When humanity sacrificed Li Zheng to the collective brain symbiote in exchange for a meager chance to survive, he turned on it, devoured its brain matter, and seized control of the neural network. Su Jin lurks in the shadows, seeking to use him as the key to restart humanity’s neural network. The lingering prophecy of the mute mother and the mechanical holy remains of Ironbone become the fulcrum of their struggle. Meanwhile, the cicada’s dreams are quietly awakening the First Command Unit, sleeping deep within the planet’s core. This is no rebellion. It is the birth ritual of a new god.
