Machine Mage: An Isekai LitRPG

In My Defense, Book 2

By: J. Drude

Narrated by: Robb Moreira

A teenage mechanic-turned-mage must battle hordes of hellish monsters and venture to the source of an apocalyptic plague in this gripping portal fantasy.

Coming off his first victory over the Scourge, Ryan Kotes is a bona fide hero to the people of Eclipse. But the war is far from over. The zombifying infection is still festering throughout Ralqir, and Ryan won't quit until he beats every last bit of it to a pulp. Joined by some unlikely allies—including a pair of dragonkin sisters, a carbine-wielding fox, and a hulking lion hybrid—there should be nothing standing in his way.

Unfortunately, the ragtag group is soon confronted by a painful truth. It seems the latest outbreak on Ralqir is tied directly to Ryan's own arrival on the planet. Now, disguising his identity and posing as a humble monk, he must figure out how to stop the spread and return to his home before there isn't one to go back to. And he'll need to start by taking the fight to where it all began: where he first entered this world....

Easier said than done, as the road there is paved with mobs of wild mutants, rage-fueled goblins, giant spiders, and the rising undead. To face off against enemies bigger, stronger, and faster than anything he's seen yet, Ryan will need to hone his magical skills and build weapons with explosive capabilities.

But will a big boom be enough to completely rid Ralqir of this contagion? When the insatiable Scourge demands more bodies, Ryan will have to ask himself what he's willing to sacrifice to save his companions once and for all.

The second volume of the hit LitRPG adventure series—with more than 950,000 views on Royal Road—now available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook!

©2026 Jonathan Pampell (P)2026 Podium Audio

Some flaws but solid work

I rated this book highly because I feel like my problems with it are just that. The pacing has some issues for me, as well as the amount of fill. I can see where some might enjoy this excess but for me it just started to drag and I honestly stopped caring about the conclusion and just wanted a finish. It delivers a good story with action and solid character interactions, just loses its driving force sometimes and goes for over explaining instead of just giving us a conclusion to a fight.