Unwilling Eldritch Horror of Fortune
Tismon
Walter was a petty crook struggling to make ends meet when he was suddenly abducted to another world. One of many people from Earth drafted by aliens to participate in 'the trials' in order to gain 'ascension,' he must endure hazardous environments and hostile creatures, strengthening his physical and mental skills to superhuman levels. Gifted an Absolute Luck System granting the statistically best possible result in any situation, and deemed a Lord Arbiter for the inhuman monstrosities behind the trials, Walter must balance life as both Aspirant and Admin — posing as a Xollon while engaging in the trials to investigate a temporal anomaly, battling zombies, joining superpowered warriors, and assuming the identity of a god, while a soul-devouring darkness looms. Hit Royal Road progression fantasy with more than 610k views and Volume 1-3 stubbed, now published by Podium.
Progression: Central, explicit LitRPG/System progression. Humanity is judged worthy of Ascension and can obtain powers beyond comprehension by completing Trials as an Aspirant — hazardous dungeons/environments with hostile creatures that grant superhuman physical and mental stat growth, skills, and levels (very Dungeon Crawler Carl-esque: 'a lot like a game, leveling up, gaining skills and power'). Walter is chosen by the Absolute Luck System (AI) — an incorporates-system that lets him achieve statistically optimal outcomes — and infiltrates the Trials as a Lord Arbiter (Admin) for the Xollon, the eldritch alien overseers. Dual-track advancement: Aspirant levels/skills via Trial clears and combat, plus Arbiter/Admin privileges and Luck-system boons. Arcs track Trial floors, boss clears, party growth with superpowered warriors, and Luck-driven power spikes; Royal Road genres explicitly tag litrpg + progression, reviews confirm 'leveling up, gaining skills and power' and 'broken luck system' as core engine, with 739 Royal Road ratings at 4.55 and Goodreads 3.86/78 as early Book 1 reception.
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