I woke up in a battlefield triage tent, bloody, battered, and crippled. It wasn't just my arm and shoulder that was broken, but also my mind. I couldn't remember anything—my name, who or where I was, or what had happened to me. Could that get worse? Of course. The battle wasn’t over, and it appeared that our enemy wasn't just content with victory. No. They sought to wipe us out. But why? If I lived long enough, perhaps I would find out. Not everything was bleak, however. I had friends at my side—ones who challenged our cowardly leaders and fought to give me a chance. We could fight together and escape. But in an ether-ravaged, post-apocalyptic world cast back into the dark ages, where feudal lords once again fight for control over land and resources, that may be easier said than done. Join Takemi in this wuxia style progression fantasy, as he journeys through a post-apocalyptic landscape. Ether ruined the old world, but it is building a new one, where mental constructs called mind palaces grant cultivators game-like perks and unlock almost superhuman abilities. <>

They call me Takemi, and I am a mercenary. I survived a near-death battlefield head injury just to get thrown right back into the meatgrinder. My friends and I survived brigands, beasts, scheming nobles, a rigged tribunal, and oh, more beasts! But it wasn’t all bad! My bond with ether helped put part of my fractured mind back together. What did I see? Glimpses of a life lost. A woman I’d failed. But also...a rift forming from the ether convergence. You see, I was there when the collapse started, even though I couldn’t remember. We’re under the protection of the Protectorate now and they mean to use our skills for battle to bring glory to Zurich. Where? The Mêlée of Kings. An ether-rich swamp ripe for conquest. But things aren’t always as they seem. And as I am starting to learn, knowledge might just be the greatest power. My real name is Kenji Nakamura, and I am a survivor.