The Pawn's Gambit

The world has never given anyone what they desire. If you want something, you must seize it with your own hands.

For eight long years, Ardyn has lived in silence, bound by a promise to become stronger. To him, the Knight's Trial is more than a chance to prove himself-it is his only hope of escaping a life of poverty.

But hope is short-lived.

What begins as a sacred trial soon erupts into a massacre when the enigmatic terrorist organization known as Hollowcrown emerges from the shadows, plunging the kingdom into chaos.

In the midst of the bloodshed, Ardyn crosses paths with those who will forever alter the course of his life: Jarvis, a gentle giant whose courage knows no bounds; Astro, a mysterious boy burdened with a forbidden power; and Ashley-the first person to offer him the warmth of an embrace, yet the keeper of the most devastating secret of all.

Now, Ardyn finds himself ensnared in the ruthless game known as Blood for Coins, where lives are traded for gold, loyalty is measured by survival, and trust is a luxury no one can afford.