Chapter Summaries

As the Future crossed the Ruins of the Divine War, Sno learned more about the ruins from Bernadette and asked for her help salvaging the corpse in exchange for aiding Old Huang’s resurrection. After the ship entered a dream, Sno explored a monastery and studied its murals in search of traces of fate and Ouroboros’s power.

• The Future encountered a floating island carried by four diamond pillars, and Sno identified the golden chariot that emerged from it as a projection of the Ancient Sun God’s chariot and the Sun Pathway’s uniqueness.
• Sno told Bernadette that he wanted to salvage the corpse and promised to help resurrect Old Huang with all his strength if he succeeded; Bernadette agreed.
• When darkness abruptly covered the sea, Cattleya ordered everyone to sleep, and Sno soon awoke in a dream beside a monastery.
• Sno recognized Cattleya waiting as Huang Jiajia for her mother, then entered the monastery and found Anderson near a deep passage.
• Sno chose not to explore the passage without Heavenly Punishment and instead studied the murals, hoping to glimpse the power of fate and Ouroboros.

In a dream, Klein found himself trapped in a cell and evaded a powerful black-armored knight searching for a prisoner. He hid in a room with a mysterious man, who warned him that the knight was a Devil.

• Klein awoke in a dark cell in the dream and used Creeping Hunger to examine his surroundings.
• A black-armored knight entered the cells while humming Katyusha, and Klein divined that the knight was very powerful.
• Klein slipped past the knight and entered a cluttered hall, where he found a hidden wooden door and a man inside.
• The man recoiled when Klein entered, and Klein identified himself as an adventurer.
• The man warned Klein to close the door so the Devil would not catch them, and Klein shut it.

Klein discovered that Leomaster belonged to the Aurora Society and learned that the Saint of Darkness was tied to the hymn’s creator, Movement of God. As the Saint’s hostile side confronted Sno, Klein watched from hiding and saw Sno meet its Spirit-Flesh Blade with one of his own.

• Leomaster told Klein that the Saint of Darkness had captured his pilgrimage party and that a mirror was keeping him alive; Klein destroyed his own mirror duplicate with the Sea God Scepter.
• Leomaster identified the song as a hymn composed by Movement of God and revealed that his organization was the Aurora Society, prompting Klein to recognize her from the Grey Amber.
• The Saint of Darkness crashed through the iron doors as Klein prepared to confront him, but Sno appeared and challenged the black-armored knight.
• Klein recognized that the knight’s scarred face matched Leomaster’s and suspected he was the Saint of Darkness’s evil side.
• Sno summoned an Inverse Cross and a shadowy sword, then clashed with the knight’s Spirit-Flesh Blade.

In the dream, Sno defeated the Black Knight and encountered the gentle Leomaster, while Klein protected himself from the Black Knight’s final attack. After waking and returning to sleep under the Ruins of the Divine War’s night rules, Klein wondered whether Sno had deliberately guided the Saint of Darkness’s transformation.

• Sno used Firm White Same Different to hinder the Black Knight, then evaded his attack with a paper figurine substitute.
• Sno bound and distracted the Black Knight before piercing him with the Spirit-Flesh Blade.
• The Black Knight unleashed a Storm of Light, and Klein used the Sea God Scepter to shield himself as the dream began to collapse.
• Leomaster recognized the Inverse Cross, tapped his chest four times, and bowed to Sno before Sno returned to reality.
• Klein woke, considered whether Mr. Devil had deliberately transformed the Saint of Darkness, and fell asleep again.

Sno used Ammon's identity to steal and stabilize a coin infused with the Mother Goddess of the Earth's divine power in the Ruins of the Divine War. Meanwhile, Klein attacked Admiral of Hell Ludwell aboard the Black Tulip, redirecting a supernatural door's suction toward the undead before summoning a golden-armored figure to purify it.

• Sno put on a monocle and used Ammon's status and Paradox abilities to draw divine power into a gold coin.
• Sno cut off the Chain Reaction before Lilith's power could leave traces on his fate, then appraised and sealed the coin.
• Bernadette disappeared from the Future while Sno examined the coin's Earth-domain effects.
• Gehrman Sparrow threw Azk's Copper Whistle and matches toward the Black Tulip's aft deck, then fired two enchanted bullets at Ludwell.
• Ludwell opened a Bronze Door that swallowed the bullets and pulled Klein toward it, but Klein twisted the suction to drag the undead into the door.
• Klein summoned a golden-armored figure, whose sunlight weakened the Bronze Door as Klein ordered it to purify.

Klein fought Ludwell as the Admiral of Hell used the Ring of the Death God and the Bronze Door to overwhelm him. Klein escaped the deathly pull and flew away from the Black Tulip with Anderson, leaving Ludwell and the ship behind the expanding door.

• The Sun Avatar’s light weakened the Bronze Door, while Ludwell transformed into a spirit body and seized Klein, who escaped with a Paper Figurine Substitute.
• Ludwell reflected Klein’s Mental Pierce with the Ring of the Death God and used words of death to pull at Klein’s soul.
• Klein’s stiff smile broke the soul restraints, letting him reload his revolver and fire enchanted supernatural bullets at Ludwell.
• Ludwell enlarged the Bronze Door and attacked with his rapier, but Klein used the Sun Avatar and a Priest of Light’s ability to weaken the door before escaping its pull.
• The Bronze Door swallowed the Black Tulip, and Klein flew away, used Flaming Jumps to retrieve Mr. Azk’s copper whistle, and met Anderson in the air.

Bernadette questioned Sno about Roselle’s resurrection and agreed to stay near Bayram to help stop a Rose School Abomination. Meanwhile, Colin Iliyaat led Derrick into the decaying ruins of Afternoon Town, and Sno sensed fate’s currents spreading across the seas.

• Bernadette asked Sno whether Roselle could be resurrected, and Sno said he could and warned her about the corruption surrounding his final mausoleum.
• Sno asked Bernadette to help stop a Rose School Abomination when it appeared, and she agreed to remain near Bayram and recite her honorific name upon finding the target.
• Bernadette returned to her room and wondered whether Sno and German were fellow countrymen or connected to the Fool, while resolving not to speculate further about the Gods.
• Sno examined the Oracle Beyonder Characteristic and sensed turbulent currents of fate spreading from the Northern Sea toward the major sea regions.
• Colin Iliyaat identified the ruined Afternoon Town to Derrick, who entered beside him and strengthened his resolve to become the City of Silver’s sun.

Sno hosted Bernadette at a hometown-style banquet, serving tea, dim sum, and unusual appetizers while she tried to infer the culture and location behind the cuisine. The meal left Bernadette puzzling over the empire’s cooking traditions and the strange knowledge she associated with the Hidden Sage.

• Sno welcomed Bernadette with incense, tea, dried fruits, and candied fruits, then explained the banquet’s opening rites.
• Spirit maids emerged through the Gate of Light and served Crystal Shrimp Dumplings, Crab Roe Soup Dumplings, Sea Urchin Siu Mai, and Hot and Sour Wontons.
• Bernadette tasted the dim sum and reasoned that her unknown homeland had a sophisticated food culture and likely a coastline.
• Sno presented braised abalone, Spicy Tripe Shreds, Braised Deer Tendon, and tangerine peel rabbit meat as appetizers.
• Bernadette analyzed the preparation of the deer tendon and associated its sticky texture with a passionate kiss, then blamed the strange knowledge on the Hidden Sage.

Sno served Bernadette a feast of dishes from his homeland, prompting her to reason about the empire’s history and technology while she ate. When Sno explained the wine’s connection to daughters’ weddings, Bernadette froze, and Sno discovered that the Hidden Sage had appeared behind her.

• Bernadette tasted the tomato egg soup and used the Sage’s power to trace its unusual sesame oil back to its source.
• Sno presented rice and eight dishes from different culinary traditions, and Bernadette analyzed their techniques and ingredients as she ate.
• Sno explained that the homeland’s cuisines had developed independently and later fused, leading Bernadette to speculate that the empire predated the Third Epoch and might have been linked to the Eastern Continent.
• Klein watched Sno and Bernadette’s meal from above the Gray Fog, recognized the Chinese dishes, and resolved to visit Mr. Devil’s old house for a meal.
• Sno described the wine as Daughter Red Wine, and Bernadette froze before Sno saw the Hidden Sage behind her.

Bernadette and Sno shared a banquet of hometown dishes, and the Hidden Sage briefly appeared after being drawn to hidden knowledge. Meanwhile, Klein envied their food from the Future and resolved to seek a chance to eat with them after completing Senior Perrdax’s trial ground.

• The Hidden Sage’s eyes appeared above Sno and flooded his mind with strange knowledge before vanishing, and Bernadette warned him that rare hidden knowledge attracted its attention.
• Bernadette cautioned Sno against using the True Creator’s Holy Relic, and Sno had Lily bring out barbecue.
• Bernadette ate both platters of skewers, then watched as the maids prepared a hot pot for the next course.
• Klein ate dinner aboard the Future and longed for the hometown dishes Bernadette and Sno were enjoying.
• Klein reminded himself to endure until he returned to Loen and cleared Senior Perrdax’s trial ground, after which he hoped to mooch a few meals.

Klein read a page of Roselle’s Diary that warned about Ammon, described Pallez, and mentioned a mysterious item capable of interfering with fate. After Klein opened the discussion, Fors proposed a mission to kill an important member of a cult.

• Klein wondered whether he needed to travel to the Hornacis Mountain Range to find the Seer Pathway’s High Sequence formulas and considered asking Mr. Devil and Arrodes for help.
• Sno provided a page of Roselle’s Diary, and Klein read the entry about Ammon’s avatars and the danger of confronting him.
• The diary described Pallez as a kind old man pursued by Ammon and said the writer had sought protection and examinations at the Church of the Night.
• Klein speculated that the diary’s mysterious item was the white cloud horse associated with Mr. Devil and wondered how Senior Perrdax had created it.
• Fors proposed that The Tarot Club take a killing mission targeting an important member of a cult organization.

Fors sought help dealing with Lewis Wien, an Aurora Society Oracle who had been appearing near her, and Mr. World agreed to consider an assassination two months later. Mr. Devil explained that the Churches were unlikely to act on a report and offered to keep Lewis occupied; Fors then asked about materials for her advancement.

• Fors explained that Lewis Wien, an Aurora Society Oracle possibly at Sequence V, had frequently appeared near her home and might have discovered her connection to Dorian Gray.
• Mr. World asked about Lewis's location and abilities, then said he could consider the commission but would not be available for at least two months.
• Alger suggested reporting Lewis to the authorities, but Mr. Devil said the Aurora Society had a tacit understanding with several Churches and the royal family, making a report unlikely to help.
• Mr. Devil said Lewis had come to Backlund partly because of him and offered to keep Lewis occupied until Mr. World could act.
• Fors agreed to discuss the commission price with Mr. World later and asked whether anyone had meteorite crystals, Lava Octopus blood crystals, or information about them.

The Tarot Club members traded for information and discussed their requests, while Mr. World considered a route to obtain the Seer Pathway’s Sequence IV formula. Derrick then recounted the exploration of Afternoon Town and asked about the forbidden fourth name, which Mr. Fool answered was a secret.

• Madam Hermit quickly agreed to several purchase requests, and Mr. World asked about the Seer Pathway’s Sequence IV formula.
• Mr. Devil suggested stealing the formula from Chanis Gate and offered help in exchange for Mr. World opening his family’s treasure; Mr. World agreed to help.
• Madam Hermit requested Mythical Creature blood, and Moon listed the potion formulas Derrick and Mr. Hanged Man sought.
• Derrick described the exploration team’s visit to Afternoon Town, including the altar, the town’s other side, and the names Sarsiriel, Ouroboros, and Medici.
• Derrick asked Mr. Fool who the fourth name represented, and Mr. Fool replied that it was a secret.

The Tarot Club debated the True Creator’s connection to the betrayal of the ancient Creator, while The Star recognized that “secrecy” might refer to an existence rather than an undisclosed fact. Mr. Fool then revealed that Bernadette knew how to enter the Forsaken Land of the Gods, prompting Cattleya to recount her experience with its projection.

• Mr. Hangman suggested that the forbidden names might belong to two gods, and Mr. Fool reconsidered whether Sarsiriel had truly been the True Creator.
• Mr. Devil corrected the club’s theory, saying the True Creator’s birth resulted from the Kings of Angels’ betrayal of the Creator.
• Mr. Devil answered Miss Justice’s question about who tempted Sarsiriel by invoking “secrecy,” and The Star realized it could refer to an existence.
• The Sun asked whether the key to leaving the Forsaken Land of the Gods lay in the Giant King’s Court, and Mr. Fool said Bernadette already knew how to enter the land.
• Cattleya accidentally looked toward Mr. Fool with her Eyes of Mystery Prying, put on glasses to seal them, and began recounting her experience with the projection.

After the Tarot Club gathering, Klein divined his prospects of advancing to Sequence IV and saw a clearer vision of the ruined palace atop the Hornacis Mountain Range. Sno answered Adwina’s prayer and arrived at Grossel’s camp, where she revealed her codename was Lady Raziel and Grossel asked whether he had come to deal with Ulyssan.

• Sno gave the Tarot Club members gold coins that could help them seek Mr. Fool’s assistance, and Audrey agreed to remove his earlier psychological intervention after two days.
• Klein’s divination showed a ruined palace on a mountain peak, with transparent maggots writhing on a damaged stone throne, and he recognized the vision as connected to the Hornacis Mountain Range.
• Sno sacrificed the gold coins to Mr. Fool, continued preparing his Seer-only treasure, and received a direct prayer from Adwina.
• Sno took Heavenly Punishment and used a Sacrifice Gate to reach the snowy world where Adwina and Grossel were staying.
• Adwina identified herself as Lady Raziel, and Grossel asked Sno whether he had come to deal with Ulyssan.

Sno joined Adwina and Grossel in the world of the book, where they planned to hunt Ulyssan, and met the Dragon Slaying Quintet. His resemblance to Ammon terrified Mobet, while Sno learned that more than a century had passed from Longzeel’s perspective.

• Sno told Adwina he had been sent to save her, and she explained that she and Grossel were hunting Ulyssan so they could escape the book’s world.
• Sno considered when Klein might arrive as the group headed into the camp to rest before pursuing Ulyssan.
• Mobet introduced himself to Sno, who put on a crystal monocle and teased him as a descendant of Pallez, making Mobet panic and cry out Ammon’s name.
• Sno introduced himself as a Loen noble and told Longzeel that more than a hundred and sixty years might have passed since the soldier’s time.
• Mobet cautiously emerged from behind the female elf and watched Sno speak warmly with the usually taciturn Snoeman, which convinced Mobet that Sno really was Ammon.

Sno explained his apparent abilities to Adwina and weighed the risks of using his Origin Quality while preparing for the coming battle. Meanwhile, Klein led Danitz and Anderson to Grossel's camp, where he reunited with Sno and Adwina as the group prepared to face Ulyssan.

• Sno told Adwina that he appeared to be a Shepherd of the Secrets Supplicant Pathway and warned her to keep that information secret.
• Sno considered why he could not safely use White Horse is Not a Horse in the imagined world and decided to rely on his other powers while protecting his companions.
• Klein led Danitz and Anderson to a mountain cave, where the elf Sia confronted them with a bow.
• Grossel and Sno came out of the cave, and Klein recognized Sno; Danitz briefly mistook Sno for someone who had kidnapped Adwina.
• Adwina introduced Klein, Danitz, and Anderson as her companions, and Grossel asked whether they had come to deal with Ulyssan.

Klein questioned Grossel’s companions about the ancient gods and Kings of Angels, learning that the Ancient Sun God was the Lord worshipped by the City of Silver and that several Kings of Angels had conspired against Him. Ulyssan, the King of the North, attacked the cave, and Grossel led the group out through the dragon’s ice flames while Danitz remained behind.

• Mobet introduced Grossel’s Dragon Slaying Quintet as Klein questioned the travelers and arranged to trade the Queen of Calamities’ golden cup to Sia for the Ocean Singer Potion formula.
• Snoeman identified the Ancient Sun God as the creator worshipped by the City of Silver, provoking Sia, before Grossel calmed them and shared his own history.
• Mobet explained that Ammon’s family were mortal enemies of the Zoroasters, and Sno warned Snoeman against naming the Angel of Imagination and revealed that several Kings of Angels had conspired against the Lord and taken His authority.
• Ulyssan, the frost dragon known as the King of the North, descended on the cave and unleashed ice-blue flames.
• Grossel shielded the group and charged through the dragon’s attack, followed by Sia, Mobet, Snoeman, Sno, Klein, Anderson, and Adwina.
• Adwina ordered Danitz to stay behind and flew out of the cave, leaving him alone as he began turning grayish white.

The Dragon Slaying Quintet fought King of the North Ulyssan, using Sno’s ability to reveal a reverse scale and Sia’s lightning arrow to crack it. After Klein wounded Ulyssan, the dragon unleashed an ice-blue halo, and Klein warned everyone to get off the ground.

• Grossel charged through Ulyssan’s dragon flame while Longzeel used a decree to hinder the dragon’s flight.
• Sno gave Ulyssan a black reverse scale, and Sia shot it with a lightning-charged arrow, cracking it and drawing blood.
• Mobet restrained Ulyssan long enough for Sia’s arrow to strike, while Sno’s notarization strengthened her lightning.
• Klein fired six shots that wounded Ulyssan after the reverse scale cracked.
• Ulyssan lashed out as an ice-blue halo spread, and Klein used Fancy Reload to leap into the air and warn the others to leave the ground.

Klein and his companions coordinated their abilities to defeat the frost giant dragon Ulyssan and turn its corpse into a pair of doors. Their celebration was cut short when Sno warned that they might trigger another avalanche.

• Snoeman cleared the icy mist as Ulyssan charged at Sia, and Sno separated the dragon from its target with “Within Reach, Yet Miles Apart.”
• Adwina forced Ulyssan into a painful fit, allowing Anderson to strike its exposed reverse scale with a spear of flame.
• Longzeel restrained Ulyssan while Sno triggered a rockslide and avalanche, and Klein seized the dragon’s Spirit Body Threads amid the chaos.
• The group battered Ulyssan as Adwina connected its wounds through a brass mirror, and Grossel crushed its head with the Greatsword.
• Longzeel used “Death” on Ulyssan’s corpse, which transformed into snow-covered double doors.
• Grossel and the others celebrated their victory until Sno warned them that their laughter might cause another avalanche.