but that's mostly a personal gripe. I find the "Refuses the call to action" step of the hero's journey to be kind of annoying. Having Arata run back to the shrine immediately to try and go home makes him out to be kind of a wimp. Since those steps indicate his character is the type to avoid trouble, trouble will have to find him for the story to happen, making him a reactive instead of an active character. Maybe this won't be the case, though; I'll have to find time to read more to see.