Awakened: SSS Rank Cult Management Skill
!~~~WSA 2026~~~!
"A teachable moment. The fragility of life doesn’t care what you want, only what you can do. SkillSense simply shows you the truth of yourself, of what you are, and what you can become. And the truth, little one, is rarely kind."
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This is the story of one man's Ascension to godhood and beyond.
Magnus Barlowe: Cult Leader?
He'd wish it wasn't so.
But when he plays an obscure game and is the first ever person to complete it, he's rewarded, or punished, with the most unexpected skill.
In this world, skills are managed and recorded through technology known as SkillSense, and the people of the world place a hierarchy on those with skills.
Meaning: The higher your skills, the more people respect you.
But the skill Magnus just earned, SSS-Rank Cult Management, is not only two levels above the max S-Rank, but is also a restricted and mostly unknown skill to the world.
What has the world got in store for this reluctant man? Will he deny his destiny, or jump into the path of being a cult leader and not look back?
Follow Magnus along his journey through the occult in this tale of mysteries!
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Author's Notes:
As you may know, I'm also the author of Reborn with a Necromancer System, which has been a blast to write, Fractured Horizon, a slightly futuristic fantasy/sci-fi novel about mutated human monsters and psychics that battle them (currently on hiatus to focus on my other novels and my life). I also wrote My Undeath, a reincarnation novel set in a fantasy world. It wasn't my best work, but I loved writing the story, and I may get back to it one day.
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Disclaimers/FAQ:
1. This story is set in a modern alternate Earth, where there is a technology that reads your best skills and reveals them to you. This is not a system novel, instead, the "system" is just a mathematical analysis of your skills that everyone has access to. But the MC is guided (not very gently sometimes) by the social media system known as SkillSphere occasionally. He is not a slave to it, but reluctantly follows it's suggestions for one reason or another.
2. There are no plans for a harem, or for multiple lovers over the course of the novel. The MC is a loyal, stick-to-one-person-at-a-time kind of guy. But don't worry, we won't suddenly see Magnus shift his entire personality just because he likes someone. He is who he is, and of course may change over a couple thousand chapters, but not in an instant.
3. This is not a cultivation novel, even if it has cult in its name.
4. Yes, the images and cover art in this novel are currently generated with A.I. This in no way impacts my writing, and if enough money is made from this novel, I plan to commission professional art for the title, characters, and some world building images.
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Inspiration:
The Steam game Cultist Simulator, was actually something of an inspiration for this novel. I played several dozens of hours, but always felt it needed something. I started working on a 3D alternate version of the video game to make it better, but it suddenly hit me that I could write a novel about a cult leader instead. I've watched and read several pieces of fiction with cults in them (quite difficult to find, honestly), and they usually grab my attention pretty well, and so here I am.
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Support me, the Author:
Please use coins/stones/golden tickets, or review my novel!
And if you're feeling extra benevolent and want to help me turn writing into my full-time job so you can all read more from me, please share my novel or send me gifts with coins. Everything helps, and I can spend more time writing more chapters for you all to binge!
If I were to win WSA 2026, you'd have me writing full-time for an entire year. Wish me luck!