At only 10 years of age, Alto Quack has already earned the unfortunate reputation of being the biggest time-waster in the 463-year history of his village. And despite all of his parents' warnings about the dreadful things that can happen to him if he continues to waste so much time, he continues to do so.

But Alto's world is turned topsy-turvy one morning by an old man who introduces himself as an emissary from the Emperor of Time. He tells Alto that, because he has wasted so much time, the emperor has decided that he deserves no more. He shall have only three hours more to exist, then—"Kaput!"

Alto pleads for more time, but the old man says that only the emperor can give him more time, and there is but one way to find him—through the Forbidden Forest, where there are creatures more hideous and deadly than can be imagined. "It is doubtful that you could survive the the journey. Besides, you don't have enough time left to see if you could."

Alto asks exactly how much of his time remains. "Two hours, 25 minutes, and 15 seconds," says the old man.

"Yikes!" Alto shouts as he begins a desperate race against time through a series of hair-raising adventures that lead him closer and closer to the Emperor of time.

Will Alto find the emperor before he goes "Kaput?" And will the emperor grant him more time? The only way to find out, dear reader, is to join Alto on his terrifying journey—if you have the courage.