Bryce arrives at the Heart Gate in the Old Square and witnesses the catastrophic result of Micah's use of the Horn: portals to Hel have opened in every one of the seven Gates of Crescent City, not just one. Winged, scaled demons—brutal beasts from the Pit—pour through the quartz archways into the defenseless city. Bryce rushes home, orders her building manager Marrin to get tenants to the basement, leaves Syrinx safely in her apartment with food and water, then gears up on the roof with Danika's leather jacket, the Fendyr sword, and Hunt's handgun and rifle.

Bryce calls Juniper, who is trapped in a bomb shelter near the Heart Gate. Juniper reveals that the shelter occupants are trying to close the doors early and refusing to let humans in. Bryce urges her to hold the doors open, tells Juniper she loves her, and hangs up. She texts Jesiba about the situation and heads into the streets alone to fight demons and direct people to shelter.

Meanwhile, at the Summit, leaders watch the catastrophe unfold on surveillance feeds. Declan confirms portals have opened in every Gate. Hunt and Ruhn demand that forces be redirected from protecting the wealthy FiRo district to the vulnerable parts of the city, but Sabine and the Autumn King refuse, insisting on following established protocols. Isaiah reports the 33rd Legion is being slaughtered in the CBD. Sabine contacts Ithan Holstrom, who is fighting demons outside the locked-down Den, and orders him to hold position. Flynn and Tharion scramble to coordinate defenses. Hypaxia orders her witches to suit up and head into the city, declaring she'd rather die fighting than watch from safety.

On the surveillance screens, everyone sees Bryce running through the streets—not fleeing, but fighting. Declan isolates her voice as she screams at people to get into the shelters. She fights with practiced skill, using sword and gun to cut down demons. Hunt realizes she is heading toward the Meadows, the most defenseless district, full of humans with no magic or supernatural strength.

Bryce pushes deeper into the city, exhausting her handgun ammunition and switching to Hunt's rifle. She cuts through demons with Danika's sword, drawing on every hour of combat training Randall gave her in the mountains. The chapter ends with Bryce pressing forward through the carnage, determined to reach those who need help most.