Ainsley and Tucker begin their trial round by charging the field with only their weapons, intending to kill both hellboars before rescuing any mannequins. Their strategy fails because the boars are nearly unstoppable in a straight charge. Ainsley falls and is struck, and Tucker is almost gored before both boars explode; Sel calmly calls for medical help, disqualifies them, and reminds the remaining Pages that the clock is still running.

Bree and Sydney rush into the arena and follow their rescue plan. Bree carries the heaviest mannequin first while Sydney kills the pursuing boar with a thrown dagger. Bree delivers the mannequin, returns for the next one, and trips over Sydney’s dagger, causing the mannequin to land loudly and draw the remaining boar’s attention.

To protect the mannequin, Bree grabs Sydney’s dagger and draws the boar away, telling Sydney to get the mannequin to safety. Bree discovers the boar has poor eyesight but strong hearing and smell, then climbs a tree to escape its reach. Using her cudgel as a distraction, Bree leaps onto the boar’s back and drives Sydney’s dagger into its neck; the boar throws Bree off but collapses, allowing Bree and Sydney to reach the finish just as the whistle blows.

Bree and Sydney are the only team from their round to pass, since Celeste and Mina lose two mannequins. The victorious Pages gather while the eliminated ones react with grief and blame. Bree feels uncertain about where she belongs, caught between the successful group and the eliminated Pages.

The trial’s aftermath is interrupted when Victoria cries out for Nick. Sel reacts instantly and races into the trees, followed by the others. A massive hellsnake bursts into the arena with Nick trapped in its coils, and the Awakened Legendborn begin summoning aether weapons and armor.

Sel reaches the hellsnake first without forming a weapon. Wrapped in silver-blue aether, Sel climbs the creature, mounts its head, and drives both arms into its eyes until it dies. The hellsnake collapses and releases Nick alive, revealing both the danger facing the Order and Sel’s terrifying power.