Range Series

Yesterday, Altai was a war hero. Today, he is a prisoner who chose exile to Rhapsody instead of death. This planet, the Range, knows no mercy. Here, thousands of prisoners fight each other for a place under the strange, cold sun. Here, the leftover alien biomechanisms and out-of-control Terran war machines roam in the ruins, and human life is measured in virtual experience that can be exchanged for armor and implants. Surviving in the Limbo slaughterhouse, upgrading to the 10th level, and getting into the Green Zone is all any dead man can hope for. Except not everyone succeeds.

Altai managed to survive in Limbo and get a coveted pass to the Green Zone, but this is only the beginning of his journey. Thanks to the "Hand of Justice" achievement, the former planetary assault trooper saw a faint glimmer of hope that one day he'll escape Rhapsody. One day, maybe, if he's lucky.... Now is not the time, though. After all, a visit to Elysium is just a short respite before a new race with death begins.

Altai has always considered himself lucky, but this time, his luck at the Range may have run out. His first venture into the Orange Zone turned out to be a setup, a standard leveling up mission proved to be disastrous, and an epic quest cost the lives of his squadmates. Moreover, he found himself teetering on the brink of survival. Now, Altai's life depends on an experimental neural network and an alien creature whose sole purpose is to subjugate his consciousness and turn him into a living weapon.

Altai has managed to accomplish the impossible. He survived in the Red Zone and won the tournament—but the victory didn't give him the satisfaction he'd been seeking. He took revenge on the man who had ruined his life—but revenge only raised new questions. Questions that can't be answered as long as he remains in the Range. There's only one thing left to do: complete special assignments given by the Administration with the hope that, sooner or later, he'll earn his freedom. If he survives, of course.

Few people on Rhapsody have ever managed to achieve what Altai has achieved. The status of a champion, a high level, increased loyalty of the Administration . . . But when things go completely sideways and the Range system falls apart, virtual achievements lose value. When forts perish and the Perimeter collapses, when the Xenos have swarmed Limbo and are trying to break into Elysium, the only things that matter are the thick walls, a supply of ammunition, and a friend's shoulder to lean on.

Fate has once again played a trick on Altai. The chance to evacuate from Rhapsody was nothing more than an empty promise. Victory turned into defeat, and friends turned into enemies. Past achievements lost their value and disappeared. All hope was gone, and he had to start all over again. The last act of the tragedy turned out to only be a prelude, with new challenges looming on the horizon.