Confrontation opens with Natalie facing a man who claims the slain beasts and orders his Netherwolf to seize the remains and capture "the woman Alex wants." Natalie refuses and kills the attackers, but a flea among the carcasses reveals unexpected power: it detects medium-grade lifeblood, multiplies into clones, triggers a Hive Blast and drinks blood to evolve. The flea morphs into Qyren's mythic beastling, gains a new skill, then shrinks and grows drowsy from the transformation. The sudden evolution gives Natalie a chance to win the trial, but the beast's post-evolution lethargy makes victory precarious.