Xing Chuan is a cyborg who has lived a long life, perhaps too long. She has seen the world collapse into war and chaos. She has seen society falter and crumble until a handful of people remain in the world. She lives in an area called Department 37. It was established as a place for people to live in safety from the rest of the world where nuclear radiation and other dangers are the norm.There, she is summoned to a fighting arena against her will. She must take part in battles for the entertainment of a person known as the Administrator. If she resists, she will be killed. If she doesn't win her battles, she will be killed. Regardless of this threat, she decides not to obey the summons to the arena. She wishes to live her life on her own terms. She doesn't want anyone to tell her what to do.Just as she is on the point of leaving Department 37, she receives a demonstration of the Administrator's power. She realizes that she has no choice but to fight in the arena. However, she quickly discovers that her battles are far more about acquiring information about her opponents than they are about physical strength. There are rules behind the rules. If she is to survive, she must discover what they are.Behind the arena lurks the Tower- the place where the Administrator rules. Xing's goal is to reach the tower and do something about the Administrator. She doesn't know what she will do or how she will do it. She only knows that something must be done and that she must be the one to do it.