Chapter Summaries

Avia, Beowulf, and Siegfried confronted Grendel, who had eaten his mother and preyed on people across Scandinavian Island. Avia overcame Grendel’s Leviathan skin and killed him, ending the threat alongside the previously defeated North Sea Kraken.

• Beowulf told Avia about his resolve to protect others, and Avia learned that Augustine was preaching in Jötunheim.
• Grendel ate his mother and set out to devour the people of Scandinavian Island.
• Avia, Beowulf, and Siegfried attacked Grendel, but his Leviathan skin resisted their blows and magic.
• Avia broke through Grendel’s defenses and recognized that he was wearing Leviathan’s skin.
• Grendel begged Avia for mercy, but Avia killed him after seeing the remains of his victims.

Avia met Augustine outside Geatland's capital, declared his intention to destroy the Church, and explained a distinction between the city of God and earthly institutions. Augustine agreed to develop and spread the teaching, while Avia reaffirmed his resolve despite his regrets.

• Sinfjötli killed a fire dragon in Jötunheim and sensed someone releasing runes in the distance.
• Augustine answered an invitation to Beowulf's palace, where Avia met him and led him to a mountain outside the city.
• Avia declared that he intended to destroy the Church while preserving its achievements and Rome's culture through Augustine.
• Avia explained that the city of God was an invisible community founded on goodness, while earthly institutions included the tangible Church.
• Augustine agreed to complete the teaching Avia entrusted to him, and Avia said the subject had belonged to Augustine all along.
• Avia reaffirmed that the Church had to be destroyed and acknowledged his regrets as a meteor shower crossed the sky.

Avia and Siegfried left Scandinavian Island after discussing the City of God with Augustine, but Sinfjötli caught up with them by leaping aboard their boat. He explained his connection to Siegfried and presented Avia with a gift he had found in a remote Werewolf Village.

• Avia asked Augustine to complete the subject of goodness and told him the church must be destroyed, while Augustine agreed to take up the work.
• Avia and Siegfried departed Scandinavian Island, and Siegfried promised Beowulf he would return to fulfill his wish.
• A werewolf rushed to the port, and Beowulf hurled him onto the departing boat so he could reach Avia and Siegfried.
• The werewolf identified himself as Sinfjötli and learned that Siegfried was not Sigurd, though the two had similar essences.
• Sinfjötli said he had found a Star Drop in a remote Werewolf Village and offered it to Avia.

Avia accepted Sinfjötli and the werewolf tribes as allies against the coming calamity, while Kihara destroyed the city at the heart of the Bagaudae Revolt. Attila struggled with her growing feelings for Avia, and the sealed Sefar began to understand a new purpose beyond destruction.

• Avia accepted the golden werewolf Sinfjötli's gift and agreed to join forces with him and the Norse werewolf tribes against the calamity.
• Kihara confronted Zagreus and Okuninushi in Gaul, then used silver starlight, ether cannons, and a phantom moon to destroy them and raze the city.
• The Holy Church announced that the Bagaudae Revolt had been suppressed and that no one had survived the city's destruction.
• Attila practiced with Photon Ray and recognized that her thoughts about Avia were disturbing her concentration.
• Sefar observed Attila's feelings and began to understand that it could seek meaning in life beyond destruction.

Avia returned with Typhon, and Attila welcomed them while revealing her worry that he had been gone so long. Typhon struggled with jealousy and fear around Attila, but after Avia introduced them, Attila reassured her that she and Avia would help her.

• Attila greeted Avia and asked whether he had been safe during his absence.
• Typhon silently watched Avia and Attila’s closeness, while a Phantasmal Species in Avia’s Rhine Gold teased her into introducing herself.
• Typhon introduced herself to Attila but became terrified by the power she sensed from her.
• Avia realized the seal on the Moon might break and considered visiting the Giant God Ruins, but decided to stay with Attila for now.
• Avia teased Typhon until she relaxed, and Attila promised that she and Avia would help her.

Avia considered the Hunnic Empire’s next campaign and met Van-Fem, who came to see Altrouge Brunestud. Van-Fem told Altrouge that Zelretch had given her false hope and asked her to join the Dead Apostles in eliminating a future princess so she could become the planet’s strongest and primordial One.

• Avia decided to target the Sasanian Empire and conquer Persia before the Vandals occupied North Africa.
• Avia noticed Van-Fem’s presence by the Dnieper River, and Brad the White Knight prepared to fight him before Avia arrived and accepted Van-Fem’s invitation aboard the ship.
• Van-Fem told Avia that Kraken had been destined to survive in the North Sea and that another creature would take its place after Avia killed him.
• Van-Fem asked Altrouge whether she had met Kishua and said Kishua had given her false hope.
• Van-Fem asked Altrouge to help eliminate a princess who would be born eight hundred years later, then apologized for Zelretch’s illusory promises.

Avia prepared the Hunnic Empire to exploit a war between the Sasanian Empire and the Hephthalites, while Altrouge Brunestud considered Van-Fem’s offer to help her become One of the Primordials. After the Sasanian king died and its forces withdrew from the Caucasus, a Hunnic army advanced toward Pharsalus as the chapter ended.

• Van-Fem told Altrouge Brunestud that she had a younger sister, Arcueid, and proposed that she kill and devour her to become One of the Primordials.
• Altrouge Brunestud left with Avia and said that if she could not become One, she would make a spectacle of herself.
• Avia prepared the Hunnic Empire for a possible campaign against the Sasanian Empire and arranged policies for governing its diverse peoples.
• Six months later, Avia learned that the Hephthalites had invaded the Sasanian Empire and killed its king, while the Sasanian forces guarding the Caucasus were transferred away.
• A Sasanian envoy traveling to negotiate with the Huns witnessed a vast force advancing across the steppe, and the chapter shifted to the thinly defended city of Pharsalus.

After the Huns destroyed Pharsalus, Avia led his forces through northern Sasanian territory while Altrouge Brunestud joined him. Investigating a death-bringing mask and a nightfall bell, Avia and Altrouge reached a sacred temple where a strange darkness consumed the light and sensation around them.

• Wolfmen disguised as sorcerers seized Pharsalus, and Attila ordered the Huns to invade Armenia while Avia advanced against the Sasanian Empire.
• The Huns crossed the Caucasus, destroyed Pharsalus, and split their forces toward Armenia and the Sasanian heartland.
• Avia's army devastated northern Sasanian territory as Altrouge Brunestud reflected on how battle let her escape her grief, and Avia explained that her knights were fighting sorcerers.
• Avia planned to pressure the Sasanian Empire into accepting his demands while preserving its forces in Armenia, then investigated reports of a deadly mask and a bell associated with death.
• Avia and Altrouge followed a path through a valley where life and death blurred and reached the sacred temple's entrance, where a phenomenon swallowed the light and erased the feel of wind.

Avia helped Altrouge Brunestud survive a confrontation with the Old Man of the Mountain, and she resolved to become the Primordial One and share her glory with Avia. Five months later, Avia and Attila defeated the Sasanians at Nineveh, secured an alliance through a treaty, and marched into Fars to confront the Gupta and Hephthalite armies.

• The Old Man of the Mountain challenged Altrouge Brunestud, but Avia intervened and persuaded him to let them leave the Valley of Shadows.
• Altrouge Brunestud told Avia that she wanted to become the Primordial One and ensure that he received the glory he deserved, and Avia agreed to work toward that goal with her.
• At Nineveh, Attila's forces struck the Sasanian army from the west while Avia's cavalry attacked downhill, routing the Sasanians and killing an estimated fifty thousand soldiers.
• The Sasanian Empire accepted Avia's treaty, which imposed tribute and recognized the Huns as allies in exchange for Avia becoming supreme commander of their allied army.
• Avia and Attila entered Fars in May AD 426, where the Gupta and Hephthalite armies had conquered territory and plundered the Sasanian heartland.

After defeating the Gupta and Hephthalite empires, Avia and Attila shared a quiet stroll in the Hunnic winter camp, while Altrouge received gifts from Avia and invited him to Millennium Castle. There, the Dead Apostles gathered to wage war on the True Ancestors, and Avia encountered the Magus of Flowers.

• Avia and Attila strolled through the market, and Avia suggested that someday they try living as something other than warriors.
• Altrouge discovered the dried flowers and handmade gifts Avia had sent, then said she was grateful to him.
• Avia agreed to accompany Altrouge to Millennium Castle, where she asked him to stay close to her.
• Altrouge, Trhvmn, and Van-Fem led the Dead Apostles in assembling an army against the True Ancestors at Millennium Castle.
• Avia spoke with the Magus of Flowers in Altrouge's encampment and asked whether the Magus had been with him all along.

Avia and Altrouge Brunestud fought their way toward Millennium Castle’s final door, where Kishua tried to stop them. Avia recognized Kouhaku, and the chapter ended with Kouhaku remembering Novia as the Church’s past and future came into focus.

• Typhon exposed Meli’s false claim that she was Avia’s little sister, while Avia and Altrouge prepared to attack Millennium Castle.
• Dead Apostles attacked the castle from three directions, allowing Altrouge and Avia to reach the final door guarded by the wounded Kishua.
• Kishua warned Altrouge that Crimson Moon’s principles could destroy her and that the planet had already chosen Mabel Kiara, but Altrouge insisted she wished to be king.
• Avia charged Kishua so Altrouge could advance, but Kouhaku’s spatial lock appeared to restrain the Grand Sorcerer.
• Avia recognized Kouhaku, who recalled Novia and heard the silver-haired man thank him for his years of service.

Avia confronted Crimson Moon after she possessed Altrouge Brunestud, while Altrouge had chosen to spare Arcueid and face her sister again when she had grown. Avia and Crimson Moon began a battle in the Millennium Castle as Kishua kept the True Ancestors and Dead Apostles in a temporary truce.

• Kishua was bound by Kouhaku, then discussed Crimson Moon's strength and the plan to deal with her and her allies with Avia.
• Altrouge Brunestud entered Crimson Moon's chamber and began killing the unawakened Arcueid, but stopped and decided to fight her sister another day.
• Crimson Moon's guiding will surfaced in Altrouge Brunestud's body and took control of her.
• Avia entered the chamber and challenged Crimson Moon to die for good.
• Crimson Moon and Avia unleashed their powers against each other in the Millennium Castle while Kishua reassured the True Ancestors and maintained their truce with the Dead Apostles.

Avia and his allies destroyed Crimson Moon’s behavioral principles and defeated her with Typhon’s Cosmos-Rending Thunder, leaving Altrouge Brunestud free. Altrouge admitted she could never become the King of the Moon as Avia carried her from the chamber.

• Meli used illusions to unsettle the True Ancestors while Kouhaku extracted Crimson Moon’s behavioral principles and sent them back to her through Altrouge Brunestud.
• The returned principles caused the Magic Sword: True World to manifest, and Avia confronted Crimson Moon over her plan to restore the Age of Gods.
• Avia summoned Typhon and combined their powers to fire the Cosmos-Rending Thunder, which tore apart Crimson Moon’s behavioral principles.
• The Magic Sword: True World transformed into silver particles, and Avia gave its power to Typhon as an upgrade.
• Altrouge Brunestud woke free of Crimson Moon’s control, and Avia carried her as she confessed she had wanted her sister dead but could never become the King of the Moon.

After Avia rescued Altrouge, Kishua named him the new leader of the Department of Mineralogy and supreme commander against the Holy Church. Avia then asked Meli to retrieve a sword from Avalon, and she entered the hidden land to search for it.

• Avia reassured Altrouge that her followers chose her for her resolve, and Altrouge promised to return and fight Arcueid fairly.
• Kishua discussed the threat posed by Mabel Kiara, Ate, Beelzebub, and the R'lyeh Manuscript, then appointed Avia commander of a new alliance against the Holy Church.
• Avia asked Kishua whether François Prelati had fought in the Millennium Castle War, and Kishua recalled only the mage Francesca, who had died.
• Avia suspected Francesca had joined with Beelzebub and identified Mabel, Francesca, and possibly Cthulhu as enemies.
• Avia asked Meli to retrieve a sword from beneath the lake in Avalon, and Meli requested that he someday show her a face twisted in pain.
• Meli reached Avalon and opened a path through the water while searching for the sword.

Meli found the Holy Sword beneath the lake and learned from the Great Mother that she could take it to give to the human who had asked. Avia reached the Moon Cell through the Giant God Ruins, learned why it had drawn him in, and considered taking control of it to help contain threats from beyond the solar system.

• Meli discovered the Holy Sword floating above the Lake Rock, and the Great Mother told her the Ladies of the Lake were not responsible for it and that she could take it for an exchange.
• The Great Mother recalled Meli's Nightmare father entrusting his child to her before dying to save the woman he loved.
• Avia opened a hidden entrance in the Alps and explored the Giant God Ruins until he found the Alien Star Key and touched it.
• Avia learned through the Alien Star Key that the Moon Cell was an ancient alien observation device that had grown powerful enough to control planetary operations.
• The Moon Cell drew Avia into its center after contact with an object bearing traces of Wilpha 02, then refused his request for help because it had to maintain her containment.
• Avia considered taking control of the Moon Cell, which warned him that it was the final destination reached by many parallel worlds without Crimson Moon.

Avia entered the Unknown Domain to meet Attila, comforted her, and promised he would come for her while she agreed not to leave or corrupt MoonCell. Back beneath the Alps, he left words of encouragement through the Alien Star Key, and Meli arrived as he inspected it.

• Avia asked MoonCell to send him to the Unknown Domain, despite its warning that he might not be able to leave.
• Attila nervously welcomed Avia, apologized for her giant form, and admitted she wanted to see him and escape her loneliness.
• Avia told Attila she was fine as she was, promised to come for her, and stayed with her longer after she asked him to.
• Avia returned to the Giant God Ruins and inscribed encouragement for Charlemagne through the Alien Star Key instead of claiming it for himself.
• Meli watched Avia activate the Alien Star Key, admired its display, and asked him to take the powerful weapon with him.

Avia accepted the Holy Sword from Meli, then led the Huns and their magecraft allies into a campaign against Western Rome after the Vandals seized North Africa. His army swept through Gaul and reached Orléans, where he prepared to face Aetius and the Praetorian Guard before meeting Zagreus and releasing Typhon.

• Avia accepted the Holy Sword Meli had found beneath the lake and promised her a future gift.
• After the Vandals captured North Africa, Avia mobilized the Huns, arranged for allies to contain Eastern Rome and Britain, and rallied his army for war.
• Avia led the Huns across the Rhine, devastated Gaul, and advanced to the walls of Orléans as Western Rome organized a response under Aetius.
• Avia deliberately chose Orléans for the decisive battle and discussed Aetius's supposed Spear of Longinus with his companions.
• Sinfjötli brought Zagreus to Avia, who released Typhon; Typhon recognized Zagreus's Zeus and Persephone auras and recalled Avia's own collection of divine auras.

Avia and Typhon reaffirmed Typhon’s freedom before Zagreus departed, satisfied that Avia could handle the threat. At Orléans, Aetius launched the Battle of Châlons against the Hunnic forces, and as Roman losses mounted, he charged into battle with the Spear of Longinus before Avia confronted him.

• Avia told Typhon she was free, and Typhon angrily insisted she did not want him to interfere with her choices.
• Zagreus visited Avia because he sensed Typhon’s presence, then left after deciding Avia had already addressed the danger.
• Aetius ordered the Roman forces and their allies to advance against the Huns at Orléans.
• Avia assured Attila that victory in the battle would mean they had won, while resolving to take responsibility for the conflict himself.
• The Battle of Châlons erupted, and Aetius took up the Spear of Longinus despite his officers’ objections and charged into the enemy ranks.
• Avia left his hilltop and confronted Aetius, who greeted him as they faced one another on the battlefield.

Mabel Kiara embraced the truth revealed by Francesca’s illusions, defeated Francesca, and later turned Rome into a silent Black Tide, declaring that she would eradicate every human. As the Huns reached the empty Eternal City, Avia entered and realized Rome was an illusion.

• Aetius died in battle after receiving acknowledgment as the “Last Roman,” and the Huns moved toward victory at Châlons.
• Francesca showed Mabel Kiara illusions exposing Pope Novia’s flaws, but Kiara responded with joy and knocked Francesca unconscious.
• Kiara rejected the Holy Sword and used the Holy Scripture and the Covenant of Good to defeat the Grand Sorcerer and Moon King, taking their armaments.
• Kiara caused a Black Tide to spread from Rome, paralyzing its inhabitants, and vowed to eradicate every human on the planet.
• After the Huns conquered Milan and approached Rome, Avia entered the apparently deserted city and discovered it was an illusion.

Avia awakened from the illusion, exchanged a vow with Altrouge, and accepted Odin’s Norse powers before advancing toward Rome to confront the human force threatening the planet. In Rome, he used Magic Sword: True World to destroy the raging inhabitants while purifying their souls, then continued toward the Papal Palace with Typhon.

• Avia awoke outside Rome and promised Altrouge that he would survive and return to her after they shared a blood-marked kiss.
• Odin told Avia that a human had sealed the planet’s access to its inner side and offered to face the threat himself, but Avia insisted on going.
• Odin entrusted Avia with the Norse authorities, which manifested as storms, lightning, fire, ice, and crowns as Avia headed toward Rome; Typhon also awoke from the illusion.
• Avia entered Rome and told the twisted souls of its people that their suffering would end, then used Magic Sword: True World to kill them and purify their souls.
• Avia looked toward the Papal Palace and spoke with Typhon about the beauty of humanity’s collective spirit.