Taken from their homes without warning, thousands now find themselves in the unforgiving world of Ferrum.

On October 1st, 2035, three hundred thousand people excitedly logged in to play the game Ferrum Online on its opening day. Little did they know, a malevolent entity had laid a trap within the game's code. Through the use of the fully immersive "Kabuto" VR system, the enigmatic GM trapped all of these players in the game. Now, these players can only escape by killing GM, but he has no intention of making it easy for them.

[REVISIONS COMPLETED]

There are heavy modern war elements in this story, and the RPG system works in tandem with the modern weapons. A player may shoot his rifle in some circumstances and cast a fireball in others. Ferrum is a world where magic and post-industrial technology coexist, though neither holds a clear advantage. Any intelligent denizen of Ferrum knows to make use of both the magic and the mundane.

The story continues with The Reluctant Apostle.