In the ash-choked remnants of a world shattered by the magical cataclysm known as the Bloom, civilization huddles behind fortified walls. Three powers vie for dominance: the grain-rich Crownlands, the resourceful Sable League, and the zealous Radiant Synod. To prevent all-out war over the life-giving Riverchain, they settle disputes through the Ladder, a series of brutal gladiatorial Trials governed by the Concord of Cinders. Gifted fighters, whose powers extract a terrible physical or mental toll, battle for the glory of their lords and the chance to win fortunes. Soren Vale, a stoic caravan survivor haunted by his past, enters the Ladder with a singular, desperate goal: to win enough prize money to buy his debt-bound mother and brother from the Crownlands' indenture system. As he climbs the rungs, he must navigate a treacherous world of shifting alliances, betrayals from promoters, and the ever-watchful eyes of Synod inquisitors. His path crosses with Nyra Sableki, a cunning competitor with her own secret agenda, and together they uncover a conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of the Synod, revealing the Ladder is not just a game, but a cage designed to control the Gifted. Soren's fight for his family's freedom spirals into a rebellion against the system itself, forcing him to choose between his personal desire and the fate of all who are trapped by the Cinders.

Chapter 1000 - thank