The Lone Keeper

The Lone Keeper is the opening book in Jonathan Brooks' Retrogression Keeper series, introducing readers to Bax, an ordinary human whose life changes in the most disorienting way possible. One moment he's on Earth, the next he finds himself transported to an organisation comprising powerful, universe-spanning races. The confusion only deepens when Bax learns the horrifying truth: Earth is being forcefully inducted into something called the Retrogression System. This System will fundamentally transform his home world by introducing monsters whilst simultaneously eliminating all human technology. It's a prospect that causes understandable panic.

Unfortunately, neither Bax nor anyone in the Keeper Recruit programme can prevent Earth's induction. The transformation will happen regardless of human wishes or preferences. Instead, Bax must accept a new role and responsibility. He's being trained as a Keeper - a powerful protector for worlds included within the Retrogression System. More significantly, Bax isn't just learning to become a regular Keeper; he's being prepared as a Keeper Guide, essentially a teacher for future human Keepers once Earth's Retrogression cycle begins anew. The weight of this responsibility is enormous: he'll need to prepare humanity's defenders for threats they can barely comprehend.

However, Bax's recruitment comes at the absolute worst time. He was transported from Earth whilst suffering from the early stages of flu contracted from a co-worker. Being ravaged by the virus in an alien environment proves intensely unpleasant. Bax spends considerable time recovering in isolation, unable to begin his training properly. Eventually, with sufficient rest, he recovers enough to emerge from his room, ready to properly start learning how to become a Keeper Guide. That's when he makes a shocking discovery: the rest of the Cooperative appears to be completely abandoned.

Through circumstances he doesn't fully understand, Bax has inadvertently eliminated not only his fellow recruits but all the teachers as well. The catastrophic implications hit him immediately: he's completely alone in the Cooperative, with no guidance, no instruction, and no support system whatsoever. Yet his responsibilities remain unchanged. He still needs to learn how to be a Keeper Guide, still needs to develop the power to protect entire worlds, and still needs to prepare himself to eventually train humanity's defenders. The question becomes: what is a Keeper Guide recruit supposed to do when there's no one left to teach him?

Jonathan Brooks, author of Magical Fusion, Earthen Contenders, and Dungeon World, brings his expertise in LitRPG / GameLit mechanics to create an overpowered main character story with a unique twist. Rather than receiving traditional training and guidance, Bax must figure out the Keeper system through self-directed learning and experimentation. The progression fantasy elements feature detailed statistics, levelling mechanics, and the strategic gameplay that fans of Brooks' work expect. What distinguishes The Lone Keeper is its exploration of what happens when someone must not only become extraordinarily powerful but also understand their abilities deeply enough to eventually teach others - all without proper instruction.

For readers who enjoy isekai / portal fantasy with OP MC protagonists, self-taught heroes facing impossible odds, and stories exploring the pressure of knowing an entire world depends on your success, The Lone Keeper offers compelling challenges alongside the satisfaction of watching a character master complex systems through determination and experimentation.