I wouldn't normally do this but since you specifically said no system or cultivation or VR works, I would like to (shamelessly) recommend my book.
Title: Grimoire - Atonement of Souls
Genre: Urban fantasy, supernatural and somewhat mystery
2 line summary: The story follows a 16 y/o boy, Aarav, who accidently gets involved in an age old war between Grim reapers and demons when he tried to rescue a little kid from a group of 3 monks.
Blurb:
Aarav ran away.
Who could really blame him, though? The list of things Aarav that didn't excel at was long and humiliating, borderline pathetic even. A list that included fighting too. So when he encounters a group of monk-looking assailants in black with books floating next to them, ganging up on a little harmless kid…he wasn't exactly sure how to deal with that situation. More so, when that strange encounter snowballs into him being attacked by a giant tentacled monster; he did the only thing he excelled at—he ran away.
Being able to see the dead since his birth was strange enough for him but being chased by a monster was taking things a bit too far. But now thrust into the strange world of dead souls, demons and grim reapers; Aarav has to make a choice. Does he continue to live in the ignorance of the blurred lines of two worlds, or will he muster up the courage to do what is right? To save the people close to him, no matter the lengths he has to go to achieve that goal.
Even if it required his own death.
Extra info: Like I said, this story does not have any sort of system of cultivation mechanics. There is a progression in power and strength but it's less...RPG style. Not to mention my main focus on the story are the characters and their struggles, both internal and external. As of today, there are 10 chapters uploaded (including prologue and excluding the disclaimer in the start). My plan is to update the story with one chapter a day (or more if scene demands it) every Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri and Sun. And my first arc will be completely free ( which will be around 30-40 chapters).
Hope you like it and if you do, don't forget to vote and give your thoughts in comment or review :D
Link: https://www.webnovel.com/book/grimoire-atonement-of-souls_19254392005805605
Cover:
