The Maximals set to work completing repairs on their engines. Paladyne travels back to the gnome city to keep company with Clockwork and to teach him some of what he has learned about the gnomes' language and writing. While he is there, Clockwork mentions that he knows Paladyne kept the magical book that the gnomes are looking for. Paladyne says he feels the book is too dangerous for anyone to have, and refuses Clockwork's suggestion that he should give it back to the gnomes.
On the final day of engine repairs, the ship's proximity alarm is disrupted by a very persistent lifeform signature. Rift ignores the alarm until he realizes that whomever it is, it apparently has the power to destroy the autoguns on the ship. Shadowraith steps outside and encounters a young girl on horseback. This is Fiora, the apprentice mage that Rift encountered in Carriton. She states that she has been searching for the Maximals, as many of the Emperor's men and the city's force of paladins have been engaged in combat with a force of anti-paladins from Vertoss. After a priest of Samhien—the good god of light—gave a sermon denouncing Threshtar as little more than a celestial visitor rather than a true god, the Dragon Knights attacked the city's great temple. Killing many of the priesthood, the evil knights held the high priest and lord paladin hostage demanding that the Maximals renounce their claim. The Maximals have ten days to respond to this threat, and five of them have already passed.
Despite this urgency, the Maximals decide they will continue to work on their engines. Work will be complete in another day, giving them low-atmosphere travel, means enough to arrive at the city in time. Fiora camps by the ship, and the next day, they are ready for flight. The Maximals give the mage and her horse a ride. The ship takes off, first going to the gnome city to pick up the missing members of the party. Using the wand of Dispel Magic, the Maximals are able to transport Clockwork from the city to their ship, where he will have to stay until more permanent means of fixing his problem are found. After he is secured, the ship moves on to Carriton, landing in the Emperor's courtyard.
The Maximals rush to the temple, and confront the anti-paladins. When they are asked to deny their claim that Threshtar is not a god, Paladyne is very vocal in his protest. The leader of the anti-Paladins, Sir Karsh, pulls out the "enchanted" gift given to him by his god-a proton blaster. However, the other knights have not yet reached his rank, and fight the Maximals with axe, spell, and sword. A darkness spell causes some problems on the battlefield, but is countered with the Dispel Magic wand. Rift attacks the Knights' commander, and when Karsh continually refuses to denounce his god, Rift breaks his hand, then battles him unarmed until he passes out. Divine concentration on the part of the gathered priests begins to build up a glowing energy around the dark knight's dropped shield, which is marked with a Predacon symbol. A knight that rallies behind the shield is shot by Shadowraith. When one of the evil clerics then tries to lift the shield, Paladyne cuts it in half, also cutting off the cleric's arm. The battle is difficult, but is tipped toward the side of the Cybertronian firepower, and the Maximals are victorious. Some of the dark knights retreat, and are captured outside. The last remaining knight, flanked by two clerics (including the one Paladyne injured) surrenders. He declares that he believes the Maximals' story, and will no longer worship Threshtar as a god.