Ecumenopolis

Imagine a dystopian planet where endless megastructures pierce the skies and cities sprawl through every underground layer. The elite live high above in the sunlit spires, while the rest are left to toil in the shadowy depths. This is the Ecumenopolis, a chaotic world crammed with countless alien civilizations, each struggling to survive. Faith is one of the newest arrivals. A young human refugee, forced to relocate after Earth was seized by the Zha’kal Empire. Along with the rest of humanity, he was dumped onto this overpopulated world and left to survive on their own. Working in a grimy district market, Faith sells handmade jewelry and scrapes together enough to survive. Life in the Ecumenopolis is unforgiving, between navigating the brutal rules of alien commerce, dealing with both alien and human gangs, and fending off those who try to use or exploit him, every day is a fight to keep his place. Each new wave of desperate human refugees threatens to upend the fragile foothold he's built. Until he discovers a strange stone that opens a gate to another dimension. Beyond the gate lies a world untouched by civilization. Wild, dangerous, and brimming with exotic resources, it offers opportunities something the Ecumenopolis never could. Faith begins harvesting rare materials and selling them back in the city, turning his humble side hustle into a booming trade. As his influence grows, so does his ambition. He begins building a business empire, climbing through the ruthless alien corporate world. But the new dimension holds more than raw resources. Hidden within it are ancient powers, forgotten technologies, and secrets that could change everything. As Faith digs deeper, he starts to see a larger purpose — one that goes beyond wealth or survival. He doesn’t just want to rise. He wants to restore Earth, and return it to its rightful people. And this strange new world might just be the key.