Meanwhile, at the Sphinx's Fortress, the Terrible Trio continue their invasion. Fearing for his master, Kur runs to alert the Sphinx. The possessor of the Ka Stone informs Kur that he already knows and has planned accordingly. The invaders begin to realize they've been tricked. The Sphinx informs them they are correct. The men they've been fighting are illusions meant to keep the three waiting until he arrived. In an awesome display of power, the Sphinx reveals his true fortress to the Terrible Trio. The Pyramid of Knowledge is a glowing golden structure that is massive in size! The Sphinx patiently offers them the chance to leave or be destroyed. Despite Powerhouse's desire to accept, the other two attack. Diamondhead is tossed aside effortlessly.

Back at the Rider home, Rich changes to Nova to help clear his head. He decides to follow up on information provided to him by Computer Prime. As a result, Nova finds himself at the Sphinx's fortress and in the middle of the battle! The Condor uses an energy sphere weapon he stole from the Nova Prime Starship to trap Nova. As he turns to use the weapon on the Sphinx, the Condor finds it destroyed by the Ka Stone. Powerhouse intervenes and begins a fierce battle with the Sphinx. The third of the Terrible Trio, Diamondhead, joins in and is hurtled into the side of a mountain!

At the same time, Nova has flown to see if Firefly will melt the energy bubble he is trapped in. To no one's surprise, Firefly rejects him.

Nova realizes that his answer lies back at the Westhaven Nuclear Plant. Using one of their generators, Nova is able to melt the bubble and rescue himself. The Human Rocket flies back to the Pyramid and joins in the battle. Powerhouse is the first to feel Nova's fury and they exchange fierce punches. Powerhouse wraps him arms around Nova and begins to drain his energy. Elsewhere, the Condor and Sphinx face each other in their final showdown. Before they can begin, the Sphinx's slave, Kur, steps from the shadow with one of the Condor's weapons. Kur wants revenge on the Sphinx for the years of abuse he has given him. Kur also seeks to take the Sphinx's power and rule the Earth.

The weapon blast misses the Sphinx and hits the Condor instead. The blast immediately empties the Condor's mind and makes him a mental vegetable. Kur tries to tell the Sphinx that he blasted the Condor in order to help him. The Sphinx knows he is lying and knocks him aside. The winged villain is altered by the Sphinx's Ka Stone into his namesake, an actual condor. The bird flies off and the Sphinx realizes that he still doesn't have the answer he seeks.

Meanwhile, Nova has been rendered unconscious by Powerhouse. Powerhouse is also quickly knocked out by a blast from the Ka Stone. The Sphinx stands over them and states that their memories will be probed for the knowledge he desperately needs.