Dalinar pushes through a worsening storm as Peet reports Shallan’s warning: a highstorm is about to collide with a second, the Everstorm. Despite Aladar’s victory, Dalinar orders all forces to a round plateau to brace for impact and sends Navani to assist Shallan. The command tent tears away—then Adolin is hurled out, shattered armor testifying to a brutal fight. Szeth, the Assassin in White, steps from the wreckage, wreathed in Stormlight.

Elsewhere in the Oathgate chamber, Shallan frantically studies Dawnchant inscriptions, believing Knights Radiant are the key. Pattern hints she may be too close to see the solution. Renarin collapses, claiming he sees the future; in a panic he scrawls lines of zeros and repeats that it has come, foretelling doom.

Dalinar confronts Szeth and draws his own Blade. The duel is fierce: Dalinar relies on instinct to survive the assassin’s inhuman speed and dangerous touch. Szeth finally lands a blow that cracks Dalinar’s ribs, and Dalinar realizes he could never have saved Gavilar from this foe. As Szeth moves in for the kill, Highprince Roion unexpectedly charges. Szeth destroys Roion’s sword and lashes him into the sky.

Adolin, aided by Skar and other bridgemen, strips off ruined armor and rushes to help. Roion falls to his death while Szeth carves through soldiers. Adolin and bridgemen mass for a desperate assault; Dalinar joins, wounded, but Szeth breaks their formation and lashes Dalinar upward into the storm. The assassin starts to withdraw after crippling Adolin.

Dalinar, however, drifts back down slowly, glowing with white Light, stunning onlookers—and horrifying Szeth. An instant later, a blazing figure of Stormlight lands before Dalinar: Kaladin, in bridgeman uniform with a glowing Shardblade. Claiming the winds as his, Kaladin steps forward to challenge Szeth.