The First Blade

Modern-day gamer Leo Kane dies unexpectedly after an all-night gaming marathon and awakens in the war-torn realm of Grecan, inhabiting the legendary body of Cipher—the empire’s most feared and elusive assassin.

Still reeling from the shock of his new identity, Leo is quickly roped into a contract by Hugo Spence, a stern officer of the Imperial Guard, who hires him to eliminate a noblewoman named Lady Poppy Brooks. Leo, wanting nothing more than to coast through this new life with minimal effort, accepts the gold with every intention of slacking off rather than actually killing anyone.

But his lazy plan unravels spectacularly when he’s captured by Poppy herself, who uncovers the truth behind his mission. Surprisingly, their dynamic shifts after Leo courageously fends off a bandit ambush, revealing a loyalty and bravery beneath his unwilling assassin façade. When Poppy later discovers that Leo once unknowingly saved her life, suspicion turns to reluctant trust, and the two form a bond neither anticipated—one that may redefine their fates in a world ruled by blades, secrets, and shifting loyalties.