Bryce boards the barge and recognizes a wingless Hunt with Viktoria and Justinian as buyers. Before she can process it, Micah arrives with Isaiah, Naomi, and legionaries, aiming weapons at Hunt’s group. The Viper Queen admits she leaked word of the shipment to lure out buyers, claiming Hunt sought synth.

Micah states Hunt’s cell planned to distribute synth to rebels to break halos and strike again. Under Bryce’s questioning, Hunt admits learning about synth days earlier and, after seeing the trial footage, trying to stop the deal. Micah and Hunt then assert Danika stole and sold synth, used it herself, and likely killed the two CCU students who caught her stealing the Horn.

Micah further explains that obsidian salt in synth can open portals and summon the kristallos in high doses, linking recent murders to users. Bryce reels as she realizes Hunt knew for nearly a week. Fury arrives unseen, forces the Viper Queen to back off, and positions herself beside Bryce.

Hunt insists he came to end the deal, but Bryce, feeling betrayed by his lies and omissions, rejects him and hurls the white opal at him. Isaiah shackles Hunt with gorsian manacles as Micah orders arrests. Fury warns Micah away from Bryce and extracts her on a wave skimmer, with Tharion escorting, while Hunt is taken into custody.