Aboard the Federation ship Emperor Ryohai, Cike commander Tyr hides in shadow while observing a suspicious patrol near the Nikara border. The ship carries General Gin Seiryu and waits without any visible reconnaissance purpose. Tyr recalls his brutal shamanic initiation into darkness and recognizes that prolonged communion with his goddess is making it harder for him to return safely to the material world.

A disguised Nikara vessel approaches, and Empress Su Daji comes aboard to meet Gin Seiryu. Tyr expects to protect her, but Daji exposes his hiding place and uses her hypnotic power to paralyze him. Channeling an ancient force, she overwhelms his goddess, breaks his mind, and pushes him into the sea, where he drowns helplessly.

Tyr’s death sends a shock through the spirit world. In the Wudang Mountains, the Seer Chaghan perceives Tyr’s destruction, a coming invasion fleet, and the start of war. Chaghan tells Altan Trengsin that Tyr is gone, that the Cike now answer only to Altan, and that the world has changed because gods are walking in humans again. The Gatekeeper also senses the return of an old enemy, while Rin at Sinegard feels the disturbance without understanding it and continues to hear the Phoenix calling to her.

War then begins in a rapid chain of provocations and reprisals. A border skirmish in Horse Province leads to a missing Federation soldier, Ryohai’s formal demand, Daji’s insulting refusal, and Mugen’s declaration of war. Federation troops land at Muriden, massacre the male population, loot the countryside, and march toward the capital. A message reaches Academy commander Jima Lain: Horse Province has fallen, and Mugen is coming for Sinegard.

Rin and Kitay help evacuate civilians and officials as the capital prepares to become a military city. Kitay loses patience with a magistrate who prioritizes valuables over public duty and smashes the magistrate’s teapots to force him to focus on the war. The Academy becomes an encampment for the Eighth Division; first-years and civilians are evacuated, Raban warns that heroism will get children killed, and contingency plans are made for students to flee if Sinegard falls. The military outlook is bleak because the defenders are badly outnumbered and reinforcements may not arrive in time.

As preparations continue, Rin argues with Jiang about using shamanism in battle. Jiang insists that gods are not weapons and warns that the Phoenix’s fire consumed the Speerlies even as it empowered them. Rin believes war may justify the risk, but Jiang refuses and then avoids her. Unable to sleep and increasingly tempted by the Phoenix, Rin still obeys Jiang outwardly, but she secretly steals handfuls of poppy seeds from his garden.