After spending ten years as a P.O.W., Vietnam veteran "Slammin'" Michael Savage has returned home to face court-martial under charges of collaborating with the enemy. A former boxer, Savage meets up with his old trainer at the gym, and is followed by Observer reporter Janice Portinari as he has a run-in with local street gang .

The Ultra-Realm is a parallel dimension that inhabits the same space as Earth, or as they refer to it, "The Foundation World." Their world does not spin on an axis, but is stationary, so that it is divided between halves in perpetual light or darkness. Embodying the collective subconscious of Earth, it is a place of absolutes, good and evil, with nothing in-between. There are fourteen Lords of the Ultra-Realm, seven for each alignment in the Lightlands and Darklands, preserving the balance of power along the Twilight Equator.

Everything changes When Murkon, Prince of Rage, slays Falkon, Prince of Bliss, and darkness claims his keep. Murkon is then able to pass across the dimension to Earth, where he inhabits the body of gang leader Sid. Only Michael Savage can see Murkon for what he is, and the Prince of Rage likewise recognizes Savage as an archetype, "the foundation soul of Bliss and me!" Seeing Savage as a threat to his power grab, Murkon tries to slay him, but instead inadvertently sends him through the dimensional portal to Bliss' keep, where Savage possesses and resurrects the body of Falkon. As darkness descends upon Savage, he is aided by Scala, a chronicler to whom Janice Portinari in her "foundling."