Imagine you find yourself in a world that prizes martial arts above all else, and that I am the descendant of an ancient clan who have honed their skill from generation to generation to rise to the ranks of the most powerful . . . Bet you're surprised, right?The thing is, most of my teachers say I'm a hopeless, talentless loser. No big deal, at first glance at least. I can survive just fine without talent.There's just one catch—I'm already dead. Or am I?

When you're the sole surviving noble of junior lineage, don't expect much of a future. That's what some might think.Not Gregor, though. The way he sees it, being last of a line means he can dispense with social niceties and do exactly what he wants. And if any unwelcome visitors have a problem with that, this guy's got one or two surprises for them.

To save my world, I had to enter the portal and close it from the inside. After fighting endless hordes of demons, I finally found a way home.But instead of the tranquility I sought, I got something very different . . . my world has changed, but it's still rife with danger, so my job is far from done. For now, I need to figure out what happened during my absence and deal with these new threats.I have returned, and I will carve a new path with my sword.

The road had been long and hard, but there was no guarantee that what I'd been through would be enough to turn me into the person my mentors saw me as. I had too many questions still ahead of me.But ahead of me today was another training session in the dojo, which meant I would get my answers later. If I survived, of course.

When you're the sole surviving noble of junior lineage, don't expect much of a future. That's what some might think.Not Gregor, though. The way he sees it, being last of a line means he can dispense with social niceties and do exactly what he wants. And if any unwelcome visitors have a problem with that, this guy's got one or two surprises for them.

A turn off the beaten track and the life I knew was in ruins.Then out of nowhere, an apprentice and a move to the capital. Entry to the Academy of Magic, and hours spent in the library trying to eradicate a magic bond.Only none of it went the way I expected. Not by a long shot.

I'm not alone anymore—I've got a few friends now. They're an odd bunch, but they've got my back. I could use a break, though.Even in this strange new world, I can't seem to get a moment's peace. Eh, who am I kidding? I can't live without this stuff.Guess I'll go see if there are any interesting monsters in that new Rift . . .

In the last year, I've established a new line and laid the foundations for its future prosperity. But that's just the start. There's a way to go before I can truly hold my head up.Who'd have thought I'd buy into all this and be out to get even more? I might not pull it off, but it's worth a try. I am Gregor Shuvalov, and I am a dark summoner.

All I had to do was face off against the street gangs and build my skills. How hard could it be?As it turned out, a whole lot harder than it looked, once I found myself among them and realized that things were not as simple as they seemed.But still, I had to complete the task my master had set—no matter what.

I thought my world's salvation was just a step away, but I was wrong . . .I refused to go down without a fight. I returned home, but everything had changed. All was not lost, however—even in this world, I have found allies willing to fight by my side.Now I have to recover my lost strength and deal with the legacy my friends left behind.

With all past mistakes put right, I can finally breathe easy. Time to start a family, but that means establishing a new line. Question is—will it all be so straightforward? Will they even let a new clan see the light of day?Put it this way . . . if anyone tries to stop us, this dark summoner's got the perfect answer to that.

Founding a clan at such a young age—I don't know how many have been here before. But I do know it's going to take more from me to make my family truly strong. That's not something I need—that's something I want.So, let’s see how the Shuvalovs deal with what comes their way. Because as well as being a dark summoner, I'm now also Prince Shuvalov.