Kamran reels as Cyrus confirms the horrifying truth behind King Zaal’s serpents. Cyrus explains that Zaal should have died years earlier, but bargained with Iblees to extend his life because Kamran was too young and grief-stricken to rule after his father’s death.

Zaal does not deny the accusation and asks Cyrus to kill him rather than continue. Cyrus reveals the bargain’s cost: the snakes prolong Zaal’s life by feeding on the brains of poor street children. To prove it, Cyrus conjures a mass of flesh and throws it to the serpents, horrifying the assembled guests.

Before Kamran can fully process Zaal’s crime or his own conflicted love for his grandfather, Cyrus summons a sword and impales the willing king through the chest. Kamran charges through the flames in grief and fury, ignoring his burns, and attacks Cyrus. Cyrus insists his fight is not with Kamran and points out that Ardunia now needs its new sovereign.

The realization that Zaal is dead and the empire is now Kamran’s only intensifies Kamran’s rage. Kamran continues fighting, but his burned sword arm fails under Cyrus’s force, and Kamran’s blade falls. As Cyrus raises his sword to finish him, Kamran accepts death while believing he has defended his grandfather and king.

At the last moment, Alizeh screams and rushes through the ballroom toward Kamran, shoving people aside. Kamran, startled and afraid for her safety, warns Alizeh not to come because of the fire.