Qin Zheng, stunned by Zetian's betrayal, uses his control of the spirit metal to keep his pierced heart pumping and traps Zetian in her own armor. Zetian declares she cannot live freely while he exists, then sheds her armor entirely to escape his control. She grabs Yizhi as Helan boosts them through the corridors, sealing hatches behind them while Qin Zheng pursues, hacking through with his sword.

As they flee, Yizhi confesses he sabotaged the embryo procedure, so the baby is likely Auntie Wei's biological child rather than Zetian's. He admits he had to betray her in some way to earn Qin Zheng's trust. Zetian, conflicted, cannot yet decide whether to believe him.

They reach the uncoupled Stinger Dame and escape the Hive Queen. Sensing Shimin's signature among the trade station wreckage, Zetian directs them to retrieve the shattered Vermilion Bird. They tether the cell containing Shimin's body, but a qì blast from Qin Zheng sends them spiraling into atmospheric reentry. The tether snaps, the Vermilion Bird cell burns up in the sky, and the Stinger Dame's cockpit ejects, parachuting into open ocean.

Floating in the sea with no land in sight, the trio watches a meteor curve toward them: the Hive Queen, descended via a surrendered tribute ship. It freezes the ocean around them. A weakened, half-dead Qin Zheng staggers down to confront Zetian, refusing to kill her and claiming he loved her. Zetian rejects this, declaring he only loved a fantasy version of her.

Just as Qin Zheng reaches for his sword, the ice cracks and the Vermilion Bird, reforged smaller by reentry heat and seemingly alive, bursts from beneath them. It rescues Zetian, Yizhi, and Helan onto its back. Hunduns rise from the ocean and fire on the Hive Queen, forcing Qin Zheng to retreat. The Bird flies them away as Zetian, exhausted and bewildered, loses consciousness on its warm feathers.