Chapter Summaries

Gwen and Yorktown endured severe pain when Schicksal modified Yorktown’s ship body, but the tests showed that her new equipment greatly increased her combat power. Gwen agreed to further upgrades, explaining that the pain helped him develop his powers, and he ended the night reassuring Alicia that he could bear it.

• Otto explained that Gwen and Yorktown’s pain likely came from repairs and replacements to Yorktown’s ship body, and Gwen confirmed that he felt more mental anguish than physical pain.
• Yorktown apologized for making Gwen suffer, but Gwen comforted her and urged everyone not to let the incident stop them from moving forward.
• Yorktown’s afternoon tests showed that Schicksal’s stock equipment had greatly improved her performance, prompting Otto to support further upgrades.
• Yorktown hesitated over more modifications because she did not want Gwen to endure the pain again, but Gwen explained that the resulting pressure helped him advance his powers and persuaded her to continue.
• Gwen reassured Alicia during their nightly conversation that the pain was manageable and that he was working hard toward the future.

Gwen explained to Alicia that fighting Honkai did not make him a hero while he still saw so much darkness in human society, and Alicia tried to ease the burden he placed on himself. He then brought her into the Main God Space and described how Nexus had given him his transformation power, leaving Alicia to scold him for putting himself down.

• Gwen told Alicia he did not want to deceive himself about his motives and questioned whether fighting Honkai could make him a hero while human society remained corrupt.
• Alicia urged Gwen not to demand that he solve every problem at once, but realized her reassurance had not changed his resolve.
• Gwen invited Alicia into the Main God Space and introduced the place that had helped keep him alive.
• Gwen told Alicia that Nexus had chosen to give him his power after sensing her kindness and suggested she had helped him receive it.
• Alicia told Gwen not to make such self-deprecating remarks again.

Gwen and Yorktown completed the painful first phase of her hull reconstruction at Brest Shipyard, while Raven secretly watched and misunderstood their embrace. After Raven identified herself as a World Serpent agent, Gwen told her to report that he was responsible and that he would contact the organization himself if needed.

• Gwen's new squad began missions with Anna Schariac as vice-captain, and its rookies trained under his protection.
• Gwen accompanied Yorktown to Brest Shipyard, where she recalled her extensively rebuilt hull and both endured several minutes of intense pain as it fused with her.
• After the pain ended, Yorktown kissed Gwen, and he returned the kiss before noticing someone watching them.
• Raven, who had come to investigate for Gray Serpent, left her hiding place and introduced herself to Gwen as Natasha Sciola, codename Raven, and an executive of World Serpent.
• Gwen told Raven to report that the events at the shipyard originated with him and that he would contact World Serpent himself if necessary.

After Raven delivered Gwen’s warning to World Serpent, Gray Serpent ended the mission but remained uncertain about Gwen’s potential. Yorktown adjusted to her refitted hull, and Gwen traveled with Rita to the Australia Branch, where they were greeted by Merlin.

• Gwen asked Raven to tell World Serpent not to provoke unnecessary conflict, then let her leave before Schicksal’s forces arrived.
• Gwen explained World Serpent to Yorktown, reassured her, and discussed her new aircraft and the time she needed to adjust to her refitted hull.
• Gwen and Yorktown returned to Schicksal Headquarters, rested, and learned that Prometheus had kept Raven’s visit from appearing in the shipyard surveillance.
• Raven reported her encounter to Gray Serpent, who ended the mission and considered whether Gwen’s growth could influence Kevin when he returned.
• Gwen traveled with Rita to the Australia Branch, where Rita greeted him aboard the airship and Merlin welcomed them at the airfield.

Gwen and Rita confronted Merlin about retrieving the Gem of Desire and bringing Wendy to Schicksal Headquarters for treatment. They found Wendy at the lakeside pavilion, where Gwen introduced himself and recognized her as a former A-rank Valkyrie and S-class candidate.

• Rita told Merlin that she and Gwen had come to retrieve the Gem of Desire, and Gwen clarified that they would take Wendy to Headquarters as well.
• Merlin warned that removing the Gem could endanger Wendy, but Rita rejected her objections and threatened to report the Australian branch to Otto.
• Gwen asked to walk through the garden, and Merlin led him and Rita toward the lakeside pavilion despite her apparent reluctance.
• Merlin introduced Gwen and Rita to Wendy, who tried to greet the S-class envoys from her wheelchair.
• Gwen completed Wendy's faltering self-introduction by calling her a young A-rank Valkyrie and an S-class training candidate.

Gwen and Rita told Wendy that Schicksal would take her to headquarters for treatment, and the Australia Branch held her a farewell banquet. Cocolia’s strike team attacked the branch to seize Wendy, but Gwen stopped the falling Titan Mechs and took command as the battle began.

• Gwen and Rita assured Wendy that Schicksal would bring her to headquarters to treat the Gem of Desire, and Wendy gratefully accepted their help.
• Merlin arranged a farewell banquet for Wendy, where Valkyries from the Australia Branch gathered to see her off.
• Cocolia sent a strike team to attack the branch and capture Wendy, while Xie'er questioned her about when Bronya would return.
• The strike team crashed Titan Mechs through the cafeteria roof as a distraction and sent another group to seize Wendy.
• Gwen caught the Titan Mechs with a barrier, declared himself in command, and ordered the Valkyries to follow Rita's instructions.
• Gwen hurled the trapped Titans into the attackers and summoned a thundercloud as he prepared to fight.

Gwen stopped an Anti-Entropy attack on the Australia Branch, then kept its leaders in place until Otto arrived and began purging the branch’s corrupt old guard. A week later, Gwen, Rita, and Wendy departed, while Merlin remained in charge of the reshaped branch and considered her newfound freedom.

• Gwen paralyzed the attacking Titan Mechs with Lightning Spears and left the Valkyries to capture the operators.
• Gwen calmed Wendy and the others by continuing lunch, then prevented the branch leaders from leaving before Otto arrived.
• Otto announced he had come to resolve the attack, and Gwen and Rita stayed to support his purge of the Australia Branch.
• Over the next week, Otto removed the implicated old family factions while sparing capable younger figures such as Merlin.
• Merlin said goodbye as Gwen, Rita, and Wendy boarded their airship, then reflected on her new authority and freedom from her family.

After returning from Australia, Gwen reassured Rita and offered her a chance to rest, and she fell asleep against his shoulder during the flight. Back at Schicksal Headquarters, they trained together, and Gwen eased Rita’s post-training fatigue with electrotherapy.

• Gwen told Rita that the purge in Australia had not shaken him, then noticed her own exhaustion and offered her his shoulder.
• Rita leaned against Gwen and fell asleep during the airship journey, while Gwen exchanged teasing thoughts with Alicia.
• Rita woke as the airship reached Headquarters and playfully teased Gwen about his accidental touch.
• Otto took Wendy to the medical center, while Gwen and Rita went to the training room together.
• After a morning of training, Gwen used bioelectric currents to relieve the fatigue in Rita’s legs.

After a year of preparing, Kiana and Gwen returned to Schicksal’s North African testing ground so Kiana could face the Herrscher of the Void. Kiana entered the encounter determined to speak with her, but the Herrscher greeted her with scorn.

• Rita shared Gwen’s water after their electrotherapy session and invited him to lunch.
• Anna, Kiana, Raiden Mei, and Bronya reported what they had learned while serving with Yolandale’s Immortal Blade.
• After discussing the attempt with Otto, Gwen agreed to help Kiana confront the Herrscher of the Void.
• Kiana told Gwen she felt the Herrscher’s pain but wanted to stop her from hurting innocent people, and Gwen comforted her.
• Gwen reminded Kiana that revenge was not her only choice and that power could protect what she cherished.
• Gwen used One-Body Fusion to bring Kiana face-to-face with the Herrscher of the Void, who called her a pitiful imitation.

Kiana confronted the Herrscher of the Void in a mental space, endured her taunts, and awakened the power to wield the Greatsword of the Heavenly Fire. After Gwen pulled her out of danger, Kiana returned to the testing grounds feeling better, while Gwen revealed how much energy and effort her battle had cost him.

• Kiana told the Herrscher of the Void that she had come to face her, and the two argued over whether Kiana had been chosen by Sirin.
• The Herrscher of the Void attacked Kiana and used her authority to evade Kiana’s attacks while mocking her.
• Kiana touched the Void Lances, accepted the pain tied to her memories, and awakened a connection that let her draw An-Utu.
• Kiana transformed her dual pistols into the Greatsword of the Heavenly Fire and struck the Herrscher of the Void, who escaped when her Imaginary Barrier shattered.
• The Herrscher of the Void angrily launched a barrage at Kiana, but Kiana vanished as Gwen brought them both back to the testing grounds.
• Kiana celebrated her victory with Gwen, who explained that her weapons and especially Fire of Heaven's Judgment had taken substantial effort and energy to provide.

Kiana gained control of her Herrscher Core and used Fire of Heaven's Judgment during her training with Gwen, while Gwen acquired a small amount of spatial authority. After returning home, Mei overcame her hesitation to hug Gwen, but Gwen's visit to the Main God Space ended with him sensing danger and dodging an unseen attack.

• Gwen explained that using Fire of Heaven's Judgment could burn Kiana alive and warned her to use it only when she was in the right condition.
• Kiana demonstrated her new spatial ability by summoning a chair from across the training grounds, and Gwen showed Otto the faint spatial ripple he had gained.
• Mei struggled with jealousy over Gwen helping Kiana, then asked Gwen for a hug and received one before returning home.
• Gwen exchanged good nights with Bronya and Yorktown, then entered the Main God Space to walk and talk with Alicia.
• Gwen abruptly tensed and dodged away from where he had been standing when he entered the Main God Space.

Gwen found a dangerous bonfire and Spiral Sword in the Main God Space, along with Unclaimed Souls that he stored away for later testing. A week later, Choukai reported that her research found the Souls had almost no harmful effects, though their nature remained unexplained.

• Gwen and Alicia discovered a threatening bonfire with a Spiral Sword and moved it to a remote corner of the Main God Space.
• Gwen found and identified dozens of Unclaimed Souls, stored them without absorbing them, and returned to his room to rest before testing them.
• A week later, Choukai playfully questioned Gwen about the substance he had given her for research.
• Gwen turned the tables on Choukai, but she teased him back before pointing him to her research results.
• Choukai told Gwen that the Unclaimed Souls had unusual physical properties but practically no harmful effects, and asked what they were.

After confirming the Unclaimed Souls could strengthen his mind, Gwen arranged his affairs and secluded himself to absorb them. He emerged two weeks later to learn Schicksal Headquarters was locked down because Yolandale had been pulled into a World Bubble by the Second Divine Key, and he went to ask Otto what was happening.

• Gwen explained to Choukai that the Unclaimed Souls could strengthen his mind, then combed her hair before leaving to prepare for seclusion.
• Gwen arranged leave and made plans for his team before absorbing one of the Unclaimed Souls in a secret chamber at Koloosten.
• After two weeks in seclusion, Gwen received a notice that Schicksal Headquarters was locked down and airship docking had been suspended.
• Gwen flew to headquarters and learned from Rita that the Second Divine Key had pulled Yolandale into a World Bubble during its first experiment.
• Gwen reassured Rita, then appeared beside Otto to ask about the situation, startling the nearby Valkyries into raising their weapons.

Gwen entered the World Bubble to find Yolandale and confront Su, bringing Alicia out to reunite with her old friend. Su assured them that Yolandale’s trial was harmless and would help her master the unstable power within her, leaving Gwen to hear what Su intended to tell her.

• Otto told Gwen that Bianca had been pulled into the World Bubble and asked for his advice on rescuing her.
• Gwen decided to enter the World Bubble and retrieve Yolandale, estimating his chance of escaping at over ninety percent, and Otto approved.
• Gwen transformed with the Parajin Armor and entered the World Bubble while Kiana, Yorktown, and Raiden Mei watched with concern.
• Gwen found Yolandale beneath a towering tree with Su, then dismissed his transformed appearance and greeted Su.
• Su recognized Alicia, and Gwen brought her forth; Alicia reunited with Su and reminded him that Yolandale was there.
• Su told Gwen that Yolandale’s ordeal was only a trial, promised to give her a gift and help her control the World Bubble’s power, and Gwen began to ask a question.

Su agreed to stay alive until dawn after Alicia and Gwen asked him to help persuade Kevin against the Stigmata Project. Yolandale awakened from Su’s trial, struck him to settle their score, and challenged his conflicted approach to deciding humanity’s fate.

• Su told Alicia that Kevin was approaching and asked her to persuade him against the Stigmata Project, then agreed to wait until dawn before giving up his life.
• Yolandale awakened beside Su, guarded herself against Gwen, and learned that Su would compensate her for the trial.
• Yolandale struck Su in the stomach, then helped him up and declared that they were even.
• Yolandale reflected that people of this era had to decide their own fate and called Su too conflicted.
• Su laughed and admitted that Yolandale had frightened him.

Su reflected on his past after observing Yolandale’s trial, then gave her power and entrusted Gwen with information intended to guide Otto. Gwen prepared to take Su out of the World Bubble, while Yolandale remained behind with her new strength.

• Su concluded that Yolandale’s generation could forge a new path and that he himself had needed a trial.
• Su empowered Yolandale with World Bubble power, and Gwen treated Su’s weakened body.
• Su gave Gwen a leaf containing information about observing worlds and left him to decide whether Otto should receive it.
• Gwen explained that the information could help Otto use the complete Second Divine Key to pursue his goal involving Kallen, reassuring Yolandale that the outcome could be good.
• Gwen teased Yolandale as a Gold Saint and prepared to take Su out of the World Bubble.
• Gwen asked whether Su could withstand the pressure of crossing the World Bubble, and Su told him not to worry.

Gwen returned from the World Bubble with Su and reunited with Yolandale, then brought Su to Schicksal, where he offered guidance about the Second Divine Key and information to help humanity fight Honkai. Back at headquarters, Gwen reunited with his worried team and later trained Yolandale in his willpower-based combat system.

• Gwen brought Su back to Schicksal, where Rita welcomed Gwen and Yolandale and the group met Otto.
• Gwen and Yolandale explained their experiences in the World Bubble, and Su agreed to guide Schicksal on the Second Divine Key after recovering.
• Su gave Gwen a leaf containing information about the Divine Key's beacon and humanity's fight against Honkai, then Otto took him to the medical center.
• Amber took charge of the site while Yolandale and Rita assisted her, and Gwen left to reunite with his team.
• Kiana, Anna, Raiden Mei, and Yorktown welcomed Gwen back, and Raiden Mei kissed his cheek after sensing Rita's scent on him.
• Gwen trained with Yolandale in the training room, teaching her to make his willpower-based combat system instinctive.

Gwen told Choukai that the Shield of Paraj’s power came from an incomprehensibly powerful being and warned her against becoming obsessed with it. He described a civilization destroyed after its attempts to create biological weapons from traces of that being’s power, leaving Choukai with a stark account of the danger.

• Choukai asked Gwen where the Shield of Paraj’s power sample came from and pressed him for information.
• Gwen used Will Energy to calm Choukai when her research excitement overwhelmed her.
• Gwen said the power was a gift from an incomparably powerful existence and offered to cooperate with Choukai’s research.
• Gwen warned Choukai that the power should not be pursued beyond their limits.
• Gwen recounted how a civilization’s biological weapons, modeled on the being and made from its residual power, went berserk and forced the people to destroy their homeworld.

Gwen explained the danger of the Hyper-Evolution Factor to Choukai and Otto, who agreed not to investigate its essence and instead help develop ways to use it. That night, Gwen told Alicia that her support had helped him activate the power during the dangers in Kozukuri Town.

• Gwen warned Choukai that studying the Hyper-Evolution Factor too deeply could repeat the destruction of another civilization, and Choukai agreed to focus on using it.
• Amber interrupted Choukai and Gwen's teasing in the office to summon Gwen for afternoon tea with Otto.
• Gwen told Otto about the power, and Otto promised not to research its essence while offering to help develop its applications.
• Gwen agreed to cooperate with Otto's experiments and later recounted his conversations with Choukai and Otto to the girls.
• Gwen told Alicia that activating the Hyper-Evolution Factor in Kozukuri Town had been dangerous and that her support had helped him succeed.

After strengthening his soul with Unclaimed Souls, Gwen improved his telekinesis and helped Yolandale grow stronger by sharing some of them with her. He began an experiment with Otto to test whether the Parajin Armor could take him into the Sea of Quantum and a World Bubble, with his friends standing by to coordinate a rescue.

• Gwen and Alicia ended their conversation, and Alicia went to rest after reminding him that he could rely on her.
• Gwen defeated Yolandale in another sparring match, though he credited his telekinesis for interfering with her.
• Yolandale told Gwen that absorbing the Unclaimed Souls had improved her mind, Intent Energy training, and control over Honkai Energy.
• Gwen reassured Yolandale that he had mastered his new power and returned with her to Schicksal Headquarters.
• Otto briefed Gwen on the experiment, equipped him with the optimized Gneius return device, and arranged for Yolandale, Rita, and Amber to coordinate support while he stood by to rescue Gwen.