Welcome!

  I'm launching the first twelve chapters on March 16, 2026.

  I'll be posting daily thereafter for the first month.

  My original idea for this story came from several different sources. I was watching a lore video about the world of Warhammer 40K that was discussing industrial factory planets. Those are places where countless people toil in obscurity their entire lives in a sub-sub-sub-basement somewhere without ever seeing the sky. I thought it would be fun to tell a story from the perspective of people like that.

  Also, I'm a big fan of Elden Ring, and I like the idea that the Tarnished, who came from beyond the Lands Between, kind of have access to the "system" that governs their abilities. I thought it would be cool to write a LitRPG where the system doesn't come from a super advanced high-tech outer civilization, but rather a low-tech dark fantasy realm. In my story, a witch from another reality grants the main character the ability to perceive a "system" that he can use to become more powerful. The main character's reality--a huge industrial complex called the arcology--is actually more technologically advanced than the witch's.

  I was also thinking about the history of ninjas. Ninjas gained the reputation of mysterious quasi-magical masters of stealth and martial arts. (I'm sure you've heard of ninjas.) But, interestingly, in real life--at least initially--they were oppressed peasants who sabotaged and vandalized the property of their oppressors. I thought it would be cool to explore the development of a group of people who start at the very bottom, band together to buck the system, and acquire real power (and powers) along the way.

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  The main character in this story is named Rhone. He cleans enormous, building-sized vats everyday. It's miserable, deadly work and it's all that he really knows. Rhone is bright and loyal, but, perhaps, a bit too trusting. He and his friends have an older mentor named Gaji who thinks they can break free from the brutal lives they know as a tribe. Meanwhile, Rhone--and two others in different corners of the galaxy--are chosen to become a witch's pawns in a game against rival extra-dimensional powers. Rhone becomes aware of a set of attributes, sub-attributes, and gifts that he can advance in order to perform a wide variety of techniques.

  Rhone finds himself a part of two life-changing missions. He wants more than anything to help his tribe to escape their impossibly unfair lot in life. At the same time, he is awakening to the reality that the universe is far more vast and complex than he ever imagined when he was scrubbing glowing ooze all day. As he attempts to make progress toward both of his goals, he may find that they conflict in unexpected ways. He may discover new friends, new loyalties, and great power. He may have to decide who he truly is if he's not a miserable slave.

  Also, the enemies of the witch have monstrous minions of their own who want Rhone off the board. And, she may never have had his best interests at heart in the first place...

  I'm very excited to share this story. I hope you enjoy it!