Chapter Summaries

Wazai helped the Radiant Beings defeat and absorb the Radiant Corpse, restoring balance between Radiance and shadow. Before the Radiant Beings, the Regent, and Carlos faded into Ashes, Wazai asked for Carlos to return and received several items to carry onward.

• The Radiant Beings used the shadows Wazai brought back to wound the Radiant Corpse and gain the advantage, while Wazai evaded attacks from Radiance monsters with help from shadow creatures.
• The Radiant Beings defeated the Radiant Corpse, took control of it, and restored balance between Radiance and shadow, but their body began shedding golden Ashes.
• The Radiant Beings brought Wazai and the Regent before them, and Wazai asked them to bring Carlos back; they summoned him from shadow, though they could not reignite him.
• Wazai told Carlos the truth he had sought, while the Regent and the Radiant Beings reconciled over the choices that led to their sacrifice.
• The Radiant Beings gave Wazai several items and urged him to let the light reach more people, then sent him down as they, the Regent, and Carlos turned to Ashes.

After City of Radiance collapsed, Wazai examined the Legendary rewards Radiant Beings had left him and prepared to leave the dungeon. Rogue, who had watched from the shadows, reflected on the battle and what the first piece of Special Equipment might reveal.

• Wazai found that Carlos's Eye had become a Legendary item that could dispel illusions, strengthen him, and guide him when he was lost.
• Wazai examined the Kindling Shard: Radiant Beings, a Legendary shard that could grant the special-form Body of Shattered Kindling effect.
• Wazai received Praise of All Beings, the first Special Equipment, which offered periodic protection and the skill Light and Shadow Division but required Radiant Beings' Body of Shattered Kindling.
• Wazai examined Radiant Kindling Fuel, then stood and reached for the Candlefire to leave Radiant Land.
• Rogue stopped observing Wazai and reflected that Radiant Beings' selflessness had weakened Them under the world's rules.
• Rogue considered Praise of All Beings and concluded that Special Equipment was likely rare for a deeper reason.

After Wazai described the Primal Flame Mark dungeon’s story-driven boss battle, he tested Radiant Beings’ Kindling Shard with Brother Bang Ying. The shard granted Wazai Body of Radiance, and they began considering its effects.

• Wazai praised the dungeon’s interactive boss battle and discussed the Radiant Land storyline with players in the Prison Players group.
• Wazai warned Brother Bang Ying that triggering the boss battle destroyed the Radiant Tomb and the City of Radiance, preventing further exploration of other branches.
• Wazai and Brother Bang Ying went to the Great Spirit Candle to test the Kindling Shard and other items.
• The Great Spirit Candle warned that fusing another Kindling Shard would not stack the Body of Shattered Kindling’s attribute increases, but Wazai proceeded.
• Wazai fused Radiant Beings’ Kindling Shard and gained Body of Radiance, 15 free attribute points, and the ability to fly after activating Saint's Fire Aspect.

Wazai tested the Radiant Beings Kindling Shard and Praise of All Beings, discovering that the shard let him fly briefly in Saint's Fire Aspect and that the legendary equipment offered powerful defenses and a prayer-using shadow double. After the tests, Wazai took Radiant Kindling Fuel to the Spirit Candle Shop.

• Wazai used Saint's Fire Aspect to fly with radiant wings, while Brother Bang Ying and nearby players watched and discussed the form's limits.
• Wazai activated Praise of All Beings, which formed light armor around him, then tested its defensive effect with Brother Bang Ying and other players.
• Wazai and the others determined that Praise of All Beings' defense consumed resources, weakened as it blocked attacks, and refreshed periodically.
• Wazai activated Light and Shadow Division, producing a shadow double that fought with prayers at the cost of a burst of resources.
• Wazai took Radiant Kindling Fuel to the Spirit Candle Shop.

Wazai exchanged his Radiant Kindling Fuel for a Shadow Companion Shell, while players returned from the Radiant Land and discussed its final battle and the tomb’s side routes. The exploration reports revealed that a key dropped by a Bloodbeak Butcher might open Battle Thrill’s locked door.

• Wazai chose the Shadow Companion Shell over Radiance’s Pierce because his Frost Lance was still effective.
• Players returned to Candlewood Island and discussed the Battle of Light and Darkness, including the consequences of failing the boss fight.
• Time to Eat Mushrooms recalled that the Radiant Beings had apologized and told him to run, prompting Battle Thrill to praise them.
• Yuanfang asked the group to share what they found behind the tomb’s side-route doors.
• Players reported treasure rooms, locked doors, an execution ground, and a Bloodbeak Butcher that dropped a key potentially meant for Battle Thrill’s door.

The Storyteller released a video recounting the Radiant Land’s history, focusing on the Golden Cherk Clan and the Evil King's Heir. The tale revealed that the heir’s birth followed a divine command for a bloody sacrifice, and that its parents later killed it when the queen became pregnant again.

• Li Miao read Landfall’s complaints, while top Prison Players discussed the remaining doors and prepared for the Radiant Beings boss battle.
• More Prison Players began clearing the Radiant Land after top players shared guides, though those without Kindling Shards suffered heavy losses.
• The Storyteller uploaded a video to explain the dungeon’s story rather than provide a guide.
• The Storyteller recounted how the Golden Cherk Clan sacrificed a hundred newborn Winged People’s eggs, after which the Evil King's Heir was born and helped the clan rise to power.
• The Storyteller explained that the Evil King's Heir unified the Feathered Folk, died when the Feathered King and queen killed it, and was later born from its egg with its memories intact.

A Storyteller recounted how Taimonzel became regent and how the Evil King's Heir's Golden Egg hatched into the righteous Radiant Beings, who saved the Feathered Folk and founded the City of Radiance. The video then revealed hidden dialogue explaining that Radiant Beings' evil had been taken away, before ending as the regent began to describe hearing the gods respond.

• Taimonzel watched the Evil King's Heir kill his father, grew stronger, and repeatedly fought the Heir despite its many forms of revival.
• Taimonzel revealed the royal palace's secrets, and the Feathered Folk chose to trust him and face a new crisis together.
• The regent turned to the Evil King's Heir's Golden Egg, from which a righteous and powerful Radiant Beings hatched and saved the Feathered Folk.
• Wazai showed Radiant Beings after battle, and players praised his good side as distinct from the Evil King's Heir.
• The Storyteller explained that hidden dialogue revealed Radiant Beings' evil had been taken away, then began sharing the regent's account of hearing the gods respond.

The Storyteller revealed that an unknown god manipulated the Feathered Folk’s history by taking the Evil King’s Heir’s evil and placing it in the Eternal Altar, setting up Radiant Beings’ transformation and sacrifice. The chapter ended by listing six eras connected to Radiant Beings and the Regent, while suggesting that the Radiance Era came after the Extinguishing Moment.

• The Storyteller quoted the Regent, who said a god had instructed him to release the Evil King’s Heir and make it sleep so Radiance would appear.
• The Storyteller explained that the god had removed Radiant Beings’ evil and placed it in the Eternal Altar, leaving Radiant Beings incomplete unless He reclaimed it by burning.
• The Storyteller said the Regent tried to stop Radiant Beings from going to the Eternal Altar because the sacrifice would bring back the Evil King’s Heir and risk losing Radiant Beings.
• The Storyteller revealed that neither Radiant Beings nor the Regent knew the mysterious god’s identity, and that the Evil King’s Heir’s consciousness had vanished.
• The Storyteller listed the War, Dusk, Long Night, Moon, Nightmare, and Radiance Eras, adding that the Radiance Era followed the Extinguishing Moment.

The Storyteller concluded its account of Radiant Land, speculating that Nightmare might be the mastermind and reflecting on Radiant Beings' tragic fate. After the video ended, Rogue issued cryptic descriptions of the eras, leaving players to debate and search them for clues.

• The Storyteller guessed that Nightmare was the likeliest mastermind behind the events affecting Radiant Beings.
• The Storyteller ended its video by recounting the sacrifices and tragic fate of Radiant Beings, whose good side had ultimately been replaced by its evil side.
• Players reacted to the bleak account with sadness, arguments, and debate about the eras and the hidden mastermind.
• Rogue updated the game's era information, including a cryptic description of the Dusk Era.
• Candle Scholars scrutinized Rogue's vague descriptions for deeper clues.

Rogue discovered that Ashes had planted ash-power traps in instances to corrupt players’ Candle Spirit Physiques, and the players began sharing warnings and hunting the creatures spying on them. Candlewood Island’s enemies continued their covert attacks, but the players’ counter-surveillance efforts were also weakening them.

• Rogue found an unconscious player beside a trapped treasure chest and used Spirit Candle Power to restore the player's soul, discovering that ash power had destroyed the player's Candle Spirit Physique.
• A player posted a warning about the ash trap, and more victims reported traps hidden in treasure chests, undead monsters, and books.
• Experienced players shared ways to avoid the ash, while Ashes continued adapting its traps to player habits.
• A player caught a Surveillance Evil Face Bug spying and setting an ash trap, turned it over to the Candle Keepers, and earned War Contribution.
• Players began hunting Surveillance Evil Face Bugs, Extinguisher Pursuers, and even some Salary Seizers as Rogue judged the losses manageable and the enemies' strength diminished.

Wang Dao encountered a White Can Salary Seizer sent by Fallen Fire Twilight to recruit him with a Scorched Shard and a promise of rewards for killing allies. He rejected the offer, killed the messenger despite his plea for mercy, and left as the messenger's phantom admitted Wang Dao had seen through his lie.

• Wang Dao used Fire Offering Power to prevent mindless corpses from incarnating, then captured a White Can Salary Seizer who had been watching him.
• The White Can Salary Seizer offered Wang Dao a Scorched Shard and said the Fallen Fire Will would reward him for killing his own people and Firewood Collectors.
• Wang Dao listened as the messenger claimed Fallen Fire Twilight had destroyed his hometown and held his family hostage, forcing him to serve.
• Wang Dao decided the messenger's plea was false and killed him with a blood-red shockwave and Bloody Fang.
• After Wang Dao left, the White Can Salary Seizer's phantom appeared and admitted that Wang Dao had seen through his lie.

Rogue considered how the Salary Seizers were trying to recruit players and decided he might exploit their schemes without risking players’ consciousness. Meanwhile, Youxi summoned Niuniu to save himself, then turned back after Niuniu defeated the Fallen Fire Knight and tried to order him around.

• Rogue reasoned that the Salary Seizers’ offer to Wang Dao was a test meant to stir distrust and encourage players to kill one another.
• Rogue considered ways to infiltrate the Salary Seizers but ruled out anything that endangered players’ consciousness.
• Youxi was cornered by a jar-bearing Fallen Fire User and a Fallen Fire Knight, so he summoned a Small Candle to call Niuniu for help.
• Niuniu killed the jar-bearing Salary Seizer and badly wounded the Fallen Fire Knight, while Youxi escaped through a drain.
• Youxi returned and finished off the wounded Fallen Fire Knight, then ordered Niuniu to collect the knight’s armor and perform tasks for him.

Niuniu beat Youxi for stealing his kill and ignored the Firewood Collector’s threats and pleas for mercy. After using a coin-toss game to toy with him, Niuniu stomped Youxi to death, leaving his supposed divine protection untested.

• Niuniu collected the Fallen Fire Knight’s armor and the Salary Seizer’s jar, then attacked Youxi when he ordered him to hurry and threatened to withhold the quest.
• Niuniu burned and lashed Youxi, overpowering him with his Spirit Combustion rank despite Youxi invoking the Fire Aspect Temple and warning that Gairo protected him.
• When Youxi begged for his life and revealed he had only one life left, Niuniu offered to spare him if three coin tosses all landed heads.
• After the tosses came up heads, Niuniu insisted on three more tosses, then declared that he did not believe in gods.
• Niuniu repeatedly used War Stomp until Youxi died.

After killing Firewood Collector Youxi, Niuniu received a permanent curse that drew dangerous creatures and mysterious encounters toward him at sea, but the Candle Keepers gave him only a warning and a painful fine. Rogue judged Youxi’s death deserved and approved of Niuniu’s actions, while Niuniu ended up arguing with Leti.

• Niuniu killed Firewood Collector Youxi and received the permanent Gaze of Gairo, which made him more likely to attract powerful sea life and mysterious events.
• The Candle Keepers warned Niuniu about causing more trouble and fined him to compensate the Fire Aspect Temple.
• Niuniu inspected his drops, found little of value, and grew furious over Youxi’s items and the losses he had suffered.
• Niuniu encountered Leti, and the two launched into a heated argument over their past grievances.
• Rogue decided Youxi had deserved to die and stood by Niuniu’s actions, leaving the Fire Aspect Temple to raise any objections directly with him.

Rogue learned from Yagony that Fallen Fire Twilight had been moving forces and might be planning something, then asked about Gairo, the evil god behind Niuniu’s strange protection. After Rogue created an official profile for Gairo, Xilugaron continued watching the Candlefire warriors in her trials, including their increasingly strange displays of admiration.

• Yagony warned Rogue that Fallen Fire Twilight had grown unusually quiet and that many Fallen Fire Users had been moving through important regions, so they agreed to stay alert and support each other if attacked.
• Rogue raised Youxi’s death, and Yagony dismissed Youxi as trash while Rogue offered an apology and promised to restrain Candlewood Island’s warriors.
• Rogue asked Yagony about Gairo, who explained that Gairo was a powerful former mollusk god that expanded its followers through coercion and had likely protected Youxi and influenced Niuniu’s coin tosses.
• Yagony said Gairo had probably survived the Extinguishing Moment by hibernating, and Rogue created an official profile card for the evil god after their call.
• Xilugaron continued observing the Candlefire warriors attempting her trial and heard several of them call out their love for her and ask her to step on them.

After completing his preparations and trading for antiques, Li Miao received Zered’s invitation to sail aboard the Burial Ship and accepted the side quest. He began preparing for the voyage while the Prison Players reacted with envy and discussed another player’s strange item.

• Li Miao finished collecting valuable items from the Primal Flame Mark dungeon, applied a Kindling Shard, and bought antiques from the fishing guys.
• Zered sent Li Miao items in exchange for the antiques and invited him to sail aboard the Burial Ship.
• Li Miao received the side quest Zered’s Invitation, accepted it, and was told to prepare and wait at a dungeon after leaving Candlewood Island.
• Li Miao announced the invitation in the Prison Players group chat, drawing envy and discussion from the other players.
• Sit-Not-Forget-The-Way shared an item that seemed to require someone to kill them, and Storyteller offered to organize players for the task.

Wang Dao and the Storyteller tested the Scorched Shard by having players line up to be killed, earning four rewards from Fallen Fire Twilight after nearly fifty deaths. The Storyteller proposed continuing the killings as a way to learn about Fallen Fire Twilight, and Wang Dao agreed to help put on an act.

• Wang Dao and the Storyteller formed a research group and recruited players to line up so Wang Dao could kill them and test the Scorched Shard.
• After nearly fifty players had died, the shard changed, so Wang Dao and the Storyteller entered the Seaside Town dungeon to claim its reward.
• Fallen Fire Twilight gave Wang Dao Fallen Tallow, an Original Color Pot, a Faith Cloth prayer, and the book Fallen World.
• Wang Dao gave Fallen World to the Storyteller, who waited until they returned to Candlewood Island before examining it.
• The Storyteller suggested that Wang Dao continue killing players, including in dungeons, to study Fallen Fire Twilight, and Wang Dao agreed to stage the killings as an act.

The Storyteller read Fallen World and learned that Fallen Fire Twilight sought to seize the Kindling, though its plans afterward remained unclear. Li Miao boarded Zered’s Burial Ship and received the Burial Ship Flame, which let him transform into a flame-wreathed Skeleton Knight.

• The Storyteller read Fallen World, a propaganda book arguing that the world was fallen and its rules were imperfect.
• Li Miao prepared for a voyage after consulting Yuanfang and waited for Zered beside the Milestone Spirit Candle.
• Zered arrived aboard the Burial Ship, and Li Miao blocked his attack before showing him his collected treasures.
• Zered formally invited Li Miao aboard the Burial Ship, and Li Miao accepted.
• Li Miao received the Burial Ship Flame and discovered he could transform into a Skeleton Knight wreathed in flames.

Li Miao learned that the Burial Ship’s flames revealed the purity of a soul through its bones, then shared a meal and drinks with Zered. Zered explained the ship’s curse and prepared to introduce Li Miao to its crew before they set sail.

• Zered explained that the Burial Ship’s flames cleansed flesh and left bones marked by the soul’s purity, then showed Li Miao a wicked skeleton whose bones were stained black.
• Zered revealed that the black skeleton’s skull had been Li Miao’s drinking cup and invited him to drink Hell Dance with the crew.
• Li Miao and Zered ate and drank together, and Li Miao found that his improved endurance let him tolerate far more Hell Dance than before.
• Zered told Li Miao that a curse made him nearly immortal and indestructible, and that the Burial Ship had to disappear for him to be defeated.
• After they finished drinking, Zered said he would introduce Li Miao to the other crew members before they officially set sail.

Li Miao met the Burial Ship’s key crew members, then set sail with Zered through a spatial rift toward an undisclosed destination. The journey disabled the Spirit Candle’s interface and some item information, leaving Li Miao to explore the ship in a more challenging mode.

• Zered introduced Li Miao to the Burial Ship’s first mate Fleer, chef Old Siss, scholar Iota, and warrior Keflo.
• Li Miao asked Old Siss about Lanentrick Barnacles and learned that Wood Spirit Race merchants had sold them to the fleet.
• Zered invited Li Miao to hunt for treasure and steered the Burial Ship through a spatial rift into darkness.
• A warning told Li Miao that the Milestone Spirit Candle and certain functions would be unavailable, and he discovered that he could no longer view the interface or details for unfamiliar items.
• Zered sent a Burial Skeleton to escort Li Miao to his room, and Li Miao prepared to explore the ship.