Hoqalo: The Broken System
4.60 · 41 chapters · updated Oct 31, 2026
ActionMysterySci-fi Artificial IntelligenceCraftingCyberpunkDystopiaLitRPGMagitechMale LeadProgressionRomance SubplotSystem InvasionThriller
Why read this story?
- One of the highest rated stories in the catalogue.
- Actively updating: the last chapter was posted 2 days ago.
- A shorter read at 41 chapters, easier to finish than a long series.
- A good fit if you enjoy Artificial Intelligence, Crafting and Cyberpunk.
About this story
They’ve been drinking my future like it’s corp-subsidized coffee. I’m about to make them choke on it.
I’m Dash. My great-grandfather was one of the Fifteen who saved humanity during the System Apocalypse, founding the corps that rule the solar system. That legacy should’ve been mine. Until my father was caught up in corpo politics, disinherited and died, leaving us with nothing but a single building on Earth 2.0.
Then I nearly died, and a broken System manifested—barely functional, stripped down to the bones. But it came with Hoqalo, a tinkerer’s trait that lets me forge gear that punches way above its tier. And the more I dig into why my System came out wrong, the more it looks like someone made sure it would.
Someone with corporate reach. Someone who wanted the Kallum bloodline to stay down. To fight them, I’ve got my hands, my tools, and friends who’ll go to corpo hell and back with me.
They stole my future. Time to steal it back with interest.
Read book 1 on Amazon's kindle unlimited: https://www.royalroad.com/amazon/B0H3KYGTJH, book 2: https://www.royalroad.com/amazon/B0HH8VGFXZ
Each chapter is ~2k–4,5k words!
You can support me on Patreon! Currently 2,5 months ahead: https://www.patreon.com/PlotArmorHQ
What to expect
Cyberpunk LitRPG: Deep system mechanics with a unique twist: A Broken System with glitchy stats and magic!
Sci-Fi x Fantasy: A corporate dystopia (Earth 2.0) where ancient magic and futuristic tech collide.
Hopepunk: This story isn't grimdark. The worldbuilding is still exploiting people, but the tone is not dark, quite the opposite.
The Protagonist: A sarcastic, scrappy underdog heir fighting his way up from the bottom with wit and terrible puns.
Corporate Intrigue: A mystery involving the Sol Fortune 15, family legacies, and secret sabotage.
Slice-of-Life: Exploring the gritty and glamorous reality of life on Earth 2.0.
Slow Burn Romance: Natural chemistry with a twist and relationship building (not the main focus, but present).
No Harem.
Come talk about Hoqalo on my Discord!
Release Schedule
3x a week (Tuesday / Thursday / Saturday)
Time: 20:00 CET (2:00 PM EST)
Cover by duyphanltm
Hoqalo: The Broken System is published on Royal Road. FicGems only lists the story's details and links to it; the chapters stay on the original site.