From Petrillo's perspective, Arthur and Haatim argue over strategy—attack Belphegor now versus wait—with Dominick intervening to end it. Later, Petrillo and Emma share a quiet midnight kitchen moment, the first time they use each other's first names, finding a brief pause of humanity amid the war.

Pre-mission farewells the night before the cathedral infiltration. Ren visits each member of his found family: Nella gives a flat 'come back' with a hard grip that conveys what her branded voice cannot; Harsk gives him a forge-mark iron token; Fossick provides stolen officer rations and an...

Two seals fail simultaneously at Keld's Hold and Riverwatch, forcing Gregory to split 20,000 wardens into two independent armies. Before deploying, Tam visits his deceased father Derrin Tam's memorial plaque - a forgemaster who died defending Keld's Hold with civilian militia 26 years ago.

Cael visits imprisoned civil war leader Kael Thorne at the Western Fortress, who has been counting seal tremors through the Progenitor stone walls for eleven months.

Wall-fused defenders ambush the team in a narrow passage. Greaves, Hyne, and Tobin die instantly. Kettel is absorbed into the boneglass wall. Morrow is killed by an adapted defender. Thune fights as a human — messy, afraid, effective. Team reduced from twelve to seven.

Ren attends Callum's third clandestine theological gathering at dusk in the quartermaster's supply clearing. Callum presents suppressed archival evidence of Other Gods - specifically the Turning One - and argues the boneglass is connected to ancient divine entities rather than being mere plague...

Harrowfeld's boneglass district erupts at dawn as something vast awakens beneath the city. The guild evacuates under Maren's command, witnessing the first crystalline-bodied demons emerging from the shattered streets.

Branded Sergeant Volsk confronts Ren at the water station over his private audience with the Hierophant, exposing the deep caste contempt the branded hierarchy holds for unbranded outsiders.

Courtroom battle over stolen DataCorp evidence; Sarah and Becca testify. Lyle gives pivotal technical testimony about the AI targeting system. New section 6: Richard Thorne POV from Georgetown study - monitors trial, manipulates senator, manages media cycle, reveals his patient political...