Chapter Summaries

As rumors spread that Crusch was preparing for war, the other Royal Selection candidates watched her movements while her forces prepared to hunt the White Whale. Crusch revealed the mission was also meant to fulfill Wilhelm van Astrea’s fourteen-year quest for revenge, and the subjugation force rode out from the Royal Capital after the fog appeared.

• Rumors about Crusch gathering soldiers, weapons, and Dragon Carriages unsettled the Royal Capital, while Priscilla and Felt dismissed the threat and Anastasia looked for a business opportunity.
• The other Royal Selection candidates sent out scouts but chose to wait and see what Crusch would do.
• Wilhelm reported that the fog had appeared, and Crusch ordered Felix to have the Knight Order seal off the roads.
• Crusch called Wilhelm by his true surname, Astrea, and reminded him that the White Whale had killed his wife fourteen years earlier.
• At night, Rem drove the Dragon Carriage as Emilia prayed with a crystal and Fang Li watched the horizon, eager to face Gluttony.

Crusch led the subjugation force to the White Whale’s fog and used Demon-Repelling Stones to clear a path. The White Whale emerged from the mist and fixed its savage gaze on them.

• Fang Li spotted a vast fog bank ahead as the Earth Dragon convoy approached it.
• Crusch ordered the convoy to stop at the edge of the fog, and Felix asked whether they should enter.
• Crusch ordered the Magic Stone Cannons to fire Demon-Repelling Stones into the fog.
• The stones exploded and dispersed the mist, revealing the White Whale rising into the air and staring at the force.

The White Whale ambushed the subjugation force, scattering its soldiers and collapsing the ground with its landing. Emilia struck the beast with a massive icicle and declared that she would stop its rampage, leaving the force to face the battle ahead.

• The White Whale descended from the sky and unleashed a blast that battered the subjugation force.
• Wilhelm warned the others to scatter, while Rem pulled Emilia from the carriage and Fang Li leaped clear with Rem.
• The impact collapsed the ground and scattered the soldiers, leaving the subjugation force’s formation in ruins.
• The White Whale revealed its enormous form and began to rise into the sky as Crusch, Felix, Wilhelm, and Fang Li watched.
• Emilia fired a massive icicle into the White Whale and vowed to stop it from wreaking havoc.

Crusch launched the assault on the White Whale, and the soldiers, mercenaries, and magicians battered it while Wilhelm and Crusch fought at the front. Fang Li noticed mana gathering inside the Whale and rushed toward it, leaving Emilia and Rem behind as they warned him to be careful.

• Crusch ordered the subjugation force to attack the White Whale, and Wilhelm leaped onto its back and stabbed it.
• Crusch directed the magicians to bombard the White Whale with fire magic before sending the soldiers and mercenaries forward.
• Rem explained that Emilia was exhausted from using magic in the mana-filled atmosphere, while Puck remained asleep in his Crystal Stone.
• The subjugation force wounded the White Whale with weapons, spells, Magic Stone Cannons, Wilhelm's sword, and Crusch's wind blades, but it showed no sign of weakening.
• Fang Li sensed mana gathering inside the White Whale, told Emilia and Rem to stay behind, and charged toward it.

The White Whale unleashed its Erasure Mist, killing and erasing several members of the subjugation force before threatening to wipe out the rest. Fang Li cut through the mist and kicked the White Whale from the sky, leaving the battle poised to continue.

• The White Whale released Erasure Mist from pits across its body, and Crusch ordered the subjugation force to retreat.
• The mist swallowed several soldiers and mercenaries, erasing them and all memory of their existence.
• The White Whale rose into the sky and sent an avalanche of Erasure Mist down toward the trapped subjugation force.
• Fang Li charged upward with his Moon Blade and used Flash Sheath—Light Moon to cut and destroy the falling mist.
• Fang Li followed with Flash Run—Flying Moon, kicking the White Whale out of the sky.

Fang Li sent the White Whale crashing into the wilderness, drawing cheers from the battlefield. As he realized Witch Cultists had attacked Emilia and Rem, Rem transformed and fought them while the White Whale broke free and charged at Fang Li.

• Fang Li kicked the White Whale from the sky and buried it beneath rubble, stunning the battlefield before the soldiers cheered him.
• Emilia decided to join the fight, but Rem sensed a Witch Cultist approaching and warned her too late.
• Fang Li recognized the chilling presence as the one he had sensed when Subaru died, then heard an explosion from across the battlefield.
• Rem transformed, revealed the Witch Cultists surrounding her, and attacked them as Crusch, Felix, and Wilhelm reacted in shock.
• Fang Li rushed toward Rem, but the White Whale burst from the crater and charged at him.

Fang Li destroyed the White Whale’s two illusory duplicates and rescued Rem from the Witch Cultists. Rem told him that an invisible attack had dragged Emilia into a nearby forest, and Fang Li saw Death Lines moving through the air there.

• Fang Li used his full Star Pulse Energy and charged at the White Whale.
• The White Whale split into three, but Fang Li dismembered its two charging duplicates with Flash Sheath—One Mile Four Crossings.
• Fang Li rushed to Rem and killed the Witch Cultists attacking her with Flash Sheath—Instant Prison.
• Fang Li gave the injured Rem a Healing Gem and asked where Emilia was.
• Rem said an invisible attack had dragged Emilia into the forest, and Fang Li saw Death Lines moving through the air.

Fang Li pursued the Witch Cultists who had attacked Emilia and fled into the forest, while Rem, Crusch, and the subjugation force followed. The chapter ended with Fang Li cutting through the cultists as their battle began.

• Fang Li discovered that Witch Cultists had attacked Emilia and told Rem to hold the area while he pursued them.
• The White Whale chased after Fang Li, and Rem followed in her oni form to stop it from getting in his way.
• Crusch ordered the subjugation force to pursue and help Fang Li while eliminating both the White Whale and the Witch Cultists.
• Fang Li raced through the forest, evading the cultists' fire magic as they tried to stop him.
• Fang Li charged the Witch Cultists blocking his path and began slaughtering them.

Emilia awoke chained in an underground cavern, where the deranged Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti revealed himself as a Witch Cult Archbishop. He declared that Emilia was the Witch he had been waiting for.

• Emilia regained consciousness in a cavern and found herself chained to a boulder.
• Petelgeuse mutilated himself while exulting over Emilia’s silver hair and calling her the Witch’s favor.
• Emilia recalled being struck from behind on the battlefield while preparing to support Fang Li against the White Whale.
• Emilia recognized Petelgeuse as a Witch Cultist and demanded that he identify himself.
• Petelgeuse announced that he was the Archbishop of Sin bearing Sloth and declared that he had kept Emilia waiting, Witch.

Emilia confronted Petelgeuse, the Witch Cult’s Archbishop of Sloth, who insisted that her resemblance to the Witch of Envy meant she was chosen to become a witch. His words shook Emilia’s resolve until a newcomer arrived and confronted him with killing intent.

• Emilia recognized Petelgeuse as the Witch Cult’s Archbishop of Sloth and rejected his claim that she was a witch.
• Petelgeuse argued that Emilia’s resemblance to the Witch of Envy proved she had been chosen by the witch and urged her to undergo a trial.
• Emilia began to doubt whether her resemblance to Satella was merely coincidence.
• Petelgeuse called Emilia slothful for refusing to face her origins, leaving her close to despair.
• A newcomer entered, challenged Petelgeuse, and fixed him with a chilling ice-blue gaze.

Fang Li reached Emilia and freed her from her chains, then defended her against Petelgeuse’s Invisible Hand. He revealed that he could cut the invisible attacks by seeing their death.

• Petelgeuse celebrated Fang Li’s bloodied arrival before abruptly asking who he was.
• Fang Li ignored Petelgeuse, reached Emilia, and severed her chains with the Moon Blade.
• Petelgeuse attacked as Fang Li carried Emilia clear of the exploding rock.
• Fang Li cut through Petelgeuse’s invisible hands, startling him.
• Fang Li told Petelgeuse that he had seen the hands’ death, not the hands themselves.

Fang Li used his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception to see and sever Petelgeuse’s Invisible Hands while protecting Emilia. He bisected Petelgeuse, whose uncontrolled Authority then tore apart the surrounding cave.

• Fang Li saw the Death Lines of Petelgeuse’s invisible hands and held Emilia close as Petelgeuse attacked.
• Fang Li dodged the Invisible Hands while rushing toward Petelgeuse with Emilia in his arms.
• Petelgeuse combined dozens of Invisible Hands into a massive arm and brought it down on Fang Li.
• Fang Li used Flash Sheath—One Scene Seven Nights to cut through the giant Invisible Hand and then bisected Petelgeuse.
• Petelgeuse’s rampaging Invisible Hands shattered the ground, walls, and ceiling until the cave collapsed.

Fang Li escaped the collapsing rock wall with Emilia, then faced Witch Cultists led by Petelgeuse, who had possessed one of his Fingers after his apparent death. Petelgeuse threatened Emilia and spoke of a trial, and Fang Li identified its first step as destroying Roswaal’s mansion and Aram Village.

• Fang Li carried the weakened Emilia out of the collapsing rock wall and kept her close when she tried to stand on her own.
• Fang Li dodged an invisible attack, and Witch Cultists emerged from the forest to surround him and Emilia.
• Fang Li recognized the attacker as Petelgeuse, who had taken over the body of one of his Fingers.
• Petelgeuse crushed the Finger’s own fingers and vowed to kill Fang Li so Emilia could accept the trial and be resurrected.
• Fang Li asked whether the trial’s first step was destroying Roswaal’s mansion and Aram Village.

Fang Li exposed Petelgeuse’s plan to use Emilia as a vessel for the Witch of Envy and revealed that he had prepared the Demon Beasts to defend Roswaal’s mansion and Aram Village. Petelgeuse launched his Invisible Hands at Fang Li and Emilia.

• Fang Li explained that the Witch Cult’s trial was meant to test Emilia as a vessel for the Witch of Envy by bringing disaster to her and her protectors.
• Emilia realized Fang Li’s accusations were true and angrily condemned Petelgeuse, who raved that killing people was part of showing the witch love.
• Fang Li revealed that he had arranged for Meli and the Demon Beasts to attack Witch Cultists entering the mansion or Aram Village.
• Petelgeuse sent a wave of Invisible Hands surging toward Fang Li and Emilia.

Fang Li fought through Petelgeuse’s rampaging Invisible Hands and used his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception to find the Death Line of Petelgeuse’s soul. He drove his dagger into Petelgeuse, leaving the outcome of the strike unresolved.

• Petelgeuse unleashed hundreds of Invisible Hands, which devastated the forest and slaughtered the surrounding Witch Cult followers.
• Fang Li evaded the attacks while holding Emilia and realized Petelgeuse had gathered the Invisible Hands from his reserve bodies, the “Fingers.”
• Fang Li challenged Petelgeuse’s ability to transfer his soul and focused his Mystic Eyes on finding the soul’s death.
• Fang Li saw a Death Line deep within Petelgeuse’s body and plunged his dagger into him.

Fang Li killed Petelgeuse by cutting the Death Line of his soul, and reflected on what it meant for death to be final. After Emilia composed herself, they left to rejoin the still-ongoing White Whale subjugation campaign.

• Fang Li killed Petelgeuse's soul with Moon Blade, preventing him from transferring to another body and reviving.
• Fang Li realized that death meant an existence's true end, whether its body or soul had been destroyed.
• Fang Li withdrew Moon Blade as Petelgeuse remained frozen with his mad expression, dead at last.
• Emilia shed tears over Petelgeuse's death, then wiped them away and struggled to understand her sorrow.
• Emilia told Fang Li they should leave, and he agreed because the White Whale campaign was still underway.

The White Whale was slain before Fang Li and Emilia arrived, and Rem and Wilhelm survived their near-fatal injuries with Fang Li and Felix’s help. After three days at Karsten Villa, Fang Li’s group prepared to return to Mezas Territory, and Fang Li asked Felix about the matter he had assigned him.

• Rem absorbed the White Whale’s mist while fighting alongside Wilhelm, and the subjugation force killed the White Whale before Fang Li and Emilia arrived.
• Fang Li used his Mystic Eyes to eliminate the mist inside Rem, and Felix saved her and Wilhelm; the force then returned to the Royal Capital with the White Whale’s head.
• Fang Li completed his White Whale Side Mission and his mission to kill Petelgeuse, leaving only the task of obtaining the Witch Factor.
• After Rem recovered at Karsten Villa, Crusch, Felix, and Wilhelm invited Fang Li’s group to stay for the celebration, but Emilia and Rem said they needed to return to Mezas Territory.
• Fang Li learned that Roswaal had not returned to the mansion and asked Felix how the matter he had assigned him was progressing.

Fang Li received the extracted Witch Factors from the White Whale and Petelgeuse, completing his Main Quests, but chose to remain in the Instance World for three more days. He and Emilia departed the Karsten estate after renewing their alliance with Crusch, while Emilia reflected on everything Fang Li had done for her.

• Felix gave Fang Li the Witch Factors of Gluttony and Sloth, which completed Fang Li's Main Quest Two and all his Main Quests.
• Fang Li chose to stay in the Instance World rather than return to the Main God Space, and he joked with Felix about his flirtation.
• Crusch and Emilia clasped hands and agreed to continue their alliance until the final showdown.
• Fang Li, Emilia, and Rem left the Karsten estate in the Dragon Carriage after saying goodbye to Crusch, Felix, and Wilhelm.
• Emilia looked back on the events of the Royal Capital trip and smiled at Fang Li, thinking of what he had done for her.

Fang Li returned to Roswaal's mansion, where Emilia took responsibility for calming the frightened residents while Meli departed after completing their deal. Fang Li then visited Beatrice in the Forbidden Library, recognized that she possessed a Gospel, and looked at her with regret as she tried to send him away.

• Ram told Fang Li and the others that Roswaal had briefly returned, ordered everyone to obey Emilia, and then left again.
• Emilia resolutely departed with Rem to reassure residents frightened by the Witch Cult and the Demon Beasts.
• Ram gave Fang Li Meli's message saying she had completed their deal and was leaving, and Fang Li let her go.
• Fang Li visited Beatrice in the Forbidden Library and thanked her for fulfilling their contract.
• Fang Li recognized that Beatrice had a Gospel like Roswaal's, and Beatrice told him to leave as regret showed in his eyes.

Fang Li confronted Beatrice about her four hundred years of loneliness and declared that her mission would end with him. Beatrice wondered if he was the person she had awaited, and Fang Li left her with hope that she only needed to wait a little longer.

• Beatrice grew angry at Fang Li's regretful gaze and warned him not to look at her that way.
• Fang Li told Beatrice she had the right to vent after spending four hundred years alone and waiting, and her magic surged out of control.
• Fang Li declared, "Your mission ends with me," then turned to leave.
• Beatrice grabbed Fang Li's clothes and asked whether he was the person she had been waiting for.
• Fang Li stroked Beatrice's head, told her to wait a little longer, and left the Forbidden Library.
• Alone in the library, Beatrice wondered if waiting a little longer would be enough and called out to her mother.