Phase One

Jay Arden is forty-five years old, former military, and he just wants a little peace and quiet. A long hike into the uninhabited mountains with his camping gear seemed like the perfect way to clear his head while his motorcycle was in the shop.

Then a kid fell in a river.

Jay saved the boy, but a log slammed into his head, and the last thing he remembers is drowning while punching a tunnel of rainbow light out of pure stubborn rage.

He woke up on another world.

Now he is standing in a torchlit arena surrounded by dozens of other confused souls, trapped in a glowing chessboard of light, while knights and archers watch from the stands. A floating screen appears before him, listing his name, his stats, and a unique ability called Phase. He chooses to hide his power from everyone else, which immediately puts him at odds with the court official who tried to force compliance.

Before anyone can even be properly welcomed to the Crownlands of Severa, a panicked gunman opens fire. An arrow drops him instantly, but the damage is done. The celebration turns somber, the body is dragged away, and the survivors are escorted toward the distant castle under armed guard.

Jay has lost nearly everything — his rifle, his pistol, his night vision goggles, and any hope of going home. All he has left is his hunting knife, his basic kit, and a power he does not fully understand.

But he is not the kind of man who gives up.

He punched the light while he was drowning. He is not about to let a little thing like being stranded on another world stop him.

I don't use AI to write for me, my imagination is crazy enough, I don't need help. I use it to check my punctuation and proper comma usage. I don't have the money to pay editors.