Die. Respawn. Repeat

Earth was chosen for Integration, but Ethan Hill knows from the second his Trial begins that the Integration is a lie. The beings giving Earth the 'honor' of access to their System Interface want something from Earth—he just doesn't know what. Now he's trapped on an alien planet and lost in a time loop, fighting for strength and for his own humanity. One thing's for sure: He'll die as many times as it takes to tear it all down.

Ethan's gathered a base of power for himself, but he isn't the only one with access to the Interface. An attempt to find friends lost in time ends with him matching wits with a Trialgoer--one who's long since beaten her Trial and now controls all aspects of life in her perfect, crystalline city. She-Who-Whispers is both controller and puppetmaster of everything that happens within the so-called perfect city of Isthanok. She hears everything that happens within her city, controls every action and reaction by her people.

Disaster has been averted—for now. Earth is still in danger, and the Integration marches ever onward. Yet Ethan's journey has found him stronger than ever, and his experiences in the loops have left him on the cusp of grasping skills that can disrupt the flow of time itself. The Empty City looms ahead, holding within it answers to both the nature of Firmament and the purpose of Integration. His allies' sacrifices linger behind, driving him forward. And new forces are emerging, some eager for revenge, others vying for control of him and all that he represents.