Chapter Summaries

Ma Qiu warned two Wizards that Ash Forest City and several other cities were preparing a Raging Disaster Level attack. Aboard the locomotive, Kent Bob explained the dangers of the wilderness to the crew, and strange creatures screeched outside as Frank’s unlucky warning was interrupted.

• Ma Qiu verified his identity to two Wizards and warned them of an impending Raging Disaster Level attack.
• One Wizard used a Crystal Ball to contact headquarters.
• Kent Bob told the locomotive crew that strange creatures made wilderness travel dangerous and urged them to respect the Escort Guards.
• Bob asked Frank whether the crew would encounter strange creatures, and Frank began a cautious answer.
• Strange creatures screeched outside the locomotive, and Frank sighed.

A pack of more than a hundred Strange Gray Rats attacked the locomotive, and the Black Uniformed Men fought them with magic weapons. The close-range battle continued as some rats made it into the train cars.

• Bob and the train crew saw the Strange Gray Rats approaching and feared they would be overwhelmed.
• The Escort Personnel waited until the rats were close, then fired crimson beams that killed many and broke apart the swarm’s formation.
• The Thick-Browed Man directed the Escort Personnel to keep firing as the rats scattered and rushed closer.
• The Thick-Browed Man ordered everyone to prepare for close combat, and the Escort Personnel formed white wind blades on their weapons.
• The Escort Personnel cut down the lunging rats, but some Strange Gray Rats climbed into the locomotive through the windows, spreading chaos inside.

After a Strange Gray Rat attack left the train’s Escort Personnel with casualties, Captain Jant warned that a larger beast tide might be coming. A swarm of Strange Brown Rats and a heavily armored giant rat attacked next, and Jant ordered his men to retrieve Steel Fist to stop it.

• Captain Jant’s Escort Personnel killed the Strange Gray Rats, but one escort member died and five more were wounded.
• Jant told Locomotive Chief Bob that the first attack might signal a large-scale beast tide, then ordered the train crew to prepare for another fight.
• An escort member reported a Level Two danger ahead, and Jant spotted more than a hundred rat-type creatures approaching the train.
• Jant and the others fought around a hundred and twenty Strange Brown Rats and a giant furless rat that endured repeated attacks and kept pursuing the train.
• After the giant rat’s attacks caused more casualties, Jant ordered a subordinate to retrieve Steel Fist from the freight carriage despite lacking authorization.

Jant used a Steel Fist weapon to destroy the attacking giant rat and several more to eliminate the remaining rats. The locomotive then entered a vast field crowded with at least ten thousand bizarre rats, which began gathering around it.

• Jant loaded and fired a Steel Fist at the Bald Giant Rat, killing it and nearby Brown Rats.
• Jant ordered four more Steel Fists and used them to blast the remaining attacking rats.
• The crew treated the wounded while Jant sat silently, and Bob dismissed Frank’s worries about bad luck.
• Buddy reported that the locomotive had run over a live bizarre Brown Rat, then repeated impacts shook the train.
• The crew saw thousands of bizarre Brown Rats and Black Rats spread across the land as they began to gather around the locomotive.

Bob pushed the damaged locomotive to full power while Jant and the escorts fought off the strange rat horde. After a desperate, costly battle, Jant encountered a Bear-shaped Giant Rat that shrugged off his Steel Fist beam, leaving the new threat barely injured.

• Buddy suggested stopping the locomotive and reversing, but Bob ordered the crew to keep moving and raise the engine's power.
• Bob directed the crew to repair and adjust the locomotive as escorts and Jant's team fired Steel Fists at the attacking strange rats.
• The locomotive accelerated through the horde, but the fighting left more than forty percent of the escort personnel dead and many survivors exhausted or wounded.
• Jant spotted a Bear-shaped Giant Rat charging toward the locomotive and fired a probing Steel Fist beam at it.
• The beam pierced the Bear-shaped Giant Rat's outer shell but caused only a minor injury.

The locomotive crew survived a bizarre-rat assault with help from the Gray Parrot Enhanced Regiment’s Magic Rune Cannons and reached the regiment’s garrison. Commander Paul Goring revealed that the garrison was surrounded during a third Raging Disaster Level offensive, leaving the crew trapped inside the encirclement.

• Jant ordered the Steel Fists to attack the Bear-shaped Giant Rat, but their shots barely harmed it as it charged the locomotive.
• A black streak struck the Bear-shaped Giant Rat and split it in two, while more streaks killed the bizarre rats around the train.
• The crew saw soldiers from the Gray Parrot Enhanced Regiment using Magic Rune Cannons to clear a path, and Bob announced that the train had reached the regiment’s garrison.
• Bob, Frank, Philip, and the crew met Commander Paul Goring, who thanked them for delivering badly needed supplies.
• Goring told the crew that the garrison and other strongholds were surrounded during the enemy’s third Raging Disaster Level offensive, and that they could not return until it ended.

Bob and the train crew arrived at the Gray Parrot Enhanced Regiment’s camp as the strange creatures’ attack intensified. After Lex asked them to provide support, Bob let the crew decide for themselves, and more than half agreed to help.

• A soldier reported that the two southern salients had withdrawn with casualties above thirty percent, and Goring hurried to assess the situation.
• Bob and the train crew saw the camp overwhelmed by urgent preparations, wounded soldiers, and attacks along the defensive lines.
• Lex asked Bob’s crew to help transport supplies and carry the wounded because the regiment lacked manpower.
• Bob explained the danger of refusing and let each crew member choose whether to help.
• Frank volunteered first, and more than half the crew, including Philip, joined him.
• Bob led the volunteers out of the tent to help the regiment.

After a brutal attack, Philip and Frank fought Strange Brown Rats that had appeared inside the Gray Parrot Enhanced Regiment's camp. Outside the defensive line, the strange creatures launched an even fiercer assault, leaving the soldiers to face a new problem.

• Bob, Philip, and Frank helped the exhausted soldiers repair the defensive line, deliver supplies, and carry the wounded to camp.
• A giant pale-red egg fell inside the camp, shattered, and released several Strange Brown Rats that attacked Philip and Frank.
• Frank killed one Strange Brown Rat with a stretcher pipe, and Philip joined him in fighting the others.
• The strange creatures regrouped and attacked the defensive line more fiercely, while the soldiers fought them with guns, Steel Fists, and Magic Rune Cannons.
• The soldiers on the defensive line encountered a small problem during the new assault.

The Gray Parrot Enhanced Regiment repelled an attack involving Strange Worms, but a second wave soon advanced with heavily armored Strange Armored Elephants that shrugged off cannon fire. Goring ordered the signalman to contact headquarters as the defensive line braced for the threat.

• Goring ordered the artillerymen to destroy the Strange Worms while soldiers swept the camp for creatures they had launched inside.
• The regiment beat back the attack, and Bob, Philip, Frank, and the locomotive crew rested and ate Number Three Ration.
• Frank repeatedly told Bob that everyone would die before warning whistles announced another enemy attack.
• Bob, Philip, Frank, and the other support personnel saw Strange Armored Elephants advancing with the second wave.
• Goring tested the Strange Armored Elephants with three cannon shells, but two ricocheted off their armor.
• Goring ordered the signalman to contact headquarters as the Strange Armored Elephants shielded the advancing army.

With long-range support unavailable, Goring led Shalin’s Magic-armored Wizards beyond the defensive line to destroy the Strange Armored Elephants. The surviving thirteen returned to the line, where Goring ordered the soldiers to fire on the pursuing creatures.

• Goring requested long-range fire support, but Bird's Nest said it had none available.
• Goring changed into magic rune armor and took twenty Magic-armored Wizards beyond the defensive line.
• Goring’s group killed every Strange Armored Elephant, suffering casualties and injuries as they fought through the creatures.
• The creatures surrounded Goring’s group, but an explosion let Goring and the remaining thirteen Magic-armored Wizards break free.
• Goring’s group leaped back over the defensive line, and Goring ordered all personnel to fire.

The Gray Parrot Enhanced Regiment fought off the second wave of grotesque creatures, but the enemy launched another attack before the soldiers could rest. Goring realized the grotesque creatures had been reinforced and wondered where his own reinforcements were.

• Goring and the Gray Parrot Enhanced Regiment held the defensive line through the second wave, inflicting heavy casualties on the grotesque creatures until they retreated.
• Goring ordered changes to the regiment’s defenses and reserves while the soldiers rested and support crews repaired equipment.
• Goring spotted the grotesque creatures suddenly charging again and ordered the regiment to prepare for battle.
• The third wave struck, and Goring led the Magic-armored Wizards into dangerous fighting to repel the attackers.
• Goring saw fresh grotesque creatures filling gaps in the enemy ranks and understood that their sudden attack had been enabled by reinforcements.

Goring’s forces were overwhelmed by the strange creature army as repeated breaches and heavy casualties forced them to abandon the first defensive line and retreat to the second. Bob, Philip, and Frank joined the desperate defense, where Frank saved Philip while repeatedly declaring that everyone would die.

• Giant Strange Worms used Strange Armored Elephants as cover while hurling rats onto the defensive line, intensifying the attack.
• After two left-wing sections fell, Goring ordered the communications officer to request reinforcements, then led Magic-armored Wizards against the Strange Armored Elephants.
• Headquarters refused Goring’s request for fire support, and he told the communications officer to keep asking while he rushed to fight at a breach.
• As more positions fell and Magic Rune Cannons exploded, Goring ordered a full withdrawal to the second line, where Bob, Philip, and Frank joined the fighting.
• Frank killed a Strange Brown Rat that was about to bite Philip, pulled him up, and charged back into battle while insisting that everyone would die.

After the battle, Frank believed he had died to save the survivors, but a medic revived him. Goring then saw an even larger horde of strange creatures gathering beyond the defensive line, leaving the battered regiment facing another attack.

• The survivors defeated the last Strange Hyena, but Frank collapsed from a deep abdominal wound and believed he had died so the others could live.
• A square-faced officer treated Frank with medicine, and Frank woke while Philip helped him recover.
• The square-faced officer reported the heavy losses to Goring, who said the Gray Parrot Enhanced Regiment had not truly won and that she was dead.
• Goring pointed out a new horde of strange creatures gathering at the horizon, including Strange Armored Elephants, Giant Strange Worms, and a towering red-eyed creature.

Goring’s last stand against the advancing strange creatures turned into a rescue when Shalin’s promised fire support and the Storm Bird Swarm arrived. The Black Riders joined the fight as Shalin’s counterattack began.

• The communications soldier told Goring that Shalin had finally agreed to send massive reinforcements.
• Goring requested maximum long-range fire support on his own coordinates, then angrily accused the Firepower Dispatch Department of waiting until his unit was nearly destroyed.
• The Firepower Dispatch Department director explained that Gray Parrot’s sacrifice had revealed the enemy’s route and capabilities, and said support would arrive within two minutes.
• Spell Missiles devastated the strange creature army, but survivors charged toward Goring’s troops before waves of Magic Rune Gliding Bombs killed them.
• More than two hundred Storm Airship Troops airships appeared, and fifteen hundred Black Riders rappelled down around Goring.
• The Black Rider leader led his troops into the burning battlefield to slaughter the remaining strange creatures.

Shalin's direct forces swept through the strange creatures across the Main Continent while Pandora and Bi Bi coordinated their advance from a Storm Airship. The forces began converging on the source of the creatures, whose origin remained undisclosed.

• The fifteen Black Rider Battalions cut through the strange creatures, and Bi Bi killed the Strange Giant Gorilla by crashing onto its head from a Storm Airship.
• Bi Bi returned to the airship, where Pandora reprimanded her for abandoning her command duties and warned she would take her apart if she did it again.
• Bi Bi connected to the command network and helped Pandora redirect the Gray Shadow Regiment and Storm Airship squads among the defense zones.
• Shalin's forces left vast piles of strange creature corpses across the Main Continent and began gathering toward the creatures' source.

Pandora’s forces pursued a fleeing army of strange creatures and found an invisible Demiplane shelter in a canyon. They broke through its barrier and fired a Black Sun Weapon inside, then continued northwest toward the next target.

• Shalin’s Storm Airships and Wizards bombarded the fleeing creatures while Black Riders cut down those who tried to escape to the sides.
• Pandora learned from Bi Bi that the creatures were entering an unstable Demiplane and ordered the Wall-Breaking Squad to open it.
• A brown airship’s mechanical arm shattered the Demiplane’s barrier, creating an opening into the shelter.
• Pandora ordered Black Sun Castle to launch the Suicide Ivan weapon through the opening, and the brown airship then closed the breach.
• Bi Bi reported a massive energy surge followed by the Demiplane’s detachment, and Pandora ordered the fleet to advance to the next target.

Pandora’s Storm Airship fleet discovered a suspected Truth Society Main Shelter and awakened a powerful Giant Stone Statue. Richard arrived almost immediately and destroyed it from within, leaving Pandora’s fleet safe.

• Bi Bi measured an energy reading of 32.39, and Pandora suspected the creatures had fled into the Truth Society’s Main Shelter.
• Pandora ordered the Storm Airships to spread out before a Giant Stone Statue emerged from a fissure and attacked one of them with a boulder.
• The Storm Airships bombarded the statue, but their weapons barely damaged it, and its eyes began to melt into magma as its energy surged.
• Pandora suppressed her battle instincts and asked Bi Bi what Richard had said; Bi Bi reported that he would arrive any second.
• Richard appeared inside the statue’s chest, shattered it from within, and destroyed it as Pandora realized he had arrived exactly as promised.

Richard entered the containment plane and interrupted Burning Wind as he tried to open the True God Seal. Richard explained that he had delayed confronting Burning Wind while preparing to reach Heaven, and the chapter ended with him confident he could capture Burning Wind alive.

• Richard ordered the Wall-Breaking Squad to breach the Demiplane, then entered through the opening it created.
• Burning Wind received authorization to use an ultimate weapon and began turning a giant key in an altar to open the True God Seal.
• Richard appeared as Burning Wind was opening the seal, forcing him to leap away and abandon the attempt.
• Burning Wind questioned Richard about the timing of his arrival, and Richard explained that he had waited while preparing to deal with Heaven itself.
• Richard described his plans to solve the problems of energy and contacting Heaven, saying the Sun in a Bottle project and research into souls and memories were nearly ready.

Richard tried to persuade Burning Wind to reveal how to contact Heaven and join his camp, but Burning Wind attacked with the True God's Spear of Judgment. Richard stopped him and subdued the surrounding creatures with finger snaps, leaving the Black Shadows silent.

• Richard told Burning Wind he could prevent him from dying or committing suicide and asked him to cooperate by revealing how to contact Heaven.
• Burning Wind refused to join Richard and attacked him with the True God's Spear of Judgment.
• Richard snapped his fingers and froze Burning Wind, causing the golden spear to disappear.
• Richard snapped his fingers again, sending the charging army of strange creatures into an immobilized, sleeping heap.
• Richard turned toward the enormous Black Shadows, which fell quiet and withdrew their dangerous auras.

Richard captured Burning Wind and arranged for the Lich Old Man to extract his memories to learn how to contact Heaven. He destroyed the Demiplane and left to face the coming conflict in the heavens.

• Richard brought the Lich Old Man out of Eden Garden and asked him to lead the research into Burning Wind’s protected memories.
• Eight-Armed Skeleton A Nan carried Burning Wind into Eden Garden to claim one of his bones, and the Lich Old Man chased after him.
• Richard scattered Black Sun Weapons throughout the Demiplane and vanished before they detonated.
• Richard ordered the Storm Airships to seal the Demiplane’s opening and retreat before the resulting explosion and storm.
• Richard watched the Demiplane detach without any Singular Species escaping, then said the heavens would be next and vanished.