Chapter Summaries

Angel attended David’s first New Star Tournament match, where the unknown Pied Piper defeated him with a swarm of rats and a melody powered by formidable spiritual strength. Angel judged the Piper a dark horse, while the judges struggled to assess both contestants from the brief, unusual bout.

• Fingernail Granny left for the Research Institute to force Director Muse out of seclusion and discuss Ivo’s whereabouts.
• Angel attended the match between David, nicknamed Gazing into the Profundity, and Hamelin, known as Pied Piper.
• David attacked with alchemy equipment and a long cannon, but the Piper summoned a huge swarm of rats and controlled them with his flute.
• The Piper secretly infused his melody with spiritual power, took control of David, and made him strip off his equipment and dance off the arena.
• Angel told the judges the match made David’s ability difficult to assess and praised the Piper’s powerful spiritual control.

After losing his first match, David learned that his next opponent was Kafolian and suffered another defeat, ending his New Star Tournament run. Angel then tracked the tournament records of his friends and watched a match to help Serum prepare for his next opponent.

• Angel explained that David had likely lost to the Piper even without his moment of carelessness, and David worried that Mentor Liana would make him keep Jack Su company for ten years unless he reached the top fifty.
• David discovered that his next opponent was Kafolian, attempted to arrange a private deal, and was rejected before she defeated him in the arena.
• David's loss ended his tournament journey, and Angel advised him to advance and find a way to kill Jack Su.
• Angel followed the records of Nausicaa, Serum, and Xiliu, noting their wins, losses, and prospects for advancing.
• Angel watched a match with Serum and Leon to analyze the contestants because one of them would face Serum the next morning.

Angel watched Shadow Goose Woman Si Man compete against Gloomlight Xi Li and recalled that Si Man had brought his former shipmate Helen to Summer Dew Ridge. Dong Liz approached Angel to offer information about Si Man in exchange for one of his hats, but he refused.

• Serum reviewed Xi Li’s previous matches and discussed her uncertain strength with Angel as Shadow Goose Woman Si Man and Xi Li prepared to fight.
• Dong Liz sat near Angel, offered insider information about Si Man for one of his hats, and left after Angel declined.
• Serum told Leon that Dong Liz was a powerful contender who had decapitated defeated opponents to use their heads as hat molds.
• Angel said Si Man reminded him of Helen, a first mate on the Cloud Conch whom Si Man had brought to Summer Dew Ridge.

Angel watched Xi Li defeat Si Man and realized Xi Li was far stronger than her reputation suggested. After testing Serum against an illusion of Xi Li, Angel concluded Serum could turn the match around only by having the Black Codex use Reenactment of the Laws.

• Angel told Serum he had not seen Xi Li's match against the Cold-Eyed Cat and assessed that Si Man's aerial form might give her an advantage against Xi Li.
• Xi Li cast five level-three cantrips while Si Man struggled to break through her darkness and eventually conceded without forcing Xi Li to reveal her apparent hope-based trump card.
• Serum worried that Xi Li might be as strong as Ye He, while the Black Codex mocked him by offering to analyze how he could concede safely.
• Angel tested Serum against an illusion of Xi Li in a sealed arena, then told Serum he was still far behind her.
• Angel said Serum had a chance to turn the match around only if the Black Codex took hold of the scales and performed Reenactment of the Laws, leaving Serum silent.

At the New Star Tournament, Angel and judge Sabo discussed Xi Li’s likely advantage over Serum before the match began. Xi Li’s opening attack nearly knocked Serum from the arena, but a winged book spirit rescued him and revealed why he was called Sage’s Book.

• Spectators flocked to watch Gloomlight Xi Li face Sage’s Book, drawn by Angel’s presence at the judges’ seats.
• Sabo judged Xi Li far stronger than Serum, while Angel suggested the match might still prove exciting.
• Xi Li opened with a rapid Dark Impact that struck Serum before his Dark Shield had fully formed and drove him toward the arena’s edge.
• A winged book spirit emerged from Serum’s book, caught him before he fell, and carried him safely back into the arena.
• Spectators recognized the winged figure as a permitted book spirit and wondered whether Serum was connected to Book Elder.

Serum struggled against Xi Li and was nearly defeated by her Dark Avatar, while Black Codex urged him to choose whether to risk a move that could change their future. Serum chose not to surrender, leaving his next move—and the outcome of the match—uncertain.

• Angel told Sabo that Serum had met Book Elder, though he did not know their relationship.
• Xi Li overwhelmed Serum in their darkness-element match, and her stronger Dark Avatar engulfed the arena.
• Black Codex carried the badly injured Serum out of the black fog, and Xi Li let him go while urging Serum to surrender.
• Angel explained that Black Codex wanted Serum to make a dangerous move that could break their stalemate, while Serum had long refused to risk losing him.
• After Black Codex asked Serum to trust him, Serum clenched his fist and said he would not surrender.

Xi Li attacked Serum, but the Black Codex took the blade meant for him and invoked the Reenactment of the Laws. The Black Codex transformed into the God of the Prison Codex and declared that Xi Li would be punished for standing in her path.

• Xi Li sent dark arrows at Serum and charged through his shield, stabbing him with a blade of darkness.
• The Black Codex shielded Serum by taking Xi Li's blade into his chest.
• The Black Codex invoked the Reenactment of the Laws, filling the arena with blinding light and spreading luminous wings around Xi Li.
• The Black Codex's wings dissolved, and its dark aura gathered into a giant, blindfolded goddess carrying scales and a sword.
• Angel told Sabo that the giant was the Black Codex's true form, the God of the Prison Codex.
• The God of the Prison Codex told Xi Li that she bore guilt for standing in her path and must be punished.

Black Codex invoked the Articles of Law to stop Xi Li from harming Serum, revealing a power Sabo suspected was an embryonic Law Domain. The match remained unresolved, but Serum’s potential had drawn the referees’ attention.

• Xi Li failed to control or dispel the black vapor covering the arena and attacked Serum with Pitch-Black Wheel.
• Black Codex invoked Article One and trapped Pitch-Black Wheel in a dark cage, saving Serum from being pulled into it.
• Black Codex dissolved the cage and the spell, shocking the audience and referees with how easily he had stopped Xi Li’s attack.
• Xi Li threatened Black Codex, who invoked Article Two and silenced her through the arena’s dark vapor.
• Sabo examined Black Codex’s power and suspected the vapor was an embryonic Law Domain, which could make Serum a seed of potential.

Black Codex trapped Xi Li in a prison cage and forced her to confront the guilt and pain of her past, but she released the light she had long suppressed and broke free. Xi Li defeated Serum and won the match.

• Black Codex used the Dark Prison Codex to imprison Xi Li and subject her to Heresy Judgment.
• Angel suspected Xi Li still had hidden power as the statutes exposed her memories and guilt.
• At her lowest point, Xi Li embraced her pursuit of hope and unleashed the pure light within her.
• Xi Li's light shattered the prison cage and severed Black Codex's sword.
• Serum lost consciousness, and the referee declared Xi Li the winner.

After Serum defeated Xi Li, Black Codex returned Serum to Angel and fell into dormancy, promising to come back. Angel took Serum for treatment and later learned that Reynolds, known as No. 1, had lost to Shining New Star, whose next opponent was the tournament favorite Jiebo.

• Black Codex handed the unconscious Serum to Angel, said it would soon fall dormant, and vanished into the Dark Prison Codex.
• Xi Li reflected on how Black Codex had made her confront her past, then left the arena in silence.
• Angel took Serum for treatment, where he recovered substantially but needed at least ten days to half a month of rest.
• Nausicaa and Leon met Angel outside the treatment room, and Angel told them that Serum and Black Codex were dormant for now.
• Angel learned that Reynolds had lost to Shining New Star, then pointed out that Reynolds’s next opponent was the injured Serum and Shining New Star’s was Jiebo.

Angel redeemed the White-Cheeked Domain Demon's Central Eye after earning enough points at Ashilia, and planned to ask the Water-Pattern Witch to help arrange its exchange with Vifit. Meanwhile, Serum began recovering from the Black Codex's dormancy, and Angel recognized the rising contestant Philosopher as vaguely familiar.

• Angel learned that Onassis, known as Philosopher, had won five baffling matches and risen to eighth place in the judges' rankings.
• Angel encouraged Serum to trust the Black Codex's promise to return, and Serum gradually regained his composure while keeping the book close.
• Angel finished teaching six classes at Ashilia and earned twenty-five points, bringing his total to thirty-four.
• Angel exchanged thirty points for the White-Cheeked Domain Demon's Central Eye at the magic material repository and stored it in a magic storage bottle.
• Antonio told Angel that the Water-Pattern Witch was in Creation Hall and that the dean had also asked him to visit.

Angel learned that Alex was Ivo Shpruit, prompting Sky Mechanical City’s leaders to argue over how to find and rescue him from the Reincarnation Box. After weighing where to transplant Shapeshifting Softworm skin, Angel chose his left hand and prepared to begin the procedure.

• Angel returned from Creation Hall and recorded that Alex was Ivo Shpruit in his Void Illusion Gate notes.
• Dean Muse summoned Angel to Creation Hall, where Hydra’s prophecy and Fingernail Granny’s confirmation established that Alex was Ivo or his clone.
• Muse and Rosen argued over how to locate and rescue Ivo, while Angel left before discussions about Sky Mechanical City’s interests continued.
• Angel compared the risks of transplanting Shapeshifting Softworm skin to either hand and chose his left hand.
• Angel set aside three days to practice and prepare for performing the transplantation himself.

After practicing skin grafts in the Nightmare Domain, Angel met Falina and Lien at Fingernail Granny’s alchemy house to receive the Lucky Scroll from Vifit. Angel examined the scroll’s mysterious magic pattern but realized he could not yet understand or reproduce it.

• Angel completed fifty skin-graft simulations in the Nightmare Domain, succeeding in all but six, and decided he was ready to perform the transplant.
• Angel went to Fingernail Granny’s alchemy house, where Falina explained that Granny was at the Research Institute and introduced him to Lien.
• Lien told Angel that Vifit could not attend because of an experiment, then introduced his shy sand-bear companion, Misha.
• Misha produced the Lucky Scroll from its storage space, and Lien handed it to Angel.
• Angel unrolled the Lucky Scroll and saw an energy cluster traverse a geometric maze, smoothing away dangerous paths before the patterns vanished.

Angel traded the White-Cheeked Domain Demon's Central Eye to Lien for a Lucky Scroll, then went with him to watch Loki face Qili in the New Star Tournament. At the arena, Angel noticed Falga among the familiar spectators and wondered how he had joined their group.

• Lien discussed the dangers of abusing luck, and Angel accepted the Lucky Scroll after confirming it was genuine.
• Angel gave Lien the White-Cheeked Domain Demon's Central Eye, completing their trade, then spent the evening discussing Wizarding World ideas with Lien and Falina.
• Lien invited Angel to watch his disciple Loki, competing as White Rhino, fight Qili, who competed as Netherfire, at the Infinite Battle Tower.
• Angel recognized Hermes, Alan, Sini Cui Ze, Kafolian, and Falga in the stands, and wondered when Falga had begun spending time with them.

Angel met Qili after her match and gave her a Shapeshifting Softworm, keeping his promise to Lord Ruye. Qili accepted the rare creature but declined Angel’s offer to perform a skin graft, and their conversation turned to the New Star Tournament.

• Qili defeated Loki, leaving him sobbing as Lien went to meet him and review his mistakes.
• Angel found Qili backstage, where Luna greeted him and settled comfortably on his lap.
• Qili said she wanted to become an official wizard sooner, and Angel decided not to advise her against pursuing advancement.
• Angel gave Qili a Shapeshifting Softworm cultivated from the eggs Kant had given him, fulfilling his promise to Lord Ruye.
• Qili declined Angel’s offer to perform a skin graft but agreed she could seek him out at his suburban manor before the New Star Tournament ended.
• Angel learned Qili remained focused on defeating Jiebo and asked which contestants had caught her attention.

Angel became interested in Onassis’s mysterious victories but returned to the manor to begin transplanting the Shapeshifting Softworm skin and Lucky Scroll. Meanwhile, Gloria criticized a newly popular Drama Shadow Box until Sanders recognized its promise and asked where Angel was.

• Qili named Onassis, Trom, and Ye He as dangerous contestants, and Luna reacted furiously when Ye He was mentioned.
• Angel learned that Onassis had one repechage match left at dawn, then returned to the manor and entered the secret chamber to begin the transplantation.
• Gloria watched the Drama Shadow Box adaptation of Bloody Nightmare of Toy Island and complained about its flaws and weak storytelling.
• Sanders returned to the manor, identified the Drama Shadow Box as someone else’s work, and praised its potential as a new art form.
• Sanders asked Gloria where Angel was.

Angel revealed that his Transformation Spell had succeeded after transplanting Shapeshifting Softworm skin, and Sanders said he had come to discuss seeing Lien. In the Dream Wilderness, Sanders reviewed Frod’s reports of strange occurrences while searching for the authority scattered when Angel merged with the Nightmare Domain.

• Gloria asked Sanders whether Angel had finished his seclusion, and Sanders waited in silence before asking if she found her life exhausting.
• Angel transformed from a clock hand into a young man, explained he had been testing his Transformation Spell, and promised to make Gloria a new theater projection box.
• Sanders confirmed Angel’s transformation had succeeded and asked how large he could grow before saying he had seen Lien.
• In Firstheart City, Sanders read Frod’s Strange Affairs Group Investigation Report and asked whether there were any other reports.
• Frod realized Sanders was looking for the scattered authority, and Sanders confirmed it.

Angel and Sanders gave Frod the Lucky Scroll to test whether it could help locate scattered authority through the Strange Affairs Group Investigation Report. After Frod activated it, the report turned to a page submitted by Lisa, and Sanders reacted strangely to its contents.

• Frod worried that his reports were unreliable, but Sanders told him the search was only an experiment.
• A magic-pattern parchment scroll appeared, and Angel arrived and identified it as the Lucky Scroll.
• Angel handed the Lucky Scroll to Frod, who focused on scattered authority and tore the parchment to activate it.
• Frod thought the scroll had no effect until his sleeve turned the report to a page submitted by Lisa.
• Sanders and Angel read Lisa's page, and Sanders' expression turned strange because he knew what it contained.

Angel and Sanders investigated whether the Lucky Scroll had guided them to a report about an anomalous alley song, but interviews and a singer’s performance confirmed the report was correctly dismissed as a rumor. As everyone began to leave, Angel recognized someone in the group.

• Angel and Sanders questioned Frod about the Strange Affairs Group report, which Frod had marked as a rumor after its investigators concluded that an opera singer caused the eerie song.
• Sanders said the Lucky Scroll’s influence lasted only a few seconds, so Angel suggested verifying the report before trying another experiment.
• Angel reread the report and found that citizens had heard a mournful song in an alley, which investigators traced to a former opera singer.
• Frod summoned the people involved, and the citizens confirmed that the woman’s performance matched the song they had heard.
• Angel praised the woman’s singing, and Frod offered her a job at the Ocean Theater; Angel then approved sending everyone away after confirming there was nothing unusual about the report or alley.
• As the group dispersed, Angel spotted someone and called out in recognition.

Angel and Frod traced a possible connection to scattered authority through Lisa and his exiled younger brother. Angel found the brother inside a spreading patch of black mist in the wilderness, which he suspected was a manifestation of scattered authority.

• Angel recognized Lisa as the staff member who had once asked his forgiveness, and Frod realized the Lucky Scroll had drawn his attention to Lisa's name.
• Angel and Sanders reasoned that Lisa's exiled younger brother might have encountered scattered authority in the wilderness.
• Angel searched for Lisa's younger brother while Lisa asked them to forgive him or let Lisa take his punishment, but Frod refused to promise leniency.
• Angel found Lisa's younger brother and brought Frod and Sanders to a vast wilderness where a spreading patch of black mist churned.
• Angel suggested the black mist might be a manifestation of scattered authority and revealed that Lisa's younger brother was inside it.