XLII LEO

Piper moves along the ridge while Leo, Jason, and Coach Hedge confront Enceladus. The giant laughs off their challenge, breathes fire, and knocks Hedge unconscious. He exposes Piper’s supposed bargain and reveals Tristan McLean bound over the bonfire, trying to force Piper to choose between friends and father.

Enceladus summons six-armed Earthborn from the ground. Piper briefly compels them to back off, but Enceladus redirects their fury by pointing to Tristan and calling him “Jason.” The trio wordlessly splits roles: Jason charges Enceladus, Piper rushes to her father, and Leo sprints for the logging machines.

Leo animates the tree harvester, topples the bonfire onto two Earthborn, and slices another with the spinning blades before rocks crush the machine. His prepped gadget awakens the bulldozer, which intercepts a volley aimed at Piper and Tristan, causing two Earthborn to collapse into clay before the dozer dies.

With one hulking Earthborn left charging Piper, Leo draws its attention and prepares for a suicidal attack. At the last moment, Piper cuts down the giant with Katoptris, declaring no one will hurt her friends. She pulls Tristan to safety below the ridge as flames spread across the mountain.

The Earthborn are routed, Hedge remains knocked out, and Leo and Piper turn to see Jason still locked in a dangerous duel with Enceladus, who wields searing fire and a massive spear. The immediate rescue succeeds, but the greater fight with the giant continues.