Worlds of Ascension [Book 1 complete]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

After a lifetime of adventuring, reaching Level 100 should have been Aira's crowning achievement. Instead, it hurled her into an alien world where she's stripped of her powers, transformed into an undead, and forced to rely on strange tech just to access a fraction of her former abilities.

Now, with a reluctant alliance of locals whose loyalties remain uncertain, Aira must navigate competing factions and elemental powers beyond her understanding. As she discovers the connection between her mysterious rune and the ancient sources of this world, one question haunts her: was her arrival an accident, or has she been thrown into a story far larger than herself—one where the price of returning home might be higher than she's willing to pay?

Release Schedule

The adventure evolves every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with an extra interlude whenever the paradoxical powers of the multitude of worlds allow.

At the beginning of her journey home, Aira isn't even sure if she's going to regain her powers. But of course, besides that, she'd be happy to get back as soon as possible. But each step deepens her connection with this strange new world she has to explore. Through encounters with ancient beings, ruthless enemies, and mysteries, she gathers the Shards of Power, slowly realizing that somebody may have decided to use her as a pawn in their big game.

Worlds of Ascension is a journey that will take you to multiple realities with different Systems of magic. It is an adventure that explores strength, survival, and a profound path of self-discovery. Aira's path is paved with powerful magic, cosmic events, and the harsh reality of wielding forces that alter destinies—starting with her own.

What to Expect from Worlds of Ascension?

• A Reluctant Heroine: Aira is powerful but conflicted; she's not here to save worlds—she's just trying to survive in them and move on.

• Chapter length: 2,000—3,000 words (with 1,000-word interludes from time to time)

• Female MC

• Epic Fantasy in Multiple Realms: expect mind-bending magic, elemental forces, and worlds as varied as the Systems governing them.

• Strong to weak (sort of) to OP (eventually). MC will spenda lot oftime initially without full access to her powers.

• Introspective Adventure: Follow Aira's journey from a reluctant survivor to a figure who must confront the weight of her growing power and its influence on friendship.

• It may get a bit dark sometimes, but not too much.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2024
Author: Stepan Chizhov

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 3.9/ 5.0
Followers: 1,143
Views: 190,895

Reviews

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

Community Reviews(10)

ujanusRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Aira is in a pickle. She thought that her life was easy and figured, right? All that wealth and glory she had thanks to her 99th level. The only trophy she lacked was to get the 100th level and achieve that coveted Legendary status.
Well, bummer. She won't get that!
While by the end of the second chapter, I almost wished she'd get killed by these cultists, or whatever. She gets what she deserves. Karma is a bitch.
So, now she has to explore her options, find inner power, rebuild herself, and find her unique path in a weird alternate reality.
What about writing? I enjoyed the story quite a lot. The style is good, and there are almost no corrections to the grammar. The worldbuilding is quite immersive, and I would definitely recommend this story to a couple of my friends.
You may struggle a bit in the beginning. As I mentioned, at least a couple of times, you may feel inclined to punch the MC in the face. But I think it only adds to the story.
And Lila, that's a nice character. Such a quirky person, with all these strange phrases and her own distinctive point of view.
So, let's see where this story brings us next!
Camadt (Alex Hancock)Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Overall
This is a fantastic story following the battlemage, Aira, as she gets thrown in the middle of a war between humanity and the undead. Each chapter helps unlock a little bit more of the sealed knowledge and power that the MC needs to restore herself, while opening a world that is begging to be explored.
Character
The main character, Aira, starts out as a solo dungeon crawler at the cusp of 99 and eyeing the final boss and level 100. After a series of events, she finds herself powerless, in an unfamiliar place, and at the mercy of a strange group. Her determination and ingenuity allows her to push forward.
Lila is the only supporting character at the moment, but she feels like a great companion. She is kind and compassionate and willing to help a helpless undead enemy. Her desire to see what lays beyond the territory as well as her Ranger training make her feel like an invaluable ally.
Grammar
No complaints here.
Story
A story about a powerful character that isn’t very strong at the moment and has to relearn how to do things after getting isekai’d to another world.
Style
Taking a story about going from level 100 to powerless and having to relearn how to use all your skills reminds me of playing a new max level character for the first time after a major rebalancing patch. The way that all of that is blended together really sets this story apart from the others.
Ethan Y CottonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is one of those stories that is just fun to read. We have a temporary power loss and jumpy villagers with one hell of a grudge against our MC. But somehow the language barrier and dialogue are just as interesting!
Tldr: seriously, give this one a try! The characters are great fun and we have an extremely interesting story here.
Style: this is a litrpg, but in a world without the system… sometimes😅 the fresh take on the familiar genre has us coming at the story almost backward, rather than power and overwhelming enemies, the conflicts arise from language barriers and prejudices. Its a great way to stand out!
Story: our hero is bored and wishes for something interesting to happen. Be careful what you wish for! The story mostly revolves around survival in the beginning, which is usually a major mistake as you normally need to introduce an overarching conflict to hook readers and drive the story. That is not a problem here and even just trying to understand one another is made to be compelling.
Grammar: only a few mistakes, nothing to overly worry about
Characters: finally we get to the part I have been waiting for! The main character is pretty relatable, even an interesting lifestyle can get boring and you just wish for something ANYTHING new. Its a great character that is fun to read…. Lila though. I means fox’s whiskers! She is always ready with some fun saying like that. The character is one of my favorites in any of my recent reads, I would recommend this story just for Lila, but the rest of the work is great as well!
Definitely worth the read!
Lex7Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Character:
Aira, the MC, is a fascinating character, evolving into a mysterious, almost alien being. She's a powerful individual with a growing understanding of her abilities and the world around her. Her journey is one of self-discovery and adaptation, as she navigates a new reality.
Lila, as her human companion, provides a grounded perspective and a strong emotional connection. Her loyalty, humor, and practical nature complement Aira's otherworldly qualities.
Grammar:
The grammar is generally strong, with clear and concise sentence structure. There are a few minor errors in punctuation and word choices could be changed to make the story stronger, but they do not detract from the overall readability.
Style:
The writing style is immersive and engaging, with vivid descriptions and well-developed characters. The dialogue is natural and flows smoothly, and the pacing is well-balanced. Stepan Chizhov effectively blends exposition with action, creating a compelling narrative. The world-building is detailed and imaginative, with a unique blend of fantasy and science fiction elements.
Story:
The story is well-paced and full of intrigue. The development of Aira's powers and the exploration of the ancient facility promise exciting adventures and challenges. The dynamic between Aira and Lila is compelling, with their contrasting personalities and skills creating a strong foundation for their partnership. The plot is driven by a strong central conflict, with Aira's quest for understanding and power as the main focus.
Overall:
This is a well-written and engaging story with a strong foundation. The characters are well-developed, the plot is intriguing, and the world-building is imaginative. Stepan Chizhov's skill in blending fantasy and science fiction elements creates a unique and captivating setting. While there are a few minor grammar and style issues, they do not significantly detract from the overall quality of the writing. The story has the potential to be a truly epic tal
AceGreenRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Reading Worlds of Ascension is sort of like eating at a restaurant by an up-and-coming chef, who's blended two cuisines you never thought about putting together. Royal Road of course has its share of magic systems, and the general tenor of the fiction on here isn't new to genre blending.
Worlds of Ascension does it right. Which isn't just a hard thing to do. It's something that moves the genre forward.
If I'm being real, I think nine out of ten times, genre blends, and particularly magic system blends fall flat. Someone throws sushi on a taco and calls it a day. They blend the pho broth with tomato sauce and call it a take on spaghetti. Ultimately, just putting things together doesn't make it good. And the more things you try to cohere, the harder it gets.
What sets Worlds of Ascension apart is grounding. There's a strong sense of place, of environment, of a physical reality that's most powerfully underscored by the protagonist's sudden loss of her powers. She's not just a Solo Leveling juggernaut that's level one now and can't deal. She's thrown into a much more perilous state. Aira loses the ability to communicate easily, to even write her name. And in the new world she's become a part of, that gives her as much agency as a child.
The reclaiming of that agency bit by bit is what aligns the reader with the world. It creates a sense of mise-en-scene, where the path back to powerful isn't just about increasing numbers on a screen, but about reaching back out to the world around her. The borders, then, between the world she used to know and the world she's in—and perhaps even our own—start to blur. Her connection back to the system becomes her feeling stick, as she tries to understand the magic or energy of the world on a fundamentally deeper level.
This, I think, is where the tenderness really comes in. Lots of what gives isekai heart is the connections characters form that manages to bridge their different worlds. I found myself quickly endeared to Lila, the Ranger
nuggetRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
I would have rated it 5 stars until Chapter 10. However, after that, side characters start appearing, and the way they talk is hard to endure. It reminds me of typical Japanese works where side characters are overly devoted to the protagonist, constantly praising how "cool" and "amazing" he is.
This alone makes it difficult to continue reading—but I'll give it a try. Additionally, as soon as a certain character is able to speak, there is an overload of exposition and excessive dialogue. However, the information often feels shallow, with lines like: "I can't explain now, but later. It's too much for now!"
But I guess that’s just personal preference.
I must add I didn't read far yet. So it could change.
DaddykazzooRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Author-to-Author Review Swap
As an author who has spent countless hours building worlds, crafting flawed yet resilient protagonists, and unraveling the complexities of a society teetering on collapse, I must say that Worlds of Ascension was a deeply rewarding read. It’s a masterful blend of introspection, political intrigue, and raw survival that had me hooked from start to finish.
One of the most striking elements of Worlds of Ascension is the seamless way it balances immersive worldbuilding with Aira’s deeply personal journey. The story begins with Aira’s dungeon run; a classic fantasy setup that lulls the reader into a false sense of familiarity. But what begins as a routine grind quickly morphs into an existential crisis as Aira is ripped from her reality and thrust into a foreign, magic-starved world.
As an author, I appreciate how the narrative subtly layers worldbuilding without overloading the reader. Every detail such as the ruins in the forest, the town of Mountain View, and the ominous Council chambers feels deliberate, revealing just enough to keep us intrigued while leaving plenty of room for speculation.
Crafting a protagonist who feels both larger-than-life and achingly human is no small feat, yet Worlds of Ascension accomplishes this beautifully with Aira. Her journey begins with frustration and monotony in the dungeon, followed by the devastation of losing her magic and strength upon entering the new world. I found myself rooting for her not because she’s a perfect hero but because her struggles feel so relatable.
As an author, I loved how her resilience is portrayed not just in grand gestures but in her quieter moments; learning a new language, scribbling on a slateboard, or meditating to grasp at the remnants of her power. These small victories add depth to her character, and I couldn’t help but draw parallels to my own protagonists’ journeys of self-discovery.
The supporting characters, particularly Lila and Elder Jorin, add richness to the story
VnatorRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
It's a really interesting story! It's about an adventurer, who upon getting her 100th level, ends up in another world with no magic or System. From the start you're made to wonder what's going on with the world, and the author delivers in setting up the basics that makes you want to know more. Let's break down the individual score categories:
Style:
The style is good. I felt like some parts of the exposition were redundant, or some scenes could be cut entirely, but that's incredibly minimal compared to the material that does add to it. Dialogue and prose are absolutely solid and I have nothing major to complain about.
Grammar:
What can I say other than that it's impeccable? I didn't notice any issues, so this gets a full score.
Story:
The story is intriguing and builds up as it goes along, making you want to learn more about the world, its characters, and what will happen next. I'm definitely invested, and you will be too.
Character:
Characters are fleshed out and interesting, and have solid motivations behind them. I feel like their introductory scenes could have showcased something happening to them or them doing something that made me invested in them from the get-go, but by the time you a little bit in, you'll already be invested.
So overall, I give this story a really good rating.
Jiguem_MoriRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Imagine you’re playing Elden Ring, but instead of battling relentless bosses, you spend hours smashing low-level mobs that barely put up a fight. That’s how Aira’s adventure kicks off in Worlds of Ascension. Our snarky battlemage is stuck in the dungeon equivalent of a treadmill, sweating through endless troll fights that are about as challenging as a tutorial in Skyrim. But just when you think she’s doomed to grind forever, the story pulls a Doctor Strange-level portal twist, throwing Aira into a new world where the stakes are higher, the magic is gone, and the existential crises are real.
The story is like The Matrix if Neo spent the first half complaining about how boring the training simulations were, only to wake up in a world where his kung fu is suddenly useless. Once Aira enters this new world, the stakes skyrocket. She’s stripped of her powers (cue Iron Man in a cave vibes), surrounded by suspicious green-haired rangers, and navigating a language barrier that would make even C-3PO sweat. The cultists, glowing runes, and mysterious councils scream Game of Thrones-style intrigue, but Aira’s biting commentary keeps things light and hilarious. It’s the perfect blend of epic fantasy and self-aware humor.
The characters are where Worlds of Ascension shines brightest. Aira’s dry wit and unrelenting determination make her the Tony Stark of battlemages—brilliant, sarcastic, and just vulnerable enough to keep you hooked. The supporting cast has plenty of room to grow, but the green-haired ranger already feels like the Legolas to Aira’s Gimli, and the shadowy council hints at deeper political drama (Dune vibes, anyone?). This world is full of mystery and potential, but it’s Aira’s voice that makes the journey unforgettable. If you love stories that mix The Witcher-level grit with Brooklyn Nine-Nine humor, this is your next read.
SherpADerpRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
Well it's another isekai, with a twist! DaringTodaySquidward.jpg
But at least it's done well. The setting relies on already well established tropes and concepts to make something relatively novel that I'm interested in seeing explored. Reincarnation into another world, post post-apocalypse society, vampires, system magic for the protag vs vamp magic in the new world. Nothing on its own is really new but the result is far more than the sum of its parts. It genuinely feels like the author is professionally a writer with a good grasp of narrative structure and writing techniques.
So far at chapter whatever that I'm at the story is still fairly bare bones with some teasing alternative perspectives heavily foreshadowing possible challenges and conflicts for the protag and the plot coming up. Not to say that it's been a slow burn exactly, but there's a large amount of exploration of both the setting as well as relationships and the mechanics of the magic/abilities sort of deal balanced out with occasional action and some politics.
Grammar is fine, no consistent errors or awkward sentences.
Except for when the sidekick talks. Which brings me into Characters. Really the majority of the story seems to revolve around the MC and their duetertagonist/sidekick. Not so much that other characters are one dimensional so much as they aren't overly present except for the odd chapter from alternative perspectives. But like, most of that is showcasing them reacting to the protag and dropping lore, foreshadowing plot, actually quite a bit of things but not a lot of development of the characters themselves. Which, fair is fair, could and likely will change as the protag hasn't exactly been a persona grata in society so far.
Not so much that anything about the characters have been bad so far, but more that it hasn't had a chance to develop YET.
I will say that the sidekick drops random ass euphemisms like, sometimes two or three times a sentence but always at least once every time their m