Gauntlet practices continue to frustrate Violet, whose small size prevents her from spanning the chimney, while Tynan struggles with buoy balls. With Presentation imminent, Violet debates fleeing to the Scribe Quadrant but realizes she must prove to herself whether she belongs and decides to stay.

At roll call, Captain Fitzgibbons names the latest dead, underscoring the day’s stakes. As Fourth Wing moves to the Gauntlet, Dain pleads with Violet to quit; she refuses, asserting her choice to remain a rider. The squads file through the tunnel to the cliffside course.

During the climb, Violet clears the early obstacles without ropes, then reaches the chimney and executes her plan: she drags a rope across the rock to create leverage and side-walks up, shredding her hands but summiting. At the final ramp, she sprints up and, as gravity takes hold, drives her personal dagger into the wood to fling herself over the lip, collapsing onto the clifftop.

Amber Mavis charges, calling Violet a cheater for using a rope and a knife. Violet accepts a time penalty for the rope but cites the Codex addendum that items carried across the Parapet are part of the rider, validating the dagger’s use. Xaden backs the interpretation, dismissing Amber’s disqualification demand.

Bleeding and shaking, Violet bandages her hands with Rhiannon’s help and cheers the remaining climbers. Cause meets effect: ingenuity and stubborn resolve carry Violet past a lethal bottleneck. The outcome matters—her run stands, and their squad all reaches the flight field, ready for dragon Presentation.