Darrow springs a trap on the Jackal, pinning his hand to a table and exposing the ambush hidden in Jupiter’s keep. The Jackal coolly offers patronage through his powerful father, but Darrow refuses. When Darrow declares the Jackal can go only by severing his trapped hand, the Jackal accepts, revealing a ruthless willingness to sacrifice flesh for advantage.

Pax arrives, jubilant after capturing hidden foes, but Proctors intervene. A sonic device detonates as the Jackal slashes Pax’s throat with an ionBlade. Pax hurls himself over Darrow, absorbing repeated blows meant for Darrow, and dies. Grief hardens the Howlers into a hunt, and they pursue the fleeing Jackal into a storm.

In the mountains, an invisible Proctor shields the Jackal. Apollo decloaks, scatters the Howlers with pulse blasts, and snatches Darrow into the sky. Apollo threatens to “ruin” Mustang unless Darrow loses to the Jackal in their next clash, revealing the Proctors’ direct coercion.

Noticing Apollo’s shield is down while he grips Darrow’s hair, Darrow activates stolen gravBoots and drives his knifeRing through Apollo’s visor and eye, killing the Peerless Scarred as Apollo falls into the snow below.

Landing by his stunned pack, Darrow announces Mustang has been taken. With the Jackal secondary and Pax dead, Darrow redirects the pack’s fury toward Olympus, vowing to strike the Proctors’ seat to rescue Mustang.