Bryce regains consciousness amid smoldering ruins, realizing the Gate still stands though her Starborn light is spent. Demons stir in the shadows as she discovers Hunt’s shattered body—legs and an arm torn away, a gaping wound through his back—maimed by the brimstone blast he intercepted to shield her.

With no help answering her screams and Hunt’s angelic healing thwarted by brimstone sorcery, Bryce fights panic. Elsewhere, their allies’ helicopter crashes in Moonwood. Fury’s piloting saves them, but everyone is injured. Surrounded by demons, Ruhn, Tharion, Fury, Flynn, and Amelie arm themselves. Over the radio, Hypaxia and Declan confirm Bryce lives and report Hunt’s likely-fatal state, prompting the group to push toward the Heart Gate.

Returning to Hunt, Bryce anchors herself with a mantra, then approaches the Old Square Gate. Recognizing the Gates as ley-linked conduits and remembering she bears Luna’s Horn, she devises a plan: make the Drop at the Gate to generate firstlight that will surge through the network, repel demons, heal the wounded, and power her to close all open portals—if someone at any other Gate Anchors her by touching the disk.

She pleads into the intercom for anyone to come, but the city answers with silence. Bryce returns to Hunt, comforts him, and confesses her love as his breaths thin. Danika’s voice urges, “Light it up,” intensifying despite Bryce’s despair. As the words echo across every square, the Bone Quarter’s onyx gem ignites like a dark star, signaling an answer to Bryce’s call.