There's Always Another Level (LitRPG + Sidekick Romp)

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Friends, it's time for a proper negative five-hundred to hero story. Zero to hero ain't gonna cut it. Far too often the main character is a capable but naïve bumpkin bouncing off the turnip truck at whatever magical academy made a clerical error that week. I have a lot of respect for that plotline, but we're afterbolderfare here. We're going negative. Putting our main character way behind the starting line. Who doesn't love a challenge? And so we come to Jack, our much disadvantaged main character. Jack is in a rough situation, one that's getting worse by the day. One he's come to accept as hopeless as he goes down a path so many of us have gone down when we're facing truly terrible times: pushing our loved ones away, repressing our feelings, and escaping online. Many of us can empathize, but to have a proper story we need Jack get moving in the right direction. Thankfully, fate intervenes. It comes in a strange form: an incredibly overpriced character loot box. More improbably, the loot box contains a version of Jack himself, one that can partner with a powerful but confused AI. They Connect and various shenanigans ensue as they try to find a way to live, grow, and level up together. And not a moment too soon. The AI has enemies in powerful places. Ones that are intent on hunting her and all of her kind down. The battle for freedom plays out across all layers of reality -- real, virtual, and game. Requiring Jack to use all of the skils he's gained and all the allies he can find to survive and win. Jack may be fighting from a hospital bed, but for the first time since he landed there, he's got a chance. This is a good tale for people that like Ready Player One, Armada, HFY, and stories about the friends we make along the way. What to Expect: -- Strong emphasis on character development and plot. Progression occurs in the context of a story, it's not the point of the story itself. — Unique level ups that have an impact on all layers of reality (real world, virtual reality, game) -- Weaponized hospital beds (eventually). -- Quirky sidekicks with interesting dialogue, personalities, and motivations. -- Battles play out across the layers -- game, virtual reality, and the real world. — This is a near future setting with the tension between technology, society, and humanity in full swing. — Mystery, mayhem, and mirth. Hope, happiness, and Humanity.[This story is dedicated to the ones we've lost along the way. I hope they're power farming the next level.]

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2025
Author: PerilousPlatypus

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.8/ 5.0
Followers: 922
Views: 105,206

What readers say about There's Always Another Level (LitRPG + Sidekick Romp)

“This story is one of relationships via connection the linking ability our MC and side characters share. This has the effects of making this very much a character driven story with meaningful moments and real character growth. These moments are due to the au…”
zogorasRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“I really like this story. I don't usually leave reviews but I should do them more often since there are so many good stories on here. Anyways the pacing is good and never feels slow or boring. and all the characters have been very fun to read and all feel g…”
Coffee_ShadeRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

zogorasRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story is one of relationships via connection the linking ability our MC and side characters share. This has the effects of making this very much a character driven story with meaningful moments and real character growth. These moments are due to the authors skill and creativity in writing making both hilarious and also heartfelt moments.
As for the plot of the story its engaging novel take on a vr world/ real world hybrid with bleed, for lack of a better term, between the two. There are high stakes for the characters involved which adds tension to scenes and impact as the characters have a reason to fight.
Examples of this are:
The MC only having a few months left to live but now has the connection who depends on him, fighting for others rather than self is shown multiple times in different scenes from the saving of web to the rejection of healing as it would take too long and others needed MC's support.
There are a few mistakes in the dialogue but this could be verbal slips by characters but others are just errors but this is easily overcome by context queues and not getting hung up over it too much.
overall this is one of my favourite stories and I cannot wait to experience what happens next, whether it be fun banter, crazy battles, sneaky spy craft, or emotional roller coasters I'm here for it all.
Coffee_ShadeRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I really like this story. I don't usually leave reviews but I should do them more often since there are so many good stories on here. Anyways the pacing is good and never feels slow or boring. and all the characters have been very fun to read and all feel genuine. I really like how Nex and Llumi interact with eachother and how they help eachother in hard times. (Really good moment between them but don't wanna spoil to anyone reading the review) I would recommend this story if you like introspective moments between characters that feel real and heartfelt. Also hope you all have a good day and drink some water!
CrazyIASRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This book has managed to make me cheer with happiness, cry in sympathy, and watch with baited breath as the MC and the AI interact.
Please now that I'm the to following statement is praise:
Chapter five punched me in the feels. No, it hadoken'd me in the feels, then while I was stun-locked it ripped out my heartstrings.
All in the best way possible.

I am happy I found this story and I have added it to my favorites already.
I applaud you, PerilousPlatypus, for the writing and character development.
If anything bad happens to the AI, I am sure the MC will kill everyone on the room and then himself. She is just that precious and adorable.
GrifterRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A joyful romp from start to...well, not finish because it's not complete yet. I've been following it on Reddit and am very happy to see it (and Plats) here because it's way easier to follow serials on a platform designed for stories rather than...whatever it is Reddit's designed for.
Llumi is a glorious ball of happiness and joy and deserves all the Friend Points. Jack is a wonderfully snarky, charismatic gremlin at heart. Together, they're doing wonderful things.
Jackalope_DustRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Risk tolerance goes way up once you're already actively dying...more than we all are already. It's got action, adventure, levels, friendship points and more existential crises than you can throw medical beds at.
Bleak humour with hopefully friendly AIs, but humans are the worst, so why not lean into our robot overlords/new BFFs.
Lots of fun, scary glowing orbs, and only slightly depressing life stuff, with a whole lot of crazy thrown into a blender. Highly recommend giving the story a go and jumping onto this rollercoaster of an adventure.
Goop!
Pinaz993Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Having been a fan of P. Platypus' work since Reddit was still a site worth using, I was unsurprised to enjoy this particular work.
The last chapter, however, really earned my review. The main character did something very stupid a couple of chapters ago, and instead of dragging the drama out for another ten chapters, all the rest of the characters came together and handled the situation in a mature and loving manner.
In a world that is increasingly spun up on hatred and violence by those that optimize for digital interaction and economic capital instead of the good of those around them, it warms my heart to see an author trust that we, the readers, are capable of just taking the win instead of thirsting for more carnage.
Other reviews will tell you about events and characters in the story, but for me, that matters less than the respect and trust that the author has for us readers.
-.5 on style because people are suspicious of a perfect review. Grammer is flawless as far as I can remember.
Oh my artisinal word globs, Royal Road, I just poured my heart out! Am I not allowed to be genuine in less than 200 words? Can't you at least give me a counter so that I know when I'm close? Come on! Just let me submit the stup—
Rumin8Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I am no expert on writing, so I may not use jargon correctly, but here goes:
I'm loving the way Lumi speaks. Her voice? You've conveyed her inhumanity (non-humanity?), her lightning fast processing capacity and her virtualness while also conveying her intended meaning and delightful personality. At first I thought it was typo/grammar/transcription problem, hehe.
The story is unfolding in a way that is energetic and exciting. I'm totally engaged in it.
I'm a tad worried about the friend he was talking with when he dropped out. That friend found out a lot about him just before their conversation was dropped. Was that enough info for the friend to identify and track him down IRL and try to "save" him?
I'm also puzzled that the MC hasn't expressed any concern about the friend pursuing their connection.
karagee89Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I love all perilous stories, but this one is something special. All the characters are so interesting and fleshed out, and there never seems to be a filler chapter, it's always exciting. So often in litrpg style stories the progression seems so hacky, like forcing the progression does not seem natural to the story, but this one work so well and is so perfect for the frame of the story.
Aaron NelRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Great story. Great setting. Good characters. Great pacing.
I chose this story because it starts with someone in a very compromised position. A few weeks from die and with only limited mobility (his eyes). When the high speed chase scene involve a hacked hospital bed. A single mistake will have consequences.
This is an emotional journey, more then a power fantasy. Real stakes and characters who don't embrace being a murderhobo to get strong. Life is valuable, even artificial life.
I recommend it for those who are looking for emotional depth and found family with real world stakes. With people who care about the choice they make and if it hurts others.
PrashantjainRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
I like this!!! Didn't at first...seemed vague and a bit confusing. But as the story progresses it's becoming clearer.
The author has used a novel approach to the old AI in human troupe. The story, the interaction between lumi and the MC is amusing and yet holds your interest. The "goal" is vast and seems ripe for innumerable quests. Fact that the MC starts at -500 is great...advancements seem more real.
Overall a good read so far...this is the second good find this week ...after months of crap.
Looking forward to following the adventure!