Contents
Chapter 57
Overview
Ambushed amid giants and chaos, Jovie, Acker, Zion, and Fredrich battle soldiers wielding hearthstone weapons and two trolls. Jovie recognizes Wren is controlling Lawson and prevents Acker from killing him. After blinding a troll and narrowly surviving, the group decides to retreat to the valley, bringing the unconscious Lawson.
Summary
Jo, Acker, Zion, and Fredrich are ambushed on a rooftop. Acker carves through attackers and identifies enemy hearthstone blades. Fredrich is nearly strangled by Lawson, an Alaha guard inside his shield range. Jo pleads with Lawson, forcing a standoff as Acker warns only one of the two can survive.
As the roof shudders under approaching trolls, Acker insists the group stay together. Acker blinds one troll with a thrown sword, but a second pins them; Fredrich’s shield barely holds until Jo distracts the giants and is knocked from a mangled ladder to the ground below.
In the alley melee, Jo confronts Lawson again. She tries to break through their shared history while Acker cuts toward them, ready to kill Lawson. Lawson’s taunts reveal Wren’s voice and intent, confirming he is being controlled from nearby. Acker halts his killing strike and instead knocks Lawson unconscious with his sword hilt.
With trolls closing in and the streets overrun, Jo calls for a retreat. Acker proposes fleeing south to the isles, but Jo insists on her last-resort plan: the valley. Trusting her, Acker agrees. They gather to withdraw, taking the unconscious Lawson with them as the giants’ advance and fires intensify across the city.
Who Appears
- Jovie (Jo)Protagonist; negotiates with Lawson, identifies Wren’s control, distracts trolls, orders a valley retreat, spares Lawson.
- AckerRuthless fighter; kills ambushers, blinds a troll, nearly executes Lawson but instead knocks him out; trusts Jo’s plan.
- LawsonAlaha guard and Jo’s former friend; controlled by Wren, attacks Jo, taunts her, then is rendered unconscious.
- FredrichShield-bearer; protects the group under a troll’s crushing hand, nearly collapses but survives the rooftop assault.
- ZionAlly fighter; engages soldiers, urges movement, helps cover Jo and Acker during the retreat decision.
- WrenUnseen manipulator; speaks through Lawson, demonstrating control and proximity within the city.
- Trolls (Giants)Two giants assault rooftops; one is blinded; they nearly crush the group and escalate the retreat.