As the Cike race up the Golyn River in cramped sampans, Rin cannot sleep because Chaghan’s Hexagram keeps repeating in her mind. Baji urges Rin to rest and explains that Chaghan once expected to command the Cike, but submitted to Altan after Altan defeated him in a duel. Aratsha’s speed carries the squad toward Golyn Niis in a week, but the journey ends when the river turns red with blood and corpses begin floating around the boats.

The Cike leave the boats and run toward Golyn Niis. They find no Federation patrols, only signs that an army had camped nearby and then moved on. When they force open the city gates, they discover that Golyn Niis has become a city of corpses, with bodies deliberately arranged, mutilated, burned, and displayed. Altan, shaken by the echo of Speer’s genocide, nearly collapses before masking his reaction and ordering the Cike to search for survivors.

Near the southern gate, Rin finds the destroyed insignia of the Second Division, Kitay’s unit. A corpse-fed dog attacks Rin when she tries to drive it away from a dead flag bearer, and Rin kills the dog in a violent breakdown before Suni restrains her and Enki treats the bite. Rin spends days searching the city and calling Kitay’s name until Kitay answers from hiding. Kitay and a few soldiers survived by hiding beneath bodies and later sealing themselves in the ruins.

Kitay briefs Altan, Chaghan, and Qara on the massacre. Golyn Niis had been defended by the Second, Ninth, and Eleventh Divisions, but rivalry among commanders doomed the defense. Irjah was captured and flayed over the wall, the Ninth and Eleventh surrendered and were executed, and the Empress fled with guards. The Federation then looted the city, used gas against the defenders, and turned the slaughter of civilians into sport before marching inland.

As survivors begin emerging from concealed shelters and abandoned prisons, Altan orders the Cike and civilians to search the city and burn bodies to prevent disease and give the dead some form of funeral. Kitay tells Rin that Venka has been found alive in a “relaxation house.” Rin visits Venka and learns that Venka endured prolonged sexual violence, witnessed atrocities against women and children, and now wants vengeance. Venka demands that Rin swear to burn the perpetrators, and Rin does.

Overwhelmed, Rin runs to find Altan, hoping that another survivor of genocide can give her some reason to keep fighting. Suni directs Rin to the library, where Rin finds Altan alone in darkness and smoke. Altan is shirtless, scarred, and smoking opium from a pipe, revealing that even he has retreated into addiction and despair after Golyn Niis.