Chapter Summaries

Qiuqiu freed Sakura Matou from Zouken Matou and summoned powerful Familiars to defeat Gates’s Hundred Dragon King before advancing into Castlevania’s Purgatory Arena. She pressed on through its monsters while the other challengers struggled with the forced Damage Dodge effect and repeatedly fell back to the first floor.

• Qiuqiu ripped Zouken Matou’s Brain Bug from Sakura Matou, killing him and leaving Sakura in agony but relieved and smiling.
• Qiuqiu covered Sakura in black mud and summoned four giant Familiar units to fight the Hundred Dragon King and its raptors.
• The Familiars wore down the Hundred Dragon King until it reverted to Gates’s form, opening the gate to Purgatory Arena.
• Qiuqiu entered the arena and fought resurrecting Skeleton Soldiers, metal raptors, Cuirass of Cu Chulainn, and flying Medusa heads.
• Cheng Tian watched the challengers repeatedly fall back to the first floor after Damage Dodge forced them backward whenever they were hit.

Qiuqiu reached the Grim Reaper in Castlevania and fought the boss, whose Ghost Rider template let its Hellfire permanently damage souls and black mud. The Grim Reaper’s test continued as Qiuqiu summoned Cú Chulainn with Command Spells to unleash his strongest ability.

• Qiuqiu studied paintings of Cheng Tian’s past battles and entered the Reaper’s Chamber.
• The Grim Reaper appeared and told Qiuqiu she had to pass its test before challenging its master in the Throne Room.
• Qiuqiu attacked with Black Particles, but the Grim Reaper countered with Hellfire-wreathed Dragoon Scythes.
• The Grim Reaper revealed its Ghost Rider/Johnny Blaze template and burned away part of a Black Mud Sasaki’s blade and soul.
• Qiuqiu spent two Command Spells to summon Cú Chulainn and ordered him to kill the Grim Reaper with his strongest ability.

Qiuqiu empowered Cú Chulainn to unleash Gae Bolg against Grim Reaper Butler, but the butler seized the spear and fled toward the castle lord. Cú Chulainn chased after it, only to fall through the platform gaps, leaving Qiuqiu to intervene.

• Qiuqiu spent the Church's collected Command Spells to flood Cú Chulainn with mana, and he hurled Gae Bolg at Grim Reaper Butler and the Dragoon Scythes.
• Grim Reaper Butler emerged from the explosions with Gae Bolg and used Hellfire to erode its bond with Cú Chulainn.
• Grim Reaper Butler ran through the opened door toward the castle lord with the spear, and Cú Chulainn raced after it.
• The platforms and Dragoon Scythes triggered Cú Chulainn's Damage Dodge, sending him falling through the gaps toward the ground below.
• Qiuqiu watched Cú Chulainn fall and lit the Command Spells on her arm again.

Qiuqiu reached Castlevania’s Throne Room and confronted Earl Cheng Tian, who used his cup-smashing skill to revive every gatekeeper boss and share his damage among them. Cheng Tian moved the battle to Chaos, where he revealed its connection to the Evil of This World and challenged Qiuqiu to take it for herself.

• Qiuqiu crossed the Clock Tower, where Night Wind shot down Pidgeys carrying Metal Raptors before they could land.
• Qiuqiu climbed the exposed staircase to the Throne Room and announced that she had come to end everything.
• Cheng Tian smashed his goblet and used Signal by Breaking a Cup to revive Castlevania’s gatekeeper bosses around him.
• Qiuqiu summoned Black Mud Sasaki, Black Mud Medea, Sakura Matou, Kirei Kotomine, and Angra Mainyu to face Cheng Tian’s forces.
• Cheng Tian transported everyone to Chaos and explained that it could not be destroyed while humanity still harbored malice.
• Cheng Tian raised his hand and challenged Qiuqiu to take Chaos and the Evil of This World for herself.

Red A used Unlimited Blade Works to split open Castlevania, exposing Cheng Tian, Qiuqiu, and Sakura Matou as apparent targets of the Holy Grail’s curse. When Shirou vowed to save Sakura, Artoria took Grey’s Mystic Code and transformed into her Lancer form.

• Red A spread Unlimited Blade Works into Castlevania, replacing part of the Throne Room and revealing the battle between Cheng Tian and Qiuqiu.
• Weber called for an all-out assault on the curse’s manifested entities, while Shirou and Rin recognized Sakura Matou among them.
• Shirou cried out to Sakura, who smiled at him and showed no sign of wanting to leave Qiuqiu’s side.
• Moved by Shirou’s resolve to save Sakura, Artoria took Grey’s Mystic Code and transformed from Saber into Lancer.

Inside Castlevania, the Imitation Holy Lance altered Artoria’s spiritual foundation and transformed her into her adult King Arthur form. As the Servants rallied against Cheng Tian and Qiuqiu, Qiuqiu withdrew into Black Mud while Cheng Tian prepared to take the Holy Grail Summoning System with him.

• Castlevania’s unusual rules allowed Artoria’s spiritual foundation to change, and the Imitation Holy Lance gave her the memories and power associated with its wielder, Grey.
• Artoria became a mature King Arthur, comforted Grey, and told her she did not need to become Artoria to follow her own path.
• Artoria sensed that the world was drifting off course and resolved to save Sakura Matou and destroy those responsible.
• Red A raised the weapons across Unlimited Blade Works as the other Servants joined forces against Cheng Tian, Qiuqiu, and their group.
• Qiuqiu wrapped herself and the Black Mud derivatives in Black Mud, while Cheng Tian summoned Black Pearls and set out to take the Holy Grail Summoning System.

Cheng Tian fused Qiuqiu’s black mud and Servant souls into the Black Pearl, creating an incomplete Black Grail Yamata summoning ability. He then restored Kirei Kotomine in a blank doll, extracted his soul, and crushed it while the battle at Castlevania continued.

• Qiuqiu poured her power, black mud creations, Command Spells, and Servant contracts into the Black Pearl, forming a Black Grail entwined with Yamata no Orochi.
• Red A attacked Cheng Tian to buy King Arthur time, but Cheng Tian’s Gate of Babylon barrage intercepted most of the swords while the challengers remained stuck clearing Castlevania’s areas.
• The souls of Cú Chulainn, Medusa, Medea, Sasaki, and Angra lit five of the Black Grail’s heads, and the Space Prompts announced an incomplete Black Grail Yamata summoning ability that required three more Servant souls.
• Qiuqiu awoke in a nutrient pod as the emptied Bio-mechanical Doll 2.0 reverted to a blank form, and Cheng Tian used the Ghost Gauntlet to place Kirei Kotomine’s soul inside it.
• Cheng Tian thanked Kirei Kotomine for bringing Bazett into his life, then tore out and crushed Kirei Kotomine’s soul, leaving the doll blank again.

After Kirei Kotomine's soul was annihilated, Bazett transformed into a human-bodied Mimic Servant and returned to Cheng Tian. King Arthur unleashed his final attack, and Cheng Tian and Bazett countered with a black lightning strike that pierced his heart as an explosion lit Fuyuki City.

• Cheng Tian annihilated Kirei Kotomine's soul, completing Bazett's Silver Side Quest and triggering her transformation into a Mimic Servant of Manannan mac Lir.
• Cheng Tian summoned the transformed Bazett to his side, and the system granted her the rules and permissions of a Chosen Player follower.
• King Arthur released the thirteen constraints and charged the Imitation Holy Lance for a final strike alongside Artoria's Holy Sword.
• Cheng Tian transformed the Black Pearl into a short sword using his blood, then he and Bazett fired their attack at King Arthur's twin beams.
• The beams annihilated Cheng Tian and Bazett, but their black lightning pierced King Arthur's heart and lit the sky over Fuyuki City.

Cheng Tian and Bazett survived King Arthur’s final attack when the Counter-Light Sword reversed its causality, and Artoria acknowledged Cheng Tian before her spirit vanished. With two enemy Servants left in the Holy Grail War, Cheng Tian prepared to intervene and forged the Divine Spear Gungnir.

• The Counter-Light Sword reversed the damage from King Arthur’s twin beams, restoring Castlevania, Unlimited Blade Works, Cheng Tian, and Bazett.
• King Arthur learned that the Holy Grail’s corruption was being transformed into the Root of Demonic Power, accepted the Grail’s destruction, and disappeared after smiling at her master.
• Black Pearl recovered Artoria’s soul, and Cheng Tian received her acknowledgment, completed the Three in a Million King Arthur side quest, and gained a new equipment synergy.
• Cheng Tian noted that Archer and Berserker were the last Servants remaining and resolved to finish the Holy Grail War himself.
• Cheng Tian used Gae Bolg, the polluted spiritual vein, and his own power to create the Divine Spear Gungnir.

Cheng Tian unleashed Gungnir against the last two Servants, Red A and Brother Herc, using its fated strikes to overcome their defenses and abilities. Both Servants fell, and the final two heads entwined around the Black Grail were illuminated.

• Cheng Tian split Gungnir into a cursed spear aimed at Brother Herc and a holy spear aimed at Red A.
• Brother Herc charged the cursed spear, but it pierced his chest and repeatedly stripped away the lives restored by Twelve Trials.
• Red A blocked the holy spear with Seven Rings of Heavenly Domination, then projected Permanent Distant Golden Sword and fired it at the spear and Cheng Tian.
• Cheng Tian stopped Red A's beam with Heart Barrier while Rin Tohsaka used Command Spells to replenish Red A's magical energy.
• The holy spear struck Red A and opened his chest, leaving both remaining Servants defeated as the final two heads around the Black Grail lit up.

Rin Tohsaka won the Fifth Holy Grail War and used her wish to restore the Tohsaka family's magecraft. Cheng Tian also returned Sakura Matou in a Bio-mechanical Doll, leaving Rin’s wish about to be fulfilled.

• The Black Grail emerged from the Black Pearl, declared Rin Tohsaka the victor, and offered her a wish.
• Cheng Tian explained that the Grail could grant wishes again, though its methods might be unorthodox.
• Rin Tohsaka asked Cheng Tian to bring Sakura Matou back, and he placed Sakura’s soul in a Bio-mechanical Doll 2.0.
• Sakura Matou awoke in the doll and greeted Rin Tohsaka and Shirou Emiya.
• Rin Tohsaka wished for the Tohsaka family's magecraft to be restored to its former glory.

Rin Tohsaka’s wish to restore the Tohsaka Household’s magical glory led the Black Grail to alter the inheritance of her and Sakura Matou’s future children with Shirou Emiya. As the group reacted to the wish’s implications, Castlevania began to crack after Fuyuki City’s Polluted Spiritual Vein ran dry.

• Cheng Tian fulfilled Rin Tohsaka’s wish by changing the magical inheritance of her and Sakura Matou’s descendants with Shirou Emiya.
• Cheng Tian explained the children’s possible inherited attributes and described several more dangerous alternative ways to restore the Tohsaka Household’s glory.
• Rin Tohsaka rejected the alternatives and glared at Shirou Emiya and Sakura Matou as she contemplated the prospect of their families becoming connected.
• Touko Aozaki enjoyed the spectacle while Lord El-Melloi II worried about writing his investigation report.
• Castlevania’s main structure cracked as Fuyuki City’s Polluted Spiritual Vein ran dry.

After the Fifth Holy Grail War ended, Castlevania collapsed and the Dungeon World began settlement. Cheng Tian’s group reviewed their rewards and Qiu considered joining Chosen Space as a Player so she could surpass her Gene-Prime.

• Cheng Tian led the others out of Castlevania before it collapsed, leaving Enzou Mountain as a crater.
• The settlement system recorded the group’s completed quests, rewards, achievements, and permission to remain for up to twelve hours.
• Cheng Tian assigned Hammond Laboratory’s NPCs to open the ordinary chests dropped by the Black Mud Grunt Units.
• Qiu realized the Black Pearl had let her absorb the black mud’s curse without being tainted, and she favored becoming a Chosen Player to gain a better chance of surpassing her Gene-Prime.

After Qiuqiu became a Player, Cheng Tian learned she would enter a C-rank dungeon and gained a new Black Holy Grail power that let him recruit Players as Eight Heavenly Kings. He stayed behind to help with the Holy Grail War’s aftermath and asked Lord El-Melloi II to protect Bazett’s standing at the Clock Tower.

• Cheng Tian approved of Qiuqiu becoming a Player and learned her first Main Quest would place her in a C-rank dungeon.
• Eileen suggested that Qiuqiu join their team, but Qiuqiu refused, and she and Cheng Tian began fighting after Star Platinum blocked his attempt to pat her head.
• Cheng Tian examined the Black Holy Grail Eight-Headed Summon effect, which let him grant one to three Players Eight Heavenly Kings status in exchange for 8% of their settlement rewards.
• Cheng Tian decided to try the new summoning system in his next Main Quest dungeon.
• Cheng Tian stayed in the world to help address the Holy Grail War’s aftermath and asked Lord El-Melloi II to protect Bazett, who was a Designated Seal Executor.

After returning from the FATE world, Cheng Tian handed the Black Pearl back to Fina and reflected on how Bazett, Qiuqiu, and the relic had changed. Needing to recharge after his adventures, he took Bazett to Shengjing’s United Arcade Hall, where he settled in to play King of Fighters '97.

• Cheng Tian returned the Black Pearl to Fina, and he considered how she and Leya could use its new Holy Grail War rules.
• Cheng Tian reflected on Bazett’s status as a Player, her renewed connection to her world, and Qiuqiu’s determination to surpass him.
• Cheng Tian crossed the Silver Side Quest off his list, leaving Demon World Village and the Knights of the Round Table Festival unfinished.
• Cheng Tian brought Bazett to United Arcade Hall in Shengjing, an old arcade that had retained its appearance and owner for thirty-five years.
• Cheng Tian collected old arcade Coins, chose a King of Fighters '97 cabinet, and prepared to play with Bazett.

Cheng Tian took Bazett to an arcade, then showed her his sugar-painting craft by making a detailed candy Counter-Light Sword. A message from his master invited him to help at an anime or game convention in Magic City.

• Cheng Tian played several arcade games while Bazett recognized familiar characters and learned that her world template had originated from a game.
• Cheng Tian asked Old Xu about the future of his arcade, and Old Xu said he would keep it open as long as he could.
• Cheng Tian brought Bazett home and had her play Fate/hollow ataraxia on his PS Vita.
• Cheng Tian prepared malt sugar for his stall and crafted Bazett a highly detailed candy Counter-Light Sword.
• Cheng Tian received a voice message from his master asking him to help at a convention in Magic City.

Cheng Tian accepted an invitation to promote Chinese-style games with sugar art at a major convention, and his 3D sugar-figurine skills changed his assignment. After traveling to Magic City with Bazett, he tested the equipment and demonstrated his craft to the organizer.

• Cheng Tian’s master handed him an invitation to make sugar art at a game convention, and Cheng Tian agreed to go alone in his place.
• Cheng Tian completed the required paperwork and learned that the games were Black Myth and the unreleased wuxia game Blade of Shadows.
• Cheng Tian showed the organizer a photo of his handmade Counter-Light Sword, so the electronic contract was revised to assign him sugar figurines instead of sugar paintings.
• Cheng Tian brought Bazett to Magic City and checked the equipment, ingredients, and tools at the convention venue.
• Cheng Tian impressed the person in charge by making a crystal-clear maltose Crimson Gourd.

Cheng Tian negotiated extra pay to make a life-sized sugar figurine on-site at a gaming exhibition, then arrived with Bazett as the event drew a huge crowd. The chapter left Bazett surrounded by cosplayers asking to take photos while Cheng Tian prepared to start working.

• A game-loving exhibition manager admired Cheng Tian’s candied hawthorn skewer and worried about transporting the fragile sugar figurines.
• Cheng Tian offered to make the figurines at the venue and discussed the practical limits of creating a life-sized version.
• The manager secured his boss’s approval to pay Cheng Tian extra if he made the large figurine on-site and livestreamed the process, and Cheng Tian agreed.
• On the exhibition’s first morning, Cheng Tian and Bazett entered the crowded Shanghai Convention and Exhibition Center through an employee passage.
• Cheng Tian prepared to heat syrup at his separate booth while several cosplayers gathered around Bazett and asked to take photos with her.

At an anime and gaming convention, Cheng Tian helped Bazett evade fans who mistook her for a cosplayer, then began using his powers openly to speed up his work and watch the opening-day crowd. The chapter left Cheng Tian enjoying the convention’s otaku rush while Bazett held his disguised Crystal Heartscape.

• Bazett drew enthusiastic attention from convention-goers who praised her realistic cosplay and asked for photos.
• At Cheng Tian’s suggestion, Bazett used her Rune to make the young cosplayers forget her and move on.
• Cheng Tian used Psychic Power Flame to melt malt sugar faster and secretly disguised the Crystal Heartscape as a crystal ball for Bazett to hold.
• Cheng Tian watched the crowds charge through the ticket gates as the exhibition opened and reflected on how freely he could use his abilities.

Cheng Tian completed a life-sized sugar sculpture of Blade of Shadows’ protagonist at the convention, drawing a crowd and spreading his fame online. After finishing his work, he changed into an NESTS Battle Suit and headed with Bazett toward the SNK booth.

• Cheng Tian used his Psychic Power to shape a life-sized sugar sculpture and equip it with the twin swords White Python Red Chain.
• Visitors applauded Cheng Tian’s work, and videos of his sculpting spread online as he gained the nickname Big Sugar.
• Bazett recorded contact details for people interested in Cheng Tian’s work while he finished the sculpture.
• The person in charge ended Cheng Tian’s workday, and Cheng Tian left with Bazett to explore the convention.
• Cheng Tian temporarily sealed his equipment effects and changed into an NESTS Battle Suit identical to Igniz’s before heading to the SNK booth.