Chapter Summaries

Guan Tong defeated Basong and obtained Qimo Star Chronicle · Fragment 1 by betting that the fragment would remain after its holder died. After absorbing the mural’s information, he learned the locations of the remaining fragments and turned his attention to Basong’s estate.

• Basong attacked Guan Tong’s Shadow with explosive, poison gas, and incendiary shells, but none of them stopped it.
• Basong recognized Shadow and offered to become Guan Tong’s subordinate, but he refused to surrender the fragment.
• Guan Tong attacked Basong, who unleashed a powerful blast that destroyed the basement and collapsed the house above.
• Shadow killed Basong, and Qimo Star Chronicle · Fragment 1 appeared beside his corpse because it could not be destroyed.
• Guan Tong collected the fragment, absorbed its mural of Qimo Star’s environments and creatures, and saw that the remaining fragments were in a tropical region and Yingqi Nation.
• Guan Tong remembered that Basong’s estate remained intact and that he still had something left to do there.

Adam defeated an alien giant guarding a fragment in Lalgan and obtained the fragment, while Guan Tong destroyed Basong’s estate in Andai State. Andai State blamed Shadow for the massacre and demanded an explanation from Beixing Nation, whose officials debated how to respond.

• Adam stopped the giant creature from crushing Solloma soldiers, held back its next attack, and earned its approval before it disappeared into the mist.
• Amanda found a fragment outside the cave, and Adam sensed that two fragments were already gathered by a holder in either Beixing Nation or Andai State.
• Guan Tong used Shadow Lines to kill Basong’s armed followers, freed the prisoners, and burned the estate.
• Andai State officials investigated the killings, identified Shadow as the likely perpetrator, sealed the border, and demanded an explanation from Beixing Nation.
• The Countermeasure Research Institute discussed how to answer Andai State without alienating Shadow or damaging diplomatic relations.

The Beixing Nation Countermeasure Research Institute debated how to respond to Shadow’s unauthorized killings abroad, while Gao Liangwei warned Zhang Minglu that powerful figures among the higher-ups were hostile toward Shadow. In Yingqi Nation, Mu Tiancheng reported that his Chosen Group had found only one puzzle fragment and planned to prepare for the Tenth Rule before pursuing the others.

• Gao Liangwei and the Countermeasure Office debated whether Shadow should be held accountable, weighing national laws against the risk of driving him to another country.
• Zhang Minglu told Gao Liangwei that Chen Na could not contact Shadow, and Gao warned that a will among the higher-ups had become hostile toward him.
• Mu Tiancheng told Lord Divine Child that the Chosen Group had one puzzle fragment, while two were in Solloma and two were in Andai State, likely held by Beixing Nation citizens including Shadow.
• Lord Divine Child instructed Mu Tiancheng to prioritize preparing for the Tenth Rule and asked whether the Chosen Group had resolved Wall of Heart’s problem.
• After Lord Divine Child left, Mu Tiancheng planned to gather intelligence, address Wall of Heart’s problem, and pursue the fragments after confirming the group could pass the Tenth Rule.

While hiding in Andai State, Guan Tong worried about being tracked and bombed, then discovered that a user named Original Person wanted to discuss the puzzle fragments. Their messages led to a proposed exchange of mural information, but Original Person also invited Shadow to a potentially risky duel.

• Guan Tong stayed deep in an Andai State forest, keeping his fragments far away underground in case another holder revealed his location and authorities attacked.
• Guan Tong read discussion of Shadow’s destruction in Banzhen and saw that Andai State had formally protested to North Star Official.
• Guan Tong found Original Person’s offer to buy fragments for five million Ascension Coins each and replied by asking what if Shadow wanted to buy them.
• Original Person proposed a one-on-one match for the fragments and revealed a power called Force Field Manipulation, while Guan Tong recognized his disadvantage in combat information.
• Guan Tong suggested exchanging the murals on their fragments, and Original Person said they held fragments No. 2 and No. 4 while Shadow held No. 1 and No. 3.

As governments debated Shadow’s massacre, Guan Tong studied the Original Person’s interpretations of Fragments 2 and 4 and suspected the fog had destroyed Qimo Star’s strange-beast civilization. He learned that the fog-gate guardians might be intelligent survivors from Qimo Star—and perhaps victors chosen by the Apocalypse Rules—leaving open whether humans could face the same fate.

• Beixing Nation promised to investigate Shadow, while countries condemned him and the Solloma Empire defended and invited him.
• Guan Tong compared the Original Person’s interpretations of Fragments 2 and 4 with his own and concluded that disasters and dark fog may have ended Qimo Star’s strange-beast civilization.
• The Original Person proposed traveling with Shadow to Yingqi Nation after the Tenth Rule to find the holder of Fragment 5, but Shadow deferred the discussion.
• The Original Person told Guan Tong that the fog-gate guardians were not Nightmare Beasts and might be intelligent survivors from Qimo Star.
• Guan Tong wondered whether the Fire Thief had brought those survivors to Tianshui Star and considered the possibility that humans could become future gatekeepers.

As the Tenth Apocalypse Rule approached, Guan Tong trained his Mind Power and prepared for what came next. The new rule, Five Senses Elimination, would gradually deprive everyone of all five senses, and the authorities began urgently planning for the final ten days without them.

• Guan Tong decided not to travel with Original Person to meet the holder of Fragment 5, believing they would eventually compete to collect the fragments.
• Guan Tong practiced Mind Power Circulation, discovered it could automatically defend his body, and raised his Mind Power Cap to 317.
• Fire Thief announced the Tenth Apocalypse Rule: humanity would randomly lose one sense after 24 hours, lose all five within five days, and remain without them for 15 days.
• Guan Tong wondered whether Shadow could share his senses and make the rule easier for him.
• Gao Liangwei and the Apocalypse Rules Countermeasure Research Office discussed preparations, focusing especially on the challenges of losing sight, hearing, and touch.

After the Tenth Apocalypse Rule caused fears about losing the senses, Guan Tong discovered its Hidden Rule and decided to sell the information rather than use its cruel effects. He earned 3.4 million Ascension Coins and reflected on how that fortune could let him build an organization, while the rule’s effect on touch remained unclear.

• People speculated online about losing their senses, and the Beixing Nation government announced plans to provide guide devices, hearing aids, and support robots.
• Guan Tong checked Hidden Rule Ten, which said that losing a sense could restore it if that sense had already failed, and rejected harming himself to exploit it.
• Guan Tong posted the hidden intelligence for sale at 100,000 Ascension Coins per copy and received a flood of interest.
• Guan Tong sold thirty-four copies and raised his total to 4,085,620 Ascension Coins.
• Guan Tong considered how his wealth could fund a team of Ascendants and noted that mercenary groups were already offering services for Ascension Coins.

Guan Tong found a market item that could block taste and planned to profit from the hidden rule’s effect, while the Apocalypse Rules Countermeasure Research Office received the rule information and began searching for ways to disable senses in advance. The chapter ended with Director Gao Liangwei ordering the transfer of a psychologist whose ability might temporarily block a person’s hearing.

• Organizations bought the hidden information about the Tenth Rule, and Guan Tong searched Terminal Market for useful items.
• Guan Tong bought a Taste Blocker, reasoning that blocking a sense might counter the rule’s removal of it.
• The Countermeasure Research Office received the information that a sense already disabled when targeted by the rule would be restored to perfect condition.
• The researchers discussed ways to disable all five senses, including medication, surgery, and general anesthesia, but recognized the risks and practical limits.
• The office found records of a psychologist whose Cognitive Displacement ability had temporarily stopped someone from feeling tinnitus.
• Gao Liangwei ordered the psychologist transferred to the office and called for testing other relevant abilities and items.

When the Rule removed sight, Guan Tong used Shadow’s vision to adapt and considered traveling to Yingqi Nation to obtain Fragment 5. Meanwhile, an Yingqi Nation Special Operations Unit blinded itself to evade the Rule and launched missiles at the fragments’ burial site.

• At 11 p.m., Beixing Nation and other groups released the intelligence about the Rule, and Guan Tong sold his [Taste Blocker] for ten times what he had paid.
• When the Rule took effect at nine, Guan Tong lost his sight and experienced complete darkness.
• Guan Tong summoned Shadow and used its shared vision, then realized the Rule might give him a chance to travel to Yingqi Nation for Fragment 5.
• An Yingqi Nation Special Operations Unit entered Banzhen with Andai State’s permission and used drugs or spikes to blind themselves before the Rule began.
• After sight returned to the unit, its commander ordered the soldiers to eliminate Guan Tong and retrieve the fragments, then called for long-range support.
• Missiles launched from Yingqi Nation’s warships and struck the area where Guan Tong had buried the fragments.

Guan Tong survived the Yingqi Nation’s missile attack and learned that the operation had been arranged with Andai State to kill him and seize the fragments. After the attackers withdrew, he decided to make Andai State’s government pay before visiting the Yingqi Nation.

• Mu Tiancheng arranged with Andai State to bombard Shadow during the Tenth Rule and sent a special operations team to recover the fragments.
• Guan Tong watched the first team search the blast zone, then used shadows to attack after the soldiers discovered he was still alive.
• Mu Tiancheng ordered another missile strike, killing the surviving team members, and sent a second team that Guan Tong also killed remotely.
• When the warship ran out of missiles, Mu Tiancheng ended the operation and returned to the Yingqi Nation.
• Andai State soldiers investigated the blast zone, and Guan Tong inferred that their government had helped the Yingqi Nation target him.
• Guan Tong resolved to punish Andai State’s government before traveling to the Yingqi Nation.

The Solloma Senate debated Yingqi Nation’s attempt to seize a special item in Andai State and considered strengthening ties with Beixing Nation. At Beixing’s Countermeasure Research Institute, Gao Liangwei chose to experience Visual Elimination himself as staff reported on its effects and Yingqi Nation’s attack on Shadow.

• The Solloma senators discussed Adam’s lack of ambition and the threat posed by Yingqi Nation’s operation in Andai State.
• The Senate voted to establish a communication channel with Beixing Nation to prepare for possible aggression from Yingqi Nation.
• Gao Liangwei refused help that would restore his vision, saying he needed to experience the rule as ordinary people did.
• The Countermeasure Research Institute reported that shelters were functioning with assistance from guide robots, but some people might need psychological counseling.
• An analyst concluded that Yingqi Nation had bombed southern Andai State’s rainforest to eliminate Shadow and seize a special item linked to the Fog Gate Caves.

Guan Tong retaliated against Andai State by destroying its Royal Palace, prompting Prince Lado to blame Shadow and issue a bounty. Beixing Nation’s leaders debated how to respond and decided to investigate and seek official communication with Shadow after the Tenth Apocalypse Rule ended.

• Prince Lado dismissed warnings that Shadow might attack the Royal Palace, but explosions soon tore through the building and killed several officers.
• Guan Tong used Shadow Line to attach and detonate bombs he had bought from the Terminal Market, then withdrew after the palace collapsed.
• Prince Lado was escorted to safety and publicly blamed Shadow, vowing to pursue him and offering a bounty through Ascendant's Home.
• Officials in Beixing Nation debated whether Shadow’s attack warranted a highest-level wanted notice or charges of treason.
• Beixing Nation’s leaders decided to investigate the incident and have the Countermeasure Research Institute contact Shadow after the Tenth Apocalypse Rule ended.

Guan Tong traveled to Lieming Island to retrieve Fragment 5, which was held in a shrine protected by Yingqi Nation’s military and a barrier that blocked his Shadow. Inside the shrine, Orochi Murasaki reflected on how Yingqi Nation had made her its guardian after she awakened the Orochi Bloodline, and the chapter ended with an instructor requesting an audience with her.

• Guan Tong reached Lieming Island using Shadow Line and Phase Shift, intending to obtain Fragment 5 before taking revenge on Yingqi Nation.
• Guan Tong scouted the shrine and discovered that a barrier prevented his Shadow from entering its main hall.
• Guan Tong planned to slip past the mostly blind soldiers guarding the shrine, while preparing to destroy the island’s buildings if he could not take the fragment.
• Orochi Murasaki sat alone in the shrine’s main hall beneath a monstrous eight-headed statue and recalled how the Divine Child had declared her Yingqi Nation’s guardian after she awakened the Orochi Bloodline.
• A voice outside the hall told Orochi Murasaki that Instructor Mu Tiancheng wished to see her.

Orochi Murasaki gave Fragment 5 to Guan Tong, who learned that the murals showed Qimo Star’s destruction and the Fire Thief’s role in recording it. He left without fighting, while Orochi Murasaki remained convinced that humanity’s efforts were meaningless.

• Mu Tiancheng warned Orochi Murasaki that Shadow might retaliate against Yingqi Nation after the failed operation in Andai State.
• Orochi Murasaki discovered that the two fragments were on the island, then went alone to meet Guan Tong outside the shrine.
• Orochi Murasaki handed Guan Tong Fragment 5, and its murals revealed how the Ninth Apocalypse Rule’s mist turned Qimo Star’s strange beasts into Nightmare Beasts before a mechanical arm recorded the planet’s destruction.
• Guan Tong told Orochi Murasaki about Fragments 1 through 4 and argued that destruction could not erase the happiness the strange beasts had experienced.
• Guan Tong left without fighting and told Orochi Murasaki she could contact him through the Ascendant's Home website if she wanted to.

After studying Fragment 5, Guan Tong practiced Mind Power and agreed to communicate with Beixing Nation’s Countermeasure Research Institute. The exchange ended with Gao Liangwei weighing Shadow’s demand that the government either stop meddling abroad or confront Prince Lado as part of humanity’s fight against Fire Thief.

• Guan Tong considered Fragment 5’s account of Fire Thief destroying civilizations and concluded that learning more about him mattered more than despairing over humanity’s fate.
• Guan Tong practiced Mind Power in the dark and believed he could soon cover his whole body with a defensive layer.
• Guan Tong replied to Original Person that Shadow wanted the two Fragments in their possession and invited them to name their terms.
• Guan Tong accepted a communication request from the Beixing Nation government’s Countermeasure Research Institute.
• Gao Liangwei asked why Shadow had killed people in Andai State and destroyed the Royal Palace, and Shadow defended his actions by condemning Prince Lado’s evil.
• Shadow told Gao Liangwei that the government should either isolate itself or treat uniting humanity against Fire Thief as its duty, beginning by eliminating Prince Lado; Gao Liangwei pondered how to respond.

Guan Tong ended his exchange with the authorities after they refused to answer his question about their plans. The third sense, touch, was eliminated, leaving most people unable to feel or control their bodies, while Guan Tong relied on Shadow to remain functional.

• Guan Tong asked the authorities whether they intended to isolate the nation or unite humanity, but stopped communicating after they told him the question was not his concern.
• At the Countermeasure Research Institute, Gao Liangwei and Zhang Minglu concluded that Shadow would not join the authorities and decided not to contact him again.
• At nine the next morning, the Apocalypse Rules eliminated touch, causing people around the world to collapse and lose awareness of their bodies.
• The Beixing Nation used pre-anesthetized shelter administrators and support robots to care for people incapacitated by the loss of touch.
• Guan Tong briefly lost control of his body, then had Shadow synchronize its sense of touch with him so he could function through the Shadow Armor.

Guan Tong saw how the loss of touch had paralyzed societies and brought the Tulip Federation to dissolution, while reports from shelters revealed mounting deaths. In the Solloma Empire, the King watched a cybernetic implant project begin and questioned whether its mechanized soldiers would still be judged human by Fire Thief.

• Guan Tong read a post describing the Tulip Federation’s civil war, its warlords’ retreat, and the federation’s dissolution after most people lost their ability to fight.
• A man whose sense of touch had been erased sank into darkness and questioned whether his past life had been real before dying in a shelter.
• Shelter administrators reported deaths to the Countermeasure Research Institute as analysts found that illnesses and brain failure were killing people with little possibility of intervention.
• The King of Solloma watched Dr. Hysen’s mechanical arm perform brain implant surgeries on people whose touch had been erased.
• Dr. Hysen described the Iron Will project’s plan to create obedient steel soldiers, and the King asked whether Fire Thief would still consider them human.

As the Tenth Apocalypse Rule ended, the loss of all five senses caused countries across Tianshui Star to collapse, including Andai State. Guan Tong regained his senses and reviewed his gains before Xu Xiaotian called with news of severe casualties at the academy.

• From April 8 to April 14, more than fifty countries dissolved, leaving only just over thirty nations on Tianshui Star.
• Andai State dissolved on April 13, leaving Prince Lado's whereabouts unknown and ending his bounty on Guan Tong.
• On April 15, the Tenth Apocalypse Rule ended, and Guan Tong's five senses returned, though his body was poorly coordinated.
• Guan Tong checked his Terminal Panel and reflected on his increased Mind Power, his understanding of the Fire Thief, and his exchange with the officials.
• Xu Xiaotian called Guan Tong and reported that the academy had suffered its worst casualties since the rules began.

Guan Tong checked in with Xu Xiaotian, Wang Yan, and Shi Jingyi, then prepared for the next rule after finding a new life-detecting item in the Ascension Shop. He lent Shi Jingyi 300,000 Ascension Coins for an ancient qigong manual and left her on his friends list.

• Xu Xiaotian told Guan Tong that the academy might graduate its first cohort in August and that graduates would likely work in Official Departments.
• Guan Tong called Wang Yan, who said she and Chen Na were safe, then tried to reach Shi Jingyi but initially found her unavailable.
• Guan Tong bought twenty Life Detectors after suspecting the Eleventh Rule might involve survival.
• Shi Jingyi called Guan Tong back and learned that he could circulate Mind Power twice and had broken through the Mind Lock using his special item.
• Shi Jingyi asked to borrow 300,000 Ascension Coins to buy an ancient qigong manual, and Guan Tong transferred the money without deleting her from his friends list.

Guan Tong browsed Ascendant discussions about psychological recovery and a planned variety show, then learned that Original Person might negotiate for Shadow’s Fragments. On Lieming Island, Orochi Murasaki defended her decision to give Shadow a Fragment, while Mu Tiancheng threatened to report her to Lord Divine Child.

• Guan Tong read posts about the psychological effects of the Tenth Rule, official counseling efforts, and plans for an Ascendant variety show.
• Guan Tong and Original Person discussed Fragment 5 and the possibility of negotiating for Shadow’s three Fragments, and Original Person promised to contact the people with authority.
• Mu Tiancheng confronted Orochi Murasaki for giving Shadow her Fragment, but she said she had done it to prevent deaths on the island.
• Moon Fate and Mr. Faceless supported Orochi Murasaki, and she questioned whether becoming World First mattered before postponing the discussion.