Lidia shoots the Hawk and two dreadwolves, then immediately triggers an escape plan, warning Hunt Athalar, Baxian, and Ruhn Danaan they have less than two minutes to reach a vehicle. She unlocks Hunt and Baxian from gorsian shackles and strips the stone from Ruhn, restoring his magic but revealing he is missing a hand and barely conscious. Despite her injured, bandaged arm, Lidia supports Ruhn and forces the group into motion.

Lidia drags them through corridors and stairs to an above-ground parking garage, where an imperial open-air jeep waits. She orders Baxian to man the mounted machine gun, packs Hunt into the back despite his wings, and drives with aggressive precision through the crowded military garage. At the first guard station, Baxian sprays the guards before they can react, and Lidia plows through the checkpoint and barrier, escaping into the Eternal City.

Declan Emmet contacts Lidia over the radio, confirming everyone is alive and warning of heavy guards at the bridge gates. Lidia accelerates straight through the gate station while Baxian shoots down an angel who attacks from above. They smash through the barricade and race into city streets, where Tristan Flynn’s van appears to provide cover; Flynn is stunned by Ruhn’s missing hand but immediately joins the firefight against pursuers.

Over the radio, multiple teams report readiness at major Spine depots, culminating with Irithys—Queen of the Fire Sprites—confirming she can ignite the Eternal City’s target. On Lidia’s command, coordinated explosions begin detonating across the rail depots, destroying the Spine’s supply line and pulling imperial attention away from the escape. Lidia explains the blasts are both a distraction and a strategic necessity for Ophion’s survival, while pedestrians and imperial forces rush toward the infernos instead of the fleeing vehicles.

Near the city wall, alarms sound and a metal grate begins to drop to seal the gates. Baxian cuts down the guards, and Lidia orders everyone to duck as she drives under the descending grate at the last second; the gun mount is torn off, leaving them under-armed, but the gate slams shut behind them, blocking ground pursuit from the city. Outside in the countryside, Declan relays that Irithys escaped, but Mordoc and two dozen dreadwolves also slipped out before the lockdown and are closing fast. With limited ammunition, Lidia commits to the next phase: Declan must position the ship at planned coordinates and prepare the hatch for an aerial landing.