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Langdon enters the oblong room and recognizes it as the Church of Illumination, filled with Illuminati symbols. He finds the Hassassin standing over Vittoria, who is bound but alive, and demands that the killer release her. The Hassassin threatens Vittoria with a knife, then suddenly throws it at Langdon, narrowly missing him.

Langdon tries to hold the Hassassin off with a rusted iron bar, but the killer keeps circling, deliberately tiring him and controlling the space. During the standoff, Langdon sees an ancient pentagonal chest containing the five Illuminati brands for earth, air, fire, water, and the Illuminati diamond’s components. Langdon also notices an empty central compartment meant for a larger square brand, revealing the existence of a sixth brand.

The distraction lets the Hassassin disarm Langdon and take control of the iron bar. As the killer backs Langdon around the room, he explains that the sixth brand represents the perfect union of the elements and is held by Janus, the Illuminati leader. The Hassassin reveals that Janus is on his way to Vatican City to perform the final branding on the camerlegno, who has become the Illuminati’s most dangerous public enemy.

Langdon realizes that Janus is likely the supposed 11th Hour Samaritan whom the Vatican is expecting to admit, meaning the Illuminati leader will be welcomed inside. The Hassassin forces Langdon onto the balcony and pushes him over the railing, leaving him hanging above the courtyard. Just as the Hassassin prepares to kill Langdon, Vittoria frees herself and burns the Hassassin’s back with a torch.

Langdon climbs back onto the balcony and helps Vittoria fight the wounded Hassassin. Vittoria burns the killer’s eye, strikes him with the torch, and then she and Langdon shove him over the railing. The Hassassin falls to his death on the cannonballs below, and Vittoria explains her escape by saying, “Houdini knew yoga.”