Cast adrift into the void after a battle that ensured mankind's survival, the riftwalkers of Vanguard have spent three decades searching for a way back to their homerealm of Terra. An entire generation has grown up knowing only the fractured realmscape of the Inverse, with no memory of the Red Moon or the rifts that tore their world apart.

Among this generation is Ark, who begins life as an experiment in a lab before being cast out as a failure to fend for himself in the depths of Lowtown. Together with his only friend and fellow outcast, Mino, they struggle to survive and pursue their dream of becoming riftwalkers and escaping their harsh reality.

Desperate for funds to join a guild, Ark accepts a risky bargain that could change their lives forever. As he contends with the fallout of his choices, Ark must navigate rising tensions in Lowtown, survive the brutal training of a sadistic teacher, and learn to cooperate with teammates who have little interest in working together.

In a world where danger lurks behind every rift, Ark's journey is one of survival, discovery, and the relentless pursuit of a better future.