Chapter Summaries

Caroso explained how Dream Caroso used battlefield conditions, Herman’s weakened state, and the Heart-Shaking Magic Array to bluff the eighth-tier warrior into believing he wielded divine power. Herman fled with Shuya after Dream Caroso threatened him, leaving Saya captured and trying to explain the trick.

• Caroso said Dream Caroso had used the stone to convert the dead’s blood and vitality into mana, while Kolia Manor’s buffs and Herman’s injuries helped him overwhelm Herman.
• Caroso explained that the Heart-Shaking Magic Array affected powerful people and made Herman more susceptible to Dream Caroso’s bluff.
• Dream Caroso charged Herman with Wild Charge and threatened to kill him or offer cooperation while claiming he had gained power from a god.
• Herman believed Dream Caroso was a dangerous cultist and surrendered, then escaped with Shuya as Dream Caroso let them go.
• Saya shouted that the magic array had affected Herman and that Dream Caroso could not beat him, but Dream Caroso pressed Flowing Light Meteor against Saya’s neck.

Dream Caroso and Caroso interrogated Saya, who confessed to conspiring with the Presia and Iberia Empires in the assassination of their father. After Kazan gave Saya a pistol, Saya took his own life, leaving both Carosos splattered with his blood.

• Bai examined Nimel’s mysterious, dangerous power and asked Caroso to keep others away while she tried to stabilize it.
• Dream Caroso and Caroso questioned Saya in the dungeon as Kazan urged them to spare Saya’s family and sought the truth about the betrayal.
• Saya explained his resentment toward Caroso and their father, then confessed that he had worked with the Presia Empire’s Second Prince while intending to make Kazan Grand Duke.
• Saya revealed that Presia and Iberia had joined forces to assassinate their father, with Saya supplying the itinerary and Iberia providing manpower and a way to destroy the railway’s magic array.
• Kazan condemned Saya for helping outsiders kill their father, then gave him a pistol; Saya shot himself after telling Caroso he still considered them a family.

Caroso and Bai tried to absorb Nimel’s power in the dream, but Nimel awakened under the control of the God of Wisdom. Caroso resisted the god’s command, and the chapter ended with both versions of Caroso refusing to kneel under her divine pressure.

• Caroso joined Bai in the magic circle and absorbed some of the power within Nimel, but he reached his limit before she recovered.
• Nimel awoke confused by conflicting memories, then transformed as the God of Wisdom took control of her body.
• The God of Wisdom struck Bai aside and commanded her to protect Nimel’s body, but Caroso resisted and demanded that the god leave his sister.
• Caroso attacked with a dagger created by Boss Caro’s Gift Card, and the God of Wisdom recognized him as the Lord of Eternal Life’s God's Chosen.
• Dream Caroso entered the room, and the God of Wisdom revealed herself and forced both Carosos under crushing divine pressure, but neither knelt.

Caroso fought the God of Wisdom, who had taken control of Nimel's body, and learned from the comments that her consciousness could not use divine power in the God of Magic's domain. He challenged her to fight him directly, and the chapter ended as he used Smoke Screen and Phantom Step to evade her attacks.

• Dream Caroso and Caroso attacked the God of Wisdom, but she easily knocked them both down.
• Caroso read the comments, learned that the God of Wisdom was bluffing and could be harmed by ordinary attacks, and switched to his sword and shield.
• Caroso struck the God of Wisdom hard enough to make her retreat, while Dream Caroso was frozen into an ice sculpture.
• The God of Wisdom expanded the chamber and summoned Ice Elements to attack Caroso, who used Smoke Screen and Phantom Step to evade her Ice Arrows.

Caroso fought the God of Wisdom, who had possessed Nimel, while learning that the world around him was a dream shaped by his fate. The chapter ended with Dream Caroso choosing to help him, as Caroso was sent flying toward the God of Wisdom.

• The God of Wisdom wounded Caroso with a hidden magic array and explained that modern mages had lost the primitive knowledge and power of earlier ages.
• Caroso charged the God of Wisdom, but was stabbed and badly wounded despite landing a shield bash.
• Caroso freed Dream Caroso, and the God of Wisdom claimed that Dream Caroso was an unreal being created by Great Prophecy.
• Caroso admitted that he had lied about the world being parallel, while explaining that he needed to save Nimel and return to reality.
• Dream Caroso pointed his sword at Caroso, then whispered that he would leave the rest to him and kicked Caroso toward the God of Wisdom.

Caroso and Dream Caroso fought the God of Wisdom to stop her from taking Nimel’s body, while Dream Caroso urged Caroso to break through to the fifth tier. The God of Wisdom trapped Caroso underwater, leaving his next move to decide Azure Wolf Province’s fate.

• Caroso and Dream Caroso rejected the God of Wisdom’s offer to replace Caroso and attacked her to protect Nimel and Azure Wolf Province.
• Dream Caroso’s interference distracted the God of Wisdom, and Caroso struck her again despite his dwindling stamina and mana.
• The God of Wisdom summoned Water Elements, blasted Caroso aside, and trapped him underwater while she recovered her mana.
• Dream Caroso realized Caroso could break through to the fifth tier and urged him to risk everything before the God of Wisdom took Nimel’s body and threatened Azure Wolf Province.

Caroso broke through to the fifth tier and used the Godslaying card to kill the God of Wisdom’s consciousness inside Nimel. He chose Nimel over the fragment of divinity and future it could have given him.

• Dream Caroso warned Caroso that the God of Wisdom would bring disaster to Azure Wolf Province through Nimel, while the God of Wisdom urged him to stop fighting and recover.
• Caroso forced a dangerous breakthrough despite his exhausted state, and Messiah discovered that he had two EX attributes while checking his potential.
• Caroso emerged from the Water Element’s prison after breaking through, and Dream Caroso cut open his own abdomen so Caroso could take the fragment of divinity.
• Caroso rejected the fragment’s benefits, chose Nimel, and transformed it into the single-use Godslaying card.
• Caroso used the Godslaying card to defeat the God of Wisdom’s consciousness inside Nimel and declared that he did not regret his choice.

Caroso killed the God of Wisdom's divine consciousness and learned that emotion had enabled his breakthrough to the fifth tier. As Nimel woke and the dream world began to shatter, Dream Caroso asked him not to become like him, and Caroso promised to become the person they wanted to be.

• Caroso explained that the God of Wisdom had tried to possess Nimel through the divine power she absorbed, and that he had killed Its divine consciousness.
• Bai questioned Caroso about his breakthrough, and he recounted the battle and how emotion had helped him advance to the fifth tier.
• Caroso asked Dream Caroso why he had chosen to help him, and Dream Caroso said he simply did not want to let the God of Wisdom take Nimel's body.
• Nimel woke, began to recover sealed memories, and heard Caroso remind her to translate the Forbidden Book.
• As the dream world shattered, Dream Caroso asked Caroso not to become like him, and Caroso promised to become the person they wanted to be.

After waking from the dream ritual, Caroso learned that he had broken through to the fifth tier while saving Nimel, and Celica investigated Nimel for signs of divine interference. Celica found a dangerous magical door inside Nimel and confiscated it, then took Nimel into Church custody for further examination.

• Bai, Caroso, and Nimel awakened from the dream, and Caroso learned from the comments that he had defeated the God of Wisdom's divine thought and reached the fifth tier.
• Kong and Celica awakened, while Sophia fell asleep; Celica explained that the ritual had granted the survivors magical power and said the Church needed to investigate.
• Celica pressed Caroso aside and examined Nimel, despite his objections, then confirmed that the Lord of Eternal Life's divine thought had not invaded her.
• Celica drew a blue thread from Nimel and identified it as a door through which an evil god's avatar might enter her body.
• Celica confiscated the magical door and took Nimel for a while, saying there was something strange inside her body.

Caroso resisted Celica’s attempt to take Nimel for examination, then woke from a shared dream with his magic advanced to the fifth tier and Nimel’s secrets exposed. He told Teresa that Celica wanted Nimel and asked to secretly use her secure communications equipment.

• Celica said the Church would negotiate with Grand Duke Osiris and insisted Nimel needed to be examined because of her concentrated traits.
• Caroso refused to surrender Nimel and warned that the Church would be held accountable if it took her without proof of a connection to an evil god.
• Teresa woke in Caroso’s room and discovered that he had advanced to the fifth tier after a dream involving Nimel, Celica, and the Blank headmasters.
• Caroso told Teresa that Celica wanted to take Nimel, and Teresa asked whether Nimel was connected to a cult or evil god.
• Caroso asked Teresa to lend him secure communications equipment, and she agreed.

After Nimel woke from her frightening dream, Caroso faced the threat posed by Celica and the Goddess of Dawn Church. He asked the barrage commenters for help, and they proposed using other churches and Nimel’s status to pressure the Church, though the plan’s risks remained unresolved.

• Nimel woke beside Caroso and Teresa, and Caroso reassured her that he would handle the situation.
• Caroso told Teresa not to let Celica approach until he had calmed down, and he refused to confront the Church directly.
• Caroso consulted the barrage commenters, then activated streamlined mode to seek focused advice.
• Caroso explained that the Church of the God of Wisdom was unregistered and had been linked to a mage who sacrificed children, though its missionaries also ran free schools.
• The commenters suggested pushing to have the Church of the God of Wisdom recognized as an Orthodox Church and drawing on other churches and the Nature Mage side to protect Nimel.
• The commenters debated whether they should force the Goddess of Dawn Church to recognize Nimel as a true god, while warning that doing so could put her in danger.

Celica came to take Nimel to the Church, but Teresa made her wait for Caroso, who had broken through to the fifth rank during the dream. Caroso emerged dressed for the visit, and the group prepared to leave together.

• Celica arrived at Caroso's room and found Teresa there, then explained that she wanted to discuss matters with Caroso and bring Nimel to the Church.
• Celica tested the hotel's sealed communications and found that Caroso had not contacted anyone outside.
• Teresa insisted that Nimel wait for Caroso, and Celica waited nearly half an hour for him to leave the washroom.
• Caroso emerged dressed formally and apologized for keeping them waiting, while Nimel linked arms with him.
• Teresa noticed that Caroso and Nimel looked elegant together and felt out of place in her training clothes.

Caroso brought Nimel to the communications room so he could consult Osiris while Celica investigated Nimel’s suspected connection to the Evil God Church. As Osiris received a covert message telling him to stall, Celica remained unaware of the plan, and the conversation continued awkwardly.

• Caroso led Nimel and Celica toward the communications room, where Red briefly confronted them before Caroso ordered him to stand guard.
• Caroso insisted that only Celica, Nimel, and Red remain for his confidential call with Osiris, invoking the treaty to make the Church representative leave.
• Celica secretly used a Blade of Dawn card to block Caroso’s tapping signal, but Caroso’s gesture was relayed through a hidden system to workers below.
• Osiris received a message instructing him to stall and asked Celica whether she had eaten, leaving her confused.
• Caroso told Osiris that Celica suspected Nimel was connected to the Evil God Church and that the matter involved the dungeon’s third level.
• Osiris and Caroso continued their conversation with questions about Free City, the cultists, and Caroso’s well-being while Celica tried to infer their intentions.

Celica caught Caroso’s coded warnings and examined the intelligence he had prepared, while Osiris weighed the danger surrounding his daughter. Celica agreed not to examine Sophia in Perus Kingdom and accepted Osiris’s proposal to go to Laria in the Pander Empire.

• Celica realized Caroso had been trying to send Osiris a coded message, then revealed she had seen through his tricks.
• Osiris studied Caroso’s detailed intelligence about Celica, the Goddess of Dawn Church, and the factions involved in a plan centered on Nimel.
• Caroso left after Celica dismissed him, leaving Osiris and Celica to discuss Sophia’s examination.
• Osiris refused to let Celica examine Sophia in Free City or Perus Kingdom, citing the recent unrest and his distrust of the kingdom’s church.
• Osiris proposed that the examination take place in Laria, and Celica recognized the Pander Empire as Knight’s Country.

Celica took Nimel to stay at the church for an examination while Caroso arranged for her studies to continue. Grand Duke Osiris learned that Nimel’s ascension and the railway through Iron Fortress could draw powerful attention, so he worked to protect her and contacted Emperor Orsay about the railway problem.

• Celica told Caroso that Nimel had to stay at the church and avoid outside contact while she was examined in the Pander Empire, and Caroso insisted on remaining with her and securing magic books for her studies.
• Grand Duke Osiris decided to protect Nimel as her ascension became harder to conceal, while questioning what Caroso’s mysterious allies wanted.
• Osiris told the imprisoned mage to deny ties to the Church of the God of Wisdom, seek death through the Mage Association, and urge the church’s followers to do good deeds so the church could gain legitimacy and help Nimel’s review.
• Osiris planned to contact other factions and shape public opinion so Nimel could undergo her review openly.
• Osiris warned Emperor Orsay that the railway through Iron Fortress had a problem, then agreed to accept twenty percent of the venture’s profits before asking the emperor for another favor.

Emperor Orsay agreed to forgive Azure Wolf Province’s debts and support the Church of the God of Wisdom if Nimel was confirmed as a god’s incarnation, while Grand Duke Osiris arranged a mission against Celica. Caroso enlisted Bai to secure Nimel’s protection and recruited Krumen to finish her machinery project, leaving Krumen stunned by his belief in her research.

• Emperor Orsay offered to forgive Azure Wolf Province’s debts and establish Wisdom churches, while Osiris insisted Nimel’s future marriage would be her own choice and the agreement depended on confirming her divine nature.
• Osiris gave Minette intelligence about imprisoned Dark Elves and asked her to rescue them and severely wound Celica; Minette agreed to confront the Sword Saint.
• Caroso asked Bai to make three Emperor Gufu cards for the Nature Mage Association in exchange for protecting Nimel for six years, and Bai agreed.
• Caroso told Krumen he had investigated her and wanted her as his future steward, especially because of her machinery research, then asked her to complete Krumen’s Juicer.
• Krumen was shaken that Caroso recognized her research ability, but questioned his confidence because of her poor grades.

Caroso persuaded Krumen to adapt her mechanical inventions for military use and promised her books, a factory partnership, and a Mechanist's medal. He gave her one month to complete a juicer and showed her a warehouse of materials taken as war spoils.

• Caroso explained how Krumen's noisy robot, mechanical dog, and robot vacuum could be repurposed for military use, and Krumen grew excited about the new direction.
• Caroso promised Krumen military books, sixty percent of future profits, and help applying for a Mechanist's medal if she made useful machines.
• Caroso told Krumen she had to stay in Free City and finish the juicer within one month, despite her lack of materials.
• Caroso led Krumen to a warehouse packed with mechanical materials and equipment, which he said had come from war spoils.

Caroso stayed near Nimel as she awaited examination by the Goddess of Dawn Church, while Sophia learned why Nimel trusted her brother despite his ruthless methods. Russell tried to persuade Elizabeth to return home with him, but she remained determined to pursue her own path.

• Caroso told Teresa he would stay with Nimel until her examination was over, and Teresa warned him to adapt to his rapidly increased strength before she left in two days.
• Sophia asked Nimel what Caroso was like, and Nimel described him as a strict but protective brother who would risk his life for family.
• Nimel explained that Caroso had used Sophia as part of a desperate attempt to save them, and that he treated outsiders differently from those he considered his own.
• Russell asked Elizabeth to go home with him, but Elizabeth refused and said she had only gotten into trouble because she was his daughter.
• Russell accepted that Elizabeth wanted to leave, warned that her identity would make her journey harder, and asked whether she planned to seek out Caroso.

In the month after peace returned to Free City, the city rebuilt while political disputes continued, and Alita prepared to leave Mal Academy to tutor Caroso. Caroso trained to control his fifth-rank power, and the chapter ended when Krumen announced that the machine needed for a rare material was finished.

• Azure Wolf Province and the Presia Empire withdrew their troops as Free City began rebuilding, while the death toll from the disaster exceeded a million.
• The Perus Kingdom tried to hold Emperor Orsay accountable and revoke the Presia Empire's veto power, but the Empire vetoed the proposal.
• Alita's zero-star cards and research brought her wealth, influence in the Card Maker Association, and the Card God Medal.
• Alita requested leave from Mal Academy so she could visit Free City and serve as Caroso's private tutor.
• Caroso trained for nearly a month to control his fifth-rank strength while waiting for a rare material and the machine needed to make it.
• Krumen arrived at Caroso's door and announced that the machine was finished.

Caroso tested Krumen’s Juicer, a machine that was meant to create materials but repeatedly turned expensive ingredients into coal. After burning through millions, Caroso tried again, and the machine finally produced seven-colored materials.

• Caroso hurried with Krumen to her workshop to see the Juicer she had built from his detailed instructions.
• Krumen warned that the machine’s mixed-up magic formulas made its results unpredictable, but Caroso fed in valuable materials anyway.
• The Juicer turned the ingredients into coal, and Caroso kept feeding it more materials despite mounting losses.
• Caroso worried that he would lose the Nature Mage Association’s help and fail to pressure the Church over Nimel.
• The Juicer chimed and released seven-colored materials from both sides.