Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lundell, a Mature Sentinel Captain, receives an alert with a smeared name, which she identifies as Terry Vicon-Abel, a traitor.
• Vicon-Abel is revealed to have killed sentinels who entered the Eternal Night Kingdom and misled them about the nature of their entry.
• Lundell's Calamity Lineage, the Ash Lineage, is activated, indicating her opportunity to advance to Tier 4.
• Su Wen agrees to help Lundell seek revenge on Vicon-Abel, who has been hindering their exploration plans.
• Su Wen and Jiang Menghan discuss historical perspectives on the Eternal Night Kingdom and the concept of Aether.

Character Developments

• Lundell: Shows anger and determination to seek revenge against Vicon-Abel. Her Ash Lineage is activated, indicating her potential growth.
• Su Wen: Demonstrates his knowledge of historical scientific theories and his willingness to help Lundell.
• Jiang Menghan: Exhibits her understanding of historical physics and her support for Su Wen's views.

Significant Themes

• Revenge and justice: Lundell's desire for revenge against Vicon-Abel and Su Wen's support for this action.
• Historical perspectives: The differing views on the Eternal Night Kingdom and the concept of Aether throughout history.
• Scientific advancement: The limitations of scientific understanding in different eras, as exemplified by Ignaz Jeremiah's views.

Character Interactions

• Lundell and Su Wen: Lundell seeks Su Wen's help for revenge, and he agrees, showing respect for her position.
• Su Wen and Jiang Menghan: They discuss historical scientific theories, displaying their shared knowledge and understanding.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Wen and Jiang Menghan reminisce about their past, hinting at a shared history.
• Klosan finds no records of Black Tide mutated lifeforms in the library.
• An earthquake-like tremor occurs, revealed to be a horde of corpses approaching.
• Su Wen identifies the phenomenon as a 'Trigger Effect', a trap set by a mastermind.
• Su Wen suggests creating a 'false impression' to mislead the enemy.
• He reveals a plan to infiltrate the Royal Capital early and search for a virus laboratory.
• He also shares a clue about the epicenter of the Black Tide corruption in Signo Province.

Character Developments

• Su Wen shows admiration for Jiang Menghan's intellect and considers her a close friend.
• Jiang Menghan demonstrates her strategic thinking and independence.
• Klosan shows indifference to the Black Tide crisis, focusing only on her scientific interests.
• Lundell exhibits quick thinking and perception skills.
• Shelly displays concern and knowledge about the horde of corpses.
• Su Wen reveals his calm and strategic mindset in the face of danger.

Significant Themes

• The theme of time travel and its consequences is hinted at through Su Wen's thoughts.
• The importance of strategic thinking and adaptability is emphasized.
• The theme of friendship and trust is shown through the interactions between Su Wen and Jiang Menghan.

Character Interactions

• Su Wen and Jiang Menghan share a moment of understanding and connection.
• Klosan feels superfluous and out of place in the group.
• Lundell, Shelly, and Su Wen work together to analyze the situation and plan their next move.
• Su Wen shows trust and confidence in Jiang Menghan and Shelly's abilities.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shelly decides to join Su Wen to face the enemy, despite her recent ritual.
• Su Wen obtains a Travel Card depicting the 'Eternal Night Kingdom - Eden in Dream', which can create a 'Neutral Peace Zone'.
• The group learns that a Corpse Tide will reach Return Port in four hours.
• Su Wen deduces that the mastermind behind the Black Tide has placed multiple 'triggers' and that the situation is reversing.
• Lundell requests to handle Terry Vicon-Abel personally.
• Su Wen assembles a steam-powered heavy truck, 'Steel Roar', from the ruins, which they use to leave Return Port.

Character Developments

• Shelly shows determination and bravery by deciding to help despite her recent ritual.
• Lundell displays a strong desire for revenge against Terry Vicon-Abel.
• Su Wen demonstrates his strategic thinking and ability to analyze situations quickly.

Significant Themes

• The power of determination and bravery in the face of adversity (Shelly).
• The consequences of betrayal and the desire for revenge (Lundell).
• The importance of strategic thinking and adaptability (Su Wen).

Character Interactions

• Shelly and Su Wen: Shelly shows respect and determination to help, while Su Wen acknowledges her resolve.
• Lundell and Su Wen: Lundell requests to handle Terry personally, and Su Wen reassures her that the 'fuel' (revenge) is hers alone.
• Su Wen and the group: Su Wen leads the group, making strategic decisions and using his abilities to protect them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shelly, Klosan, and Su Wen travel through the desolate wilderness of the Eternal Night Kingdom, passing through the once-thriving 'Floral Capital of the Borderlands' now reduced to decay.
• They encounter a Corpse Tide, a massive group of Infected, and park their truck on high ground to avoid it.
• A Dragon, shrouded in frost, appears in the sky.

Character Developments

• Shelly: Reminisces about the past glory of Return Port, feels fear and melancholy, but also displays determination and resilience.
• Klosan: Shows excitement and curiosity towards the unique lifeforms and their potential for genetic ascension, hinting at her obsession with research.
• Su Wen: Demonstrates calm and rational thinking under pressure, showing leadership and tolerance towards Klosan's eccentricities.

Significant Themes

• The destructive power of the 'Black Tide' disaster, leaving only desolation and decay.
• The resilience of life and humanity in the face of despair, as seen in Shelly's determination and the Dragon's appearance.
• The potential for growth and adaptation through research and understanding of unique lifeforms, as exemplified by Klosan's excitement.

Character Interactions

• Shelly and Klosan: Shelly shares her memories of the past with Klosan, who in turn offers her a calming pill, showing a moment of camaraderie.
• Su Wen and Klosan: Su Wen shows understanding and tolerance towards Klosan's enthusiasm, while also displaying a protective attitude towards her, as seen in his warning about her drooling over bones.
• Shelly and Su Wen: Shelly looks up to Su Wen's calm demeanor in the face of the Corpse Tide, hinting at a growing trust and respect.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Wen uses a travel card to summon a Frost Flying Dragon, an ally, to combat the horde of infected.
• The dragon, using its powerful ice breath, freezes and destroys the entire horde of corpses.
• Two observers, Marion and Whitney, are caught off guard and frozen by the dragon's breath.

Character Developments

• Su Wen demonstrates his power and confidence, revealing his ability to control the dragon.
• Shelly is awestruck by the dragon's might and Su Wen's capabilities.
• Klosan shows excitement and curiosity about the dragon's power and its potential applications.
• Marion and Whitney, despite their initial disdain, are caught off guard and defeated.

Significant Themes

• Power and its responsible use: Su Wen's control over the dragon showcases his power, but he uses it responsibly to protect and save lives.
• The unknown: The dragon's appearance and power surprise and overwhelm those who underestimate it.
• Adaptation and preparation: Su Wen's preparation with the travel card and his understanding of the dragon's capabilities allow him to adapt to the situation effectively.

Character Interactions

• Su Wen reassures Shelly about the dragon's alliance.
• Klosan shares information about the dragon's past and encourages Shelly to ask Su Wen for benefits.
• Marion and Whitney interact, showing their disdain for the infected and underestimating the threat they pose.
• Su Wen and Klosan discuss the potential of the dragon's power and the possibility of its application in human constructs.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Wen summons the Frost Flying Dragon, which freezes a vast horde of infected corpses.
• The group finds a frozen member of the Dormant Sect, Marion-Cafarre, and extracts information from him.
• They learn that the Dormant Sect, along with a traitor named Terry Vicon, triggered the Black Tide Crisis.
• Su Wen deduces that there are more survivors in the Royal Capital and nearby suburbs, and plans to use the area as a 'fenced-in hunting ground.'

Character Developments

• Shelly struggles to cope with the horrors she's witnessed and the deaths of her loved ones.
• Klosan remains pragmatic and focused on her mission, showing no signs of emotional distress.
• Su Wen demonstrates strategic thinking and adaptability in response to new information.

Significant Themes

• The harsh reality of survival in a post-apocalyptic world.
• The cruelty and indifference of some characters towards the suffering of others.
• The struggle between hope and despair in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Character Interactions

• Su Wen and Klosan work together to extract information from Marion-Cafarre.
• Shelly struggles with her emotions and lashes out at the frozen Marion-Cafarre.
• The priest in the Signo Third Church pressures a mother to choose one of her children to join the Dormant Sect, highlighting the moral depravity of some characters.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Wen, Klosan, and Shelly approach the Eternal Night Kingdom's capital, witnessing its steampunk world and the desecrated church used to hold survivors.
• Su Wen reveals his plan to infiltrate the church, using a Mist Card to put everyone into a deep sleep.
• Inside the church, Su Wen takes the crown from the Evil God Statue, intending to use it for their next actions.
• Su Wen plans to use self-destructing robots to kill the cultists, creating a time displacement to mislead their pursuers.

Character Developments

• Su Wen: He remains calm, confident, and strategic, revealing his plan to outsmart their enemies. He shows no mercy towards the cultists, demonstrating his ruthlessness.
• Klosan: She shows indifference towards the cult paraphernalia and expresses concern about her life science capabilities, hinting at her expertise in the field.
• Shelly: She expresses sadness at the state of the capital but remains silent otherwise, indicating her growing acceptance of their situation.

Significant Themes

• Stealth and Deception: Su Wen's plan revolves around stealth and deception, using the Mist Card to infiltrate the church and the self-destructing robots to mislead their enemies.
• Lack of Mercy: The chapter title and Su Wen's actions towards the cultists emphasize the lack of mercy in their mission, highlighting the ruthless nature of their fight against the cult.
• Power Dynamics: The scene at the church showcases the power dynamics between the cultists and the survivors, with the cultists holding the upper hand.

Character Interactions

• Su Wen and Klosan: They work together, with Su Wen leading the operation and Klosan assisting with her life science knowledge. Their interaction is professional and focused on their mission.
• Su Wen and Shelly: Their interaction is minimal in this chapter, but Su Wen's promise to Shelly that she will become a hero shows his protective and encouraging side.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Klosan offers to improve the virus ravaging the Eternal Night Kingdom.
• Shelly encounters a child who was almost sacrificed by a cultist.
• An assassin from the Dormant Sect attacks Shelly, but Klosan defends her.
• Su Wen, Klosan, and Shelly infiltrate the virus research institute, discovering its true purpose and eliminating the remaining cultists.

Character Developments

• Klosan demonstrates her confidence and skill as a life scientist.
• Shelly shows empathy and determination to protect her people, vowing to avenge those harmed by the cultists.
• Su Wen exhibits his precision and calmness in detecting and disabling the hidden door switch.

Significant Themes

• The value of life and the consequences of disregarding it, as seen in the cultists' treatment of their victims.
• The importance of knowledge and data in scientific research, highlighted by Klosan's excitement to access the laboratory's database.

Character Interactions

• Klosan and Shelly work together to defend against the assassin's attack, showing a growing bond between them.
• Su Wen, Klosan, and Shelly collaborate to infiltrate and clear the virus research institute, demonstrating their teamwork and trust in each other.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Rhine (Su Wen) and Klosan analyze the Virus Progenitor data, discovering its origins trace back to the Fourth Epoch Civilization.
• Klosan warns Rhine about the possibility of American Federation involvement and the urgency to stop the 'Departure Ritual'.
• Rhine injects himself with the Virus Progenitor, adapting to it with the help of his Origin Origin Point abilities.

Character Developments

• Rhine demonstrates his determination and willingness to take risks for the greater good.
• Klosan shows concern for Rhine's well-being and willingness to help, despite her initial reluctance.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of humanity's actions on the environment and other civilizations.
• The importance of personal sacrifice for the greater good.
• The struggle against powerful forces (like the American Federation) and the search for truth.

Character Interactions

• Rhine and Klosan work together to understand and combat the virus, with Klosan providing scientific expertise and Rhine taking bold action.
• Rhine reassures Klosan and Shelly, showing leadership and concern for their well-being.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Wen (Rhine) intentionally infects himself with the original virus strain to create antibodies.
• Klosan injects Su Wen with a Spiritual Energy-enhancing medicine to boost his immunity.
• Su Wen triggers a side event, 'Open Up the Lost Sea', and obtains a Mist Card, 'ORF1A Virus Sequence Directed Modification'.
• Klosan examines Su Wen and plans to create recombinant antibodies using his antibodies and the lab's conditions.

Character Developments

• Su Wen demonstrates his determination and willingness to take risks for the greater good.
• Klosan shows her dedication to scientific research, even to the point of obsession.
• Shelly reveals her past experience as a trainee nurse, displaying her potential in medical work.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice for the greater good (Su Wen's decision to infect himself)
• The pursuit of knowledge and scientific research (Klosan's dedication)
• Potential and growth (Shelly's past experience and Klosan's recognition of her potential)

Character Interactions

• Su Wen and Klosan: Their interaction is tense due to Klosan's inappropriate advances and Su Wen's refusal, highlighting their differing priorities.
• Klosan and Shelly: Klosan mentors Shelly, recognizing her potential in medical work and encouraging her.
• Su Wen and Shelly: Su Wen shows concern for Shelly's well-being, advising her to conserve her strength.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Menghan and Lundell arrive at a cluster of towers on snow mountains, reminiscent of ancient Roman architecture.
• They follow a trace left by Sentinel survivors who came to investigate the contamination source.
• Corrupted, giant robots attack them, revealing that silicon-based life can also be corrupted by the Black Tide.
• Lundell and Jiang Menghan work together to evade and distract the robots, using Lundell's Spiritual Energy Traits and Jiang Menghan's Artemis lineage.

Character Developments

• Jiang Menghan: Shows calm and composure under threat, using her Artemis lineage effectively.
• Lundell: Demonstrates strategic thinking and adaptability in combat, prioritizing efficiency over brute force.

Significant Themes

• Corruption and Contamination: The Black Tide's ability to corrupt silicon-based life is revealed, expanding the understanding of its threat.
• Teamwork and Adaptability: Jiang Menghan and Lundell work together, showcasing the importance of teamwork and adaptability in facing unexpected challenges.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Menghan and Lundell: They communicate effectively, using private channels and coordinating their actions, demonstrating a level of trust and understanding.
• Lundell and Unnamed Characters: Lundell expresses pride in the Sentinel survivors who came to investigate the contamination source, showing her loyalty to their cause.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lundell and Jiang Menghan destroy a corrupted construction robot to clear their path.
• They retrieve the cores of the destroyed robots at Jiang Menghan's suggestion.
• They follow Ash traces to a tower bastion, where Lundell discovers a hidden secret door.
• Lundell knocks on the secret door, revealing her identity and intention to help, using a sub-level instruction known only to the Great Library.

Character Developments

• Lundell demonstrates her combat skills and strategic thinking in destroying the robot.
• Jiang Menghan shows her intelligence and resourcefulness in suggesting the retrieval of the robot cores.
• Lundell exhibits her investigative skills in finding the hidden door and her knowledge of the Great Library's secrets.
• Su Wen, though not physically present, shows his diplomatic skills in responding to Lundell's curiosity about the robot cores.

Significant Themes

• The destructive power of the Black Tide and the remnants it leaves behind.
• The importance of knowledge and information, as seen in the Great Library's thirst for knowledge and the secrets hidden in the tower bastion.
• The necessity of caution and verification in revealing secrets, as seen in Lundell's careful approach to the hidden door.

Character Interactions

• Lundell and Jiang Menghan work together effectively, with Lundell taking the lead in combat and Jiang Menghan providing strategic support.
• Lundell and Su Wen maintain a professional yet cordial relationship, with Lundell showing curiosity about Su Wen's interests and Su Wen responding diplomatically.
• The potential survivor in the tower bastion shows caution in revealing their identity, highlighting the importance of trust and verification in their interactions with Lundell.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lundell (Ash) arrives at the Eternal Night Kingdom, finding the remaining Cruisers (L, R, K) and a dying comrade.
• The Cruisers reveal they discovered the Other Shore Gate in the kingdom, which was opened by the Dormant Sect, causing the Black Tide Disaster.
• Lundell learns that Terry Vicon, a traitor, was involved and that the cultists left behind Black Tide-corrupted steam machines guarding the gate.
• Jiang Menghan (Su Wen's companion) plans to use single-electron tunneling and superconductivity theories to study the Other Shore Gate's wave function or simulate it.

Character Developments

• Lundell (Ash): Revealed to be a Sentinel Captain with high operational freedom, valuing efficiency and fairness.
• Misha (K): A Great Library assembly member who served as a Cruiser, shown to be dedicated and professional.
• L: A middle-aged Cruiser with a calm demeanor, appreciative of Lundell's efforts.
• R: A short-haired girl who displays a mix of fear, relief, and fandom excitement after surviving the disaster.

Significant Themes

• Survival and perseverance in the face of disaster.
• Trust and betrayal, as seen through Terry Vicon's actions.
• The value of knowledge and expertise, emphasized by Lundell and Jiang Menghan's problem-solving approaches.

Character Interactions

• Lundell interacts with the Cruisers, displaying a mix of authority, understanding, and fairness.
• Misha and Lundell share a history, with Lundell showing familiarity with Misha's past.
• Jiang Menghan and Lundell discuss their plans, with Jiang Menghan taking the lead in problem-solving.
• The Cruisers (L, R, K) interact with each other, showing camaraderie and shared experiences.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Wen and Jiang Menghan discuss the Border Gate's physics, concluding it's an Einstein-Rosen Bridge (wormhole) with a potential difference in activated dark matter.
• They decide to use Contamination Cores to simulate a wave function to traverse the potential barrier.
• The Sentinels construct a Spiritual Energy amplification field using the Contamination Cores.

Character Developments

• Jiang Menghan: Shows her intelligence and analytical skills, becoming the first to use science to analyze the 'Gate of the Gods'.
• Su Wen: Demonstrates his understanding and agreement with Jiang Menghan's analysis.
• Misha: Proves to be an efficient leader, overseeing the construction of the Spiritual Energy field.

Significant Themes

• The use of science and physics to understand and traverse the Border Gate.
• The importance of teamwork and collaboration in achieving complex tasks.

Character Interactions

• Su Wen and Jiang Menghan: They communicate effectively, understanding each other's thoughts and working together to solve the problem.
• Misha and Lundell: They observe and discuss the progress of the experiment, with Lundell acknowledging Misha's team's competence.
• Misha and her team: Misha delegates tasks and acknowledges her team's contributions, particularly Nosis's role in the precise operation of the Spiritual Energy field construction.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The amplification field's construction is completed, matching the physics model perfectly.
• The gate connecting two sides of the world materializes, revealing a cosmic rift.
• A black sludge, 'filth' from the Lost Sea, starts pouring into the world through the gate.
• The gate's stability requires a blizzard, which can be disrupted to stop the flow of filth.

Character Developments

• Nosis acknowledges Jiang Menghan's crucial role in the construction process.
• Lundell and Jiang Menghan discuss the gate's stability and the potential consequences of its excessive behavior.
• Jiang Menghan decides to disrupt the gate's stability to stop the filth from entering.

Significant Themes

• The danger and instability of the gate connecting to the real world.
• The desperation of the Eternal Night Kingdom and its struggle for survival.
• The need for action to prevent irreversible consequences.

Character Interactions

• Nosis expresses admiration for Jiang Menghan's contributions.
• Lundell and Jiang Menghan engage in a conversation about the gate's stability and potential solutions.
• Jiang Menghan shares her plan with Lundell to disrupt the gate's stability.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Misha and Su Wen discuss the feasibility of lowering a mountain range without powerful weapons.
• Su Wen obtains a 'Mist Card' named 'Black Tide Between Doors' from the Dawn System.
• Misha, Su Wen, Nosis, and L pay their respects to the fallen Sentinel comrades.
• Su Wen decides to save civilization at the cost of 'memorial inscriptions'.
• Su Wen uses a 'Journey Card' named 'Metis Stardust Glimmering Ray' to create a tidal energy flow, annihilating the gap between Roche Limits.

Character Developments

• Misha shows trust in Su Wen's abilities and decisions.
• Su Wen demonstrates his strategic thinking and willingness to make tough choices.
• L, Misha, and Nosis reflect on their fallen comrades and the Great Library's values.

Significant Themes

• The value of history and memory.
• The cost of survival and progress.
• Trust and belief in others.

Character Interactions

• Misha and Su Wen share a moment of understanding and trust.
• L, Misha, and Nosis reminisce about their fallen comrades, fostering a sense of camaraderie.
• Su Wen makes a decision that affects the group's mission, showing his leadership role.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A powerful Spiritual Energy manifestation, the Metis Stardust Glimmering Ray, descends upon the Eternal Night Kingdom, transforming the snow-covered mountains into a vast plain and leaving behind a hardened metal surface.
• The ray creates a river of stars in the sky, visible across the kingdom, bringing hope and wonder to the people.
• Su Wen, Jiang Menghan, Shelly, and others witness this event from different locations.

Character Developments

• Jiang Menghan remains enigmatic, her thoughts unreadable as she observes the galaxy.
• Lundell, driving with Jiang Menghan, is impressed by the spectacle.
• Su Wen, after successfully resolving the Black Tide, falls into a deep sleep due to exhaustion and the strain of using his powers.
• Shelly, initially timid, gains confidence and expresses her gratitude to Su Wen for the beautiful scene in the sky.

Significant Themes

• Hope and wonder amidst despair and hardship.
• The power of nature and the cosmos.
• The impact of Su Wen's actions on the world and its inhabitants.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Menghan and Lundell share a moment of awe and reflection while driving.
• Su Wen and Shelly have a heart-to-heart conversation about dreams and aspirations.
• Klosan, the life scientist, interacts with Shelly, offering advice and showing a softer side.
• The people of the Eternal Night Kingdom react with awe and hope as they witness the starry river in the sky.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Wen falls asleep in the game and in real life, missing crucial notifications about his actions in the game world.
• Lundell and her team, including Jiang Menghan, travel through an old city to reach the Royal Capital via an underground pipeline.
• Jiang Menghan senses that the lantern Su Wen seeks is likely still in the Royal Capital.
• Lundell prepares to face enemies approaching the old city.

Character Developments

• Su Wen is exhausted and falls asleep, missing important game developments.
• Lundell shows strategic planning and combat readiness, preparing to face enemies and protect her team.
• Jiang Menghan demonstrates her intelligence and resourcefulness, sensing the location of the lantern and understanding the implications of Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle.

Significant Themes

• The blurred line between the game world and reality, as Su Wen's actions in the game affect the real world, and vice versa.
• The pursuit of knowledge and understanding, as Jiang Menghan explores the implications of Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle in relation to Border Relics.
• The importance of preparation and strategy, as Lundell readies her team to face potential enemies.

Character Interactions

• Lundell and Jiang Menghan work together, with Lundell showing concern for Jiang Menghan's safety and Jiang Menghan displaying trust in Lundell's abilities.
• Lundell's team, including Misha, follows her orders without question, showing loyalty and discipline.
• The Dormant Sect's cultists arrive late, setting up a potential confrontation with Lundell's team.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cultists, led by Cain Priest, track Jiang Menghan's group using Terry Vicon's provided Sentinel Spiritual Energy frequency.
• Lundell, the Mature Sentinel Captain, kills Cain Priest and his followers using her Border Relic, John Claverhouse's Flame Burning Death Sword.
• Jiang Menghan discovers a group of dormant, intact robots in an underground tunnel, planning to use them as helpers for their operation.
• Jiang Menghan requests Lundell to obtain relics with the Abyss Order's mark for her backup plan.

Character Developments

• Lundell demonstrates her formidable combat skills and indifference towards her enemies.
• Jiang Menghan exhibits her strategic thinking and resourcefulness, planning to utilize the robots and relics for their mission.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between the characters and factions, with Lundell's strength and Jiang Menghan's strategic planning being crucial.
• The importance of resources and preparation for the mission, as seen in Jiang Menghan's plan to use the robots and relics.

Character Interactions

• Lundell and Jiang Menghan communicate via the Dawn System, with Lundell providing updates on her situation and Jiang Menghan requesting relics for her plan.
• Jiang Menghan interacts with her team, Misha and Nosis, discussing the robots and Nosis's role in repairing them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The strange celestial phenomenon caused by the Metis Stardust Ray fades, and the Border Gate's environment returns to normal.
• Lundell's group infiltrates the inner city of the Eternal Night Kingdom's Royal Capital, finding it destroyed and controlled by cultists.
• They discover that the cultists are using mutated creatures and planning to create controllable 'Black Tide mutations'.
• Klosan informs them that she can treat mild infections and those who came into contact with the Black Tide after ten hours.
• Lundell's group plans to destroy the Steam Core of the King's City to disable its mechanical power.

Character Developments

• Lundell shows concern for her team's safety and determination to stop the cultists.
• Klosan makes progress in her antibody research and expresses concern for Rhine's well-being.
• Jiang Menghan demonstrates strategic thinking and calmness under pressure, deciding to prioritize destroying the Steam Core.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of unchecked ambition and power, as seen in the cultists' disregard for life and their plans to control the Black Tide mutations.
• The importance of unity and coordination among the team, as emphasized by Rhine's suggestion to maintain synchronized actions.
• The impact of technology and industrialization on society, both positive (the King's City's mechanical power) and negative (the cultists' misuse of technology).

Character Interactions

• Lundell and Jiang Menghan work together to plan their next move, showing respect for each other's opinions.
• Klosan and Lundell communicate about the team's current situation and future plans.
• Nosis expresses admiration for Rhine and asks for an autograph, showing her respect for him as a leader.
• Shelly is shown to be protective of Rhine, sleeping beside him to ensure his safety.