He Who Fights with Monsters

Jason Asano wakes in a strange world's hedge maze and discovers a magic system of essences, auras, and afflictions — and a talent for talking his way into trouble. An Australian outsider in a society of adventurers, gods, and monsters, building a build the locals consider deeply impolite.

Progression: essence-based abilities that stack damage-over-time afflictions; power comes from synergy, not raw stats.

Reader fit: you want banter-forward progression with long character arcs and a lead who argues with everyone, deities included.

Texture: quippy on the surface, surprisingly heavy underneath.