Blasphemer's Ascent

Ethan Juan Alvarez died, praying for another life. Then he opened his eyes in Elezor; he did not expect to be reincarnated. Seven years later, he lives as Rykard Thorne, a child born into a world where three primordial beings are worshipped as gods—and where their authority has made obedience a virtue and power a measure of worth. Rykard received only one vague message in a dream: Pave the way with your faith and make ready for the coming Years pass. He keeps praying, but the voice never returns. As his memories of Earth remain with him, so does the question he cannot silence: was that truly God's command, or merely the desperate hope of a dying man? Elezor offers little time for answers. Those whom Rykard tries to save may turn against him. The powerless are discarded, slavery is accepted, and those strong enough to enforce their will rarely need to justify it. Rykard's answer begins simply: power may determine what a person can do, but it does not determine what that person is worth. But holding onto that belief becomes harder with every betrayal, every injustice, and every enemy who forces him to choose between mercy and survival. As Rykard grows from a powerless child into a figure capable of challenging the powers that rule Elezor, he must confront the question at the heart of his journey: Can he change a world built on the worship of power without becoming another tyrant, demanding that everyone kneel?