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Martial Messiah #1

Return of the Martial Messiah Book 1

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Strap in for a high stakes, edge of your seat adventure that will leave you thirsty for more, more, more

The year is 2493

The AI wars have come and gone

When the AI infected the internet, three hundred years of industrial and technological advancements were eradicated overnight. After untold sacrifice, humanity won, barely. Victory was only possible thanks to the hidden martials revealing themselves and stepping onto the stage of history. They were named the Old Monsters—immortal superhumans with impossible strength and speed, capable of dismantling entire armies with their bare hands.

Thus began the gold rush of the 25th century; the rush to fitness, to the unimaginable power displayed by the Old Monsters. Wars were abolished, replaced by duels. Ancient medicines were rediscovered and improved, enhancing lifespans and leading to an unprecedented boom in population across the globe.

In this grand new era, a technology was perfected. It was supposed to be the AI’s greatest weapon and last ditch attempt to overtake Quantum computing. Twisted by the hands of its creators and enemies, the quantum computers birthed an unexpected advancement that once more shook the foundations of civilization.

They called Time dilation.

Through it, humans tripled their life expectancy. Have a thirty minute lunch break? Turn it into an hour and a half. Only two days of vacation with the family, why not make it six? In mere days, the fundamental human experience was flipped on its head. Of course, a world obsessed with martial prowess would not let such a good thing go unmolested.

For ten years, corporations willing to cross any line in the name of profits strangled the world into submission by restricting access to the dilation. They turned countries against each other and assassinated anyone foolish enough to stand in their way, until only they remained in control.

Then, they enslaved everyone.

Raine KongRu signed a life-long contract with CronGate and spent his best years as another cog in the corporation's rise to power. He faced death at every turn, and barely came out breathing on the other end.

Now, he’s awoken in his old body, two days before it all began. With a chance to amend his mistakes, he'll have his revenge while teaching the world exactly how deadly a man becomes after thirty years of the most brutal martial combat ever imagined.

What you can expect to find in Martial

Tension! ToraAKR’s overarching goal for Martial Messiah was to create a VRMMO that overcame the largest pitfall of its Tension. Readers beware, this is not a story you can enjoy relaxed comfortably in the back of your seat.

Martial Messiah contains complex LitRPG and magic systems. A logical living world, where every action has rippling consequences that create a deep sense of immersion. Minimal contrived plot armor B.S. and an MC who isn't afraid of the fairer sex or engaging in meaningful relationships.

387 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 11, 2025

303 people are currently reading
68 people want to read

About the author

ToraAKR

9 books56 followers

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5 stars
384 (63%)
4 stars
159 (26%)
3 stars
43 (7%)
2 stars
9 (1%)
1 star
10 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
Profile Image for Jada Jade.
409 reviews8 followers
July 7, 2025
ALC 🎧 Book Review 🤍

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was such a fun time for like the first half, but I feel like it kinda got rushed towards the mid-end & everything just became a blur. I’m still not sure why he ended up back in time nor what the story was w/ Mel? Like I thought he did all of that to prevent her from selling… But in the end she had to & It was kinda like whatever to him? There were just so many unanswered questions throughout the whole thing, but I do understand it’s the first book, but I feel like it could’ve been executed a bit better. Esp the ending? It was just flat for me. Although, I did enjoy the usernames of his guild mates lol!

Overall, I still enjoyed this listen. It has potential, just a bit choppy. Nick Mondelli did a nice job, but I really cringe when they have to do the female voices 😩
Profile Image for Brooke ♥booklife4life♥.
1,198 reviews98 followers
April 19, 2025
*thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC, this in no way affects my review*

after reading Dungeon Crawler Carl, i knew i wanted to get more into the LitRPG genre, so when i saw this ARC on netgalley, i requested it quick.

the story itself was good, i liked how you get to see the MC outside of the 'game' as well. the fact that the in game currency can be used to buy real world stocks, blew my mind, especially as someone who loves to grind video games, i would be swimming in stocks and making millions. (one can dream)

my only issue was that the AI in the game/book had more personality than some of the real life people. the NPCs were written well, but then the real life people, like his brother, seemed unnatural, their wording and tone came off as "hey chatgpt write this dialogue for me". not saying that's what the author did, but i had a hard time telling if he was talking to a real person or a NPC and i don't think anyone should have that issue.
Profile Image for Tony Hinde.
2,138 reviews76 followers
April 19, 2025
This short novel stands on its great premise and its driving pace. There are no fully fleshed out characters, nor is the setting ever fully described. I just love that premise though.

By combining regression, VRMMORPG, and super-human martial arts the author weaves an unexpectedly simple tale of one man's attempt to rewrite the world's inevitable oppressive future. While the bad-guys are numerous and somewhat cartoonish, it is satisfying when they are nipped in the bud or set against each other.

That's a bit of a theme in this book. Flawed elements that, somehow, fail to detract from the reader's enjoyment. Everything seems rushed and barely fleshed-out. Rather than being left confused and lost, I am almost breathless.

In the end, I am left feeling eager for the sequel.
Profile Image for Akshay.
805 reviews5 followers
July 22, 2025
Return of the Martial Messiah – Book 1 by ToraAKR

Return of the Martial Messiah leaps off the page with immersive LitRPG systems, futuristic cultivation, and real-world consequences that deliver hard-earned thrills and high-stakes tension. Drawing on a backdrop of corporate dominance, time‑dilation tech, and martial arenas in VR, this novel merges into a compelling second‑chance revenge narrative.




Plot Summary


Set in the year 2493, after the devastating AI Wars, humanity survives thanks to immortal superhumans known as Old Monsters. A revolutionary time-dilation technology triples lifespan and alters the structure of society — until greedy corporations seize control, enslaving the population through exploitative contracts.



Our protagonist, Raine KongRu, who signed a lifetime deal with the oppressive CronGate Corporation, spends decades in virtual servitude. But when he awakens in his younger body just two days before everything falls apart, he seizes the opportunity for revenge — armed with decades of combat experience, insider knowledge, and a cold, calculating mind. As he begins his climb in the VRMMO world, his progression in-game starts to alter real-world power dynamics.




Major & Minor Characters



Raine KongRu – The main character and regressor. Hardened by decades of betrayal and abuse, he is ruthlessly competent, highly strategic, and unwilling to let sentiment get in the way of power or revenge.
Guildmates & Allies – A colorful group of players who join Raine's journey. While they bring humor and levity to the story, they are not the focus and remain secondary in Book 1.
The Corporations – Chief among them is CronGate, the hyper-capitalist force behind society’s enslavement. These entities operate in the shadows, manipulating both the real and digital worlds.
Potential Love Interest – Hinted at but underdeveloped, creating a subplot that feels intentionally distant, possibly reflecting Raine’s hyper-focus and emotional suppression.



Review Commentary


Strengths:




The integration of real-world consequences with in-game progression is fresh and thrilling. Every level-up feels meaningful.
The pacing is tight, with no wasted chapters — tension builds with each arena fight, each choice, and each betrayal remembered.
The regression element is exceptionally well done. Raine doesn’t just repeat old paths — he reshapes the game entirely, making bold, unpredictable moves.


Weaknesses:




Some subplots, especially emotional arcs or character relationships, are either slow to develop or intentionally ignored by the MC, which may frustrate some readers.
A few technical typos and moments of rushed exposition slightly disrupt the reading flow, though not enough to derail enjoyment.
The worldbuilding — while intriguing — occasionally drops concepts that feel underexplored in Book 1 (but likely expanded later).



Overall Verdict & Rating



“Raine KongRu is a force of nature. Cold, calculating, brutally efficient — and somehow still deeply compelling to follow. You don’t root for him because he’s good. You root for him because he’s inevitable.”


If you love LitRPG grind, cultivation progression, and the tension of a second-chance revenge story where the main character doesn't pull punches — this is your book. ToraAKR expertly blends combat, stats, strategy, and cyberpunk dystopia into a sharp, satisfying tale.





Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆ ☆ (3.0 / 5 glowing stars)



Verdict: A punchy, high-octane debut with a cool-headed regressor protagonist, ruthless corporate villains, and just the right amount of LitRPG grind. Not perfect, but extremely promising — especially for fans of martial cultivation and gritty power fantasies.



Recommended for readers who enjoy: 
- Ruthless MCs
- Cultivation with stats
- VRMMO that actually matters
- Dark, corporate dystopia
103 reviews1 follower
May 17, 2025
high promise, average payoff.

Not bad, but not great. Full of potential but average execution. A fair number of typos and evidence of deleted sections. It could use another pass by a decent editor both for clarity and technical but you’ll probably enjoy it.
13 reviews
July 23, 2025
every single person who rated this book 5 stars needs to hop onto the next available school bus
1 review
May 15, 2025
This book is a blend of genres that deserve to be read. Real world consequences in a game nobody takes seriously until they get stabbed in the back and lose all of their wealth.

Wow. Wow. Wow!

The first chapter doesn’t have a damsel in distress and I love it. Even if it did have a damsel in distress, I wouldn’t have minded but it worked out perfectly.

What the author has on Patreon really leaves you panting for more. I look forward to the Amazon KU versions.

The MC is interesting and greedy. The kind of greed that takes a step farther from the norm. The MC is NOT a simp and is OP. It is fun to read how he overcomes his past in this timeline. He doesn’t have out of character knowledge and is consistent with his personality. The character growth and amount of dopamine you get from these chapters is addicting. It’s hard to read anything else.

It’s like Sword God but done right and the knob is cranked to 1000% awesomeness. The high stakes are thrilling and 100% have real world ripples. There’s not just in game character growth, the MC is super cool in the real world.

There are a ton of chapters on the Patreon to enjoy.
Profile Image for R..
67 reviews
September 24, 2025
DNF - 72%.
Cons:
- The MC takes risk after risk that should kill him but wins every time. When he was level 1 we are told how fighting above one's level becomes more and more difficult as you rise in levels. Apparently 8 levels above you are the max for level 1. Yet at level 10 he rushes in a cave with level 23-32 and... doesn't die!
- He reaches a group of 50+ people, explains to us how it is impossible for one higher level person to win against that many people and then he attacks them! And somehow the fact that murderous high level giant eagles joining the fight and trying to kill everyone helps him. I don't get it.
- I like overpowered characters but not characters that rush into dead fights without any reason besides him thinking that this is the only way to become one of the most powerful.
- Quote from Jada Jade: "This was such a fun time for like the first half, but I feel like it kinda got rushed towards the mid-end & everything just became a blur. I’m still not sure why he ended up back in time nor what the story was w/ Mel? Like I thought he did all of that to prevent her from selling… But in the end she had to & It was kinda like whatever to him?"
Profile Image for Shonari.
432 reviews29 followers
October 22, 2025
Immersive, Addictive, and Just So Damn Good!

This book was absolutely awesome. From the title and cover art to the pure energy of the story, Return of the Martial Messiah delivers on every front. What really makes it stand out is how both worlds pull you in. With most VR LitRPGs, the real world feels like filler while you wait to get back to the game, but here, both sides are equally immersive. The real world has weight and tension, the virtual side has depth and danger, and together they build something that feels complete.

Raine’s journey is packed with intensity, heart, and clever strategy. His fights aren’t just about power, they’re about purpose, and every win feels like it matters on both fronts. It’s LitRPG at its absolute best: sharp writing, clever mechanics, and pacing that makes you forget how late it’s gotten. The humour, the world building, the sheer badassery of it all… chef’s kiss. I can’t wait to dive into Book 2 because this one reminded me exactly why I love this genre.
331 reviews5 followers
May 22, 2025
Solid, not groundbreaking

Solid book, most of what it does isn't new, but is decently done. MC is the "hyper-competent regressor" type, so at least some of the potential tension is lost. But the author does a good job of making the story enjoyable still. And since this is a VR style he does a good job of integrating real life and the game world together. One thing of interest is how improvements to fighting ability and apparently semi-cultivation in the game carry over to the outside world. I enjoyed it overall, my only complaints were the MCs total obliviousness to how the potential love interest was interested which feels weird given how super perceptive he is portrayed as. Also the AI art(presumed AI anyway) is scattered throughout, I didn't care for it. It broke up the reading experience to be going through and suddenly there's a picture in your face. Some people might like that though for reference images.
16 reviews2 followers
April 14, 2025
A well-written powerevenge fantasy

We’ve all read this regression story before: a man who’s been shafted all his life gets a do-over, a second chance to use his foreknowledge to reach the top and avenge himself on all the people who screwed him over. This story hits most if not all of those beats.

What sets this apart is the quality of the writing: narrative, characterization and prose combine to form an entertaining story that stays fun throughout. There are also fun quirky bits, like the MC’s freckle fetish or the 2IC’s mischievous masochistic tendencies, to keep things fresh and funny. Well worth reading.
475 reviews10 followers
April 14, 2025
Set in 2493, Raine KongRu has just woken in his old body and now must start the game again, amending all his old mistakes. He will re-enter another world and fight to claim skills and weapons to fight. Players are fully immersed in the game and fight for their lives.

Well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Great characters in this fantasy gaming world, where factions will be formed and weap9ns brought and sold. Can Raine win against all the odds? Recommend the audiobook version.
Profile Image for James Riley.
1,216 reviews15 followers
April 26, 2025
Very good

I really did like this book. It was a pleasant, fast-paced read. The only slight issue is the fact that it's a Royal Road story. That's not a problem in itself, but Royal Road stories generally have endings that are just there. Some might be annoyed by that. So, do yourself a havor and pick up this book and then follow the author on Royal Road.

Highly reccomended.
82 reviews
May 29, 2025
Okay, I'm hooked. More please.

Does not slow down and I like it.

The pics make it a better story as there is something to add to our imaginations.

The pics were much better than my internal artist.

Good characters. The humor is pleasant. The romantic interest is kept at a distance that seems more in keeping with many folks, especially goal driven people.

The odd things are the right type of odd.

Nice buildup and glad that IRL & VR are both managed well.

Worthy read.
Profile Image for Kevin.
1,710 reviews30 followers
September 5, 2025
I liked the author's other series enough to give this a go.

I don't like "in game" or "virtual Reality" type litrpgs. But seeing as the virtual world affects the real world in some way a la Play to live series or the Tower of Somnus, I'm willing to give the sequel a go.

3/5 Stars
7 reviews1 follower
April 16, 2025
Litrpg with MMA, Do over, sci-fi future with dystopian undertones

A great start to a new series. LITRPG, do over, sci-fi and a future that’s action packed with alt reality “gaming”. Lots of non stop pacing, doesn’t bore you with excess background. Nice! Looking forward to seeing how this develops.
80 reviews1 follower
April 18, 2025
A Great take on a VRMMO

Love ToraAKR’s stories and this one is a fun ride just like Density God. This one is just getting started with book 1. We met a bunch of different characters with more to come I’m sure. Can’t wait to get a deeper look into the world and what’s to come. Looking forward to book 2!
75 reviews
May 24, 2025
Great first book

I really enjoyed this novel. I blew through it in a couple of days. I liked the authors take on the genre and the logic behind the game is pretty interesting. The action is great and the book is fast paced and well edited.
5 reviews
May 27, 2025
Great Read

Great Regression LITRPG with a interesting game mechanics. Book 1 is a great introduction a world with great potential. I recommend this and will definitely continue to read as new books release.
Profile Image for Mike Goodman.
1,580 reviews12 followers
July 8, 2025
Awesome Stuff

This story is the old do over with a VR game and real life. The regular life does have some cultivation which is very unique. The title most definitely does not match the story content. But I really enjoyed reading this story.
17 reviews1 follower
August 6, 2025
OP MC

Although the MC is not supposed to be that powerful at the beginning, he actually starts over powered as initially defined. However, the story is well written and the characters engaging. Looking forward to seeing how the both the MC and story progress.
3 reviews
August 15, 2025
Ver fun vrmmorpg

A very good and fun story, itdoesnt fall to any of the normal holes in vr stories.
Lots of intrigue inside and out of the game, real life consequences, a magic system that is i teresting and not just stats and windows...
Very highly recommended
30 reviews
December 24, 2025
A well laid foundation

A nice mesh of some of my favorite tropes in this genre. A great story that doesn’t get bogged down in mechanics or battles. Instead just enough for flavoring and spice!
Profile Image for Azul.
12 reviews1 follower
April 14, 2025
Black Flame!

Great story so far. Fans of return of the strongest sword god should really enjoy it. Looking forward to the next.
Profile Image for Nigel Robson.
6 reviews14 followers
April 14, 2025
A great take on the genre

I have been absolutely adoring this book series so far, one the best takes on the regressor gamer I have ever read. Please keep those chapters coming
1 review
April 15, 2025
great book

I follow on Patreon and I am always excited for the next update, it is the cornerstone of my week. Please continue writing this amazing story. Thanks
Profile Image for Sam.
159 reviews58 followers
April 22, 2025
mooved it up to 2.5 stars as I still found myself enjoying it.
Profile Image for XR.
1,979 reviews106 followers
April 22, 2025
Loving this just as much as DG. ToraAKR are great at building unique worlds and characters. Looking forward for more of MM.
Profile Image for Josiah Ploeger.
172 reviews6 followers
April 27, 2025
Loved It!

Nonstop with a no nonsense protagonist that gets it done. Cranked through it in a day and only wish the next book was already out.
Profile Image for William Sullivan.
84 reviews1 follower
May 1, 2025
Review

I love a good returner story. Finished book one and I'm continuing to read on royal road. So far it's been great and I encourage you to give it a try.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews

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