Chapter Summaries

Leon transformed into the First-Rank Sin Punishment Holy Spirit, declaring himself the Sword of the Divine Lord. His transformation inspired other players to seek the same path, but the Sword of Sin Punishment rejected them for impure or conflicted faith.

• Leon let the Sword of Sin Punishment dissolve his body and soul, then reassembled as a Holy Spirit with a link to the Divine Kingdom.
• Adams asked if the new figure was Leon, and the Holy Spirit replied that Leon was a name from the past and that he was the Sword of the Divine Lord.
• Martin rushed to the sword, hoping to become an immortal Holy Spirit, but it judged his faith conflicted and his desire excessive.
• Other players tried to ascend by touching the sword, but it rejected them for impure faith and personal motives.
• Adams watched the frustrated players and realized that becoming a Holy Spirit had requirements.

The players in the Court of Sin Punishment learned that Holy Spirit Ascension demanded pure faith, while Jackson urged North American survivors to reject the Eastern deity. Adams then shared Leon’s transformation into a Holy Spirit, leaving the survivors envious and divided.

• Adams told the rejected players that Leon had succeeded because his faith was genuine, while theirs was clouded by desires for power and immortality.
• Jackson warned more than a thousand displaced North American players that the eight paths to godhood were a conspiracy to enslave them, stirring many to resist.
• A female player and a one-armed warrior questioned whether the survivors could afford to reject divine protection, recalling their losses and the deity’s rescue from the Rotten Monarch.
• Adams posted a warning that Holy Spirit Ascension rejected opportunists, then shared a video of Leon transforming into the Sin Punishment Holy Spirit.
• North American players watched Leon’s transformation and reacted with envy and jealousy.

After a video of Leon becoming a Sin Punishment Holy Spirit stirred North American players to envy, a Global Infection awakened in their war zone and offered them the Divine Authority to steal others’ powers. Jackson embraced the new path and led the crowd in demanding everything Yan Country’s players possessed.

• Jackson tried to convince the North American players that Leon had become a mindless puppet, but a one-armed warrior argued that survival mattered more than freedom and honor.
• The one-armed warrior’s words drew support from players who were tired of living in ruins without enough food or ammunition, leaving Jackson’s influence in doubt.
• A green haze filled the sky, and a Global Infection called the Shadow of Jealousy offered the players the power to steal whatever others possessed.
• The one-armed warrior and the crowd imagined taking Yan Country’s powers and equipment, while Jackson welcomed the infection as their own divine path.
• Jackson urged the players to take everything from Yan Country, and the crowd roared its agreement.

Green mist granted the players the Authority of Theft, turning their envy into power and driving them to plunder one another. Jackson stopped the fighting and rallied them to attack the Court of Sin Punishment and steal Leon’s wings.

• Green tendrils entered the players and transformed their envy into sinister power.
• A one-armed warrior stole his companion’s life force and grew a demonic arm, while a scrawny player stole a knight’s Heartguard Mirror.
• The players began stealing equipment, skills, and life force from one another, leaving nearly a hundred dead or stripped of their possessions.
• Jackson used his power to halt the infighting and urged the players to target their enemies instead.
• Jackson commanded his warriors to attack the Court of Sin Punishment and take everything from the traitors, including Leon’s wings.

Jackson led more than a thousand players corrupted by Jealousy Infestation toward the Court of Sin Punishment, where Adams and Leon prepared to face the approaching threat. The Sword of Sin Punishment warned of a massive source of Sin Karma, and Adams recognized Jackson at the head of the mutated army.

• Jackson sent the envious players to plunder the Court of Sin Punishment, and they stripped a Corrupted Giant Lizard of its abilities and body parts through the Power of Theft.
• At the Court of Sin Punishment, Adams urged players who had failed Holy Spirit Ascension to prove their worth by fighting Corrupted Creatures and purifying their hearts.
• The Sword of Sin Punishment flashed red as Leon sensed a large-scale source of infestation approaching.
• Adams ordered everyone to take battle positions and saw an army of more than a thousand mutated players sweeping toward the courtyard.
• Adams recognized Jackson, the guild leader of the Wings of Freedom, at the front of the army.

Jackson led the corrupted Wings of Freedom against the Court of Sin Punishment, using Jealousy Theft to cripple the defenders’ equipment and powers. Holy Spirit Leon proved immune to their theft and unleashed cleansing light that destroyed more than a hundred infested players.

• Adams recognized former allies Mark and Sarah among the grotesquely corrupted attackers and urged the defenders to hold their ground.
• Jackson flew above the green horde, mocked Adams, and offered the defenders a chance to join him or be stripped of everything.
• Jackson’s Jealousy Theft rusted a warrior’s shield, drained a mage’s mana, and snapped an archer’s bowstring, shaking the defensive line.
• Leon declared that Sin Karma would be cleansed and formed a sphere of pure white light as Jackson ordered his followers to attack.
• The attackers’ theft failed against Leon’s divine protection, and he sent the sphere into the horde, vaporizing more than a hundred players afflicted by Jealousy Infestation.

Holy Spirit Leon erased over a hundred corrupted players, prompting Jackson to devour his own followers and absorb their power. Transformed by the slaughter, Jackson attacked Leon with a concentrated blast called Gluttony of Ten Thousand.

• Leon erased over a hundred players afflicted by Jealousy Infestation with a single holy attack, terrifying the survivors.
• Jackson realized his Power of Theft could not affect Leon and decided to take his followers' power for himself.
• Jackson drained Mark until he died, then hunted down and devoured fleeing players to strengthen himself.
• Jackson transformed into a towering, demonic figure as fewer than a hundred of his original thousand followers remained.
• Jackson challenged Leon and hurled the concentrated Power of Jealousy at him with Gluttony of Ten Thousand.

Leon purified Jackson’s attack and destroyed him with the Sword of Sin Punishment. Jackson’s body and stolen power were erased, leaving the Court of Sin Punishment’s players to witness his defeat.

• Jackson hurled a dark-green sphere powered by the resentment of nearly a thousand devoured players at Leon.
• Leon’s Divinity overcame the sphere’s corruption and purified its energy and the trapped players’ resentment.
• The Sword of Sin Punishment sent a crimson-streaked beam to Leon, who formed it into a light sword as corrupted players fled.
• Leon swung the Blade of Judgment, erasing Jackson’s stolen power, demonic body, and life.

After Leon destroyed Jackson, he warned that Sin Karma was spreading and other sins were awakening across the continent. Night Cherry Tangle descended and created the War Ladder, giving players a clear path to grow stronger by fighting Sin Creatures and earning rewards.

• Leon’s sword strike erased Jackson, and Adams ordered the remaining Envy-infected players hunted down.
• Leon warned Adams and the Court of Sin Punishment that Envy had spread and other forms of Sin Karma were awakening.
• Night Cherry Tangle descended, absolved Adams of blame, and summoned the War Ladder.
• Night Cherry Tangle explained that kills, purifications, and successful defenses would earn Ladder Points that determined players’ rank and rewards.
• Night Cherry Tangle revealed the Sin Origin Furnace, where players could turn Sin-tainted spoils into War Insignia for equipment, potions, or increased strength.

After the players failed to ascend as Holy Spirits, Night Cherry Tangle introduced the War Ladder as a new path to power and explained that the Seven Sin Gods were invading the world. The players charged after Envy’s remnants, and Hank earned the first points by killing a mutated mage.

• The War Ladder appeared on the players’ Personal Terminals, prompting them to race for points and War Insignias.
• Adams asked Night Cherry Tangle why the War Ladder had stirred the players, and Night Cherry Tangle explained that they understood leveling up better than faith.
• Night Cherry Tangle revealed that the Seven Sin Gods were invading the world and that Jackson had been Envy’s first pawn.
• Night Cherry Tangle described trials in different parts of the world as paths for mortals to gain strength and return Faith Power to the gods.
• Hank killed a fleeing mutated mage and received 10 War Ladder points.

Hank discovered that corrupted equipment could be sacrificed to the Sin Origin Furnace for War Insignias, giving players supplies to support their climb up the War Ladder. Night Cherry Tangle appointed Holy Spirit Leon as Order Executor and warned that fighting among players would bring expulsion and a points reset.

• Hank earned 10 points for killing an enemy and found a cursed Corrupted Mana Ring on the mage's corpse.
• Hank sacrificed the ring to the Sin Origin Furnace, which smelted it into three War Insignias exchangeable for supplies and buffs.
• Players returned to the plaza to sacrifice corrupted equipment, earn insignias, and check their points rankings.
• Adams frowned at the players' excitement over points and rankings while Night Cherry Tangle surveyed the crowd.
• Night Cherry Tangle appointed Holy Spirit Leon as Order Executor and forbade infighting, threatening violators with a points reset and expulsion from the ladder.

After a Gargoyle fight, Mike felt overlooked when Roderick received the best loot and praise despite Mike risking his life as the off-tank. His resentment drew the attention of a mysterious presence offering him power.

• Night Cherry Tangle warned the players that the gods would punish anyone who cheated or attacked teammates on the stairs.
• Roderick's team fought a mutated Gargoyle, with Mike taunting it while Mary prepared her Ice Spear.
• Mary wounded the Gargoyle with Extreme Cold Pierce, and Roderick shattered it with a shield charge.
• Roderick claimed a Gold Quality Guardian's Bulwark, while Mike was left with his battered Bronze Tier shield and a basic healing potion.
• Mike rejected Mary's potion and resented the praise and upgrade Roderick received.
• A dark green panel appeared before Mike and offered him power to reclaim what he believed he deserved.

Mike accepted a mysterious power that let him perceive and covet other people’s possessions, then used it to steal Roderick’s Guardian's Bulwark. The shield mutated in Mike’s hands, and he declared himself its true master.

• Mike accepted the strange interface’s offer and gained the ability to sense others’ equipment and emotions.
• Mike rejected Mary’s potion and accused Roderick of taking the shield he believed he deserved.
• Mike’s shadowy power seized the Guardian's Bulwark and severed Roderick’s bond with it.
• Mike took the shield, which mutated into a powerful Jealousy-tainted item.
• Mike showed Roderick the dark green shield and claimed that it had chosen its true master.

Jealousy infected players across the North American War Zone, driving teammates to betray one another for equipment. As violence spread through dungeons and raids, forum posts revealed the scale of the crisis.

• Mike claimed the Dark Green Shield, rejected his former teammates, and left Roderick unable to stop him.
• A guild rogue killed the Paladin leader to steal [Butcher's Pauldrons] and set his sights on the Berserker's axe.
• A druid trapped the priestess, let the infected Swamp Hydra kill the team, and took the boss's loot.
• Jealousy spread throughout the North American War Zone, prompting desperate players to flood the regional forums with stories of betrayal.

As Jealousy Infestation plunged the North American War Zone into betrayal and chaos, a video revealed the orderly Court of Sin Punishment and its War Ladder to Roderick. The chapter left Roderick and other desperate players eager to seek the Eastern Deity’s protection.

• Monsters across the North American War Zone became more dangerous as Jealousy Infestation spread, prompting players to report the changes on the forum.
• Roderick, left alone after his party broke apart following Mike’s betrayal, opened a post about the Court of Sin Punishment and its War Ladder.
• Roderick watched players fight corrupted monsters in coordinated teams, earn War Ladder points, and smelt corrupted equipment into War Insignias.
• The video showed the War Ladder’s exchange rewards and revealed that Order Executor Holy Spirit Leon enforced rules against infighting and theft.
• Roderick realized the Court offered real order, while forum users confirmed it existed in the North American War Zone and asked how they could reach it.

After discovering that the Court of Sin Punishment could reset points removed from the War Ladder, Roderick joined North America’s mass migration toward it. He formed a small party of betrayed players and prepared to travel east together.

• Roderick found the Court of Sin Punishment’s coordinates and began selling spare equipment to fund supplies for the journey.
• North American players flooded the forum with migration plans, and a player-made map marked routes toward the Court.
• Roderick recruited players traveling from Carl City and warned them that anyone who threatened a companion would be killed by the group.
• More than a dozen players gathered at a gas station, where Andre volunteered to heal and Falcon agreed to watch their backs.

Roderick and his companions were cornered by Corrupted Shadow Lurkers in Howling Canyon, and he urged them to pray to the War Ladder and the Court of Sin Punishment. Their desperate faith halted the monsters and brought Holy Spirit Leon to them.

• Roderick led fourteen companions into Howling Canyon because their supplies could not last for a three-day detour.
• The Corrupted Shadow Lurkers attacked, and Jones was dragged into the shadows and killed.
• As more monsters surrounded the group, Roderick urged everyone to pray to the War Ladder and the Court of Sin Punishment.
• Andre and the others knelt with Roderick and called out their grievances and willingness to fight for a chance at peace.
• The canyon wind and the monsters fell silent, and Holy Spirit Leon appeared in a pillar of white light.

Holy Spirit Leon purified Howling Canyon, granting Roderick and the thirteen surviving players temporary Seeker status on the War Ladder. They escaped the canyon and received a 30-day quest to reach the Court of Sin Punishment, along with a trial to purify a Sin Aggregate in Rust City.

• Holy Spirit Leon erased every Shadow Lurker in Howling Canyon with a ring of light.
• Roderick and the thirteen surviving players received temporary Ladder Seeker status and saw the War Ladder interface.
• Leon pointed toward the canyon exit, and the survivors crossed the empty canyon to safety.
• Roderick found the main quest requiring the Seekers to reach the Court of Sin Punishment on foot within 30 days.
• Roderick and the others discovered a side quest to purify the Sin Aggregate in Rust City for War Insignias, Prospective Believer status, and Ladder Points.

Roderick and his companions feared the Rust City Expedition Trial was beyond their strength, but Kevin proposed recruiting other players through the forum. They published proof of the Divine Miracle and instructions for obtaining the quest, leaving the post poised to spread across the North American War Zone.

• The party debated abandoning the Rust City quest because only fourteen poorly equipped players remained to face the Sin Aggregate.
• Roderick argued that skipping the trial could cost them their chance to advance beyond Seeker status, and the others realized retreat might leave their journey for nothing.
• Kevin suggested that desperate players across the North American War Zone could pray to the War Ladder and receive the same quest, giving them enough allies to challenge the boss.
• Roderick assigned Falcon to record evidence, Andre to write their account, and Kevin to organize the instructions.
• The group posted their story, video, coordinates, and quest details on the forum, then waited anxiously for a response.

Roderick's team spread proof of the Howling Canyon miracle online, prompting survivors across the North American War Zone to pray and become Seekers. The War Ladder upgraded the Rust City Expedition Trial into a regional campaign requiring 1,000 Seekers to rally, while the team had gathered only fourteen.

• Roderick's team watched their post draw mockery until a video witness confirmed the miracle at Howling Canyon, and the post went viral.
• Jack saw the footage and Expedition Trial instructions, prayed toward Rust City, and vowed to become a weapon against the traitors who betrayed him.
• Survivors across the North American War Zone prayed toward Rust City and posted that they had become Seekers.
• Roderick's team saw the new Seekers rallying and discovered that their increased Faith Convergence Degree had upgraded the trial into a regional campaign to gather 1,000 Seekers in Rust City.