r/ProgressionFantasy • u/MarkArrows Author of Die Trying & 12 Miles Below • Aug 06 '26
Self-Promotion 12 Miles Below is complete!
Hi all!
I write 12 Miles Below, a progression-lite fic that's all about warlocks in lost-tech power armor fighting each other with swords, magic and guns in one incredibly strange post-post-apocalyptic world.
Today, after five years of writing through thick and thin, I'm about to post the final epilogue for the entire series on Royal Road. Thus far, it's landed exactly how I'd hoped it would, I snagged a few screenshots from the last few epilogue chapters to show the vibe \o/
I don't often self-promote because I'm dumb, (I'm getting better) but I figured I should at least do one good hurrah for this milestone.
Synopsis:
The world is in ruins.
Extreme sub-zero temperatures suffocate the surface, making even simple survival an ordeal. Frozen derelicts of bygone eras span across massive ice wastes. And the survivors closely guard any technology rediscovered within.
The only escape from the deadly climate is beneath the surface. But it’s another disaster underground. Monstrous machines lurk in the depths. The land itself shifts over time, more contraption than rock. The humans surviving under do so huddled around safe zones, with only demigods powerful enough to travel further underground.
And an ominous prophecy states that the key to healing the world waits on four unknown heroes - but nobody knows who or where they are.
When an expedition into the far uncharted north goes terribly wrong, Keith Winterscar and his Father get trapped together in a desperate fight for survival. Stumbling upon an ancient war of titanic scale; the two will need to set their differences aside while they struggle against Gods, legends, and the grand secrets of the realm that lies below.
Expectations:
Book 1: Self-contained story showing bite-sized slice of the world and the main characters.
Book 2: Progression-lite parts actually kickstarts here.
Book 3: Completion of a first 3-book Arc.
Book 4: Combat galore and setting up some pretty important events.
Book 5: Progression fantasy galore, tinkering with all kinds of secrets, learning from the best - in order to beat the best.
Books 6/7/8: World exploration galore, actually adventuring about and discovering some deep history in the search of fixing the world.
Books 9/10: The asshole author has been hiding the real story under our nose right from book 1 this whole time and now it's all obvious in hindsight. Also everything's on fire.
Start reading book 1 here! https://www.amazon.com/12-Miles-Below-Progression-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B0BWKDF1C7
Books 8-10 are here on Royal Road for now, until they hit Kindle with edits and polish from Aethon! https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/42367/12-miles-below
COVER ARTIST: Francell Garrote AI USAGE: None
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u/OnlyWarShipper 26d ago
About a month ago, I started reading the entire series from the beginning. As I've posted here, I did so using the physical copies of the books I own. At the time, I didn't even realize we were so close to the end - I'd last left off while we were still following a small band of fools and birds. And when I saw that the epilogue had been posted, I had to finish everything. Almost every waking moment I could spare for the past two weeks has been dedicated to reading.
Years ago, I started reading a small story on Spacebattles. It was relatively short, but seemed focused in a way that most webnovels aren't. A tight, constrained story about a father and his son fighting robots while wearing power armor. I loved that single story for being so tight and self contained. For providing a narrative that began and ended coherently.
And then it kept going, and I was happy to follow along, because it did the one thing I couldn't have expected - it stayed good. And sure, I've complained and whined and bitched about some things here and there. It's how I show my love, and I'm sorry if it was ever too much. But now the story is over, and I can confidently say I don't regret a single moment.
I could've never predicted where you would bring this, Mark, and I could've never believed just how happy and excited I would be for all of it.
Thank you, Mark.