After the universal broadcast, humanity reassesses the end of the Deterrence Era. Public anger focuses less on Cheng Xin personally than on the political and social process that chose the Swordholder, since many believe an immediate broadcast during the droplet attack would have prevented the Great Resettlement. Cheng Xin is partly spared by her public image and by sympathy for her own suffering, and the controversy gradually fades because the broadcast occurred in the end.

Cheng Xin, however, remains trapped in depression. Although Cheng Xin has regained her sight, Cheng Xin withdraws from society, news, conversation, and even her company. AA cares about Cheng Xin but is too busy to give much time, so Fraisse becomes Cheng Xin's main emotional support.

Fraisse has returned to Australia after the Great Resettlement, donated his house as an Aboriginal cultural museum, and chosen to live primitively in the woods near Warburton. Fraisse keeps only a mobile phone and calls Cheng Xin several times a day with simple descriptions of sunrise, sunset, rain, desert air, and his efforts to clear shelter-house debris. These calls give Cheng Xin a fragile sense of peace and a mental refuge from the world.

One night, Fraisse calls Cheng Xin unusually late and tells Cheng Xin to look at the sky. Cheng Xin, already disturbed by a nightmare of a tomb glowing blue, steps onto the balcony and sees a blue star growing brighter. Cheng Xin recognizes it as Trisolaris, the star humanity has watched for centuries.

The star intensifies until it outshines the city and becomes painfully white, then slowly fades red and disappears after about half an hour. Fraisse calmly tells Cheng Xin not to be afraid because what will happen will happen. The destruction of Trisolaris ends the hopeful doubt about dark forest theory and confirms that the universal broadcast has brought annihilation.