Waru Kingsfield belongs to the Dragons, a clan of qi warriors sworn to protect Earth. After Waru’s father awakens the ancient evil called Azreth, Waru ends up trapped in the distant future, where Azreth has built a galactic empire, and where humans live like vermin among numerous alien races. Azreth seeks one thing: a worthy opponent. Every century, he hosts a tournament to find the strongest warrior in his empire. So far, no one has come close to defeating him. Waru seeks one thing: Azreth’s destruction. He has five years to train for the next tournament—to find the Sages and shrinekeepers who will teach him qi’s deepest secrets. Along the way, he will do anything to succeed: bribe, trick, steal, and kill. Will Waru free humanity from Azreth’s evil tyranny, or will he die like the countless other qi warriors who have sought to defeat the ancient one?