u/Aid2Fade

So the first thing that happens in this book is a major plotpoint driven by a sniper, after a roughly 70 year timeskip. I think this creates like 3 plotholes at once?

• Why hasn't anyone tried this before? Supposedly millions of years and no one has tried the distract them then use a sniper trick? Why weren't the other characters prepared for it?
• Why did it work? We spend 10 books hearing about how difficult to kill immortals are, then we try the "also boom he's dead" trick suddenly? Why were there no countermeasures for, I dunno, the head? For one of the more valuable characters?
• Why are the MCs suddenly weaker than randoms? We're told ascenders are so beyond other characters that having 5 at once is enough to expedite a war. Then, apparently, they can be sniped to death. Fairly easily. And completely locked down by just some guy. Then run away from without consequences.

I mean, I'm giving this whole plotpoint an unnecessary amount of credulity, it's pretty clear why this was done. The author decided the "PoA never kills characters haha" criticism became too much and decided to kill the proverbial dog for a quick emotional hit. It's a skill issue older than time I suppose.