What do you do when you're given advance notice that your planet is about to be inducted into a System in thirty days? Strange arches show up all over the world, and no-one quite knows what's going on, although theories abound. Mike and his grandfather, Collin, try to investigate one of these arches. With the announcement that the training offered will take place on a planet already inducted into the System, Mike loses hope. Collin comes through, surprising Mike with a gold Krugerrand that will allow him to pass through the portal to train. The training is simple, but brutal, and one of the trainers, a rather unruly orc, seems to take an unhealthy interest in Mike. The conflict between the two has Mike fleeing into the forest outside of the Safe Zone used for training, a forest that is full of monsters, ruins, and more. By the time Mike makes it home, he's gained a class, a group, and has grown in power more than most of the trainees taking the safer route with the trainers. Things on Earth are falling apart, with riots and burning cities from the panicking people who stayed home. Mike and his group have trained for this, now it's time to put that training to work.