In the final days of World War II, Sergeant Kapp Johnson is being held prisoner in the dungeon of a medieval castle in the Black Forest. While he and another soldier from his all-black battalion await ceremonial execution, an even more sinister struggle between life and death is taking place within the castle walls. Under the watchful eyes of Nazi Colonel Otto Strass, the notorious inventor, Dr. Josef Weiss, injects a ten-year-old Polish boy with an experimental serum, killing him.

That is, until three days later, when the child, Adok, is miraculously resurrected...with unforeseen side effects. On that same day, Hitler's unexpected suicide throws the castle into chaos. In the ensuing confusion, Kapp is mistakenly given the life-restoring drug. Using his newly enhanced strength, Kapp escapes, reunites with his battalion, and single-handedly kills 280 enemy soldiers. Though mortally wounded, he cannot die.

Dr. Weiss also administered the serum he invented to his own nephew and two German soldiers. He then injects the ambitious Colonel Strass-the question is, with what? Each of Dr. Weiss' victims experiences a different physical super-enhancement, and each must come to terms with his new capabilities. Permanently linked, they must navigate their way through the last, weary days of the war and into the even more uncertain future.