As the crater watches, Raeve learns from Saiza that Kaan has called for six, an unheard-of number in this kind of fight. Kaan chooses a small toothed knife, removes his boots, and orders Rygun to stand down no matter how the battle ends. Rygun resists with a furious display of flame before finally taking to the sky, while Raeve, weakened by poison and blood loss, struggles to stay upright.

During the delay, Saiza notices the many old runes scarred across Raeve’s body and covers her with a blanket. Raeve says nothing about what those marks mean, but the moment underlines how damaged and repeatedly remade her body has been. When the wind settles and the crowd steadies, Kaan and Hock face each other again in the crater center.

The fight is brutal and direct, with neither man giving ground. Hock attacks with the same spiked mace that killed Zaran, and Raeve watches in growing panic as Kaan takes wound after wound. Even while the antivenom slowly helps her, Raeve becomes so distressed by Kaan’s injuries that her knees give out and Saiza lowers her to the rug.

Hock presses his advantage, but Kaan accepts a heavy blow in order to seize Hock’s arm. He uses the toothed blade to tear through Hock’s inner bicep, making Hock drop the mace, then grabs Hock by the hair, exposes his throat, and deliberately saws through it. Hock dies screaming, and Kaan carries the severed head to Raeve as proof of victory.

Seeing Hock dead brings Raeve cold relief, but it also sharpens her fear of attachment and loss. Kaan crouches before her, bloodied and dangerous, and Raeve responds by placing his malmr around her own neck, silently accepting the bond between them. Kaan gathers her into his arms, leaves the crater with her, and Raeve loses consciousness after he asks her not to frighten him like that again.