Chapter Summaries

Noah attended a formal gathering with his companions, where he learned more about Lilith’s status as the daughter of Brittos Company’s president. As Noah spoke with Bliss, an arrogant young man approached him.

• Noah told Imari, Julie, Tachibana Tomoe, Miyabi, Kokone Toru, and Torazaki Aoi to wait with the other maids and bodyguards while he entered the gathering.
• Noah mingled calmly with the guests and spotted Lilith at the center of a prominent circle.
• Bliss introduced himself to Noah and warned him that Lilith was too high-status for someone like Noah to approach casually.
• Bliss explained that Lilith was the daughter of Brittos Company’s president and that influential people were eager to win her favor.
• A white-haired youth approached Noah and said he had expected to see him there.

Noah Dreyar encountered K and the Equipment Smith, Edward, who tried to recruit him to test Equipment Steel’s enhancement on a Transcender. Noah refused, while Edward left determined to continue combining Transcenders and God Slayers.

• K greeted Noah Dreyar at the gathering, and Noah made clear that they were enemies rather than friends.
• Bliss left Noah and K alone after sensing the hostile atmosphere between them.
• K introduced the elderly Edward, whom Noah recognized as the Equipment Smith behind the God Slaying Squad’s Equipment Steel.
• Edward claimed Equipment Steel could rival Transcenders and asked Noah to join him so he could study the suit’s effects on a Transcender.
• Noah rejected Edward’s offer, and Edward departed with K, saying he had not abandoned the idea of combining Transcenders and God Slayers.

Noah learned from Lilith that Edward Walker, the Equipment Smith behind the God Slayers, had once been a senior Dawn Institution researcher and belonged to Rein, a group studying powers beyond humanity. As evening approached, Noah reflected on Rein and the World Shards he intended to obtain before leaving.

• Noah met Lilith in her hotel suite and told her that Equipment Smith and K had appeared at the appraisal venue.
• Noah questioned Lilith about other researchers studying powers beyond humanity, and she revealed that Equipment Smith was Edward Walker, a former second-in-command of the Dawn Institution's Development Bureau.
• Lilith explained that Edward had left the institution twelve years earlier after his ideas for external skeletal gear clashed with its soul-focused research, and that he had erased his research data before disappearing.
• Lilith revealed that five other researchers besides Kukonoe Sakuya and Edward belonged to Rein, a group centered around Absolute Duo.
• Noah left Lilith's room thinking about Rein and the World Shards he would obtain before departing.

Imari, Julie, Tachibana Tomoe, and Aya sneaked into the hotel’s enormous bath, where Noah later entered alone, unaware that someone else was already there. Noah planned to search the hotel for the Feather Shard that night, but a sudden splash interrupted his thoughts.

• Imari led Julie, Tachibana Tomoe, and Aya into the bath while the distinguished guests were away, despite the risk of being discovered.
• The girls hurried to wash when Tachibana Tomoe warned that a man might enter, and Aya’s large chest briefly surfaced before she covered herself again.
• Someone outside announced they had found the large bath, startling the four girls.
• Noah returned to his room, found the girls missing, and went to the bath after receiving permission to use it.
• Noah decided to search the hotel for the Feather Shard that night, then heard a loud splash beside him.

Noah accidentally discovered Imari, Julie, Tachibana Tomoe, and Miyabi hiding naked in the bathhouse, leading to an embarrassing confrontation. Afterward, he wondered whether he was destined to see the naked bodies of girls close to him.

• Noah mistook bubbles behind a pillar for a leak and reached underwater, grabbing Imari and Miyabi's breasts.
• Imari, Miyabi, and Tachibana Tomoe surfaced, and the girls scolded Noah after they returned to their hotel room.
• Noah argued that the girls had sneaked into the bathhouse and hidden underwater, making the mishap partly their own fault.
• Imari demanded that Noah forget what happened, prompting him to recall seeing the bodies of several girls close to him.
• Noah wondered whether he had a predisposition to seeing the naked bodies of girls close to him, while regretting that he had never seen Erza or Saint Tenzi naked.

Noah infiltrated the hotel’s heavily guarded upper floors to find the World Shards, using his sensory ability to avoid patrols, cameras, and infrared beams. He knocked out the two Grave Guardians guarding a door and slipped into the room beyond it.

• Noah left the ball, disguised himself, and infiltrated the hotel’s upper floors while Imari, Julie, Tachibana Tomoe, Ya, Kokone Toru, and Torazaki Aoi remained at the event.
• Noah detected the infrared beams and hidden cameras, then used the patrol routes to guide himself toward the World Shards.
• Noah evaded increasingly strong Grave Guardian patrols and reached a door guarded by two sentries.
• Noah suppressed the signs of his Blaze, shot both Grave Guardians with his revolver, and entered the room.

Noah reached the World Shard in the Dawn Institution’s vault, but Tsukimi Rito ambushed him before he could retrieve it. To keep his identity hidden, he summoned his Knight Sword Blaze and clashed with her, leaving them facing each other after their first exchange.

• Noah entered the vault and sensed the World Shard’s joy as its light flared at his arrival.
• Tsukimi Rito attacked Noah with her Serpent Blade, and he dodged her opening strike.
• Noah chose to test his other Blaze rather than release his limited power or reveal himself with his revolver.
• Noah summoned his Knight Sword Blaze and met Tsukimi Rito’s Serpent Blade in a forceful clash.
• The collision sent both fighters retreating, and Tsukimi Rito demanded to know who Noah was.

Noah, disguised behind a hood and wielding the Knight Sword, fought Tsukimi Rito while concealing his identity and unleashing the Blaze’s true power. After Noah’s sword and unexpected punch drove the exchange, Tsukimi Rito countered and activated Serpent Ring, leaving both fighters’ true powers unleashed.

• Tsukimi Rito mistook the hooded Noah for a Dawn Institution traitor and questioned his identity.
• Noah activated the Knight Sword’s true power, calling out “Plunder at Will! Black Razor King,” then rushed Tsukimi Rito.
• Noah and Tsukimi Rito traded fierce sword strikes, with Tsukimi Rito blocking his attacks with the Serpent Blade.
• Noah disrupted Tsukimi Rito’s defense with a powerful punch against the Serpent Blade, but she blasted him back with a counterattack.
• Tsukimi Rito raised the Serpent Blade and unleashed its true power, calling out “Bite him to death! Serpent Ring!”

Noah used his Black Razor King Blaze to steal Tsukimi Rito’s Serpent Ring ability, leaving her unable to use it. As Grave Guardians stormed into the room to capture him, Noah faced a new wave of attackers.

• Tsukimi Rito sent her Serpent Ring spinning down at Noah in a blaze of azure fire.
• Noah charged forward and struck the Serpent Ring with his Knight Sword, causing their flames to clash.
• Noah’s Black Razor King drained the Serpent Ring’s power and plundered its ability, leaving the ring motionless.
• Noah recognized that Black Razor King could steal one ability through direct contact, but could not hold more than one stolen ability at a time.
• Tsukimi Rito realized she had lost the Serpent Ring ability and stared uncertainly at Noah.
• About twenty or thirty Grave Guardians burst through the doors and charged Noah on their leader’s order.

Noah unleashed his sealed magic power to repel the Grave Guardians and stole the Feather Shard before escaping. He resealed his strength and joined Imari and the others in the search, pretending to be surprised when they announced the shard had been stolen.

• The Grave Guardians charged Noah, but he released his full magic power and blasted them aside.
• Tsukimi Rito attacked Noah with the Serpent Blade, but he vanished and stole the Feather Shard from its display case.
• Noah changed clothes, destroyed his intruder outfit with Crush Magic, and sealed his power again.
• Imari and the others told Noah that the Feather Shard had been stolen, and he feigned surprise.
• Noah went with Imari and the others to the top floor, where Kukonoe Sakuya, Lilith, Tsukimi Rito, and the Grave Guardians had gathered.

After the Feather Shard was stolen, Kukonoe Sakuya and the others struggled to explain how an unknown Rank IV Exceed could steal another person's Blaze power. Noah's offhand suggestion that the thief might be an existence similar to an Exceed unsettled the group, and the chapter ended as two newcomers entered.

• Tsukimi Rito recounted how the intruder defeated the Grave Guardians, stole the Feather Shard, and took her Serpent Ring with a Blaze that could steal another Blaze's power.
• Kukonoe Sakuya questioned how a Rank IV Exceed with an unknown Blaze could exist, while Lilith and Mikuni considered whether the thief had stolen a Lucifer's Crest.
• Noah kept quiet about his fight with Tsukimi Rito and the Black Razor King's power, then suggested the intruder might be another kind of existence similar to an Exceed.
• Kukonoe Sakuya canceled the next day's viewing event and ordered everyone to continue tracking the thief.
• Two figures arrived at the doorway, and one criticized the security failure and said Exceeds' abilities had disappointed him.

Edward and K arrived at the hotel, where Edward tried to persuade the Grave Guardians to combine Transcendents with God Slayers. Noah challenged Edward’s ideals and his claim to the Seven Brilliances, and K set off an explosion that shook the building.

• Edward offered to send his God Slaying Squad to assist the Grave Guardians, then proposed that Transcendents and God Slayers cooperate.
• Edward urged the Grave Guardians to combine Equipment Steel or Lucifer’s Crests with their powers, stirring them into excited discussion.
• Noah criticized Edward for pursuing superficial power instead of Absolute Duo and told him to give up the title of Seven Brilliances.
• Edward said he would make people approve of him, and K raised a hand and triggered an explosion that shook the hotel.

Edward’s attempt to seize Kukonoe Sakuya and the Bristol Family’s eldest daughter began with a surprise assault on the hotel gathering. Noah and Lilith coordinated a counterattack, and Noah appeared directly in front of Edward.

• An explosion shook the hotel, then armored God Slayers outside the windows fired into the room and wounded several Grave Guardians.
• Noah and Lilith sheltered the girls and helped protect Kukonoe Sakuya while the Grave Guardians took cover.
• Edward revealed his plan to capture Kukonoe Sakuya and the Bristol Family’s eldest daughter, and K ordered the God Slayers to seize them.
• Lilith exposed herself to draw the God Slayers’ aim while Noah prepared a flash and blast from behind cover.
• Noah used vortex-like radiance to dash across the room and appeared in front of Edward.

Noah used Edward as a hostage to counter K and the God Slayers, forcing the others to leave while he and Lilith remained. He ordered K and his men to go to the rooftop, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Noah stopped the God Slayers from turning their guns toward him and held Edward at gunpoint.
• K threatened Lilith and the other hostages, but Noah shot Edward in the thigh and challenged K to risk a simultaneous exchange of fire.
• Lilith told Tsukimi Rito, Mikuni, and the Grave Guardians to leave with Kukonoe Sakuya, while Noah sent Imari, Julie, Tachibana Tomoe, Aya, Kokone Toru, and Torazaki Aoi downstairs to help the dignitaries.
• Lilith stayed with Noah, and Sarah left after Lilith ordered her to go.
• Noah hauled the wounded Edward up and ordered K and the God Slayers to the rooftop.

Noah Dreyar cornered K and the God Slaying Squad on the rooftop by destroying their military transport aircraft, but K revealed a powerful new armored steel combat suit and attacked Noah. Their weapons clashed as the fight began.

• Noah Dreyar and Lilith arrived on the rooftop with Edward held at gunpoint, facing K and the God Slaying Squad gathered around their aircraft.
• Noah explained that the attackers had infiltrated the hotel by air and alongside Edward and K, then destroyed the transport aircraft with a Black Bullet.
• Noah shoved Edward back into the God Slaying Squad's protection and challenged K, leaving the squad unable to escape easily.
• K burst out of his suit to reveal lightweight armored steel with four crimson blade-like wings, which propelled him toward Noah at great speed.
• K transformed one wing into a light blade and clashed with Noah's revolver, sending sparks flying.

K attacked Noah with his upgraded armored steel and Death Transformation Wings, revealing strength that rivaled a Rank V Transcendent. Noah and Lilith split up to face K and the God Slayers, and Noah summoned Magician to meet K's firepower as Lilith attacked the group.

• K used his Death Transformation Wings to strike at Noah, but Noah knocked him back after deflecting a blade with his palm.
• Edward revealed that the God Slayers had upgraded armored steel, and K explained that his custom suit and Death Transformation Wings had greatly increased his strength.
• Noah and Lilith chose to fight separately, with Lilith facing the roughly thirty God Slayers while Noah confronted K.
• Noah summoned Magician as seven black rings transformed into a heavy cannon, and he fired an emerald beam at K.
• K countered with a red beam from his Death Transformation Wings, then fired red bolts at Noah, who changed Magician into a nozzle and engulfed the attacks in flame.

Noah and K clashed in the night sky as K attacked with Death Transformation Wings and Noah countered with the Magician. Noah used Leap Forward to outmaneuver K and left him bleeding from a powerful strike to the back.

• K fired three crimson beams at Noah, but Noah split the Magician into thrusters and countered them with blasts of fire.
• K formed a giant light blade and launched it at Noah, who assembled the Magician into a geometric shield to block it.
• Noah used Leap Forward to surge through the shockwaves and change direction in midair, catching K off guard.
• Noah appeared behind K and struck his back with a vortex-wreathed fist, making K spit blood.

Noah defeated K and the God Slayers, then killed K at his request. After the battle, Lilith comforted Noah and embraced him, and he returned her embrace for the first time.

• Noah used the Magicians to pin K to the rooftop, while K realized Noah could fly with Death Transformation Wings.
• Noah stopped Edward from berating K, and Lilith shot down the demoralized God Slayers.
• K begged Noah to kill him, and Noah pierced his head with an emerald laser.
• The Magicians dispersed into fragments, and Noah walked over to Lilith, who had escaped unharmed.
• Noah apologized to Lilith for his scarlet-stained soul, and she embraced him; Noah gently embraced her in return.

After the Dawn Institution’s appraisal exhibition ended in disaster, Kukonoe Sakuya assigned Noah to hunt down the thief who had stolen Feather Shard. Noah accepted the mission, unaware that Sakuya believed the thief was someone else.

• The Grave Guardians captured the God Slaying Squad, and Kukonoe Sakuya promised the frightened dignitaries that the Dawn Institution would recover Feather Shard and hold another exhibition.
• Kukonoe Sakuya told Noah, Imari, Julie, and Lilith that the thief had to be captured and Feather Shard recovered.
• Noah questioned why Sakuya had given him the pursuit, while he and Lilith suspected she was interested in the thief’s Blaze and its power to seize other Blazes.
• Sakuya concealed her plan to send Noah into the wider world and said she believed in his abilities.
• Noah accepted the mission to hunt down the thief who had stolen Feather Shard.

Noah prepared to leave on a pursuit mission that would let him depart the world and continue searching for World Shards. As the girls worried over his sudden departure, Lilith insisted that he would return to her side, and Imari finally ran out to find him.

• Kukonoe Sakuya assigned Noah to pursue the Feather Shard thief alone, despite protests from the Grave Guardians.
• Noah decided to use the mission as cover to leave the academy and return to Between Worlds.
• The girls gathered to discuss Noah's departure, but Lilith said Kukonoe Sakuya's decision could not be changed.
• Lilith noticed that Imari was blaming herself for being unable to help Noah, while Julie and Ya tried to comfort her.
• Lilith declared that Noah would return to her side, and Imari ran out to find him before he left.