Sector Eight (Perimeter Defense: Book #1) LitRPG series

Perimeter Defense is a four-book series by Michael Atamanov marrying LitRPG with space sci-fi. In it, humanity has been roaming deep space for millennia, aggressively expanding their sphere of influence - until it runs into a strong and merciless enemy. Now the Terrans keep losing frontier battles and are forced to retreat, losing planet after planet. All attempts to stop the alien invasion or to at least try to communicate with them fail. Still, the far echo of space combat hasn't affected the lifestyle of the rich and conservative Throne World back on Earth. There, the Emperor habitually indulges in political intrigues with the Great Houses of his realm, none of whom are prepared to sacrifice their personal interests for the sake of uniting humanity in the face of an external enemy. Our world is facing extinction but continuing to stubbornly ignore the alien threat. Enter Ruslan, a young and talented gamer who's just signed a contract with a local aristocrat to play his character in a popular online game. His starting scenario is less than exciting: a small fleet of starships, an unhappy crew on the brink of mutiny, some meager resources and a very poor reputation in a strange and quite complex world in which Ruslan is now stuck until his contract expires. Ruslan finds himself at the very heart of fierce space battles led by non-humanoid races, each with a number of its own unique abilities. He has to tread carefully, navigating his way amid mortal foes and untrustworthy back-stabbing allies. In this world where authority is just as important as the number of starships in your fleet, political decisions can hit you just as hard as laser guns and thermonuclear bombs. But most importantly, is the world of Perimeter Defense real? Or is it virtual? This question will continue to haunt Ruslan as he tries to piece together a coherent picture of his new environment, coming up with several theories attempting to explain his new reality. All we can say is that the world of Perimeter Defense is way more complex than one might think at first glance. Here, some of your friends might prove your worst enemies - while the invasion of planet Earth might not be as clear-cut as it originally seemed.