Lyria narrates Ulysses’s burial at the Julii estate on Mars, attended only by Victra, Electra, Pax, Volga, and Lyria. Victra performs the Julii penitential swim toward the setting sun and, upon returning, renews life oaths to Electra and Pax and extends them to Lyria and Volga. She vows to go to war, citing Sevro on Luna and a friend on Mercury, and sets her sights on Atalantia.

Lyria recalls arriving at ruined Olympia after Fá’s sack, finding Volga cradling the disintegrating body of Ephraim. With Sefi dead and Fá now commanding the Obsidians, Pax fears for Mars’s future. Lyria resolves to take Volga to Earth to bury Ephraim in South Pacifica rather than chase vengeance.

The next morning, as Victra grants Lyria and Volga a racing ship, Kieran O’Lykos arrives with Sons of Ares. He reveals that Heliopolis has fallen, the Free Legions were massacred, and Darrow is presumed dead; Lysander has reemerged and Atalantia aims for Luna. He then delivers Fá’s proposal: Fá claims to be Ragnar’s father and will cease violence, free Olympia’s survivors, and depart Mars if given his granddaughter—Volga.

Victra confirms Volga’s parentage: child of Ragnar Volarus and a Terran gladiator named Wrothga. Pressed by the stakes, Kieran urges Volga to accept to save millions. Choosing agency and planning vengeance from within, Volga asks Lyria to bury Ephraim and find Liam, then surrenders herself to the Obsidians. Lyria watches the fleet depart, embittered by the Republic’s bargain.

Pax approaches Lyria to apologize and admits he hacked her medical records, recognizing the strange “parasite” and quoting a phrase linked to Figment, implying deeper knowledge. He reveals Virginia is alive and en route to Mars, offers help locating Liam, and asks Lyria to assist him with a plan connected to her parasite and a hidden city called Oculus.