![Listering: The Empty Man [Slow Burn, Dark Fantasy]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.royalroadcdn.com%2Fpublic%2Fcovers-large%2F153594-listering-the-empty-man-slow-burn-dark.jpg%3Ftime%3D1789826289&w=640&q=75)
by HittoriAL
"Listering" is a saga that explores a vast universe of magic, power, and history. Its prophecies—echoes of a war long past—continue to resonate through the ages and through memories; shaping disputes, decisions, and the destinies of its characters. [Volume 1, Listering: The Empty Man] In a world shattered by chaos, countries surrounded by an immense crater survive only because of barriers that protect them—but also trap them. No one can leave. In Lumen, the Kingdom of Light, a realm divided between life and death, there is no escape. On one side, a dying civilization clings to existence. On the other, in the darkness, survives Empty—a being who does not speak, does not know what it means to be human, and wanders through a post-apocalyptic wasteland, defeating curses and absorbing the memories of who they once were, searching for the meaning of living. Everything changes when he encounters two humans—a suspicious girl and a fearful boy—wandering through that dark place. He embarks on a mission to protect them, so they can save Lumen from destruction. What seems like a simple survival story unfolds into the account of a mysterious narrator, a hypocritical kingdom, a web of prophecies, and a world collapsing under a threat that promises to consume everything and everyone. And "Listering"—a mysterious word no one knows the origin of. In Volume One, follow the journey of Empty, a being who does not understand what it means to live; Luna, the Definitive Light prophesied to save Lumen; Fencer, the bitter scientist who longs to escape the barrier; Flávio, a young man seeking his family's love; the mysterious outside the barriera and "POV ???", the melancholic narrator who tells the story of Listering with the nostalgia of a time already lost. -- What to Expect: -- ☀ Slow Burn: It's a slow-burn story, building towards a saga I have in mind. The chapters are long and each has a different pace, depending on the character featured. ✐ POV "???": The narrator of the story – who has been writing the book 'The Empty Man' from the very first page – speaks in first person and occasionally steps into the narrative through brackets. Reason: he is one of the characters in the book, and his true identity will only be revealed at the end of the story. ☻Unreliable Narrator: The POV ??? is someone within the plot who is actively revisiting memories and writing the book—the big question is: should what he shows us be fully trusted? ☾ Style: Emotional, focusing on characters and the consequences of their actions. Every action, every dialogue, every look is a consequence. Which are revealed over time. [Copyright © 2026] The Listering saga made by @HittoriAL / @Toyoky
Current
9/29/2026
Peak #27
2d
#27
9/29/2026
Peak #49
0d
#26
9/28/2026
Peak #49
0d
#25
9/25/2026
Peak #40
1d
#24
9/22/2026
Peak #50
0d
Observed Royal Road ranks are authoritative for lists where the story is active. Other eligible lists retain their Shadow RS ranks.
Overall Rising Stars Shadow RS rank
#7202 of 12,432 · 7152 below RS #50
By genre
beats 63% of similar stories
beats 90% of similar stories
beats 52% of similar stories
Mid-pack, room on both levers
Traffic and conversion both sit mid-field for a story this size. Growth here compounds from consistency: steady cadence feeds traffic, and a sharper hook lifts what each view is worth.
Benchmarks: 8,060 active Royal Road stories, percentiles within the 50–149 chapters band, cohort of 2026-07-02. Conversion is measured as followers gained per 1,000 views over the recent window.