Before dawn, Paedyn Gray is already awake, dressed, and anxious about the third Trial. Lenny arrives to escort her, surprised that she has anticipated the summons. As they walk, Lenny scolds Paedyn for nearly dying during the fire the night before and admits he could not live with himself if she had. They speak frankly about Blair’s death: Paedyn does not regret killing Blair, though she is unsettled by her own mercilessness, and Lenny notes he has never seen her like that.

They proceed along the tree-lined path toward the Bowl, where Paedyn reflects on her previous passages—first for survival, second as a promise, and now for a title—and mourns Adena, whose death still haunts the arena in Paedyn’s memory. The crowd’s roar swells as they enter, and Paedyn confronts layered memories of the king’s murder, Kai saving her, and her own transformation in this place.

At the arena, Paedyn is pushed toward the Pit as King Kitt watches from the glass box with Calum and the Amplifier. Kitt briefly seems moved to intervene but composes himself and resumes a regal demeanor. Lenny presses a sword into Paedyn’s hand, urges her to win, and says after this he will have to call her queen.

Paedyn descends into the sand, overwhelmed by the size and hostility of the crowd. Kitt formally declares this her final Trial to test brutality: if she completes it, she will have proven bravery, benevolence, and brutality and will become queen. Sights project her image on a large screen for the arena; three of four Sights fix on her with raised arms.

Kitt announces the terms: a fight to the death. Paedyn reels at being ordered to kill. She searches for Kai among the dignitaries, feeling a sudden understanding of how he has felt acting under orders. Kitt then calls for the opponent. Gasps cascade through the spectators as the challenge is named: an Ordinary versus every Elite, the ultimate test.

Footsteps approach behind Paedyn as she struggles to accept the situation. When a voice speaks her name, she turns and locks eyes with the person she loves most, recognizing them instantly and feeling her heart break. The chapter ends on this confrontation.