Episode 2 of "Néro the Assassin" erupts with a harrowing scene: a fanatical man stands before a gathering of villagers, preaching a twisted doctrine of penance. His eyes burn with fervor as he declares that the only way to lift the crippling drought is for the villagers to atone through self-mutilation. In a chilling display, he seizes a villager and, without hesitation, severs the man's ear. The onlookers stand frozen in terror, their cries muffled by fear, powerless to intervene.
Meanwhile, in a tense standoff, Néro presses a blade to Hortense's throat, his voice low and menacing as he orders her to tell Lothar that they must traverse the river. Lothar, ever cautious, questions this sudden directive, warning that crossing the river risks an encounter with the very penitents who now instill fear in the hearts of the townsfolk. Sensing an underlying deceit, he maintains his composure, choosing to play along rather than provoke a confrontation.
Back in the town, Rochemort's world crumbles when he discovers Néro has absconded with his daughter. Panic grips him as he rallies his men, spurring them into a frantic chase to intercept Hortense's carriage before it's too late.
Inside the carriage, Perla, with an air of brashness, introduces herself to Hortense, her demeanor remaining as abrasive as ever. Suddenly, the carriage lurches to a halt, and outside, Lothar and his soldiers have Néro and his companions surrounded. With authority, Lothar places them under arrest, but Horace, desperate to clear their name, pleads their case, insisting their intentions are to rescue Perla. Just as the tension reaches its peak, the distant thunder of Rochemort's approaching cavalry echoes through the air.
Seizing the moment, Néro recounts the tale of the one-eyed woman and the dark arts she wields, but his words fall on deaf ears, dismissed as madness. In a bold move, Néro confesses to murdering Hortense’s lover, revealing it was done under Rochemort’s direct command. He then dares Lothar to request the honor of personally escorting him to the judge, a calculated move to gauge Rochemort's true reaction.
True to form, Rochemort's refusal is swift and furious, escalating the tension to a boiling point. The soldiers, sensing the shift in power dynamics and fearful of Rochemort's wrath, abandon Lothar en masse. In a surprising twist, Lothar, recognizing the web of deceit, sets Néro free. But their reprieve is short-lived as the one-eyed woman materializes, her presence ominous. With a supernatural grip, she begins to throttle Néro, her voice a raspy whisper demanding to know the whereabouts of her daughter.
Perla steps out from the shadows, revealing herself, and in a flash of fury, Néro plunges his blade into her stomach. He glares menacingly, his voice a low growl as he threatens to end her life if the persistent woman doesn't withdraw. Undeterred, the woman retaliates with lethal precision, slaying one of Rochemort’s men who dared to defy her. The remaining soldiers, their resolve crumbling, surrender their weapons, paving a narrow path of escape for Néro, Horace, Lothar, and the wounded Perla.
As they journey onward, Néro tends to Perla’s injury, his hands deftly stitching the wound closed. He murmurs an explanation, his words a feebly attempted deception aimed at the witch. Soon after, with a cold calculation, he casts Lothar from the carriage, leaving him behind in the dust. Meanwhile, Rochemort, in a fit of rage, dispatches the other soldiers and barks orders to his men, demanding they retrieve Hortense at any cost.
The witch, her eyes gleaming with malevolent intent, issues a stern warning not to meddle with Perla. She ensures her presence remains a constant shadow over their flight. They arrive at the riverbank, only to discover it has withered to a trickle. Desperate locals, their faces etched with hunger, surround them, pleading for scraps of food. In a moment of reluctant compassion, they leave their horses behind and brave the parched riverbed on foot. Unbeknownst to them, a man cloaked in black trails silently on horseback, his eyes fixed on their every move.
On another front, the witch and Rochemort’s men draw inexorably closer. As Néro and his companions press on, they stumble upon more gruesome scenes—bodies left lifeless by the penitents’ wrath. In the solitude of the forest, Néro continues to nurse Perla’s wounds, his voice a soothing balm as he recounts tales of her mother. He volunteers to gather roots to ease Perla’s suffering, but fate has a cruel twist in store. Lothar, lurking in the shadows, overpowers and arrests him.
The rest of the group, unaware of Néro’s plight, presses on, assuming he has abandoned them. Perla, her guard up, narrowly evades capture by the witch and Rochemort’s men. As night falls, they seek refuge in the ruins of an ancient structure. Perla, resourceful as ever, scavenges lizards for their meager supper.
Horace, his voice heavy with unspoken dread, confides in Hortense, warning that dire consequences await if the witch ever finds Perla. Yet, he remains tight-lipped about the true nature of Perla’s peril. Later that night, in a moment of dark impulse, Horace attempts to silence Perla in her sleep, but his conscience stays his hand.
The following morning, Hortense awakens before anyone else and slips away to relieve herself. As she steps outside, she catches sight of her father's men alongside Zineb. Desperate, she pleads with them to take her back home. But fate takes a cruel turn as the witch suddenly appears, seizing Hortense by the neck and demanding to know Perla's whereabouts. Zineb, acting swiftly, intervenes, creating a precious opening for Hortense to bolt. While the others stay behind to confront the witch, their valiant efforts prove futile against her dark powers.
Amidst the chaos of the battle, Hortense manages to locate Horace and Perla. Together, the trio makes a desperate dash for safety. As they flee, the witch's eyes lock onto the enigmatic figure clad in black, and fear grips her, prompting her to turn tail and vanish.
Meanwhile, in Segur, Rochemort arrives, laden with ten million ducats, eager to meet with the prince. His mood sours when he learns the prince is unavailable. When questioned about Hortense's whereabouts, Rochemort lies, claiming she is on her way.
Back in the wilderness, Hortense, Horace, and Perla stumble upon a group of penitent soldiers. Their hopes for aid are dashed as they are promptly arrested. Lothar and Néro, hearing their cries for help, rush to their aid. However, they arrive too late to prevent the trio from being dragged to a village ruled by a sadistic priest, infamous for his gruesome acts of penance involving the mutilation of body parts.
