Hunt tries to revive Bryce’s dead body, repeatedly blasting lightning into her heart while Declan warns she was without oxygen too long. Flynn starts praying, but Hunt shuts it down, furious and desperate. Apollion and Aidas confirm they cannot restore Bryce, and Aidas adds that even Thanatos would be unable to help. Overwhelmed, Hunt screams in grief as their friends watch helplessly.

Hypaxia arrives wearing the Bone Crown, revealing she is now Head of the House of Flame and Shadow, and says she can attempt something—without raising Bryce into an altered half-life. Hypaxia explains that the Under-King is gone, so Bryce’s soul bargain is null and Bryce’s soul is hers again. Hypaxia frames the solution as not a sacrifice but a trade, and summons Jesiba Roga.

Jesiba, emotional despite her usual harshness, offers her own life in exchange for Bryce’s. She reveals Apollion cursed her with immortality, and she intends to give that long Vanir life freely to Bryce—if Bryce will accept it. Apollion objects that the curse applies only to the living, but Hypaxia declares she can work “with the dead,” and begins chanting as time runs short and Bryce’s presence starts “thinning.”

Bryce awakens in a warm, golden afterlife-like place and finds Jesiba beside her. Jesiba confirms Bryce is dead, but tells Bryce she must return to life because Jesiba traded her own life for Bryce’s. Jesiba explains Bryce’s Archesian amulet is a link to Midgard’s oldest innate magic, and that Midgard itself is allowing the trade in gratitude for Bryce’s choices—especially freeing Avallen for the right reasons.

Jesiba gives Bryce the Parthos books and the gallery collection, confessing she fled Parthos long ago to protect the books while others died buying her time; Bryce’s willingness to sacrifice herself mirrors that courage. Bryce sees Danika, Connor, Lehabah, and the Pack of Devils safe in the distance and exchanges joyful farewell words with Danika before they move on. Jesiba points Bryce to a crystal doorway back to life, reminding her Hunt is waiting, and Bryce walks toward the archway to return.