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Etherious: The System's Descent #4
Originator
Arthur has finally fixed his soul. Now, he must face the world.
With the Locus of Power behind him, Arthur has bested stronger enemies than most will ever face. He thought he was returning to peace, but System law has been broken.
Alien races walk the land before their time, and they have his name on their lips. His power means he is feared. His blood makes him a target. Has humanity been betrayed?
Before, he would have run.
Now The Perfect Homunculus must hunt.
This is the fourth book in a LitRPG Fantasy series with 800,000 views on Royalroad. Perfect for fans of Defiance of the Fall, The Primal Hunter, and Road to Mastery!
Credits to my brother for the beautiful front cover, made with one of his Mandela artworks.
What to
-MC with multiple magic affinities
-A main character who has learned Muay Thai
-Combination of human progression mixed with monster core consumption
-Title collection
-No Harem
With the Locus of Power behind him, Arthur has bested stronger enemies than most will ever face. He thought he was returning to peace, but System law has been broken.
Alien races walk the land before their time, and they have his name on their lips. His power means he is feared. His blood makes him a target. Has humanity been betrayed?
Before, he would have run.
Now The Perfect Homunculus must hunt.
This is the fourth book in a LitRPG Fantasy series with 800,000 views on Royalroad. Perfect for fans of Defiance of the Fall, The Primal Hunter, and Road to Mastery!
Credits to my brother for the beautiful front cover, made with one of his Mandela artworks.
What to
-MC with multiple magic affinities
-A main character who has learned Muay Thai
-Combination of human progression mixed with monster core consumption
-Title collection
-No Harem
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2025
360 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
EmEs
4 books13 followersI started writing on scrap pieces of paper in a maths lesson. One paper became many, then I bought a lined book, and before I knew it, I had a story on my hands.
Things snowballed from there, and here we are now. Hopefully you enjoy my work and I welcome all feedback. Thank you for checking out my story.
Etherious: Power's Price coming out soon.
Things snowballed from there, and here we are now. Hopefully you enjoy my work and I welcome all feedback. Thank you for checking out my story.
Etherious: Power's Price coming out soon.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 8, 2025
It was good, but...
I rated 5 stars because it was good... but it annoyed me that fully half the book was one single fight...
I rated 5 stars because it was good... but it annoyed me that fully half the book was one single fight...
July 2, 2025
good
But I got frustrated with some bad copy editing at times. Not overwhelming and unceasing, just blatant mistakes that should have *easily* been caught.
The one that got me most worked up was when a vehicle (undescribed at that point) was compared to an aircraft carrier. Then in the next paragraph it was compared to a military helicopter or a jet plane. I just…an aircraft carrier is so large comparing it by proxy to something that could *land on it* is a bit ludicrous. It’s not a fully developed thought.
There were also times where the POV shifted mid-scene that were jarring. If we are following one character’s thoughts exclusively, the focus shouldn’t change to another character’s thoughts without some kind of break to signify the shift.
I still pretty much enjoyed the book. Just wish someone took the time to *read* it before it was released.
But I got frustrated with some bad copy editing at times. Not overwhelming and unceasing, just blatant mistakes that should have *easily* been caught.
The one that got me most worked up was when a vehicle (undescribed at that point) was compared to an aircraft carrier. Then in the next paragraph it was compared to a military helicopter or a jet plane. I just…an aircraft carrier is so large comparing it by proxy to something that could *land on it* is a bit ludicrous. It’s not a fully developed thought.
There were also times where the POV shifted mid-scene that were jarring. If we are following one character’s thoughts exclusively, the focus shouldn’t change to another character’s thoughts without some kind of break to signify the shift.
I still pretty much enjoyed the book. Just wish someone took the time to *read* it before it was released.
July 5, 2025
Excellent
Arthurs tale continues more of everything fights, love,more fights ,even a bit of romance maybe, this series just keeps getting better like an onion you read a book and it's many layered but you have not got to the core as you find answers to questions that give you more questions about how the system works ,how we can survive and just what are those in power actually doing to help or hinder.
If this was a rollercoaster we are still on the climb before the ride starts but it's an enjoyable climb.
Arthurs tale continues more of everything fights, love,more fights ,even a bit of romance maybe, this series just keeps getting better like an onion you read a book and it's many layered but you have not got to the core as you find answers to questions that give you more questions about how the system works ,how we can survive and just what are those in power actually doing to help or hinder.
If this was a rollercoaster we are still on the climb before the ride starts but it's an enjoyable climb.
July 5, 2025
Consistent quality
I read a lot of System Apocalypse as i like seeing the poor bastard MCs squirm. Yes, I am a bit of a bastard. The biggest hangup for the genre is inconsistent quality. Em Es has managed to maintain quality while thoroughly hammering 🔨 poor Arthur into the ground. Good luck, Mr. Stone. You are gonna need it!
I read a lot of System Apocalypse as i like seeing the poor bastard MCs squirm. Yes, I am a bit of a bastard. The biggest hangup for the genre is inconsistent quality. Em Es has managed to maintain quality while thoroughly hammering 🔨 poor Arthur into the ground. Good luck, Mr. Stone. You are gonna need it!
September 21, 2025
I'm still reading this on Royalroad. It's not really one of my favorites anymore because the MC gave away his humanity to be some type of monster. Now this is just my opinion, other people can love the idea of changing race but I'm just a fan of humanity.
Story is still decent though.
6/10 Mainly because I don't like the race change to chimera.
Story is still decent though.
6/10 Mainly because I don't like the race change to chimera.
July 17, 2025
Wonderful book, wonderful series
I kind of cheated on this book. I've been keeping up with the book on Royal Road. But I still like the long form book. Do yourself a favor and read this book. Unless you are starting with this one, then you need to go back and read the previous ones. Then you can catch up on RR.
Highly recommended
I kind of cheated on this book. I've been keeping up with the book on Royal Road. But I still like the long form book. Do yourself a favor and read this book. Unless you are starting with this one, then you need to go back and read the previous ones. Then you can catch up on RR.
Highly recommended
July 5, 2025
Great series
I love this new series and love the concepts behind it and look forward to reading eack book! The system is original and love the thought behind it.
I love this new series and love the concepts behind it and look forward to reading eack book! The system is original and love the thought behind it.
July 11, 2025
Great book
Stellar work once again from Em Es! Lots of action and adventure, magic and monsters. Looking forward to the next one!
Stellar work once again from Em Es! Lots of action and adventure, magic and monsters. Looking forward to the next one!
August 2, 2025
Wow
Really looking forward to the next book in this series I can't wait
Great story and character progression gunna be interesting for sure
Really looking forward to the next book in this series I can't wait
Great story and character progression gunna be interesting for sure
July 2, 2025
Good read
The main character is very relatable and of good moral character. The editing is very good. The flow of the story is compelling and with plenty of action. I definitely plan to continue reading this series.
The main character is very relatable and of good moral character. The editing is very good. The flow of the story is compelling and with plenty of action. I definitely plan to continue reading this series.
July 27, 2025
Satisfyingly epic
Surely after this Arthur is going to have to obtain, or develop, some kind of masking skill. Or maybe he’ll move into some out of the way dungeon for a few months…
Can he go off-world now? I honestly have no clue how things will turn out for him and I’m excited to see how he will grow.
Surely after this Arthur is going to have to obtain, or develop, some kind of masking skill. Or maybe he’ll move into some out of the way dungeon for a few months…
Can he go off-world now? I honestly have no clue how things will turn out for him and I’m excited to see how he will grow.
July 22, 2025
READ!!!
I am enjoying this series that comes with twist and turns. I would suggest you give it a try. You have nothing to lose and it may even out a smile on your face.
I am enjoying this series that comes with twist and turns. I would suggest you give it a try. You have nothing to lose and it may even out a smile on your face.
August 3, 2025
great book
Very good read can’t wait for the next book in the series. Very well written and entertaining as well as engaging
Very good read can’t wait for the next book in the series. Very well written and entertaining as well as engaging
July 20, 2025
At this point in the series it almost feels like this is a completely different story to what was set up in the first book. Arthur's friends, his back story, the way in which he first learnt to adapt the system, his time spent at the hospital and the new relationships and bargains he made there, none of them seem all that relevant any longer. While I do still like the direction the series is heading in, this phenomenon does leave me a little frustrated with what I am reading.
The main issues are that big chunks of the story no longer feel relevant and therefore felt like a waste of time. The bigger issue though is that it's evidence that this story isn't very well planned out, and it's already starting to lose track of itself as it unfolds. This is a problem that's only going to get worse as time goes by, and it would be a shame for this series to start buckling under its own weight as it loses track of its promises and potential.
Overall I enjoyed this one more than the last and I am still looking forward to reading more from this series, but the cracks are definitely showing through in this series now, and I just hope they don't widen into chasms.
The main issues are that big chunks of the story no longer feel relevant and therefore felt like a waste of time. The bigger issue though is that it's evidence that this story isn't very well planned out, and it's already starting to lose track of itself as it unfolds. This is a problem that's only going to get worse as time goes by, and it would be a shame for this series to start buckling under its own weight as it loses track of its promises and potential.
Overall I enjoyed this one more than the last and I am still looking forward to reading more from this series, but the cracks are definitely showing through in this series now, and I just hope they don't widen into chasms.
April 24, 2026
This isn’t a full book, it’s about 30% of a book that stops as soon as it is getting started
To be clear, this series has the potential to be great if the author would just get out of his own way. It’s blatantly obvious that the author is trying to milk every penny by stretching what should be one book across two to three books. These type of “moneyball” strategies always end up losing you more than it gains in the long run. Sure, you got the profits of four books outa me for what should have been only 2. But I have seen where this leads, wait for months to get a few inches of storyline progression. Before you know it your on book 10 and and and only 4 weeks have gone by in a LitRPG story that’s supposed to span centuries of story arc. Every book ending in a way that feels like a genuine promise that the next book will actually deliver. But it never does because that would require the author to risk over delivering value that they could have gotten paid 2 - 3 times over for. Then they cry and moan when each book’s numbers slowly decline with each every release despite people genuinely enjoying the story. It doesn’t matter how much a reader enjoys the story, if each book leaves the reader feeling unfulfilled and the books continuously end just as they were starting to get good then eventually they will find other series that are just as good and always deliver. They will stop coming back, like I am going to.
This series could have been one of the greats. The author has all the talent and more. Unfortunately that appears to be at the expense of if common sense business practices
To be clear, this series has the potential to be great if the author would just get out of his own way. It’s blatantly obvious that the author is trying to milk every penny by stretching what should be one book across two to three books. These type of “moneyball” strategies always end up losing you more than it gains in the long run. Sure, you got the profits of four books outa me for what should have been only 2. But I have seen where this leads, wait for months to get a few inches of storyline progression. Before you know it your on book 10 and and and only 4 weeks have gone by in a LitRPG story that’s supposed to span centuries of story arc. Every book ending in a way that feels like a genuine promise that the next book will actually deliver. But it never does because that would require the author to risk over delivering value that they could have gotten paid 2 - 3 times over for. Then they cry and moan when each book’s numbers slowly decline with each every release despite people genuinely enjoying the story. It doesn’t matter how much a reader enjoys the story, if each book leaves the reader feeling unfulfilled and the books continuously end just as they were starting to get good then eventually they will find other series that are just as good and always deliver. They will stop coming back, like I am going to.
This series could have been one of the greats. The author has all the talent and more. Unfortunately that appears to be at the expense of if common sense business practices
July 3, 2025
Good premise but spoiled by internal MC dialog
This is a great story and based on the world integrating into the system, which incorporates magic, classes, levels, special abilities and character sheets.
I am officially deducting 2 entire rating stars because of the absolutely endless internal monologue of the main character. The monologuing is endless and a major distraction. It also happens in the middle of battle.
Why????
Suggestion: Having the battle and then dissecting it afterwards could be a better approach.
Here’s an example and be warned:
The first battle in this book (from initial confrontation to conclusion) takes several minutes, possibly even 20 minutes.
In terms of pages read and text spent (mainly on monologues during the action). This consumes 33% of the book. I mean that is just ridiculous.
This is a great story and based on the world integrating into the system, which incorporates magic, classes, levels, special abilities and character sheets.
I am officially deducting 2 entire rating stars because of the absolutely endless internal monologue of the main character. The monologuing is endless and a major distraction. It also happens in the middle of battle.
Why????
Suggestion: Having the battle and then dissecting it afterwards could be a better approach.
Here’s an example and be warned:
The first battle in this book (from initial confrontation to conclusion) takes several minutes, possibly even 20 minutes.
In terms of pages read and text spent (mainly on monologues during the action). This consumes 33% of the book. I mean that is just ridiculous.
February 28, 2026
romancing an oracle
Another day, another few female characters cross Arthur’s path and a few more plot threads left hanging (Sentient Blue Whale, LichQueen, Sarah, Elizabeth, Alyssia and her comatose brother, and is Matt a dark horse or really a bit of flavor? Could go either way, but a human without magic might surprise the multiverse).
Some fights, some brute forcing of enlightenment brief hints of concepts and laws, and the monumental climb towards power for a guy who has a class that takes a ton of XP to level.
Oh, and a faerie princess oracle who thinks he’s cute.
Another day, another few female characters cross Arthur’s path and a few more plot threads left hanging (Sentient Blue Whale, LichQueen, Sarah, Elizabeth, Alyssia and her comatose brother, and is Matt a dark horse or really a bit of flavor? Could go either way, but a human without magic might surprise the multiverse).
Some fights, some brute forcing of enlightenment brief hints of concepts and laws, and the monumental climb towards power for a guy who has a class that takes a ton of XP to level.
Oh, and a faerie princess oracle who thinks he’s cute.
January 5, 2026
As underwhelming as the last one, but a crazy quick read so a bit easier to swallow.
Half the book encompasses about 15 minutes of in-world time. Everything is described down to a frustrating level of detail with lots of internal monologue to add to the distraction. Several times I had to go back 2-3 pages to remember what the context was between one line of dialog and the next.
I'll continue the series, largely because they are very quick reads, but I won't be in a hurry about it.
Half the book encompasses about 15 minutes of in-world time. Everything is described down to a frustrating level of detail with lots of internal monologue to add to the distraction. Several times I had to go back 2-3 pages to remember what the context was between one line of dialog and the next.
I'll continue the series, largely because they are very quick reads, but I won't be in a hurry about it.
August 21, 2025
unfortunately, it seems this guy stopped writing
Which is really too bad because these first four books were awesome and having done them without any help an editor or even a proofreader I think he’s done a very good job. Hey Amazon why don’t you get somebody to help this guy continue to be a writer
Which is really too bad because these first four books were awesome and having done them without any help an editor or even a proofreader I think he’s done a very good job. Hey Amazon why don’t you get somebody to help this guy continue to be a writer
September 17, 2025
Great read
MC is over powered done right. Still some struggles and learning. Fights sometimes have a struggle but still has that satisfying high power domination in others. A good mix
MC is over powered done right. Still some struggles and learning. Fights sometimes have a struggle but still has that satisfying high power domination in others. A good mix
September 29, 2025
Excellent read with no harems
Thank you for the stories. Arthur Ward is a great overpowered and lucky main character though he seems to get into many prestigious situations and always has a great secret to hide. Can't wait to read the next one.
Thank you for the stories. Arthur Ward is a great overpowered and lucky main character though he seems to get into many prestigious situations and always has a great secret to hide. Can't wait to read the next one.
April 21, 2026
very good
The story has come into its own and there is good overall arc that should last for awhile. Arthur is overpowered but still learning how to use his advantages so there is plenty of perceived danger and risk.
The story has come into its own and there is good overall arc that should last for awhile. Arthur is overpowered but still learning how to use his advantages so there is plenty of perceived danger and risk.
July 4, 2025
Writing varies from adequate to awful. Either the book was not edited or the author is leaning heavily on AI to do the writing for him. Probably both. Bailing on this series and this author.
September 11, 2025
Can't wait for next book!
Very good read, like the progression of character. Would recommend to all book worms like me. Hopefully next book will come soon.
Very good read, like the progression of character. Would recommend to all book worms like me. Hopefully next book will come soon.
April 20, 2026
Very fun read
Good progression; story is well paced and fight scenes are generally well done. Really like that the stat sheet is only presented a few times, it’s not overwhelming.
Good progression; story is well paced and fight scenes are generally well done. Really like that the stat sheet is only presented a few times, it’s not overwhelming.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews