Rimelion: The Exploiter

What is reality? I was John, now Charlie, a woman with a VR game tester’s cunning and a professional whiskey enthusiast’s attitude. But then AIs have risen, and my job evaporated faster than last night’s drink. Just when I hit rock bottom, this punk kid, barely old enough to shave, dropped a bombshell: “Reality’s just a simulation.” Sure, buddy. I laughed it off. Until I woke up twenty years in the past. Now, thanks to a hacking mishap, I’m a regular girl in reality, with a debt and an attitude, navigating Rimelion, the VR game I once mastered, as Charlie, an elven priestess with more than a few tricks up her sleeve. Seriously though, fighting in high heels? Will I claw my way up the nobility ladder? Dominate the rankings? Outwit the government and their plans to exploit us all? Maybe. But something’s off. People claim the game is real. Feels too real. My memories don’t line up. Simulation? Reality? The lines are a blur, and I’m stuck in the middle. If I want to stop a dystopian future, I’ll need allies, both in-game and out. Oh, and avoid ticking off the AIs hunting me for bending the rules. Survival’s a long shot, but I was never one to play fair anyway. *** [Participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge] What to expect: - Light LitRPG story with an emphasis on strategy and world-building - First-person perspective (and occasional close third POVs) - Reader-Inspired characters - A witty protagonist with a conversational sarcastic, humorous and often self-deprecating voice - A sci-fi world with mysteries sprinkled with fantasy elements - A rich game world (which may or may not be real) with kingdoms, rules, exploits, and challenges - Supporting characters with personal goals Schedule: Starting with [Book 3]: Three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday)