Underdog Series by Alexey Osadchuk

Eric was born in a world governed by the Great System, in the family of Aren Bergman, a respected miner from Orchus. But the joy of gaining a son was overshadowed by the newborn’s terrible affliction. Eric was completely nulled – level zero and no characteristics points. The only things keeping him from dying were his tiny base supplies of “life” and “energy.”The medicine woman who delivered Eric believes this to be the work of the evil spirit Bug... moreEric was born in a world governed by the Great System, in the family of Aren Bergman, a respected miner from Orchus. But the joy of gaining a son was overshadowed by the newborn’s terrible affliction. Eric was completely nulled – level zero and no characteristics points. The only things keeping him from dying were his tiny base supplies of “life” and “energy.”The medicine woman who delivered Eric believes this to be the work of the evil spirit Bug. Due to the peculiar laws of the Great System, Eric cannot use experience essences or characteristics tablets, so he risks having to spend his whole life confined to a bed. But his father finds a solution. He takes out a large bank loan and goes to the capital where he buys a few artifacts of the Ancients on the black market, which have no level restriction.Despite having the artifacts, Eric is still very feeble and everyone in town thinks him a freak. But at least he can move on his own and that gives the Bergmans hope. But alas, it isn’t for long. On Eric’s fourteenth birthday, his father and mother die in a mining accident. The bank takes their house, and Eric is left with no choice but to work off the remaining debt in the Dungeons of the Crooked Mountains.And so begins the story of a nulled boy’s struggle to survive… less

Eric has survived where people much stronger than him have found their deaths. And not just that: he's managed to activate his magic supply, tame one of the most dangerous dungeon monsters, find the ancient city of monster hunters and rescue Jay, the girl abandoned by the scouts in Gulper's lair.He left the Dungeons of the Crooked Mountains behind him. Now his path leads him to Orchus where our freshly-minted mage intends to finally free himself of his debt-repayment oath... moreEric has survived where people much stronger than him have found their deaths. And not just that: he's managed to activate his magic supply, tame one of the most dangerous dungeon monsters, find the ancient city of monster hunters and rescue Jay, the girl abandoned by the scouts in Gulper's lair.He left the Dungeons of the Crooked Mountains behind him. Now his path leads him to Orchus where our freshly-minted mage intends to finally free himself of his debt-repayment oath.But as soon as Eric and Jay descend into the valley, they discover that the local barons have been attacked by young Corwin's men who have swept through their neighbors' estates, pillaging and plundering.This makes Eric's task all the more difficult: he has to return to his home city without ending up in his enemies' clutches. You'd think his natural cautiousness and the acute instincts of his pet Gorgie would make this journey a walk in the park - but fickle Lady Luck has her own ideas... Once again Eric is being pulled into a bloody vortex of dangers. less

Eric Bergman used to be treated like an outcast, cripple and freak. Some pitied him, others squirmed in his presence, while others still mocked him to his face. He himself even thought he was born cursed by the gods. But bit by bit, all that changed. That which was once considered a flaw or defect transformed into an advantage. And Eric slowly learned to use it to his benefit... moreEric Bergman used to be treated like an outcast, cripple and freak. Some pitied him, others squirmed in his presence, while others still mocked him to his face. He himself even thought he was born cursed by the gods. But bit by bit, all that changed. That which was once considered a flaw or defect transformed into an advantage. And Eric slowly learned to use it to his benefit.Eric and his friends escape Master Chi’s Hive, journey over the orcish steppe and through the Stone Forest, which tempers them and makes them a lot stronger.During his travels, Eric discovers that his elder brother never went to the Wastes, and that his parents were lied to about what happened to him. Eric promises himself to uncover the truth about his long lost brother.Beyond that, the more he encounters the grim heritage of the Order of Monster Hunters, the more he realizes just how perilous a game the foxman has drawn him into.Moving through the borderlands toward his home city no more than a few days ahead of the orcish Horde, Eric still has yet to guess that his adventure is just getting started. less

After wiping out the drak nest, Eric finds himself now also in a trap. In order to avoid dying in a cave-in, he activates the manuscript he received for defeating the Lady of the Anomaly. A portal then whisks Eric away to the lookout point atop the mysterious Citadel of Chaos.The entrance to the Citadel is guarded by the Gatekeeper, a huge troll encased head to toe in a suit of plate armor... moreAfter wiping out the drak nest, Eric finds himself now also in a trap. In order to avoid dying in a cave-in, he activates the manuscript he received for defeating the Lady of the Anomaly. A portal then whisks Eric away to the lookout point atop the mysterious Citadel of Chaos.The entrance to the Citadel is guarded by the Gatekeeper, a huge troll encased head to toe in a suit of plate armor. Thanks to his Friend of the Trolls amulet, Eric manages to avoid fighting him and thus passes the Gatekeeper’s first test and can enter the Citadel of Chaos to partake in its mysteries.Eric isn’t interested in its mysteries though and he tells the troll as much directly. He even goes so far as to say he would rather just go on his merry way and leave the Citadel. But the Gatekeeper informs Eric that he will not be able to leave quite so easily because now that he has activated the manuscript, he must undergo a test known as Unity with Chaos!On the one hand, Eric understands that taking part in the undoubtedly dangerous activity threatens to end not only in loss of time, but possibly loss of life as well. On the other hand though, he remembers perfectly well what Chaos Magic is capable of.What if Eric is able to pass the test? Will Chaos grant him power? After all, Eric is conscious of the fact that, despite how markedly he has changed and grown stronger, he is still nowhere near as powerful as the Steel King, who is holding Maya and Mee in captivity.Could the gods perhaps be telling Eric the time has come to do as the Woodwose instructed?The time has come to grow stronger! less

The battle with the horde of necromorphs is lost. Foreston has been overrun by Dark fiends. The foxfolk have been forced to abandon their homes and seek salvation on the far side of Narrow Lake.Its main city lost, the Order of Monster Hunters finds itself on the brink of destruction. And now deprived of their chief ally, the gnomes are left all alone to take on the army of the Steel King... moreThe battle with the horde of necromorphs is lost. Foreston has been overrun by Dark fiends. The foxfolk have been forced to abandon their homes and seek salvation on the far side of Narrow Lake.Its main city lost, the Order of Monster Hunters finds itself on the brink of destruction. And now deprived of their chief ally, the gnomes are left all alone to take on the army of the Steel King.Eric’s attempts to halt his foe’s advance have all come to naught ― Alrak the Heartless and the other Dark primordials are simply too powerful.To cover his friends’ retreat, Eric makes use of forbidden magic, for which the Great System strips him of his rank as magister and declares him an apostate.In spite of the crushing defeat and grievous wound, Eric’s will is not yet broken. And although he has become a renegade in the eyes of yesterday’s friends and allies, Eric will keep up the fight against Darkness! less