Captain Kristi Grove plans her next move against Darius in the Union. Jamir warns her about political consequences and assassination risks, which she dismisses.

Haatim confronts Aram inside the ritual circle as the convergence accelerates. He reveals the team is using the convergence as their weapon against Mal'akheth, not trying to stop it.

The final battle begins. Haatim coordinates the three-point breach of the refugee camp. Abigail devastates the south cordon with golden power while managing corruption output. Haatim enters the warehouse to organize civilian evacuation.

Abigail crosses the corruption threshold during Belphegor's assault. Seven seconds of lost control — the corruption pilots her body toward Haatim. Arthur's voice and Haatim's Gift create a crack she tears herself through.

Ren leads an underground infiltration during the assault on the eastern cathedral, stealing pre-Immaculate documents from a buried archive before Lethane's channeling strike destroys it. Scout Holt dies to a fleeing wounded demon during extraction.

Bryce becomes the indispensable anchor for the reflection technique, stepping into each mage formation and providing network-resonant power no circle can sustain alone.

On the night before his descent, Cael takes the midnight watch at the surface camp and watches the stars. Mira joins him with water. They discuss Sera breakdown, Cael clinical death experience, and his real fear — not dying but losing himself in the anchor.

Nella plants a garden in contaminated Sunderlands soil — branded hands doing the gentlest work possible. She can't remember plant names but remembers how to grow them. Ren helps dig and carry water. Callum brings herb cuttings.

The army marches toward the Crucible. Ren inventories the force from the column's edge: Nella marching with branded precision, three brands visible; Harsk steady beside the forge, hands shaking only when idle; Fossick managing logistics with seventeen days of rations; Callum's reformist...