The master sword competition
By @shannon gallego
Kaelen Thorne, a cunning penny thief with no heroic delusions, accidentally activates his prize—Sun Tzu's legendary Sword of 10,000 Warriors—during a bungled heist, earning a summons to the Master Sword Competition. This clandestine tournament pits magical blades against each other for supremacy, a fight Kaelen wants no part of. The sword’s spirit, a strategic and oddly caring war golem summoner, dragoons the reluctant Kaelen into the contest. Forced to outwit rival wielders and their own mighty swords, each with unique powers like flame or ice, Kaelen must learn to fight for something more than just survival, all while keeping his criminal past a deadly secret from the powerful, honorable contestants he now faces.
13
Echoes of the Fallen Star
By @東の初め
Kael, a young man haunted by the catastrophic demise of his home city and the loss of his family, scrapes by in the desolate ruins. His only companion is an ancient, sentient gauntlet—the 'Echo,' capable of absorbing and replicating the last ability used against Kael. This isn't just a combat tool; it's a constant, painful reminder of the last desperate defense his father made. When a powerful, enigmatic organization known as the 'Silent Collective' begins systematically plundering the remaining energy cores from fallen cities, threatening to collapse the world into a primordial void, Kael is forced from the shadows. He must master the Echo, not just for revenge, but to protect the last vestiges of civilization. The stakes are global: failure means the total erasure of history, memory, and existence itself.
9