Magical Girl Gunslinger
Mikasane
Would you like to make a contract? When eldritch horrors known as the Anathema began tearing through reality to invade Earth, aliens calling themselves the Zenith stepped in to protect humanity, choosing individuals gifted with magic and advanced technologies. Twenty-one years later the Magical Guardians are part-time heroes and full-time idols - but none of that matters to Mai, whose problems are family, classmates, and dread of her future, until she lands in the middle of an Anathema invasion. A dark magical-girl LitRPG with sci-fi elements: slow burn with gradual introduction of LitRPG mechanics that become the focal point. Inspired by Stray Cat Strut by RavensDagger; point-buy system included; substantially darker with levels, stats, skills, and magic.
Progression: Dark magical-girl LitRPG with central explicit advancement (Royal Road LitRPG + Progression tags): chosen Guardians receive Zenith-granted magic and advanced tech to fight the Anathema, progressing through a substantial system of levels, stats, skills, spells, and a point-buy item system (based on Stray Cat Strut's point system, per author note). Author confirms the LitRPG mechanics start slow-burn and become the focal point. Mai grows from ordinary civilian to Guardian climbing power tiers across arcs.
Royal Road
