After surviving the Desert of Lost Souls, Michael and Eric Descado have awoken in the Sanctuary of Ascendance to find their physical bodies transformed to the pinnacle of human evolution. Soon to be trained in the ways of war by the enigmatic spirit master Peter, they come to realize that Mason Don is their home now, and only by using their new abilities against the invading Menthranki can they hope to save it. At the same time in the city of Philian, Kali Tur and Gann Ruger embark on a desperate journey to reunite Jamie Laws, Rene Rameriez and Rebecca Ballantree with the brothers Descado, their collective futures uncertain now that Kali and Rebecca have become lovers in secret. And in the far arctic north, the vampire Empress Gorion plots her final strike against the last human fortress of Reglis.