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Created G.H.O.S.T. System 2: Book 2 - A Cyberpunk Dystopian Sci-Fi Thriller
New cyberware. New enemies. Same deadly streets.
Trace survived the surgical table, but his new high-end cybernetic arm is currently more of a liability than a weapon. Stripped of his combat edge and struggling with the simplest tasks, he has to rely on the G.H.O.S.T. System—and its hidden, nanite-driven interface—to rewire his synapses and reclaim his life as an edger in New Denver.
But the unforgiving streets won't wait for him to adjust.
With his creds perpetually running on empty, Trace and his hulking partner Monroe are forced to brave the wind-scoured Badlands on a treacherous salvage run. What starts as a simple job quickly spirals into chaos. Soon, they find themselves tangled in escalating gang wars, dodging corporate hit squads, and making a terrifying descent into a thousand-foot sinkhole crawling with twisted biological experiments.
If that wasn't enough, a ruthless, android-bodied corporate executive known only as G1gl3Myte has placed a massive bounty on Trace’s head, turning every desperate punk in the city into a potential assassin. To survive being hunted by the megacorps, Trace can no longer afford to be a standard edger—he must forge himself into a true Wraith. By crafting his own stealth armor, mastering brutal new combat modules, and pushing himself, and the G.H.O.S.T. System to their absolute limits, Trace will show the corporations exactly what happens when they mess with the wrong street-meat kid.
Return to Joshua Kern’s gritty, action-packed world in Book 2 of the Created G.H.O.S.T. System! Packed with LitRPG progression, intricate tech crafting, badland vehicle combat, and high-stakes corporate espionage, this sequel takes the series to explosive new heights. Click "Buy Now" to plug back in!
About the A blending of Slice-of-Life with Gamelit, CyberPunk, and Science Fiction. Set on a futuristic, alternative Earth with a fleshed-out history told through small Divergent chapters. This series is a perfect fit for readers who enjoy smart, emotionally complex characters inside an ever-evolving universe, with a protagonist who grew up on the streets and struggles to know what to do.
What RoyalRoad readers are
★★★★★ Fantastic gritty cyberpunk - Well paced, grimy cyberpunk with snippets of a creative and believable alternate historical timeline leading to current events. Honestly, it's just nice to read a well written cyberpunk story without excessive 'system' involvement.
★★★★★ Great book! - The book is awesome, the story has me hooked. I just hope he keeps writing more.
★★★★★ A perfect take on the cyberpunk genre - An excellent story that does a stellar job at addressing all the key aspects of the realities in a cyberpunk world. I personally particularly enjoy the main character's penchant for hoarding firearms and any other associated equipment, and the more technical aspects being emphasized in the story so far.
★★★★★ Solid cyberpunk - I came over on a rec from plumparrots Cyberpunk story, not disappointed. I also like the world building chapters, the divergences, and a nice insight into what could have been.
★★★★★ It does what it seeks out to do. - This story knows what it wants to do and achieves it. The pacing is good. I really like the pair dynamic between the male and female leads. It is so refreshing to see a bit of romance between two characters and good chemistry in a cyberpunk novel.
Trace survived the surgical table, but his new high-end cybernetic arm is currently more of a liability than a weapon. Stripped of his combat edge and struggling with the simplest tasks, he has to rely on the G.H.O.S.T. System—and its hidden, nanite-driven interface—to rewire his synapses and reclaim his life as an edger in New Denver.
But the unforgiving streets won't wait for him to adjust.
With his creds perpetually running on empty, Trace and his hulking partner Monroe are forced to brave the wind-scoured Badlands on a treacherous salvage run. What starts as a simple job quickly spirals into chaos. Soon, they find themselves tangled in escalating gang wars, dodging corporate hit squads, and making a terrifying descent into a thousand-foot sinkhole crawling with twisted biological experiments.
If that wasn't enough, a ruthless, android-bodied corporate executive known only as G1gl3Myte has placed a massive bounty on Trace’s head, turning every desperate punk in the city into a potential assassin. To survive being hunted by the megacorps, Trace can no longer afford to be a standard edger—he must forge himself into a true Wraith. By crafting his own stealth armor, mastering brutal new combat modules, and pushing himself, and the G.H.O.S.T. System to their absolute limits, Trace will show the corporations exactly what happens when they mess with the wrong street-meat kid.
Return to Joshua Kern’s gritty, action-packed world in Book 2 of the Created G.H.O.S.T. System! Packed with LitRPG progression, intricate tech crafting, badland vehicle combat, and high-stakes corporate espionage, this sequel takes the series to explosive new heights. Click "Buy Now" to plug back in!
About the A blending of Slice-of-Life with Gamelit, CyberPunk, and Science Fiction. Set on a futuristic, alternative Earth with a fleshed-out history told through small Divergent chapters. This series is a perfect fit for readers who enjoy smart, emotionally complex characters inside an ever-evolving universe, with a protagonist who grew up on the streets and struggles to know what to do.
What RoyalRoad readers are
★★★★★ Fantastic gritty cyberpunk - Well paced, grimy cyberpunk with snippets of a creative and believable alternate historical timeline leading to current events. Honestly, it's just nice to read a well written cyberpunk story without excessive 'system' involvement.
★★★★★ Great book! - The book is awesome, the story has me hooked. I just hope he keeps writing more.
★★★★★ A perfect take on the cyberpunk genre - An excellent story that does a stellar job at addressing all the key aspects of the realities in a cyberpunk world. I personally particularly enjoy the main character's penchant for hoarding firearms and any other associated equipment, and the more technical aspects being emphasized in the story so far.
★★★★★ Solid cyberpunk - I came over on a rec from plumparrots Cyberpunk story, not disappointed. I also like the world building chapters, the divergences, and a nice insight into what could have been.
★★★★★ It does what it seeks out to do. - This story knows what it wants to do and achieves it. The pacing is good. I really like the pair dynamic between the male and female leads. It is so refreshing to see a bit of romance between two characters and good chemistry in a cyberpunk novel.
502 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 4, 2026
About the author
Joshua Kern
38 books70 followersMy name is Joshua Kern and I am an anxiety riddled individual who is trying to write for a living. I've always loved reading and the escape books provide from everyday life. I've always wanted to be a writer and have finally decided to take the plunge.I am currently writing several series that span a few different genres from GameLit, to Fantasy to even a bit of Romance.
Connect with Joshua Kern here:
As well as at:
Patreon
Twitter
I was born in a little town situated somewhere in Ohio and raised in an even smaller town some place in Colorado. I attended University for a time, where I discovered that while I enjoyed Electrical Engineering and Computer Science my true passion lay in writing. I live primarily in Colorado but have been known to move around as the need arises. When not writing, I enjoy riding motorcycles, reading anything I can get my hands on, and anime.
Connect with Joshua Kern here:
As well as at:
Patreon
I was born in a little town situated somewhere in Ohio and raised in an even smaller town some place in Colorado. I attended University for a time, where I discovered that while I enjoyed Electrical Engineering and Computer Science my true passion lay in writing. I live primarily in Colorado but have been known to move around as the need arises. When not writing, I enjoy riding motorcycles, reading anything I can get my hands on, and anime.
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