Titus shuts down the Gold Faction to appease the Patricians while Scorpus, suspicious of Tenax's plan, joins the White Faction; Domitian orchestrates a grisly spectacle to show his strength; Tenax meets Ursus, a dangerous man from his past.

To save his image and cement his authority, Titus sends Berenice away and marries his cousin, a Roman; Tenax's dark past is finally revealed, and his chase for Ursus leaves someone dead; Kwame prepares for his fight with Flamma.

A dark day looms over Rome with the eruption of Mount Vesuvius; Titus punishes Marsus and the Patricians involved in a planned coup; Domitian convinces Titus to reinstate the Gold Faction; Tenax is dangerously wounded in battle.

Tenax reveals his past to Cala as she tends to his wounds; Scorpus grows increasingly jealous as the elder Corsi brothers, Andria and Fonsoa, win races for the Gold Faction; Kwame faces Flamma in a rematch; Tenax and Cala face off with Ursus.

Following a devastating racetrack accident, Elia Corsi accuses Scorpus of causing the tragedy; Antonia allows Elia to join the Blue Faction to seek revenge.