Violet and Tairn pursue Theophanie along the mountainside east of Draithus. Violet wields lightning through her conduit, but Theophanie's wyvern dodges every strike. The hail intensifies and a fist-sized chunk of ice shatters Violet's conduit orb, leaving her unable to aim precisely. Violet switches to wielding with sheer volume, but Theophanie disperses her own storm to clear the skies, making it harder for Violet to channel lightning and pushing her closer to burnout. Each successive strike misses as the wyvern proves too fast.

A roar of agony from Sgaeyl fills Violet's mind, and before she can react, a massive weighted net snaps over Tairn, smothering his wings. They plummet down the mountainside, and Violet's left arm breaks on impact. She loses her alloy-hilted dagger in the crash. Using a rune she tempered for emergencies, Violet softens the net's fibers enough to escape, and while freeing herself she discovers a package from Aaric containing a carved marble dagger from Dunne's temple with a note: "Strike in the dark, Violet." Tairn confirms that Sgaeyl has also been netted, meaning both dragons are trapped.

Theophanie approaches on foot to finish them off. Violet stands in front of the still-tangled Tairn and channels his power to strike repeatedly at Theophanie, but the Maven moves with inhuman speed, dodging every bolt. Violet buys time by taunting Theophanie about Unnbriel and her past as a high priestess of Dunne, learning that Theophanie abandoned the temple and cannot return. Theophanie reveals her motivation: "Why serve a god when you can be one?"

Suddenly, an overwhelming wave of shadow erupts from Draithus—Xaden's power unleashed at catastrophic, world-ending scale. The onyx storm engulfs the entire field and plunges everything into darkness. Violet realizes Xaden has crossed a terrifying threshold. She whispers "I love you" down the bond, feeling the ice crack but unable to stop the wave. The shadow throws Theophanie to the ground and frees Tairn from the net.

In her despair, Violet recalls Aaric's note—"Strike in the dark"—and suddenly understands that Aaric is a true precognitive, not like Melgren. He foresaw this moment and sent her the marble dagger forged from Dunne's fractured temple stone. Violet unsheathes the marble dagger, raises her broken arm, and holds a continuous lightning bolt skyward, illuminating the shadow-covered battlefield. The light reveals Theophanie's position and also reveals Andarna, who has returned and blocks Theophanie's escape in her small, silver-blue camouflaged form.

Theophanie reaches toward Andarna with reverence, calling her "Irid." Violet sprints forward and drives the marble dagger into Theophanie's heart. The Maven staggers, bewildered that stone could harm her. Violet tells her that Dunne is wrathful toward high priestesses who betray Her. Theophanie desiccates instantly. Violet releases the bolt, surrenders to the fire of near-burnout, hears Andarna whisper her name, and loses consciousness.