Introduction: Jacob was just moments ago, enjoying one of the vast, virtual worlds found in Monovalent Realms, the latest, state-of-the-art AI. Yet suddenly, he awakens not in his virtual hotel room but in a strange world where giant black felines roam the sky on dusky wings and great, suffocating mists hang over everything.  Some lady calling herself "a healer" explains that he needs to hide because a shadow beast lurks around every corner and Jacob could be its next target......