In a universe governed by gods who toy with fate, champions are chosen-not born. Across the stars, powerful beings known as the Council select warriors from countless races to compete in the most brutal spectacle ever devised: the Arena's Wrath. Victory brings unimaginable rewards. Defeat means annihilation. When Layo Parcel, a humble mechanic from the peaceful world of Esphoria, begins hearing voices in his head, he thinks he's losing his mind. But when a mysterious brand scorches itself into his arm and soldiers begin hunting him across his city, he realizes his life has changed forever. Chosen by the enigmatic Ascendant known as Xenon, Layo is thrust into the chaos of Erath X-30, a mechanized world of monsters, cybernetic champions, and cutthroat politics. Gifted with the speed and instincts of a forgotten alien race, Layo must train, survive, and fight in the Arena-where death comes fast, and mercy is a myth. With the promise of anything he desires if he survives, Layo fights not for glory, but for one impossible wish: To go home.

The line between man and machine has faded. So has the line between hero and monster. In the year 2083, after the fallout of World War III, the world is rebuilt not by governments, but by the chip-an implant that enhances the mind, body, and soul. Humanity calls it advancement. Ace Hawthorn calls it the end. Born into a world where the un-upgraded are relics of the past, Ace is a prototype-the unwilling host of an experimental chip tied to a secret his father died protecting. Living in the shadows as a vigilante, Ace begins a journey to uncover the truth behind Project Haunt, a hidden military operation responsible for the chaos consuming the world. But the deeper Ace digs, the darker things get. Failed experiments roam the cities. The line between allies and enemies crumbles. Haunt-a rogue creation beyond comprehension-is on the move, and Ace might be the only one powerful enough to stop her. If he can keep himself from becoming just like her. As he forges uneasy alliances with a team of vigilantes, including a mysterious girl with frost in her veins and another with lightning in her blood, Ace will face betrayals, the ghosts of his past, and the growing threat inside his own mind. Because sometimes, to stop a monster... you have to become one.