Dakota Krout

Food is almost plentiful. Round one is coming to an Egg-citing end. Watch out for that double cross. Nacho and the Chips Guild are expanding rapidly, both in membership as well as reclaiming land for their burgeoning city. The presence of a cook allows people to gather in large numbers without fear of starving to death, though the reluctant Guild Leader knows better than to let people get too comfortable. Careful management of people has never been his forte, but luckily he has surrounded himself with people that can get that job done as he focuses on learning to craft proper meals. As Nacho begins to find a sense of peace in his life, he is suddenly thrust into a new battle when the CruxTerrans launch a surprise attack. They seize several of Nacho's closest friends and use them to unlock a hidden portal which will determine the fate of Earth as well as CruxTerra. The Guild Leader and his adversaries are thrust into a daunting challenge that neither side is prepared for, testing their abilities... and especially their willpower. The endgame is in view, and Starvation is on the table.

The world as we knew it is gone. Food and water are poison. Learn the new rules, or die trying. Eli 'Nacho' Naches is a fearsome assassin who has lost everything in a post-apocalyptic world full of monstrous creatures. He knows where he fits in this horror-show, and he's only been hanging around to see what's going to be thrown at him next. When he's finally put in chains and sent to the chopping block, he goes readily... only to be unexpectedly sent back in time to his younger body with his memories intact, and the chance to make a difference. But Nacho isn't interested in saving the world. He just needs to save the people that matter to him, and give them a chance to survive in a world where everything but the air itself is poison. Knowing that all their lives are on the line, Nacho the battle-scarred killer needs to get his college-age friends to listen to him, plan their builds, and secure a safe location to bunker down. Obviously, each of those goals is an Epic quest all on its own. Welcome to the Juxtaposition. May Your Future Be Delicious.

A challenge is issued. The sky begins to fall. That's no mountain. Joe and the Dwarves are doing more than surviving in the harsh climate of Jotunheim: they're thriving. The Ritualist's improvements to their defenses are paying dividends; and he's hailed as a genius for ending threats before they come into striking distance of the burgeoning City. Every day, the Town expands further, allowing for more facilities, a larger population, and drawing in ever-more monsters. So many beasts that the walls are no longer enough. Even worse, the upgrade to ascend to City-tier came without warning, and Joe is pushed to the limit to make sure that his friends, allies, and hard work survive the onrushing waves of teeth and flesh. As the citizens of Novusheim face off against a seemingly endless horde, a Legendary monster appears on the horizon-its eyes fixed on Novusheim as it begins to cast grand workings of ice and snow. The storm isn't just brewing. It's already here.

Life smashing your walls? Build them taller. Then put auto-turrets on them. Joe the Ritualist and the town of Novusheim have survived their first major battle, at the cost of leaving most of the settlement a smoking crater. Only most of it. The core of the town survived, and permanent casualties were low. Now that the survivors have a better understanding of what to expect, they go on a reconstruction spree... but why stop there? Every inch of their upgraded defenses will be more potent, durable, and deadlier than ever before. Even as Joe is kneeling knee-deep in blueprints, an urgent message arrives; sending the Ritualist venturing across the frozen wastelands of Jotunheim. With the safety of his own town mostly ensured for the moment, they can't make him stay... but not a single person wants him to leave. Trusting the wrong person has been Joe's downfall more than once. As the cherry on top, Grandmaster Havoc tasks Joe with obliterating any Elven settlement he comes across. It's better to end threats early on, before they have a chance to stab you in the back.

The Dynasty is sending troops. Potentia is plentiful. Everything is up for grabs. Luke has found a great way to move directly from combat to combat. While his team is working hard to increase their knowledge, train their skills, and grow a paradise, the Murderhobo steps into a Descender portal for five minutes, pops out, jumping straight into Murder World-fists leading the way. Life is good. After years of work Andre the Druid makes a grievous error: he completes his job perfectly. By healing the Scarroco Desert, the supermassive Dynasty that neighbors the Hollow Kingdom suddenly has renewed interest in their resources. No longer content to leave The Four in exile, the King recalls them to the Palace. Before their new orders are given, the Dynasty steals something precious from the King. Going after it is a fool's errand. That works perfectly for the King: he knows exactly four disposable Ascenders. Being promised freedom, luxuries, and cushy jobs if they are successful-and death upon failure-Luke's team leaves immediately. As they begin their adventure through the front lines of the invasion, Luke the Murderhobo knows it's his moment to shine. Monsters, Ascenders, and Assassins are the least of their worries. All he needs to do is survive Everything.

Growth is pain. Opportunities are challenges. February is filled with Opportunities for Growth. A Lord according to the system, Grant Monday has arrived in February. This place is the absolute opposite of January, and his largest challenge isn't hostile Wielders. Instead, the new Lord needs to face culture shock; contending with strange foods, stringent training, and a stomach-churning subrace of humans known as 'Joggers'. Grant chose the wrong time to try to take on the world: every single citizen of February is a powerful body cultivator, and this year there has been a huge shift in the power dynamics of the District. Not only is everyone fervently training, they all have the same end goal as Grant. Only the finalists of the Body-focused tournament get the chance to go head-to-head with Lady February, and Grant is a decade behind. People are doing anything they can to get an edge. Grant is happy to introduce them to his blade.

An ever-expanding desert. A centuries-old curse. Enough power to change Anything. Luke is a straightforward man. There are only a few things he wants in life: levels, things to fight to gain levels, and finding Cookie so he can fight things more efficiently. Well, better armor might be nice. Yet, the other members of his team are ready for some relaxation and fun in the sun. After all, there should be huge perks that come with stopping an invasion in its tracks, and a hero's welcome would be a welcome change. Surprisingly, being famous for making the Kingdom wealthy and powerful has its downsides. Namely, there is now a huge price on their heads. Ordered to flee from the political machinations, assassins, and marriage proposals, The Four soon find themselves searching for a way to pit their power against the world and make a comfy home in the desert. The problem is, Nature likes to be left alone. When you start messing with it... Anything could happen.

Time is money. Time is a Weapon. Time is running out. Grant Leap is an orphaned, mortal farmhand in a world where cultivation methods and Weapons of Power are jealously guarded and only passed down among family. He's not content with his lot; as a Januarian, someone living in District January, he should be living the good life just like everyone else. Food, parties, food, entertainment, and food are the minimum requirement. As an orphan, specifically a reviled Leap, there's not even a chance of being treated as a human. When a celestial event pours time magic into his field, coalescing into a lost Weapon of Power, Grant leaps at the opportunity to advance beyond even the scope of standard cultivation. At the first touch of the weapon, the orphan gains everything he's ever wanted: a Sword and a Name. Also, a pesky mandatory quest with his life as the price of failure. It doesn't take him long to realize that the best thing for him to do is to sell it and live on borrowed Time. Yet, that would never happen. The blade offers him the first major choice he's ever had to make: surrender to his desires... or live like a King.

Only one man can cheat to create change in the dungeon of Order. Old evils lurk within. Love will smite them. Artorian gave up his administrator privileges only to be thrust into a new role. The Law he is bound to allows him to slip past Eternium's ironclad rules and break things once thought immutable. For his family, for all of their futures, he must boldly go where few in Cal like to venture: the game world of Eternia. Most of the people that have come to test this world hate being here: dying in days and returning home in disarray. Artorian agrees with them: a body based entirely on hard numbers and increasingly potent limiters is a stark difference from the intent-based Essence user he has always been. Eternia is no final product, riddled with more holes than a wheel of dire cheese. This wireframe of a world is seemingly held together with glue, tape, and moody pylons. He vows to dig into the construction, finding and fixing where it went wrong. Yet, why meander through scaffolding when one can parkour through the rafters? It's speedrun time