When O’Brian wakes up, bound to a pole in a blood-soaked arena, he thinks his story is over before it even began. Destined to be nothing more than a sacrifice in a brutal game designed to amuse beings from beyond the stars, his fate seems sealed—until the unexpected happens. A lone warrior, ordered to kill him, chooses rebellion instead. One thrust of his weapon should have ended O’Brian’s life, but instead, it unlocks something far greater: System Awareness.
Now armed with access to the game’s intricate mechanics, O’Brian finds himself thrust into the deadly, stats-driven world of the Arena. But he’s no hero—yet. Starting as a Level 0 Ronin with barely any ability and no allies, survival means mastering the System. Every die roll matters. Every stat must be calculated. Gear, skills, abilities—nothing is left to chance. And in the Arena, it’s not enough to fight well. To thrive, O’Brian must win over the audience, and earn the funds to grow a stable of fighters, improve his weapons, and climb the ranks.
But the Arena is more than just a stage for combat. Secrets lie beneath the cheers of the crowd and the watchful eyes of the enigmatic King. To uncover the truth and escape this deadly spectacle, O’Brian will need more than raw power. He’ll need strategy, grit, and mastery of a System as brutal as it is unforgiving.
For fans of hard LitRPG, this is not a tale for the faint of heart. Heavy with detailed mechanics, stat sheets, and real die rolls (by yours truly), this story is for those who crave an immersive, number-crunching adventure. If you like your game mechanics light, this isn’t for you. But if you’re ready to go deep and let the system decide, the Arena awaits.
Welcome to Gladiator School!
Genre: GameLit
Now armed with access to the game’s intricate mechanics, O’Brian finds himself thrust into the deadly, stats-driven world of the Arena. But he’s no hero—yet. Starting as a Level 0 Ronin with barely any ability and no allies, survival means mastering the System. Every die roll matters. Every stat must be calculated. Gear, skills, abilities—nothing is left to chance. And in the Arena, it’s not enough to fight well. To thrive, O’Brian must win over the audience, and earn the funds to grow a stable of fighters, improve his weapons, and climb the ranks.
But the Arena is more than just a stage for combat. Secrets lie beneath the cheers of the crowd and the watchful eyes of the enigmatic King. To uncover the truth and escape this deadly spectacle, O’Brian will need more than raw power. He’ll need strategy, grit, and mastery of a System as brutal as it is unforgiving.
For fans of hard LitRPG, this is not a tale for the faint of heart. Heavy with detailed mechanics, stat sheets, and real die rolls (by yours truly), this story is for those who crave an immersive, number-crunching adventure. If you like your game mechanics light, this isn’t for you. But if you’re ready to go deep and let the system decide, the Arena awaits.
Welcome to Gladiator School!
Genre: GameLit
Used availability for Andrew Karevik's Gladiator School