One must lead. One must teach. One must transform. And all must decide: will they rise to the occasion, or let the world crumble?... Domi, a young thief abandoned at birth, just wants to save his dying foster mother. But first, he must commit the most dangerous heist of his life, snatch an artifact with miraculous healing powers from under the noses of the most powerful sorcerers in the land, and survive the awakening of his own magic. Daedalus, a young royal, just wants time to mourn his mother, who died two days ago. But first, he must ascend the Throne of Solitude she left behind, don the Onyx Crown she once wore, and become the next Princeps Worldholder, Keeper of Heaven and Earth. Valens, a seasoned sorcerer, just wants to return to the borderlands and battle rogue magic. But first, he must escape the twin burdens of taking a wife and an apprentice-duties that threaten to trap him in the city and tether him to a life he's spent decades avoiding. As the fates of these three strangers intertwine, the sorcery holding the world together begins to unravel. And beyond the planet's weakening magical protections, an ancient threat waits...

Viktor didn't expect to be abducted by aliens when he went to school one morning, and he certainly didn't expect to be thrown into the alien equivalent of a dog-fighting ring, either. But when fighting for his life quickly becomes his routine, will he be able to muster up the strength to break that mold? Especially when the fate of humanity rests on his shoulders? *** The Vokkrus, a warrior alien species, go to Earth with the intention to 'rescue' the human species from their dying planet. The catch is that they believe humans to be nonsentient and incapable of intelligent thought. They are treated as nothing more than the common animal. They are a commodity, something to fawn over and ogle at. Humanity's strength and stamina are nearly unrivaled on this new planet, and when Viktor is taken to an alien fighting ring, he quickly dominates the competition. Mercy has no place in the arena. When Viktor is adopted by the leader of the Vokkrus, an intimidating alien whose intentions are unclear, he is forced to shed his wariness and convince the alien king to save humanity from his accidental oppression. *** Please don't advertise other stories in the comments! They will get deleted. Cross-posted on ao3 under the same title and username. Wordcount = 350,000+ December 22, 2022: #1 in #alien-abduction January 13, 2023: #2 in #found-family February 22, 2023: #19 in #science February 22, 2023: #1 in #spaceship February 22, 2023: #2 in humanpet