The evacuation of 200 refugees through hidden tunnels begins. Families say farewell to defenders staying behind to buy time. Petro guides the last group and instructs the twin boys to build something better. Brother Marcus confronts the Church army about the morality of murdering families.

Citadel council debates what to do with Petro. He admits he doesn't deserve mercy after killing so many. Debate: execute, exile, or accept him. Elder: "Redemption is not earned. It's chosen daily." Decision: Petro may stay but must face his past. Task to help warn other refugees.

Traq Lain receives news of base camp attack and finds Vivian killed protecting students. His grief triggers an uncontrolled psychic explosion, killing 63 people and destroying 47 minds. Unable to face his friends, Traq flees Parwen on the Adelina, abandoning those he loved.

Worst corruption episode of the campaign. Abigail loses 31 seconds while eating an apple - Mal'akheth pulls unprovoked. She bit through her tongue, gouged earth, crawled toward the void. She remembers wanting to go. Arthur's assessment: days, not weeks.

Past midnight, Dominick writes three drafts of a letter to his husband Marvin — the first two too clinical or too greeting-card, the third written in his authentic voice.

Haatim and Dominick conversation about Arthur preparing to sacrifice himself. Dominick sees the signs - weapons catalogued, secret calls to Frieda, the quiet voice of a man making arrangements.

Ren takes command of twelve scouts, introducing guild-inspired survival-first philosophy and equipping each with alchemy kits. The first patrol achieves perfect return rate versus Jorel 72 percent.

Full war council confronts the unsustainable math: ten seals failing with 3-5 simultaneous collapses expected in weeks and only 30,000 wardens remaining.

The expedition enters the Anchor Chamber—a 60-meter sphere whose walls form a continent-scale conduit nervous system. At the center lies a crystalline remnant of Aethis, a Progenitor scientist who volunteered 10,273 years ago to sustain continental stability.