Chapter Summaries

Wazai and Carlos traveled toward Hanging Soul Cliff through hordes of ghouls, where Carlos used a dark flame to drive them away. They reached the cliff and Wazai lit the Milestone Spirit Candle, while Carlos’s growing connection to darkness left Wazai uneasy.

• Wazai told Carlos that the Candle Keepers would not let him go to Candlewood Island, and Carlos accepted the news without regret.
• Wazai and Carlos crossed the lake and headed for the cliff, fighting their way through increasingly numerous ghouls.
• Carlos invoked a purple-black flame that made the ghouls flee and destroyed several elite piled-up ghouls.
• Wazai collected three items and learned from their descriptions that the dead on the path had come from many places and had been drawn to darkness.
• Wazai and Carlos reached the top of the cliff, and Wazai lit the Milestone Spirit Candle at Hanging Soul Cliff.

Carlos summoned a bridge that plunged through darkness toward the Palace of Darkness, guiding Wazai past its deadly guardian. They reached the palace, where Carlos suddenly lost control of his body and collapsed.

• Carlos summoned the twisted bridge to the cliff and told Wazai to follow without speaking.
• The bridge descended through darkness, where Noise-Hater attacked Wazai before Carlos drove it away.
• Carlos explained that entering the Palace of Darkness required falling into it and warned that Noise-Hater killed anyone who made noise.
• Carlos led Wazai across a bone-strewn bridge until they reached the palace’s stone tiles.
• As Wazai prepared to light Spirit Candle, Carlos went limp and began to collapse.

Carlos explained that the dead Kindling’s darkness had transformed him into a Dark Pilgrim and gave Wazai his remaining eye before disappearing among the pilgrims. Wazai used the eye to reveal a path through the darkness, while Rogue concluded that Carlos’s story had ended.

• Carlos told Wazai that the Kindling had two sides and that its death had unleashed the darkness, which was turning him into a Dark Pilgrim.
• Carlos removed his dimming eye, gave it to Wazai, and entered the darkness with the other Dark Pilgrims.
• The Dark Pilgrims approached Wazai but withdrew after Carlos spoke to them in the ancient language of the Feathered Folk.
• Wazai activated Carlos’s Eye with Warfire, dispersing the darkness and revealing a path, but he could not find Carlos among the pilgrims.
• Rogue watched Wazai and reflected that Carlos had been bound to the region and could not be saved, leaving Wazai to seek the truth with Carlos’s eye.

Players mourned Carlos’s departure and hit a wall in their exploration of the palace and City of Radiance. Rogue learned from Sacred Tree Nairiel that the Primal Flame Marks came from dead Kindling, and she began explaining what Radiant Beings had given their believers.

• Players discovered that Carlos had left and could not enter Candlewood Island, while others complained that a powerful Winged Person blocked their path into the palace.
• Players failed to reach the City of Radiance despite killing the Four-Armed Dark Crow and trying various ways around the barrier, bringing the expedition to a halt.
• Rogue accepted the players’ limits and reflected that they needed to grow stronger before they could find Kindling.
• Rogue discussed the Radiant Beings with Nonia, Burton, and the others, then shared what he had learned with Sacred Tree Nairiel.
• Nairiel told Rogue that the Primal Flame Marks came from dead Kindling whose flames still endured, and said Radiant Beings had given their believers more than superficial radiance.

Rogue asked Nairiel to produce Fire-Melting Crystal and oversee warriors entering the Years of Dense Forest. After Clemo passed the Fire Offering Ritual, Temple Master Yagony revealed the Firewood Collectors’ origins and introduced him to the Fire Aspect Temple’s services.

• Rogue learned that Nairiel could transform Fire-Melting Crystal and asked her to prepare it and discipline any unruly warriors entering the Years of Dense Forest.
• Clemo emerged from the Fire Offering Ritual as a Fire Offering Envoy and encountered the masked man and horned knight, who warned that someone was waiting for him.
• Temple Master Yagony introduced himself and explained that Firewood Collectors were warriors sealed away before the Extinguishing Moment shattered the world.
• Yagony urged Clemo to advance toward the Kindling and help rekindle the world, then gave him a charcoal item bound to his flames for returning to the temple.
• Yagony described the temple’s blacksmiths, armorers, library, and trading hall, and Clemo examined the doors with lit Bonfires.

Clemo questioned the Temple Master about the Firewood Collectors’ purpose and whether they were expendable, then heard warnings from two disillusioned collectors about seeking Kindling. He met Ackerman, known as Blackface, and Atubal, known as Horn, and the chapter ended with the three exchanging introductions.

• Clemo asked the Temple Master who the Firewood Collectors fought for and whether they were treated as expendable, and the Temple Master said they fought for themselves and warned that their war demanded sacrifices.
• After the Temple Master vanished, Blackface mocked Clemo, while Horn warned him not to enter a dangerous door at Ember Gate.
• Horn said he believed Kindling was a lie that lured collectors to their deaths, and Blackface claimed he had never seen anyone master its power.
• Clemo asked what the two planned to do, and Blackface said he would scavenge in dark areas while Horn intended to grow stronger until he killed a target.
• Blackface introduced himself as Ackerman and Horn as Atubal, telling Clemo to call them Blackface and Horn.

Clemo toured the Fire Aspect Temple with Blackface and Horn while Brother Yu heard that Old Yan had found a Weird Fishing Rod. A notification announced that Years of Dense Forest would soon open to qualified players, and Wowo discovered that Niuniu had taught Little Snail to say “Pretty Horse.”

• Blackface and Horn offered to show Clemo around the Fire Aspect Temple after saying they needed time to rest.
• Old Yan told Brother Yu about a Weird Fishing Rod that could catch strange items instead of living creatures, and Brother Yu learned Old Yan had found it in a chest.
• Brother Yu offered to give Old Yan the antique he wanted, then received a notification that Years of Dense Forest would soon open to qualified players.
• Little Snail called a Candlelight Spirit Steed a “Pretty Horse,” and Wowo learned that Niuniu had taught her the phrase.

Yuanfang, Li Miao, Brother Yu, and Wazai entered the Years of Dense Forest, a leisure area where combat was restricted and their token qualification lasted forty-eight hours. Retali began showing them around, and they stopped at a fruit stall where Li Miao spotted a suggestively named Swelling Banana.

• Retali checked the players’ tokens and led the qualified Candle Spirit Warriors through the mist gate, while unqualified players failed to sneak in.
• The players learned that the Years of Dense Forest allowed gathering and fishing, restricted attacks, and permitted token holders to enter and leave for forty-eight hours.
• Yuanfang found a Milestone Spirit Candle, and the group tested the combat restrictions while Brother Yu urgently asked to go fishing.
• Retali led the group to a fruit stall beneath a Purple Kui Tree, where Li Miao picked up a pale pink Swelling Banana and shared a suggestive smile with the others.

Li Miao, Yuanfang, Wazai, and Brother Yu sampled the food stalls in Years of Dense Forest and were impressed by the flavors. After Granny Guilio tricked them into thinking they had eaten her leg, Retali reassured them and led them onward.

• Retali led the group from a fruit stall to a market with a wider variety of food, where Li Miao, Yuanfang, Wazai, and Brother Yu bought and enjoyed snacks.
• Yuanfang left to handle their business, taking fruit juice and dried fruit from Li Miao before he went.
• Granny Guilio asked the group whether they liked the grilled meat, then implied it had come from her missing leg.
• Retali explained that the grilled meat was actually fruit and that Granny Guilio had lost her leg fighting monsters.
• Granny Guilio admitted she had been joking, and Retali suggested taking the group to the next place.

Li Miao, Wazai, and Brother Yu explored Dense Forest Lake, where Brother Yu rushed to investigate the fishing opportunities and met Uncle Raman at his tackle shop. After learning about a special Fishing Rod available as a prize, Brother Yu eagerly asked what conditions he needed to fulfill to obtain it.

• Retali showed the group Dense Forest Lake, and Brother Yu immediately dashed off to fish before she finished explaining.
• Retali told Li Miao and Wazai that Uncle Raman sold special Fishing Rods and bait, then mentioned that clues to hidden treasures could be found near the Sacred Tree.
• Brother Yu found Uncle Raman in a lakeside cave, questioned him about being a fish who taught fishing, and heard how kindled beings viewed their own kind.
• Uncle Raman showed Brother Yu several Fishing Rods, then revealed that a better one could only be obtained as a prize.
• Brother Yu excitedly asked Uncle Raman what conditions he had to meet to win the special Fishing Rod.

Brother Yu pursued a special fishing rod while Wazai searched for treasure in Years of Dense Forest, and the Prison Players began hauling out the area’s specialties to sell. Wazai found a chest after secretly tugging Brother Yu’s hook, while Brother Yu remained convinced that a cunning fish was challenging him.

• Uncle Raman explained that Brother Yu could earn points by catching rare fish and exchange 1,000 points plus a rare catch for a special fishing rod.
• Li Miao and Wazai went to the Sacred Tree, took treasure clues, and Wazai followed one toward Dense Forest Lake.
• Wazai found Brother Yu’s fishing hook underwater and tugged it twice, causing Brother Yu to reel in an empty hook and blame the lake’s strange fish.
• Wazai followed the clue to a chest and returned to shore, while Brother Yu insisted that a fish was provoking him by biting only the hook.
• Li Miao, Yuanfang, Mushroom, Niuniu, and the other Prison Players carried Years of Dense Forest specialties outside, where players quickly bought them up.

Li Miao and Yuanfang bought and gathered goods in Years of Dense Forest, where Granny Guilio risked offending the Spirit Candle warriors to reassure her people that they had nothing to fear. At the Fire Aspect Temple, Clemo learned how its services worked and wondered whether its smiths could make equipment that changed with Body Size Change.

• Li Miao and Yuanfang helped the Years of Dense Forest shopkeepers gather more fruit after the market ran low on goods.
• Granny Guilio tested the Spirit Candle warriors with a joke, then told the other elders she wanted the children to stop living in fear.
• Granny Guilio carried her grandchild home while the elders debated whether her risk would bring disaster.
• Blackface and Horn showed Clemo around the Fire Aspect Temple and explained its services and their limitations.
• Clemo asked whether the forging room could make equipment that changed with Body Size Change, and Blackface said such gear was beyond ordinary people.

Clemo learned about the Blood Fist brothers, who had chosen to become Firewood Collectors without the possibility of resurrection, and heard that Bullhorn had no witch. As Clemo prepared to leave, Gabry warned him not to associate with heretics and repeated that selfishness led to darkness.

• Blackface and Bullhorn told Clemo that Blood Fist Cassius had lost his brother, and explained that the brothers had voluntarily become Firewood Collectors despite having no chance of resurrection.
• Clemo reflected on his own fear of death and wondered how the Candle Spirit Warriors could face it so lightly.
• Blackface urged Clemo to uncover Kindling's secrets if he wanted to become capable, while warning that he might die for it.
• Blackface told Clemo that Bullhorn had no witch, but Bullhorn stayed silent when Clemo asked why.
• Blackface and Bullhorn left Clemo, telling him to wait outside the trading hall if he needed to find them.
• Gabry warned Clemo not to contact heretics and said selfishness would bring endless darkness.

Rogue discussed the Fire Aspect Temple’s secrets with Clemo, who volunteered to investigate the Bonfire and its purpose. Clemo reunited with Retali and opened one of the crates Rogue had left in his room, revealing a strange light.

• Rogue questioned Clemo about the Fire Aspect Temple and warned that investigating its secrets was risky.
• Clemo agreed to investigate the Bonfire’s true purpose and gather information about the Firewood Collectors’ Witches.
• Rogue told Clemo to collect the supplies in his room and sent him to find Retali, who had been waiting outside.
• Clemo and Retali returned to his room, where Clemo opened one of the crates and a strange light shone through its lid.

Clemo and Retali opened a haul of valuable equipment and supplies from the Yasum Tomb, while Clemo reflected on his distrust of Bonfire. Ryan told the Storyteller that repeated visits to the Yasum Tomb were causing him to forget things, and the Storyteller advised him to stop confronting the mad soul until they learned more.

• Clemo and Retali opened the chests and found equipment, spirit materials, special items, potions, combat manuals, and fire seeds.
• Clemo donned his new armor and traveled with Retali through the Years of Dense Forest as players reacted to his changed appearance.
• The Storyteller prepared to leave the Shadow Cavern when Ryan arrived, unable at first to remember why he had come.
• Ryan told the Storyteller that he had killed the mad soul three more times and cleared two sets of remains in the Legacy Land, which he learned was called the Yasum Tomb.
• Ryan explained that he had inherited power and combat memories but had begun experiencing memory problems, and the Storyteller advised him not to confront the mad soul again until they investigated.

Brother Yu’s attempt to earn enough points fishing in Years of Dense Forest failed, and Raman explained why his rare bait repelled the lake’s fish. Meanwhile, Spirit Candle announced new maps and a Candlelight Arena competition offering special qualifications, leaving players eager to compete.

• Brother Yu used Collector’s Whale Incense Bait after two days of poor fishing, but caught only a few tiny fish.
• Raman awarded Brother Yu forty points, far short of what he needed for a Fishing Rod.
• Raman explained that lake fish avoided the mysterious bait, which was meant to attract large marine organisms and rare sea beasts.
• Players’ exploration of the Radiant Beings location stalled because they could not enter the palace beneath the shadows.
• Spirit Candle announced more than twenty new maps and an upcoming Candlelight Arena competition with special qualifications among its rewards.

Players discussed Spirit Candle’s massive update and eagerly anticipated its new PvP mode, while Prison Players speculated about the tournament and challenged one another. Storyteller wondered how the group’s members compared in strength.

• Players joked about Spirit Candle’s frequent updates and celebrated the addition of Spirit Candle Unlimited Fighting.
• Players traded PvP taunts and imagined tactics before the update had finished.
• Storyteller explained that the Coliseum would use point-based rankings and match players by ignition points and temperature.
• Prison Players discussed who would enter the event, and Fisherman Who Never Misses a Catch said he would compete to qualify for Years of Dense Forest.
• Poetry and the Distance confirmed he would join, and Battle Thrill challenged him to a match; Yuanfang accepted.
• Storyteller wondered how the Prison Players ranked against one another in strength.

Spirit Candle's update brought players to Candlewood Island, where they prepared for the new Candlelight Arena and debated its rankings and strongest players. As the arena's opening approached, Azure Candle Flames lit up the venue.

• Spirit Candle completed the update, and Candlewood Island filled with players as crowding restrictions sent some into Single Player Online Mode.
• Players learned that Candlelight Arena would open at midnight and offer ranking rewards at every ignition level.
• Rogue and Nairiel designed rewards for Newbie Players to encourage participation and help them build confidence through competition.
• Players argued in the Chat Channel over which popular figures and builds were strongest, while Landfall fumed that they had barely mentioned him.
• Azure Candle Flames lit up the massive Candlelight Arena outside Candlewood Island.

The Candlelight Arena opened its Burning Competition, and Brother Mangzi faced a newly advanced Prison Player in his first match. He won with a relentless hammer attack and returned to the original world still hoping to fight Brother Yu and Yuanfang.

• Rogue announced the Candlelight Arena's opening and urged players to fight fearlessly.
• The arena matched a newly advanced Prison Player against Battle Thrill, whom he recognized as Brother Mangzi.
• Brother Mangzi encouraged the intimidated player to draw his blade against a stronger opponent, and the player readied himself to fight.
• Brother Mangzi overwhelmed the Prison Player with a fast, uninterrupted hammer combo and won the competition.
• Brother Mangzi returned to the original world and wondered why he had not been matched with Brother Yu or Yuanfang.

Li Miao and Yuanfang dominated their Candlelight Arena matches, drawing crowds of spectators with their contrasting fighting styles. Li Miao relied on durability and unusual gear, while Yuanfang swiftly outmaneuvered opponents through skill and composure, leaving the story with the audience recognizing how much strength he still had in reserve.

• Li Miao endured his opponent’s attacks and used Mourning King Extinguishing Spear, with King's Stance helping him maintain poise.
• Li Miao blocked a sword with his Suction Cup Shield, stole the opponent’s weapon, and finished him with a shield bash and combo.
• Spectators debated Li Miao’s unusual equipment and praised his endurance, while others called him not a knight.
• Yuanfang defeated opponents in quick succession, with most matches ending before they could understand how they had lost.
• Prison Players concluded that Yuanfang’s strength came from his precise techniques and calm mind, and suspected he had powerful unused equipment.