Garfield drives to the facility and calls Frieda. She reveals the bishop has been collecting children with abilities—at least fourteen confirmed across seven states—and his operation is better funded than theirs. Two siblings were lost to the bishop's team in Minneapolis.

Bishop cornered at shipyard as Arthur approaches. Jeremy reads approaching minds. Leopold reflects on fear of incompletion, fallen Vatican allies, and the monastery where he found Jeremy. Sends Jeremy to protect children on boat. Prepares dead man's switch evidence package.

While Arthur and Niccolo are trapped in tunnels, Bishop Glasser receives warning from his Vatican protector that an inquiry has been opened. He checks on the children, observes Jeremy and Elena's growing abilities, and orders emergency relocation to the shipyard within 24 hours.

Bishop Glasser receives word that Desiree has been taken by Arthur Vangeest. He tours the underground compound, checking on the sleeping children, and finds Jeremy practicing a disturbing new ability with marbles—moving matter without a living intermediary.

Petro and Suzanne journey to Westminster with Sir Martin. Suzanne vows to make herself useful. In Westminster, Petro trains as a squire while Suzanne excels in academics under Father Aldric. Sir Martin shares his conflicted philosophy about the Church and fighting evil.

Team Three fights through Architect defenses via coolant pipes. Jorin shuts down the Architect core. 200 dead. Victory at terrible cost. Scanner reveals 17 other Architect facilities awakening - and beneath them, a Substrate Containment network. The Architects were wardens, not weapons.

Battle chapter: Cael coordinates combined Scavenger-Confederation assault on Architect facility. Manages Kaelos confrontation, Elara diplomatic attempt (rejected by Architect), observes natural battlefield cooperation emerging.

Team infiltrates Ironworks core, Scavengers perform reverence gestures showing cultural anguish at destroying Progenitor technology, fight through drone encounters, Petyr shows growth under fire, team reaches reactor where Theron mourns the destruction of a masterwork, Architect reveals...

Theron reveals Architect truth: blood-bound constructs with soul-prisons. Cael already tracked the threat independently. Elara's diplomacy approach dismissed. Cael presents three-team assault plan using Theron as decoy for Jorin. Kaelos agrees to combined assault.