Bryce leans against the glowing Old Square Gate, exhausted but aware that her starlight is keeping the Gate sealed. She doesn't know how long the light will hold or whether help will arrive before her strength gives out. Meanwhile, on the helicopter approaching Lunathion, Fury reports that Declan confirms Bryce's location and Hypaxia notes Bryce is nearly immobile from draining her power. The team debates how to get Bryce to the remaining open Gates.

Fury spots three war machines approaching from the west, initially raising hope of reinforcements—but Declan and Hypaxia identify them as Asterian Guard tanks armed with brimstone missile launchers. Hypaxia urgently tells the Autumn King and the wolf Prime to evacuate their forces. The group realizes the Asteri have sent the Guard to obliterate the demons, the Gates, and Bryce herself, regardless of civilian casualties. Fury repeatedly orders the tanks to abort, but the Asterian Guard ignores her, and Imperial Command refuses all calls.

The tanks halt outside the city walls, aim their launchers, and fire. The first volley of brimstone missiles—hyperconcentrated angelic magic bound with firstlight—arcs over the walls and strikes the Moonwood neighborhood. The blast devastates several blocks. Bryce, who had sprinted toward shelter when she recognized the missiles, is caught in the shockwave. Her leg becomes pinned under concrete and iron. Despite her injuries healing faster than normal—possibly due to the Horn fused in her back—she cannot free herself from the rubble.

On the helicopter, Declan confirms Bryce is alive but trapped. The Asterian Guard reloads and prepares to fire again, adjusting their aim as if targeting Bryce specifically. Hunt formulates a desperate plan: he tells Fury to take the helicopter as high as possible, intending to jump. Though his wings are still weak and he cannot truly fly, he doesn't need sustained flight—only a controlled fall. Fury complies, and as the helicopter soars over the city walls, Hunt unstraps himself from the gunner position. Ruhn looks at him with gratitude, understanding what Hunt is about to sacrifice.

Hunt leaps from the helicopter in what he knows is a one-way trip. Below, he sees Bryce curling into a ball as the second volley of brimstone launches. The closest missile's trajectory will strike about ten blocks from the Old Square, but the blast zone will still reach her. As the missile impacts and the city ruptures in a wave of destruction, Hunt spreads his wings, unleashes his lightning, and throws himself over Bryce to shield her as the world shatters around them.