Ray Takeshi doesn't remember his parents—they died in sorcerous battle, when he was just a baby. He's been raised in Missouri by a mage named Ned. Ned says his Destiny approaches: a final test, to determine whether Ray will achieve manhood, or be destroyed.

Just because Ray is a fledgling mage doesn't mean he buys such mumbo-jumbo. But then the delectable succubus Melania von Fleiden shows up in town, alongside her hideous Thrall. Ray has to stop her evil plan—or die trying, at least. Could this be that test Destiny was sending? And if so, does he have the slightest chance of surviving it?