Cassius seizes control as Ascomanni berserkers and falling missiles plunge Heraklion’s evacuation into pandemonium. The trio sprints for a shuttle, but a blinding strike obliterates it, scattering civilians and defenders. Lyria is battered in the crush until she reunites with Cassius and Sigurd, who decide they cannot hold the sealift.

They escape across a bridge into the low city, leaping between jump pads while gunships rake the skyline and orbital lances topple buildings. Grays briefly down a gunship, but retaliation levels their perch. With the city collapsing behind them, they reach the acropolis’s eerily intact gardens.

Amid statues, silent Gold elders, and a harpist’s song, Sigurd warns that Ascomanni have landed. Fearing his Gold armor will expose the rendezvous, Cassius reluctantly departs via gravBoots. Sigurd has Lyria kneel and keep silent as a red-painted Ascomanni pack confronts them, demanding the “slave” and loot.

Before blood is shed, two Obsidians—Gudmund the Jolly and Fenrir—thunder in, invoke Names, and intimidate the raiders into backing off. Gudmund hoists Lyria and they launch to a waiting corvette as more enemy ships descend over the city.

Aboard the corvette, Sigurd reveals Fá marked him for surrendering to Darrow and must depart to avoid detection. He entrusts Lyria to Gudmund and Fenrir, who will deliver her as “loot” to Volga’s hunting party. As Heraklion burns behind them, Lyria braces to continue the mission to free Volga.