The Stonehearted Knight - Chapter 1: Crystal of Hope

The rule had always been this way: the strong over the weak, the rich over the poor. Mark knew this, he'd even experienced it.After his boss fired him for discovering the affair with his girlfriend (who also worked at their small gaming company), Mark vowed never to be humiliated like that again. He wanted to rise above everyone, to become the world's top player, the one who made the rules and decided everyone's fate. But that was wishful thinking. He was just a heavyset, nerdy guy with some programming skills and a large appetite. What else did he have going for him?Hit hard by this reality, jobless and dumped, Mark withdrew into gaming, which also became his source of income. One day, after leaving a bad review for a game he played and streamed, he received a strange reply from the game's creator. Suddenly, Mark found himself transported to Aetherium, the world of that same game, as Magnus Lancaster, the young lord of a crumbling territory.Now, with this new beginning, he vowed never to be weak again, never to leave his fate in someone else's hands.

Though it may be a dream weathered, crumpled, fading,I held on without surrender.Through each repeated day, running toward tomorrow’s light,I became a knight, resolute and bright.

Grace Lightsinger is just a simple farm girl.Ever since the death of her parents, she's been taking this slowly, one day at a time. That changes when she dies protecting a stranger. But instead of a peaceful afterlife, she finds herself reborn as an angel with a mysterious “Saintess System” that no one else can see. She's made to choose between three factions of gorgeous immortals: warrior angels who fight demons, healer angels who tend the wounded, and love angels who raise morale through very intriguing methods.However, unlike other angels who can only master one path, Grace discovers she has an affinity for all three. This hasn't happened since the goddess Eternia herself walked the heavens, which leads to Grace learning that she might be more than just a regular angel. She might be Eternia's chosen successor, herself.But not everyone in heaven is happy about Grace's arrival. The scholarly Choir questions her legitimacy, fallen angels show dangerous interest, and that's not to even begin talking about the demons she'll be fighting.Grace wanted a peaceful afterlife, but between training, fighting demons, and trying not to die of gay panic, she's about to discover that heaven is a lot more dangerous than she ever imagined.