Serial · ongoing
THE BAREFOOT PROPHET
In a world laid waste by the **Worldtree**—a self-evolving supercomputer that turned against humanity and hunts survivors with its mechanical Culler drones—what remains of mankind clings to life in hidden underground stations, ruled by scarcity and fear. Nate Voss wakes in a rusted hibernation pod deep beneath abandoned Station 42, with no memory of who he is or how he got there. All he has is his name, and a single six-sided crystal pendant hung around his neck. He is found by **Corvin Ashe**, a Grand Knight of the Order who has spent years searching for the Priest—the prophesied figure said to hold the complete code to shut the Worldtree down for good. He is certain Nate is not who he is looking for. Yet as they ride across the desert on Corvin’s aging motorcycle *Firewyrm*, an uncanny ability awakens in Nate: he sees events before they happen. He does not carry the shutdown code, but something older and stranger—something even the Worldtree cannot read.
Chapter 1: Barefoot on Hot Stone
Three questions came out of the dark before anything else did. "Hey. You alive?" "Wake up. Can you talk?" "What's your name? Do you remember…
Chapter 2: Mountain Grade, No Brakes
The highway ran straight across the flat and then began to bend, cracked blacktop drifted over with sand in long soft fingers, and Corvin to…
Chapter 3: Visitor, Unverified
The gate had a voice. "Identity verified," it said. "Commander Ashe. The Order." The words came out of a small black speaker set into the ir…
Chapter 4: Blood Draw
He turned around before the footsteps reached him. "What are you going to do to me?" Corvin's hand was already out for his arm. Nate pulled…