Dalinar races to confront a chasmfiend that has climbed onto the viewing plateau, summoning Oathbringer in ten heartbeats while Elhokar calls archers to fire. Dalinar and Adolin mount up—Gallant and Sureblood steady amid panic—and begin systematically severing the beast’s legs with their Shardblades to draw it from unarmed attendants. Elhokar insists on engaging directly, ignoring Dalinar’s caution.

As the creature crushes soldiers and arrows glance off its carapace, Sadeas arrives with a grandbow, his bolts cracking chitin and buying moments. Elhokar’s saddle girth snaps, throwing him; his Blade vanishes as he falls. Dalinar moves to cover the king, but the chasmfiend’s tail knocks Dalinar from Gallant. Regrouping, Dalinar orders Renarin—who rides up unarmored—to retreat, then presses the attack with Adolin, who continues disabling legs.

Elhokar refuses to withdraw and hacks at the torso, enraging the monster. A sweeping claw hurls Adolin aside, cracking his Plate; Elhokar is knocked down again, his Blade vanishing. Remembering his failure to protect Gavilar, Dalinar discards all hesitation and sprints for the king as a claw descends.

Dalinar drops his Blade and catches the massive claw with his gauntleted hands, holding it aloft despite Plate cracking under the strain. Seizing the opening, Adolin shears through another leg; with so many limbs dead, the chasmfiend’s remaining right-side legs snap and the creature topples. Dalinar casts aside the limp claw as Elhokar regains his feet.

At Dalinar’s gesture, Elhokar finishes the beast by driving his reformed Shardblade into its flesh, blackening its eyes. He then carves open the chest and triumphantly wrenches free a colossal emerald gemheart, gloryspren swirling as soldiers cheer. The king survives, the chasmfiend lies dead, and Dalinar’s decisive heroism cements his role as the king’s protector.