Alptraum has a horrible nightmare in which he must answer to Sunala on his actions. He tries to justify why he has done what he has done to his Mother, but she will not accept his reasoning.

She then offers him a choice, tear off his right arm and be totally Her son, or be the shadow. When he asks if he can decide before her in Babel, she denies it and tears out the Barsunala. Alptraum then completely becomes the shadow, an amorphous, monstrous, dragon.

The morning, though, is much less terrifying, he simply has a dental checkup!