After facepalming at her CEO's email, Lexi opens her eyes and stares into the jaws of hell. Becoming a player in this strange world means a fate worse than death if she dies, but how's a pampered white-collar worker supposed to stay alive in a medieval realm of monsters and magic in the first place?

Though she's already busy enough not dying, the lovely system has other ideas. Lexi's given the add-on deal for a better isekai experience: involvement in intrigue among players, between players and the empire, and between nobles and the imperial family. It's a train wreck waiting to happen, and Lexi's determined to bail.

Hoping that uncovering the truth behind the system will mean a way out of this mess, Lexi decides to do whatever it takes to reach the corrupt tower. Because there's no way she'll accept being doomed to linger in this deadly game forever.

From battlefields to ballrooms, dungeons to parliament - join Lexi as she attempts to survive and uncover why players have come to Terra, what the Crystal Tower really is, and a way back to the comfortably boring existence she had before everything went awry.

Story told entirely from Lexi's perspective - expect an unreliable narrator, and an imperfect protagonist. Readers will learn, unlearn, and relearn alongside her as the story progresses.

The Crystal Tower: Play or Die is a slow build, character-focused, isekai progression fantasy. Set in a grimdark world full of secrets and danger, the main character is grossly unprepared for actual combat but determined to stay alive long enough to unravel the mysteries and find a way home.

Plot points will be resolved as the story progresses.

Writing style: Present tense with inner monologues

What type of character is the protagonist and narrator?

- Physically weak, but intelligent with good instincts (though she's quite awful with names).

— As story progresses, she'll work to improve her physical combat skills, while earning and learning to wield the system-administered skills.

—— Note: she's granted skills under the time attribute, but they come with in-built limits which are explored in the story.

- Avid reader of isekai, dungeons, and regression stories. Also played her share of RPGs so she has a general idea of how this kind of game works.

- Alignment: Chaotic Neutral (may occasionally lean towards Chaotic Good)

—— Not above doing 'gray' things (though she has her own moral code and ethical standards).

What type of world is this story set in?

Epic fantasy with grim & dark tone: magic, monsters, demons, elves, dwarves, gods, aura, transmigration / portals, dungeons, alternate worlds / timelines, life after death, questionable morals, corruption, politics, subterfuge, assassination, torture, and more.

Does this story have a lot of action scenes?

While there are fight scenes, The Crystal Tower: Play or Die is primarily about progression: the main character's growth as both a player and a person. She'll end up in many types of battles - physical, magical, verbal, and emotional - over the course of the story.

Will there be romance?

Romance isn't a core focus, though there will eventually be a slow-burn subplot.

System screens by LunaSea