H44 Struggle in the Old Slammer

Book Cover

**Struggle in the Old Slammer**, the 44th book of The Golden Age of Adventures series, was published in March 2023. It is the English language edition of the original Chinese comic, **古代监狱**, which was published in November 2022.

## Sypnosis

BECOMING THE BEST! TAKING ON THE GREASE KING!

When Alex and co. learn that the children from Jackal's orphanage were kidnapped by Silver Tiger, they rush to save them. To their suprise, they discover that Silver Tiger and the orphans were held hostage by Nacho. Left with no other option than to take on the Grease King, our heroes engage him in battle to save the children!

## Cast

* Alex
* Lulu
* Jackal
* Jones
* Crowbone
* Silver Tiger
* Nacho

## Plot

***Spoiler warning!** Plot and/or ending details follow.*

### Chapter 1: Old Slammer

Silver Tiger's note enrages Jackal. At an ancient prison, Nacho throws Silver Tiger in a cell for his lack of cooking skills. Two days later, Alex, Lulu, Crowbone, Jones and Jackal hide in a tree near Silver Tiger's mansion. Jones ambushes a man and asks where the children are. The man tells him that Nacho took them and Silver Tiger. Subsequently, Shakar wants to have a talk. Jones doubts, but Shakar confirms that the man is telling the truth.

Later, it is explained that Nacho wanted to meet Alex alone, but didn't specify where, forcing Crowbone to find him with the aid of her birds. Shakar requests for him and the others to come along to save Silver Tiger. Jackal denies, so Shakar reveals Jackal’s identity, Blackwing.

### Chapter 2: Escape

10 years ago, Young Jackal and his friend at the orphanage read a comic book about Blackwing. Shakar takes of his helmet to reveal that he is Koen, one of his friends at the orphanage. Jackal is hesitant and interrogates him about being an ally of Diamond Teeth, but he proves himself. Jackal questions his loyalty to Silver Tiger, and he explains that he saved his life while running away from the traffickers. Jones allows him to come along to rescue Jackal and the orphans.

In the prison, Lucky notifies to the others in the cell that Nacho is busy eating and break a hole in the wall using a fork. Bernard opens up a secret tunnel to escape. Silver Tiger notices this and wants to come along. While at first the orphans are hesitant, they decide to let him come along after he threatens to alert Nacho. As Silver Tiger enters the tunnel, he vows for revenge against Nacho.

### Chapter 3: Puzzle

The escaping orphans keep inventory in a room of items that stole from Nacho when tasked to cook. They are dissatisfied that they only have 2 small bottles of water and hope to find some groundwater soon. Silver Tiger and the children walk through a hallway and Bernard mentions that the carvings on the walls are Sumerian and knows this information as he wants to be an adventurer. Silver Tiger makes fun of Adventurers and falls into a pit and triggers a trap which makes everyone fall into the pit. In the pit, they have to solve a puzzle to escape, which contains four shapes on a wall.

Aoki notices that a shape is asymmetric and Bernard presses the button below it, which lets them out. However, the mechanism makes sounds, which alerts Nacho. Outside the prison, Alex and co. form a plan for Lulu and Crowbone to scout the area while Alex goes in to save the children.

### Chapter 4: Here Comes The King

Nacho steps on Toby's, who was also held captive, leg and goes to the source of the sound. He threatens the other kids to not escape. Silver Tiger and the orphans enter a room which is exposed to the outside world. It appears that it is required to solve a puzzle to leave the prison. However, before they can solve it, Nacho stomps the ceiling to fall down on them.

Lulu and Crowbone spot Nacho and go back to inform the others. Crowbone appears down to fight Nacho and notices Silver Tiger.

### Chapter 5: Hostage

Crowbone approaches Nacho but he's about to stomp Lucky, which shocks her and was slammed into a wall. As she tries to get back up, Silver Tiger approaches her with a huge rock and tries to kill her, but Lulu appears and kicks Silver Tiger in the face, rendering him unconscious. Nacho sees Alex appear and holds Lucky and Bernard, then throwing Lucky at Alex. He catches Lucky but Nacho knocks him back. Alex lets Lucky go and Nacho grabs Alex. Almost succeeding at eating Alex, Jones ties rope around his head, telling Alex to use the move he used to defeat Nacho last time. Alex uses his ability, Primordial Flame, that he got from Luminus.

### Chapter 6: Fierce Battle

Alex is however unsuccessful at using primordial flame and Nacho knocks everyone back except Alex and Bernard. Nacho throws Alex on the floor and as Lulu and Crowbone try to attack Nacho with Jones, Nacho throws rocks really hard at them, which pushes them back. He approaches Jones and steps on him, taunting him about not killing him with Robert when they had the chance.

Bernard is tearful and makes a plan to escape by pouring some oil he managed to obtain, which allows him to slip away from Nacho's grasp. Crowbone swoops in and brings him out of danger. Jones uses small deafening weapons on Nacho, but his inner ears are full of fat, rendering them useless. Alex appears and heats up Nacho, which infuriates him and he pushes Alex away. Suddenly, Jackal, as the Beetle Warrior, slices Nacho with Longhorn.

### Chapter 7: Adieu

As Jackal tries to escape, Nacho grabs his leg and asks who he is. Lulu, Jones and Crowbone try to help out, but Jackal warns them to stay out, and Nacho realises that he is being sucked in. An angry Nacho grips Jackal's leg even harder and a heated Alex wraps some rope around Nacho, heating him up. No matter how much fire Alex uses, he refuses to let go, but Jackal manages to escape from some oil residue. As Nacho is sucked into the portal, he vows for vengeance, and the portal closes. Alex and co. are relieved at his final defeat.

While resting in a makeshift cot, Silver Tiger finally regains consciousness and wonders where he is. In his peripheral vision, he notices Crowbone and orders his men to capture her. Shakar is hesitant, but Silver Tiger is insistent. The cloaked mercenary tries to get her but they notice a helicopter with the Mercenary Hunters Guild emblem.

### Chapter 8: Madman Malone

Out of the helicopter comes Malone, Silver Tiger's father and the MHG president. He is disappointed that he isn't introduced to a few ladies, but has to play peacemaker for his son. He talks down to him and demotes the mercenaries involved. Jones and Malone decide to go to a bar and a scared Silver Tiger decides to leave.

Alex apologises to Crowbone as she was unable to get her revenge on Silver Tiger, but she is satisfied that Lulu kicked him really hard. They all decide to go home.

In the Other-Space, Nacho eats the Chaos Larvae coming at him and sees the Chaos Serpent, also known as Apep. Nacho wants to have it for dinner and the serpent opens its mouth wide.

## X-Venture continuity

### Other series

* **Unexplained Files**: One of the orphans was Elsa White, a main character in this series.