Primal Forest

What do you do when you're given advance notice that your planet is about to be inducted into a System in thirty days? When the announcement is made by people whose species have only been seen in stories and games? When these same people offer a chance to a select few, those who can afford it on short notice, to be inducted into the System early and grow in power before the System even arrives on Earth?

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, setting off a kerfluffle that leads to the people who have arrived having to announce themselves earlier than intended. The same incident also gets Mike in trouble with law enforcement as he posts video of some things the government would prefer not be released to the general public.

With the announcement that the training offered will take place on a planet already inducted into the System, and that only those who can afford the price of an ounce of gold will be allowed through the portals to the training planet, Mike loses hope. Collin, who's been a prepper for years, comes through, surprising Mike with a gold Krugerrand that will allow him to pass through the portal to train. Dodging the cops, Mike makes it to the local portal just in time for the first group.

The training is simple, but brutal, and one of the trainers, a rather unruly orc, seems to take an unhealthy interest in Mike. That interest turns to hatred as Mike refuses to be scammed. The conflict between the two has Mike fleeing into the forest outside of the Safe Zone used for training, a forest that looks like it has been untouched for thousands of years and 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. On top of that, the arrival of the System also triggers the arrival of the monsters.

Mike and his group have trained for this, now it's time to put that training to work.

This story is approximately 160,000 words long and DRM free.