This Inevitable Ruin

About “This Inevitable Ruin”

They call it Faction Wars. The ninth floor is the battleground where nine armies, each led by powerful aliens from across the galaxy, compete to capture and hold a central castle. The game is known for strategy, alliances, and betrayal, and it has been a popular form of entertainment. However, this season is different. The winner takes all, and those who fall in the game do not return. As the AI declines, Carl and his team take advantage of the chaos. For the first time, the crawlers join the fight, and a tenth army appears—the self-aware NPCs, who have formed their own team. For Donut and Katia, the stakes are personal, as only one of them will be allowed to leave. To survive, they need help from experienced players. This is the final battle. This is war.