A Dirge for the Sun

For long-time shut-in Ai Kanbara, beating the game was everything. Now that she has, it's terrifyingly real.

After 8 years of leading her guild in endless PvP conflict, Ai finally felt ready to face reality, only to transmigrate into the world of her favorite dark fantasy MMO as her max-level character.

But the world has moved on. Her life's work, an artificial God-Engine she built to banish the darkness, has developed a critical flaw. More importantly, her guildmates, her only friends, are either missing or deified as the patron gods of a crumbling empire. Even worse, a message from her oldest friend reveals a terrible truth: They were betrayed by one of their own.

To uncover the fate of her guildmates and push back against the many tyrannies of the Republic ruling in her character's name, Ai must become her legend in truth. Accompanied by her loyal lizard-dog and a party of new companions, Ai begins a journey across a vibrant world of brutal stakes and deep human connection.

She has the power. Now she just needs to rediscover her heart.

What to expect:

✦ Post-progression isekai: a max-level character in a dark survival world

✦ Grief and slow healing: an ex-hikikomori learning to experience the world again

✦ A (hopefully) deep magic system: built on narrative, language, and culture

✦ Food as worldbuilding: every meal tells a story of heritage and connection

✦ Found family: a party of complex individuals, brought together by purpose and happenstance

✦ Mesozoic dark fantasy: a world of prehistoric life and lethal entities of darkness

✦ Slow burn mystery: join Ai as she uncovers the fates of her lost guildmates and just who, or what, brought her to the land of Varrah

TL;DR: Overlord/Frieren by way of Dinotopia and Delicious in Dungeon.

Come on over to the Heroines and Villainesses Discord server to discuss Dirge and other FMC (female main character) stories on RR!

Dirge is also available on SpaceBattles and Sufficient Velocity. You can also read ahead on my Patreon, where I try to maintain a 6 chapter advance.

Updates on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 12AM JST (GMT+9)!

This story is only available on RoyalRoad, SpaceBattles, SufficientVelocity, ScribbleHub, and my Patreon. If you find A Dirge for the Sun anywhere else, it has been pirated. I am also currently aware of several pirated versions on the internet and am working to have them taken down. Please let me know via DM when you come across any. I'd really appreciate it.