C. Mantis Books in Order

After monsters destroy his home, Matt hopes to fight back, but his supposedly harmful Talent keeps him out of every guild. A powerful couple offers him a chance to pursue the dangerous Path of Ascension.

Matt, Liz, and Aster travel into the frontier with an unexpected temporary teammate. Exploring an unfamiliar planet brings hidden dangers that test their growing abilities and their determination to continue along the Path of Ascension.

Matt, Liz, and Aster become involved in a war between kingdoms seeking entry into the Empire. Choosing a side offers experience and rewards, but their pursuit of power now intersects with the survival of an entire kingdom.

Under their demanding new manager Luna, Matt, Liz, and Aster prepare for the Tier 10 tournament. Her relentless training and hidden plans threaten their place on the Path unless they can meet her exacting expectations.

Having reached Tier 10, Matt, Liz, and Aster enter a tournament against opponents who can finally match them. Luna requires them to compete both openly and in disguise, with restrictions that make victory even harder.

Matt, Liz, and Aster enter Minkalla at Tier 11, seeking rewards designed to favor weaker challengers. Seven dangerous floors pit them against stronger monsters and rival adventurers sent by all eight Great Powers.

Deep inside Minkalla, Matt, Liz, Aster, and Susanne still face three floors after surviving a formidable monster. With no escape or stronger ally to rescue them, they must trust one another through increasingly dangerous trials.

After leaving Minkalla, Matt, Liz, and Aster struggle to recover while keeping pace with the Path. Approaching Tier 15 brings a looming separation, since Aster must spend at least a decade at the Bond Academy.

Three Great Powers declare war on the Empire, leaving it desperately outnumbered despite an ally. Matt, Liz, and Aster race toward Tier 25, hoping to finish the Path soon enough to change the war’s course.

Matt, Liz, and Aster join Light and Shadow on the battlefield after completing the Path. Their new status carries enormous expectations as they attempt to halt the enemy advance and turn the war in the Empire’s favor.

A century of war has exhausted the Empire as enemy forces occupy its border worlds. Matt, Liz, and Aster struggle alongside Light and Shadow to contain the retreat, while their opponents prepare a decisive move.

With war behind them, Matt, Liz, and Aster must balance their responsibilities as dukes with rapid advancement toward Tier 35. New duties and unexpected consequences demand abilities that their years on the battlefield did not prepare them for.

As Matt, Liz, and Aster leave to fight a centuries-old war, life continues across the Empire. This companion novella follows the people affected by their Ascension and explores the consequences that extend beyond the trio’s own journey.

The thirteenth installment continues C. Mantis’s fantasy series, which combines dungeon exploration and game-like skills with cultivation and the pursuit of greater power.