Book 8 of Cradle had a lot going on. Yerrin is still in the tournament, but Lindon isn’t.
Lindon gets to go fight near the Dreadgod, Wandering Titan, instead and rack up lots of points to trade in for treasures, like the Diamond Veins.
The book ends with the end of the tournament and it’s fallout, but we don’t get to see the Monarch level reward for the winner.
SPOILERS BELOW
First up: Yerrin wins after becoming a sort-of Herald after combining with Ruby, her Blood Shadow.
Reigen Shen hatched a plot to kill several Akura members after losing, but the most important get to survive, including Mercy and Pride, though the latter took some damage. As a result of this Lindon gets to destroy Sophara and close out that looming baddie who has been with us since Ghostwater.
The monarch’s have a big fight and Akura Fury becomes one of them. Yerrin uses Penance to kill the dragon lord/monarch. I was hoping she’d take out a dreadgod, but oh well. The Hound also would NOT let her save it for later.
Next up, Yerrin and Lindon do more smooching. Their combined cloud ship is joined too Eithan and Ziel’s ships, and theoretically they are headed to Sacred Valley where the Wandering Titan plans to enter the labyrinth and get to Subject 01, something Yerrin’s master was trying to do as well.