"Transferring files to the City Core," he gritted his teeth as the wind whipped past. "Come on, 60%..."

To the millions watching the broadcast, David Young was just another contestant about to die in the Blitz. To the resistance hiding in the sub-levels, he was the final download that would set the city free—or delete it forever.

He clutched the data-shard in his jacket pocket—the "EPUB" protocol. In this digital dystopia, EPUB didn't stand for a book format; it was the . It was the only thing capable of shutting down the city’s murderous AI architect.