Chapter Summaries

An effortlessly parried Seele’s attacks with her time-based ability and reflected on Jarilo-VI’s desperate state. She demonstrated her superiority by reaching Seele’s true form and striking her neck, then vanished, leaving Seele shaken and confused.

• An evaluated Seele’s Quantum Domain ability while casually parrying her attacks.
• An considered how the power of the Path could strengthen a civilization and concluded that Jarilo-VI was nearing extinction.
• An used her ability to make Seele appear motionless and moved directly in front of her true form.
• An swept her rapier’s hilt across Seele’s neck, narrowly frightening her, then disappeared.
• Seele recovered to find An gone and remained troubled by what had happened.

Seele investigated An after Natasha warned that An might be trying to undermine the City Builders’ order, and tracked her to the Great Mine. An noticed Seele approaching just as she was about to eat a piece of ore.

• Natasha warned Seele to observe An cautiously and consult her and Oleg before cooperating with her.
• Seele sent Natasha to rest, then left the clinic after scolding Hook and the Mole Gang children.
• Miners told Seele that Sampo Koski had placed An near a vagrant camp in the Great Mine, but Sampo had already slipped away.
• Seele transformed into a blue butterfly shadow and headed into the mine to find An and question her.
• An noticed Seele approaching and picked up a piece of earth marrow ore, prompting a white-haired, red-eyed woman to rush over and warn her not to eat rocks.

Ninti cleared the remaining Fragmentum and Antimatter Legion threats from Herta Space Station, and Herta thanked her with a large credit payment. Herta promised a proper reward later, leaving Ninti to suspect that the station's budget was not as generous as it seemed.

• Herta told Ninti that the last Fragmentum reaction had been sealed and thanked her for saving the space station.
• Ninti said she had studied the Antimatter Legion and Fragmentum while clearing them out.
• Herta praised Ninti's abilities and said she had prepared a reward in credits, with a proper token to follow later.
• Ninti checked her phone and was stunned by the length of the credit notification.
• Herta apologized that the space station's budget was tight, and Ninti wondered whether Mobius would envy her if she had not met the Anqi Faction.

Ninti joined the Trailblaze Crew, and Pom-Pom decided how to spend the credits Ninti had given her. With the Herta Space Station business finished, the crew prepared to leave for Jarilo-VI.

• Pom-Pom reacted with surprise to Ninti giving her two hundred million credits and resolved to upgrade the train and expand Ninti's room and research facilities.
• Himeko confirmed that the crew had finished its business and resupply at the Herta Space Station.
• Stelle and March 7th argued over who would get the next turn to hold Ninti while Himeko cradled her.
• Himeko announced the train's departure for Jarilo-VI, and the crew cheered.

Bronya investigated Cocolia’s health and learned that her symptoms might indicate Fragmentum infection, then confronted her mother at home. Cocolia refused to explain the Great Guardian’s responsibilities and promised she would be fine, while privately speaking with the chaotic voice about a coming new world.

• Pela told Bronya and Silval that Cocolia’s lack of medical records suggested she might have endured untreated psychological ailments, and that ice scales could indicate Fragmentum infection.
• Bronya worried that Cocolia might be infected and questioned whether she had unfairly opposed her mother’s Underworld blockade decision.
• After finishing her patrol, Bronya returned home and asked Cocolia whether her health was truly all right.
• Cocolia told Bronya to forget the matter and promised she would be fine, but said some responsibilities could only be explained when Bronya succeeded her.
• After Bronya left for dinner, Cocolia privately discussed the coming new world with a chaotic voice and decided to let Bronya live as a citizen of Belobog until the final moment.

Pela proposed a way for Bronya and Silval to investigate whether Cocolia had amnesia or a split personality. Silval rejected the cautious approach and decided to confront Cocolia herself.

• Silval asked Pela to visit when Ling returned home, and Pela offered a plan to investigate Cocolia.
• Pela advised Bronya to read Cocolia’s writings and pay attention to her daily behavior for clues.
• Pela suggested that Bronya test Cocolia’s reactions to activities she used to accept, which might help distinguish amnesia from a split personality.
• Silval objected that they should ask Cocolia directly and insisted she would draw her out herself.

Seele and An worked together to collect medicine and supplies in Rivet Town, then returned to Natasha with a cartload. As Seele and An bickered, Ninti arrived above the planet aboard the train and prepared for the work ahead.

• Seele found An and persuaded her to help retrieve supplies from a warehouse in Rivet Town.
• Seele and An fought their way through monsters, and An warned Seele that she would use anyone necessary to save Belobog.
• Seele agreed to join An’s efforts, and the two returned with a cart full of supplies.
• Natasha scolded Seele for the dangerous trip but welcomed her and An inside to rest.
• Ninti arrived above the snow-covered planet aboard the train, held by March 7th, and sighed at the work ahead.

Welt and Ninti parted from the other Trailblazers so they could explore Jarilo-VI without interfering, then encountered Sampo, whom Ninti identified as a Follower of Joy and a Masked Fool. They left him to Dan Heng and the others and continued on their way.

• Welt reminded March 7th, Stelle, and Dan Heng that he and Ninti would observe from the sidelines and only help when necessary.
• March 7th and Stelle said their farewells to Ninti, and Welt and Ninti separated from the others.
• Ninti asked Welt whether she could still count herself a Trailblazer, and he encouraged her to follow the journey in the way that suited her.
• Welt found Sampo buried in a snowdrift, and Ninti warned him that Sampo was a Follower of Joy.
• Ninti bluffed that she knew Sampo was a Masked Fool, correctly guessed his identity, and left him behind with Welt.

Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng reached Belobog’s defenses, where Gepard recognized them as possible visitors from the stars and escorted them toward the Great Guardian. Meanwhile, Sampo waited in a snowdrift, unaware that the others had taken a different route.

• Stelle and March 7th joked about their plans before Dan Heng led them back toward Belobog.
• Gepard and the frontline officers examined March 7th’s photographs and decided the trio might be interstellar travelers.
• Gepard invited Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng to meet the Great Guardian at Kriper Castle, and Dan Heng accepted.
• Sampo waited along another road, wondering why Gepard had gone silent and expecting the others to pass by.

Welt and the others discussed investigating the Stellaron more thoroughly, while Silval prepared to speak with Cocolia again. The chapter left Silval facing Cocolia’s disdainful gaze on the roof.

• Welt agreed that the Stellaron required a more thorough investigation.
• The group said Joachim would have to sit out the in-depth investigation, prompting the little darling to accuse him of wanting to spy on Cocolia and Bronya.
• Silval climbed onto the roof at night and checked that she was ready to talk with Cocolia about the problem with her body.
• Cocolia appeared in pajamas with a cape and looked down at Silval with contempt.

Seele tried to teach the Great Guardian a lesson but knew she could not kill her without endangering both the Overworld and Underworld. After using a smoke bomb to escape, she left the arriving trailblazing squad and Silvermane Guards with only signs of battle to find.

• Seele clashed with the Great Guardian while holding back from killing her.
• Seele slipped into the shadows and took out a smoke bomb from Sampo.
• Seele threw the smoke bomb, filling the area with blinding smoke.
• The trailblazing squad and Silvermane Guards arrived after the smoke cleared, but found no one there.

Cocolia persuaded the Nameless to help rescue her daughter in exchange for information about the Stellaron, while secretly cooperating with the Core of the Star Will. An then forced Sampo to arrange a meeting between the princess from Kriper Castle and Svarog, as Welt and Ninti divided up their investigations.

• March 7th and Stelle accepted Cocolia's request to rescue her daughter, and Dan Heng agreed after hesitating over involvement in Belobog's internal affairs.
• Cocolia privately dismissed the Core of the Star Will's plan to send the outsiders to the Underworld, while Welt and Ninti watched and split up to investigate.
• Welt set off to secretly follow Dan Heng, March 7th, and Stelle, while Ninti stayed to observe Cocolia and her connection to the Stellaron.
• An threatened Sampo and gave him two days to arrange a meeting between the princess from Kriper Castle and Svarog, with her medal present.
• After An left, Sampo reflected on her clumsy threats and decided to play his role as a Masked Fool despite his failed plan to guide the Nameless to the Border Iron Wall.

An watched Clara return to the vagrant settlement, then headed back to Rock Town while considering the Anqi Faction’s uncertainty about Sampo Koski. She concluded that the faction could not expel him but would investigate and try to control the risks he posed.

• An watched Clara return to the vagrant settlement and sighed as the girl repeatedly turned back to say goodbye.
• An returned through the darkness to Rock Town, the Underworld’s only remaining town.
• An reflected that the Anqi Faction could not forcibly expel Sampo Koski because none of its members could act against him without risking their position or persona.
• An decided Sampo was only a minor pawn and could not prevent the Anqi Faction from achieving its goal.
• An urged Elation Anqi to infiltrate the Masked Fools and gather detailed intelligence on Sampo Koski.

An escaped Bronya’s pursuit with Hook, then taught Hook and Clara how to catch cave salamanders while bonding with Hook over her wish to prepare food for her birthday with her father. Bronya abandoned the chase and began investigating the Underworld, while Seele warned her that Sampo was untrustworthy and Bronya recognized him as a wanted black-market dealer.

• An carried Hook away from the clinic, escaped into an alley, and left Sampo in Bronya’s path, where Bronya struck him with her gun butt.
• An promised to teach Hook to catch and grill cave salamanders if Hook made her the Mole Gang’s unofficial big boss; Hook revealed she wanted to learn for her birthday with her father.
• An took Hook and Clara deep into the mines, caught a cave salamander, and began teaching Hook basic cultivation after Hook called her Big Boss.
• Bronya lost An’s trail and decided to learn about the Underworld so she could make a case to her mother for helping its residents.
• Seele warned Bronya about Sampo and revealed that he had supplied the sleeping gas; Bronya recognized him as a long-wanted thief and black-market dealer.

Cocolia considered Bronya’s progress in the Underworld and rejected Silval’s offer to search for her. The chapter ended with Cocolia feigning a sudden collapse to keep Silval from leaving.

• Cocolia reflected that Bronya needed to gain Wildfire’s approval and noted that Sampo Koski was following her script.
• Silval entered Kriper Castle and offered to go to the Underworld to find Bronya.
• Cocolia refused Silval’s offer, but Silval insisted she would go anyway and bring Bronya back.
• Cocolia swayed and turned pale as she tried to stop Silval, who rushed to support her.
• Cocolia clung to Silval and told her not to cause trouble, and Silval agreed to stay and listen.

Cocolia worked with Gepard and the officers to finalize Belobog’s defenses and evacuation plans, despite coughing up blood. After the officers left, she and Ninti privately reflected on their preparations and confirmed that contact with the Solar System had been validated.

• Gepard brought squad leaders to discuss defense plans, and Cocolia approved turning the fourth evacuation zone into a defensive position and moving its residents to Kriper Castle.
• Cocolia coughed up blood but refused medical care and continued coordinating the city’s defenses.
• By dusk, Cocolia and the officers finalized a defense deployment map and set a deadline of thirty-six hours for its implementation.
• Gepard requested that Silval Landau be conscripted back into the Silvermane Guards, and Cocolia approved.
• After the officers left, Cocolia and Ninti privately discussed their preparations, and Ninti confirmed that contact with the Solar System had been validated.

Bronya tried to make An explain herself by invoking the Trailblazers, but An left with Clara after sending Hook back with Seele. Bronya was left convinced that An was Cocolia’s illegitimate daughter, while a sudden trainload of supplies left Natasha wondering whether the Underworld was about to reopen or disaster was near.

• Bronya warned An that the Trailblazers could defeat her and explained that they had come from beyond the stars on the Great Guardian’s orders.
• An muttered about Mother Cocolia, prompting Bronya to mistakenly conclude that An was Cocolia’s illegitimate daughter and demand to know who her father was.
• An tossed Hook toward Seele, told her to take Hook home, and left with Clara, telling Bronya to seek her out after the passages reopened and the supply train arrived.
• Bronya lost her composure as Stelle, March 7th, and Seele repeated that Cocolia had an illegitimate daughter, then chased them with her musket.
• Natasha watched supply carts arrive at the long-dusty platform and wondered whether the Underworld would be unsealed or the Overworld was sending a final parting gift.

Bronya, Seele, and Natasha followed Sampo to Svarog’s mansion, where An and Svarog revealed archived records about the Stellaron. The records connected the Stellaron to the City Builders and the Guardians, leaving Bronya shaken by what Cocolia had been carrying.

• Bronya spotted Sampo and had Seele seize him so he could lead them to Svarog; Natasha joined them to seek cooperation over supplies for the Underworld.
• The group reached Svarog’s mansion, where An waited with Svarog and a medal identical to Bronya’s Great Guardian medal.
• Svarog confirmed Bronya’s candidate status and began playing the hidden data after An approved its release.
• The archived recordings revealed that ancient Guardians and scientists had studied the Stellaron and sought ways to destroy it, until a disaster interrupted their work.
• Bronya learned that the Stellaron was conscious and connected to the City Builders and Guardians, and feared this explained Cocolia’s condition.

Cocolia approached Belobog’s checkpoint as the Core of the Star Will urged her to leave the city. The raging cold parted before her, opening a path beyond the barrier.

• Silval watched as Cocolia approached with a terrifying aura.
• Cocolia passed Silval and stopped at the heavily guarded checkpoint.
• The Core of the Star Will urged Cocolia to walk out of Belobog and fulfill her promise.
• The cold wave parted before Cocolia, clearing a calm path through the storm.

Bronya activated Cocolia’s final directive, and a hidden army of Burning Legion mechas carried An, Bronya, Seele, Stelle, and March 7th toward the decisive battle against the Stellaron. They passed the besieged front lines and continued toward the sealing platform, determined to reach the battlefield.

• Bronya confirmed Svarog’s activation of Program 173, and tremors shook the Underworld as the underground device began its startup sequence.
• Bronya offered to treat An as her younger sister, while Seele tried to recruit An into Wildfire and argued with Bronya over who would take her in.
• A towering black mecha and hundreds of Burning Legion mechas launched from underground, and An, Bronya, Seele, Stelle, and March 7th grabbed onto them.
• The group bickered as the mechas flew to the Surface, where Bronya realized Cocolia had prepared for the earthquake and Seele eagerly anticipated the fight.
• The mechas passed Surface forces battling a massive monster horde, and Bronya and Seele pressed on toward the battlefield that would decide Jarilo-VI’s future.