Widowed and weathered, Anton has carved out a peaceful twilight existence as a great-grandfather—until cultivator bandits descend upon his region. The Order of Ninety-Nine Stars, sworn protectors of the land, prove powerless to stop the raiders as they plunder settlement after settlement. When winter's grip tightens, the bandits strike Anton's village, slaughtering his family and enslaving his neighbors. Powerless and absent, Anton watches everything crumble—his bow too heavy for aged hands, his vision dimming with each passing year. The bitter truth gnaws at him: had he pursued cultivation decades ago, he might have saved them all. Now, with nothing left to lose and time running short, a spark ignites within the broken old man. Perhaps it's not too late after all.