The First Ogre King: Book I

Every step Arimaru takes on his crippled leg is a reminder of his lies. In the bustling city of Choryu, the Amingji dynasty’s trade hub, he plays the role of a broken father. But his true burden isn’t his injury – it’s the weight of being one of the dynasty’s shinobi, a secret that’s slowly poisoning his soul. When history’s first firearms disappear, Arimaru’s two worlds violently collide, forcing him to face the price of his lifetime of deception and death dealing.

Meanwhile, Tzairi drowns under the crushing weight of the Imperial Exam. Through the vibrant night hours, her teacher demands perfection – flawless brushstrokes, perfect recitation, absolute dedication to scholarly balance. But when dawn comes, her father’s training calls to her like a fever dream. How can she follow the Scholar-official’s path of wisdom when violence and cunning sing in her blood? As exam night looms closer, each character she writes feels like a lie, each lesson a betrayal of her hidden skills.

Set on the unforgiving southern frontier of a Song-Dynasty-inspired empire- Daoist wisdom, Buddhist peace, and Confucian duty clash in the shadows of Choryu. Across the bay stretches the jungle, dangerous, waiting . . . This isn’t just about saving the dynasty, it’s about a father and daughter fighting their own struggles of identity, even as their secrets threaten to destroy everything they love.