En route to Echronedal’s Castle Klaff, Gurgeh studies while enduring Azadian hostility and heavy gravity. The Fire Planet’s ecology and the castle’s sprinkler-viaduct defenses are introduced. At a dull reception, Gurgeh notices Star Marshal Yomonul confined in a proto-sentient exoskeleton after a wager. Gurgeh then plays a traditional ten-game team match, initially misreads alliance endgames, but rallies to qualify. The Bureau later has him re-stage dull moves and record a fake “fourth-place” exit for propaganda.

Gurgeh defeats Naval Intelligence chief Lo Tenyos Krowo in a dispiriting rout, then draws a three-game set with Yomonul and the ruthless Colonel Lo Frag Traff, who mostly target each other. Gurgeh cruises to victory. Hamin privately urges Gurgeh to refuse playing Nicosar; Gurgeh declines.

At a troshae hunt, Yomonul suddenly turns his weapon on Gurgeh; Gurgeh shoots him with a guard’s laser, but a troshae bowls Gurgeh off the stand. Flere‑Imsaho later confirms Yomonul’s exoskeleton was remotely jammed; Nicosar announces conspirators have been caught and sentences Hamin to death by deprivation. Gurgeh begins the final versus Nicosar, who plays an explicit “Empire” on the boards; Gurgeh recognizes his own “Culture” style and shifts to a militant, sacrificial stance, narrowing the Emperor’s advantage.

On the Board of Becoming, Gurgeh forges a beautiful, decisive strategic net; he foresees Nicosar’s eventual defeat. That night on a battlement, Nicosar strikes Gurgeh and denounces the Culture, hinting at a surprise. Come morning, with shutters still open and storm winds rising, Nicosar places element-cards as explosions destroy Klaff’s viaduct, cisterns, and shelters. The Incandescence arrives early; Guards open fire on the court. Gurgeh’s watching drone is apparently burned down in effector fire, and Nicosar advances with a sword and pistol.

Gurgeh flees across the board; the screening gear falls. Flere‑Imsaho, intact, returns with advanced fields, snaps Nicosar’s sword, and mirrors the Emperor’s laser shot back into his forehead, killing him. The drone cocoons Gurgeh against the firestorm as the cinderbud wall collapses and Klaff burns.

After the fire, amidst ash and ruin, Flere‑Imsaho reveals its true identity and Special Circumstances’ plan: Gurgeh was selected to discredit Azad; the drone had warned Nicosar he was playing for the Empire’s fate; Za is a hired operative; Limiting Factor carried concealed effectors. The Invincible has crashed after a Guards mutiny; a few shelter survivors remain. A module retrieves Gurgeh and the evidence as Klaff smolders.