Chapter Summaries

Amy accepted the Bacchus Empire’s offer of aid as the Lionheart Kingdom faced invasion after Li Ang disappeared. Trapped with Kavala and Althea, Li Ang discovered the temple gate could return him home and learned that the gods were once humans who sought immortality through faith.

• The Raven Kingdom withdrew its forces, and Brennus, the Bacchus Empire, Fieltzwe, and the Dexian people seized Lionheart territory while Amy prepared to defend Lion City.
• Ansen evacuated Calundru Castle and Seren Village to Long River Town after recalling Li Ang’s advice to preserve people over land.
• Amy accepted Emperor Marius’s offer of military aid despite recognizing that Bacchus intended to use the Lionheart Kingdom as a battlefield.
• Li Ang realized the temple gates could perform the same function as the missing Codex and might provide a way back.
• Kavala explained that Eunomia had made him the temple’s gatekeeper to prevent gods from returning to earth.
• Kavala revealed that the gods had arisen from humans who used faith to preserve their souls after abandoning their mortal bodies.

Kavala explained how the gods’ wars, the abyssal demons, and the Supreme King's campaign led to the gods being sealed away, then asked Li Ang to help him destroy the final codex. As Kavala tried to borrow Li Ang’s body, Ulrich warned that he was actually the first-generation High Priest of the Snake Worship Cult, seeking a body for Az-Dahaka.

• Kavala recounted how the Creator God forbade gods from intervening directly in the mortal world and how Astaria’s failed heaven became the Blood Prison Abyss, spawning abyssal demons.
• Astaria and Erebus were exiled after fighting the demons, while Eunomia guided Kavala to defeat them and unite Pande Continent.
• After other gods stirred up wars, Eunomia led Kavala in destroying most divine codices, then entered the void herself and left Kavala guarding its gate.
• Kavala told Li Ang that destroying the gate would seal the void and send him back to the continent, and asked Li Ang to take him there to destroy the last codex.
• Kavala gently urged Li Ang to relax so he could borrow his body, but Ulrich warned that Kavala was the first-generation High Priest of the Snake Worship Cult and wanted a body for Az-Dahaka.

Li Ang learned that Kavala had tried to steal his body so he could escape the temple, and Ulrich helped Althea interrupt the spell. Li Ang refused to let Kavala possess him and prepared to leave the island, knowing he would forget Althea and the temple once he departed.

• Ulrich warned Li Ang that Kavala was trying to take his body, and Althea interrupted the spell when she touched him.
• Ulrich revealed that Kavala had been sealed in the temple by Eunomia and planned to possess Li Ang before taking Maltis’s body.
• Kavala claimed Li Ang needed his help to cross the void, but Li Ang refused to be controlled and declined to let Kavala possess him.
• Ulrich asked Li Ang to bring Anna to the temple, and Li Ang promised to bring the sisters to keep him company.
• After Althea awakened him, Li Ang said he would leave the next day; Althea warned that he would forget the temple after leaving and said Wendy had prayed for him using Dragon Tear.

Li Ang entered the Blood Prison Abyss and discovered that its spirits could not touch him, then crossed a featureless void by marking his route with coins. After realizing the void’s entire outer wall was a portal, he broke through and found himself in a strange star-like space, where touching a small blue sphere made him lose consciousness.

• Li Ang rode Kualis through the temple’s dome door and drifted toward the lava in the Blood Prison Abyss.
• Li Ang discovered that the abyss’s evil spirits could not touch him and flew upward through a glowing exit into the void.
• Li Ang used a button and glowing coins to keep his direction while traveling through the featureless space.
• Li Ang searched the void’s outer wall, noticed his hair and nails had grown, and crashed through the wall after realizing it was a portal.
• Li Ang emerged into a simulated starry expanse, touched a small blue sphere, and lost consciousness.

Kavira arrived in war-ravaged Lion City and delivered Roland’s warning to Queen Amy’s council about a heretic army preparing to return under the name of ten-year-old Denise. The council was left uncertain whether Denise was truly leading the forces, while Kavira confirmed she had seen a girl matching her description among the heretics.

• Kavira entered Lion City and reflected on its battered defenses, impoverished residents, and the kingdom’s worsening losses.
• Sigismund escorted Kavira into the royal council chamber, where Queen Amy, Godric, Alina, and Eric awaited her.
• Kavira gave Godric Roland’s message and reported that the heretics seemed to take orders from a little girl.
• Godric read a note announcing that Her Majesty Denise would personally lead an army back to Lion City at the end of October.
• Kavira said she had seen a girl among the heretics who was about the right height to be ten years old.

Amy learned that nobles in Balanli had incited a refugee uprising, likely in league with the Three Prophets, and decided to abandon Lion City with everyone willing to leave. On the Winter Solstice Festival, a deposed queen and her warrior rescued a drowning noble clutching strange gold coins near Ulrich’s grave.

• Kavira suggested that the heretics’ letter might concern Denice’s relatives in Balanli, prompting Eric to warn that trouble there would be serious.
• Eric reported that Balanli’s refugees had rioted and looted relief stations, while Alina said Queen Town’s nobles had plotted with the Three Prophets to install Denice as king.
• Amy rejected the plans to contain the uprising and announced that she would abandon Lion City, taking its people and resources and leaving the city and Harlingosburg to the nobles.
• On the Winter Solstice Festival, a deposed queen and her female warrior pulled a badly injured man from Deerheart Lake and found glowing gold coins in his hand.
• The women noticed a Golden Griffin emblem on the man’s clothing and carried him toward Ulrich’s grave, hoping the grave goods might help them build an army.

Li Ang woke in King Ulrich’s empty grave after Baudess and her companion mistook him for a corpse, and he promised to fund Baudess’s effort to reclaim Ficavia. As they fled approaching soldiers, Li Ang discovered he could sense movement over several miles and wondered whether the prophet Madigan had possessed the same ability.

• Baudess and her female warrior dug into King Ulrich’s tomb, found it empty, and placed the unconscious Li Ang in the coffin before fleeing when he sat up.
• Li Ang explained that he had returned from the void after nearly drowning underwater, and Baudess told him it was the year 357 of the Pendor Calendar.
• Li Ang identified himself as the Duke of Long River Town, while Baudess explained that she had fled Ficavia after her sister Eleanor seized the throne and ended her reform plans.
• Li Ang promised to fund Baudess’s army in return for her having saved him and asked her to take him to Long River Town.
• Li Ang sensed soldiers approaching from miles away and led Baudess and her companion away from the mausoleum.
• Li Ang realized his new, wide-ranging awareness might resemble the ability of the prophet Madigan.

Li Ang and Baudess witnessed an undead army led by Ulrich, whose corpse had been possessed by the Prophet Anna, and Baudess joined Li Ang to fight the Three Prophets. They rode toward Long River Town as armies converged around Lion City and the undead force entered Deerheart Lake.

• Li Ang and Baudess hid from a silent, breathless army, but Baudess's warrior was spotted and killed while fleeing; Li Ang recognized the army's leader as the resurrected Ulrich.
• Baudess buried her warrior, and Li Ang explained that the spirit possessing Ulrich was likely Anna, one of the Three Prophets.
• Baudess swore to kill the Three Prophets and pledged to fight alongside Li Ang, who agreed to help her raise an army.
• Li Ang and Baudess bought two horses in Yalagar and rode toward Long River Town, learning that Amy had moved the capital while preserving economic stability in the eastern regions.
• Armies from several nations gathered around Lion City and Baranli, while Ulrich's undead force entered Deerheart Lake after defeating another army.

The Fieltzwe, Dexian, and Bacchus armies converged on abandoned Lion City, each pursuing a different strategy as Queen Sonade's evacuation left tens of thousands of people behind. When refugees poured out and the city gates opened, the Dexian cavalry rushed inside and encountered hordes of Fallen Ones as the Noble Council tower collapsed.

• King Vidis ordered the Fieltzwe army to advance on Lion City despite Earl Aiding's objections, while the Dexian army also set out to seize it.
• Alistair led the Twilight Knights toward Long River Town to seek refuge with Queen Sonade, believing he could earn power there and offering the secret of the Three Prophets.
• Agason and Creon debated whether to attack Lion City or let their rivals fight for it, then agreed that Creon would assault the city while Agason held the bridgehead against the Fieltzwe forces.
• The next day, Creon and Tahir's forces met beneath Lion City's walls as Agason blocked the Fieltzwe army at the bridgehead.
• Refugees streamed out through Lion City's suddenly opened gates, and Creon halted his troops while the Dexian cavalry charged into the city.
• Fallen Ones poured out to attack the Dexian soldiers inside Lion City, and the Noble Council tower crashed down.

Amy struggled to keep Lionheart Kingdom stable while resettling people in Long River Town, then learned that Li Ang might be returning. Li Ang discovered the Three Prophets had massacred Kewen Village and escaped into the mountains with Baudess as they plotted to lure Amy into a trap.

• Amy kept Pande Bank operating, enforced corn cultivation, and suppressed nobles who threatened the kingdom's stability.
• Forster told Amy that a spy had seen someone resembling Li Ang near Yalagar, and Amy rushed out to meet him.
• Li Ang and Baudess found Kewen Village deserted and discovered the Countess and other villagers murdered in the winery cellar.
• Li Ang deduced that the Three Prophets had taken the village's girls and children, then sensed their armies closing in and led Baudess west.
• Media and Cersi gathered their forces at Kewen Village and planned to lure Amy there by posing as villagers.
• Li Ang watched the Three Prophets from the western mountains and led Baudess toward a concealed valley to find another route to Long River Town.

Li Ang returned to the Griffin Knights’ base, where Charles and Dalion revealed that the world believed him dead and that they had sunk the Heretic Codex into Deerheart Lake. After learning that Dalion had found Dragon Tear and the codex through dreams from Supreme King Kavala, Li Ang suspected Kavala was pursuing another way out of the abyss and ordered the knights to prepare for war.

• Charles and Dalion initially mistook Li Ang for an impostor, then opened the gate and showed him the empty tomb they had built in his honor.
• Li Ang told Charles and Dalion that Kewen Village had been massacred, and they realized they had missed the attack while reorganizing the Drunkards' Brigade and caring for the gravely ill Alaric.
• Dalion recounted how he and Charles had avenged Kewen Village by killing Eldrefred and Leofwan, then followed Supreme King Kavala's dreams to seek Dragon Tear and the Abyssal Gate.
• Dalion and Charles found Dragon Tear and a strange book on Boris, Raven Sir, after Alaric fought him; Alaric went mad after taking them, and Charles later sank the Heretic Codex into Deerheart Lake.
• Charles told Li Ang that Wendy had taken Dragon Tear and was in Long River Town, intending to save Alaric; Li Ang warned that witches and a demon king threatened the world and ordered the troops to prepare for war.

Li Ang and the Griffin Knights rushed to Kewen Village to confront the Three Prophets, where they discovered Alina posing as Amy to lure the enemy into a counter-ambush. As forces attacked from all sides, Wendy charged Media, while Li Ang’s unexpected arrival complicated the attack.

• Li Ang mobilized Dalion, Charles, and more than five hundred soldiers to hunt the Three Prophets, and learned how Azriel and the Griffin Knights had forged their order.
• Alina disguised herself as Amy and brought Amy’s Griffin Claws to Kewen Village as bait, while Wendy and Vendathir prepared to attack the Three Prophets’ ambush.
• Media revealed the trap and tried to use magic, but the Magic Suppression Tower prevented her spell from working.
• Wendy hurled her helmet at Media, then led the female warriors into a charge as other forces converged on the village.
• Li Ang arrived with the Griffin Knights, recognized Alina rather than Amy, and ordered his men to charge the child fighting Wendy.
• Vendathir cut through the Three Prophets’ followers, while Wendy’s charge was disrupted when she realized the approaching hoofbeats belonged to Li Ang’s force.

Li Ang and the Griffin Knights arrived as Wendy's forces fought the Three Prophets, and Dalion helped incapacitate Cersi. The Supreme King's ring then flared with golden magic when Li Ang touched Cersi, leaving her silent and Wendy shocked.

• The Three Prophets' forces surrounded Wendy and the Griffin Claws, while Vendathir charged through their defenses and beheaded Media, who survived by transferring her wounds.
• Cersi forced Wendy into a desperate fight until Dalion and the Griffin Knights charged in, with Baudess helping Dalion knock Cersi from her horse and disable her.
• Wendy stopped Dalion from killing Cersi, explaining that Cersi's soul would escape into another body, and restrained the wounded prophet.
• Li Ang arrived as Baudess took command of the female adventurers and Jocelyn's forces and the Dusk Knight Order entered the village.
• Cersi offered to cooperate, but Li Ang gagged her; the Supreme King's ring then shone, sending a golden griffin to peck Cersi's brow and silencing her.

Li Ang used Kavala's ring to summon a griffin that revealed Media among the Misfortune Bringers, while allied forces surrounded the Prophet Legion. After his troops broke through the Prophet formation and Media offered to surrender, Li Ang ordered her captured alive so her soul could not escape into another body.

• Kavala's ring summoned a griffin that attacked a Misfortune Bringer, and Li Ang ordered his forces to follow it toward Media.
• The Griffin Knights, Dusk Knight Order, Silver Hand, and Horn Summon Ranger Corps converged on the Prophet Legion and surrounded it.
• The Three Prophets' followers charged chaotically as they began turning into Fallen Ones, so Li Ang and other commanders ordered their troops to cut off the followers' heads.
• Jocelyn and Alistair joined Baudess and helped her respond to the Fallen Ones as the allied forces advanced on the Misfortune Bringers' formation.
• Li Ang followed the griffin's last attack to identify Media, then fought her with Wendy until she escaped into the crowd.
• After the allied forces overwhelmed the Prophet Legion, Media offered to surrender, but Li Ang ordered his troops to capture and cripple her without killing her.

Li Ang captured Media and reasoned that the Three Prophets could possess only living bodies, while Kavala might control the undead. After the Griffin Knights swore allegiance to him as Pendor’s new king, Kavala spoke through the ring and declared that he would eliminate Li Ang.

• Li Ang disarmed Media as she tried to kill herself and had his warriors bind her.
• Li Ang concluded that the Three Prophets needed living bodies, then suspected Kavala had helped Anna escape through Ulrich’s corpse.
• Leofric and the Griffin Knights knelt before Li Ang and pledged loyalty to him as Pendor’s new king.
• Leofric told Godric that Ulrich had returned to Lion City, making Amy’s claim to the Lionheart throne uncertain.
• Li Ang suspected Kavala had escaped through the Abyssal Gate and used Ulrich’s body to reclaim the throne.
• Kavala spoke through the ring, called Li Ang an otherworldly evil spirit, and vowed to eliminate him; Li Ang kept the ring to communicate with him.

After King Ulrich’s decree demanded the lords return to his service, Amy proposed restoring Lion Territory to the Kingdom of Pendor and marrying Li Ang to establish a lawful claim. Li Ang accepted, then focused on rebuilding Long River Town’s economy before holding a wedding or coronation.

• Godric confirmed Ulrich’s decree was genuine, and the lords debated how to answer without becoming oathbreakers or surrendering their claims.
• Amy arrived and proposed that, as Grand Duchess of Lion Territory, she return the territory to Pendor with Alina’s support as an envoy of the Bacchus Empire.
• Alina and Leofric endorsed the plan, while Ralph suggested Amy marry Li Ang to strengthen its legitimacy; Li Ang agreed when Amy and Godric challenged his hesitation.
• Long River Town filled with visitors and rumors of Li Ang’s wedding and coronation, but Li Ang stayed with Amy and postponed any ceremony because the territory’s treasury was nearly empty.
• Li Ang planned to revive the economy by borrowing through Pande Bank, funding construction, selling standardized homes and carriages, and offering merchants three years without commercial taxes.

Li Ang declared himself King of Pendor and offered merchants registered trademarks, privileges, and a path to noble status in exchange for loyalty, restarting production and drawing workers back into employment. He waited for Lion City and Cliff Bay to respond, but neither showed any sign of movement.

• Amy questioned whether the eastern region could produce enough goods to stimulate consumption, and Li Ang explained that its problem was low output rather than limited capacity.
• Li Ang told Amy he would attack Lion City if Cliff Bay declared loyalty to the current Ulrich, but would wait if Cliff Bay remained silent.
• On November 11, Li Ang publicly declared himself King of Pendor, while Amy and Godric revealed his identity as the Child of Prophecy and pledged allegiance to him.
• Li Ang announced plans to make Long River Town the future capital and marry Amy there after it became Long River City.
• Li Ang let merchants register trademarks in exchange for goods, granting them the right to use heraldry and banners, carry swords, and swear allegiance as potential nobles.
• The merchants expanded their businesses and resumed production, but Lion City and Cliff Bay remained silent, leaving Li Ang puzzled by Kavala's lack of response.

Li Ang funded Long River City's enormous expansion through presold villas and plans to keep money circulating within his territory. He also brought Alistair into his alliance by eliminating Malbert and sending Alistair to reorganize the Dusk Knight Order.

• Godric questioned Li Ang's costly expansion plans, and Li Ang explained that the project would take years and help prepare for war.
• Noldo artists displayed renderings of Long River City, prompting townspeople to rush to buy presale villas with their relocation compensation.
• Li Ang told Godric and Amy that villa sales and new construction would recycle money through the territory, while stationed forces would deter people from taking wealth across the borders.
• Li Ang offered Alistair a garrison, lordship, and command of the Dusk Knight Order, then killed Malbert in front of him.
• Li Ang framed Malbert's death as the work of an otherworldly evil spirit and urged Alistair to lead the Dusk Knight Order back into the New Dawn Knights; Alistair agreed and went to Kewen Village to reorganize the order.

Li Ang reunited with Roland, merged the Dusk Knight Order into the New Dawn Knights, and learned from the recovering Alaric that Kavala had appeared at the Abyssal Gate and taken Anna. Li Ang headed with Wendy and Roland to question the other captured prophets, while Kavala’s identity as the evil god Az-Dahaka remained the threat ahead.

• Roland welcomed Li Ang back, and Li Ang proposed placing the Dusk Knight Order under the New Dawn Knights.
• Li Ang told Roland about the gods and the Abyss, after which Roland made Renard deputy commander to guide the Dusk Knight Order.
• Roland’s battle cry and Wendy’s wormwood water helped Alaric recover his senses.
• Alaric told Li Ang that Kavala had appeared at the Abyssal Gate, offered to make him king, and later took Anna, who had asked Alaric to seek help from Li Ang and Roland.
• Roland concluded that the Ulrich in Lion City was probably Kavala, and Li Ang identified Kavala as the evil god Az-Dahaka.
• Li Ang brought Wendy and Roland toward Long River Town to see the other two captured prophets.

Li Ang convinced Media and Cersi that Anna was trapped in the Abyssal Gate after the Three Prophets destroyed the Magic Suppression Tower, then deduced that Kavala had manipulated Anna and was using the Snake Worship Cult to gather faith while preparing to rule from Lion City. He left the chapter planning to use the Prophets and other countries as cannon fodder against Kavala.

• Li Ang showed Media and Cersi that Anna had been sealed inside the Abyssal Gate and explained that the Magic Suppression Tower had used Noldo blood to suppress the Gloomy Eye.
• Cersi revealed that Anna destroyed the tower to seek Ulrich's Spirit Body, while Media had supported the plan to gain control of Amy's body and the Lionheart Kingdom.
• Li Ang concluded that Kavala had deceived Anna into destroying the tower and had used the Snake Worship Cult to redirect its followers' faith to himself.
• Li Ang decided that Kavala had to be stopped before he could raise more undead and Fallen Ones, but he did not want to attack Lion City directly.
• Li Ang offered to help the Prophets rescue Anna if they helped eliminate Kavala and the Gloomy Eye, then ordered them to have Cliff Bay declare allegiance to Lion City and bring its forces there to defend it.