Quest Academy
Brian J. Nordon
Quest Academy follows Salvatore Argento in a world pushed to the brink by an ever-evolving demonic invasion. Portals tear open, Towers burst into the skies and Dungeons infest the last safe havens. Quest Academy stands as humanity's school for Heroes, training the next generation to surpass those who came before. Salvatore has never seen a demon and never aspired to be a Hero, yet his rare abilities — Skill Master (copying and mastering any skill at its highest grade) and Mythcrafting (weaving mythic-grade equipment) — may tip the war. Across six volumes (2023-2026), Sal progresses from first-year Support-class underdog to top-ranked Savior, founding the Mythic Guild, crafting legendary gear, climbing Tower floors, and confronting the Bastion Loyalists' conspiracy. Originally self-published, the series holds 4.46-4.73 stars across 1,700-5,700 ratings per volume.
Progression: Explicit, central and structured progression every volume: (1) Hero Classifications — Offense, Defense, Support (Sal starts as Support, challenging Support stigma); Advancement through class ranks: Silver/Savior → Savior-class tournament, Guild trainee → Guild ranks, and Hero tiers (Super-Rookie etc.). (2) Skill Master ability — Sal copies, masters and unblocks hidden potential in skills, evolving them to Mythic grade; system tracks skill ranks/blocks and weave creation. (3) Mythcrafting / Crafting ladder — from crafting table to Mythic-Grade equipment and attack drones using coveted demonic materials; grades (Common → Legendary → Mythic) gated by materials, modules and combat trials. (4) Tower/Dungeon floors — each semester culminates in a Tower excursion where floors must be cleared, with Obsidian Hulkers and demonic zones testing team advancement. (5) Guild & Tournament ranks — Academy semesters, inter-academy tournaments, Gala invitations, Trainee Guild founding, and leaderboard Savior rankings drive narrative advancement. Every book is structured around a rank trial, crafting breakthrough, or Tower floor, making progression both mechanical and plot-driven.
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