In a world of lies, there’s only one thing left to believe in. The year is 2078. Humanity has fully merged with technology, forming a collective super-intelligence known as The System. But a problem has emerged. Without conflict, the human brain has begun to atrophy. To prevent The System from collapsing, select humans are raised in isolation and subjected to simulated trials meant to provoke fear, longing, and struggle, keeping the spark of consciousness alive. Lotus is one of them. She has fought, loved, and lost, and believes she has passed her Final Test. But when she wakes, heartbroken and alone, she learns she must enter another simulation, this time knowing it isn’t real. If she opens her heart again, it might destroy her. If she doesn’t, it might destroy the world.