Gilad tries the impossible-to reason with a small moody child. In an attempt to spare Syntilla's life while also shutting down her nercomantic plague, he tries to convince her to cease her actions and flee with him away from her captor Imperatrix Virago. As he does we're given the origin of Syntilla's power as well as how Virago became the ruthless force she is today.

Similar to the Yin and Yang of the Green Lanterns being protectors of life and the Black Lanterns being the emissaries of death, we are treated to a deeper look at how the opposing parties mirror each other. Where diplomacy fails though we get some serious action. Gilad shows Virago's bragging champion Kotila just why he's not to be trifled with.

Back in the land of the living, Dr.Mirage and the rest of the heroes do their best to stave off waves of magically charged undead. The war boiling down to Mirage vs Virago in an arcane clash of blades that would make the X-Men's own Magik giddy. The race is on though as Gilad must escape the Deadside in time to save the world and the Geomancer from creeping death and it all hinges on a deal with a devil.