Chapter Summaries

William used the Abyss Mask and Mad Brain to collect and transcribe the Ancient Gene fragments in the silver fluid, then matched them against the genes of his diseases. After two months, he told the stunned Sick Servants that he had built a complete Gene Bank, leaving his advancement still to come.

• William’s mask absorbed silver tadpoles and reconstructed his body while collecting Ancient Gene fragments from the silver fluid.
• William returned to the Mad Brain’s library, copied and catalogued the gene fragments, and matched them against the genes of his diseases.
• The Sick Servant monitoring William noticed thorn-like fuzz reading the silver fluid on his skin and watched him remain in the pool for weeks.
• William completed the Gene Bank after two months in the silver fluid, and the Sick Servants and Milkers questioned him when he returned to awareness.
• William told them he had recorded all the gene fragments, stunning them with his accomplishment.

William negotiated with the gland district’s Sick Servants over the Gene Bank he had copied, then began the final stage of Silver Turbidity: gene grafting. He planned to rebuild the order of his body before activating his illnesses, and his preparations left the observers wondering whether he meant to imitate The First Dead or kill himself.

• William argued that the gland district had not forbidden copying the Gene Bank and demanded compensation for surrendering or erasing his memories.
• The Sick Servants admitted their rules were unclear and offered to help his later composition match his illnesses by more than eighty percent.
• William chose to sign a Soul Contract rather than allow the Milkers to erase his memories, and the copied Gene Bank data was sealed against sharing.
• William concluded that he needed to reconstruct his body’s order before connecting and activating his gene fragments, or risk becoming a mass of failed sludge.
• William floated above the pool in a cross-like pose, used Dead Person Makeup, and grew an umbilical cord into the silver liquid.
• The Sick Servants recognized William’s posture as that of The First Dead and wondered whether he planned to commit suicide.

William spent eight days rebuilding his body’s internal order through repeated destruction and reconstruction, then completed the Silver Turbidity process and gained a powerful new form. His advancement remained unfinished, and the Pure White Sick Servant took him to the concert hall for the next stage: composition.

• William grafted non-disease genes to reconstruct his body’s order, repeatedly letting genetic collapse destroy him before Dead Person Makeup restored him.
• The Sick Servants and Milkers agreed to keep supplying silver liquid as William continued his risky process.
• After eight days and 157 destructions, William stabilized a new internal order that could accommodate all his diseases while preserving his human essence and appearance.
• William inserted Ancient Genes into his diseases, formed a silver-tinged framework, and completed the Silver Turbidity process, though his advancement was not yet complete.
• The Pure White Sick Servant told William to proceed to the concert hall for composition, and William agreed to go immediately.

The Sick Servant examined William after his Silver Turbidity and discovered that William had transformed his body into an intricately engineered structure. He also found Yi Chen embedded in William’s back, then led William toward the Composing Chamber and asked him to stay afterward as a specimen.

• The Sick Servant’s cells refused to look away from William, and he used a Giant Eye to inspect William’s body.
• The Sick Servant marveled at William’s redesigned brain, framework, organs, digestive system, and limbs.
• The Sick Servant noticed a presence on William’s back and asked to see it.
• The Sick Servant discovered Yi Chen embedded in William’s back, sharing William’s spine and able to control the Abyss Mask or serve as a vessel for consciousness.
• William explained that Yi Chen was another part of himself, and the Sick Servant led him onward while asking him to remain after composition so his body could be cast as a specimen.

William completed the composing stage of his advancement by creating and performing a piece with Yi Chen, becoming a member of the Old World’s Silver Circle. He sensed that greater heights remained, but believed he could now explore the world and seek a way back to his former home.

• The Sick Servant introduced the Pure White Bionic Human Pipe Organ and explained that William had one week to compose music compatible with his disease.
• William connected to the organ and quickly learned to play it, while the Sick Servant warned him not to use his delirious brain to control the bionic humans.
• William recreated the organ in his Mind Palace, where Yi Chen suggested adapting music from the Orphanage as the foundation for the piece.
• William and Yi Chen finished composing in four days, and the Sick Servant withdrew from their connection when the final performance stirred fear and turmoil in him.
• William completed the performance, received an engraved silver framework bearing his full name and title, and advanced into the Old World’s Silver Circle.

William completed his advancement along the Path of Order in the Gland District and learned that his teacher, Zede, had once been held by the Monastery of Suffering. He returned to the Tenth Abyss for an Audience, where the Abyss reacted with confusion to his transformation.

• William refused an offer to be sent somewhere safe and chose to return to the Tenth Abyss for his Audience.
• The Sick Servant explained the Monastery of Suffering's forced recruitment of people talented in Suffering and said it would no longer pursue William for his contributions.
• William and the Sick Servant found Zede's Humanoid Mannequin, and the Sick Servant warned William not to join Zede in challenging the Monastery.
• William left the Gland District through the transformed Path Gate of Order, and Little Grape and Yellow Skin's consciousnesses returned.
• William reunited with the Tenth Abyss, which tilted its head in confusion at his completed body and advancement.

William completed his audience with the Tenth Abyss and was offered the role of First Emissary, but refused to be imprisoned. After he explained that he wanted to serve as the Abyss’s Spokesperson, the Tenth Abyss accepted his reasoning and began establishing a bond with him.

• The Tenth Abyss recognized William’s devotion, granted him the highest Abyss authority as First Emissary, and reached to bind his soul to the Abyss forever.
• William refused enslavement, and Yi Chen urged him to defend his freedom.
• William used Dead Person Makeup to sever the Tenth Abyss’s reaching arms, then explained that he wanted to become its Spokesperson and recruit talents from the outside world.
• The Tenth Abyss accepted William’s refusal and began examining him, saying his body needed Abyss-related characteristics to form their bond.
• The Tenth Abyss directed its countless small hands toward the Birth Gate in William’s abdomen.

William became the Tenth Abyss’s recognized Spokesperson after revealing his complete silver framework and climbed out with a transformed Birth Gate in his abdomen. He returned to the surface, where Jin and the others had waited for him, and Jin immediately challenged him to a spar.

• The Tenth Abyss established a connection with William, ordered him to send it Abyssals regularly, and warned that he could contact it only in urgent situations.
• William revealed his Pure Silver framework, the Second One, and the name “William.Y. Behrens, The Gestalt One”; the Tenth Abyss acknowledged him as its Spokesperson.
• William climbed out of the Tenth Abyss over the course of a week and returned to the settlement, where Lord Carimus gave him back his briefcase.
• William emerged beyond the Black Curtain after a journey of nearly three months and worried about exceeding his leave from the circus.
• Jin, City Lord Price, and Thirteen rushed to meet William, and Jin kicked at his head before he caught her boot and she challenged him to spar.

After returning from the Abyss, William demonstrated the dangerous power of his Abyss Mask to Jin and Price, then examined Jin’s War Relic. The broken sword bore Sanskrit and a Divinity Aura that reminded William of Yi Chen’s Death Idol, suggesting it came from the same great world.

• At a dinner hosted by City Lord Price, Jin explained that he had found a hidden War Relic in Dark Nest Mine with Price and Little Thirteen’s help.
• William revealed the Abyss Mask, creating terrifying illusions that made Jin and Price flee and caused the restaurant’s alarms to sound.
• William withdrew the mask and warned Jin that contact with the Tenth Abyss was risky before asking to see the relic.
• Jin opened a Cancer Palace containment box and revealed a broken sword with a lotus-shaped guard and pagoda-like hilt.
• William recognized Sanskrit on the blade and sensed a Divinity Aura similar to Yi Chen’s Death Idol, linking the sword to the same great world.

William learned that Jin’s broken sword was a divine artifact and heard Price recount how he and two Pathway Achievers barely defeated a powerful invader during the Old World war. William left with Price, promising Jin a spar after he had rested and adapted to his new body.

• William told Jin that her sword was an artifact associated with a deity, and Jin said she had begun forming a connection with its hilt.
• William asked Price about the Old World invasion, and Price described fighting a bald, three-headed, six-armed invader who wielded ritual artifacts, including Jin’s sword.
• Price said he and two Pathway Achievers killed the invader at the cost of one life, severe injuries, and the collapse of the Dark Nest Mine.
• Jin challenged William to spar, but William persuaded her to wait until he had rested and adapted to his new body.
• William invited Price to travel with him and promised Jin he would return to the Cancer Palace for a spar within about ten days.

William returned to the Fear Circus with Price Silvertail and was forgiven for his late arrival after the Boss approved his new department. The Boss then revealed her true form to William, showing him that the Circus Tent had been woven from her original hair.

• William used his Social Phobia to find the hidden Fear Circus and brought Price Silvertail to meet Gian.
• Gian sent Price for an interview and took William to the Boss, noting that William had gained the Tenth Abyss's recognition.
• The Boss forgave William for exceeding his leave and ordered him to build his new department inside the Acrobatic Troupe until it passed evaluation.
• The Boss dismissed Gian and invited William behind the Black Hair curtain to speak privately.
• William saw that the Boss's true body was a giant Black Flesh Ball rooted in the tent, and learned that the Circus Tent was woven from her original hair.

William learned that the Boss was the First Abyss and discovered her body was shattered beyond repair, held together by Black Hair. The Boss approved another month of leave after William finished the theater’s preliminary work, ordering him to spread fear among the Bloodfolk and kill them if they crossed his path.

• The Boss explained that she had become the First Abyss after witnessing the birth of death and darkness, and said she might leave the Circus Tent to William when she died.
• William examined the Boss through his Madness Brain and found her body was shattered, with hormonal injections and Black Hair barely keeping her together.
• The Boss said her injuries had come mostly from the war and planned to merge with the Tent if she died; William promised to seek a cure in other worlds.
• The Boss inspected William’s abyssal medium and told him to return to the theater’s construction.
• William asked for leave to handle matters involving his organization, the Skin Factory, and the Bloodfolk, and the Boss granted him one month after the theater’s preliminary work was finished.
• The Boss ordered William to make the Bloodfolk fear him before killing them, and William agreed.

William returned to the circus after speaking with Boss, learned more about the prehistoric abysses, and was assigned a newly built theater in the Acrobatic Troupe’s core area. He agreed to bring Natalie Sisters Red Oil Dumplings that night in exchange for a jujitsu massage.

• William left Boss and headed to the Acrobatic Troupe, relieved that she had granted him another month of leave so he could return to Zion with Jin.
• William recalled Boss’s account of the two prehistoric abysses, the First Dead’s origins, and her history with the bloodfolk, then resolved to continue his work on the theater.
• Natalie Sisters met William and explained that Rabbit was away and that she was overseeing the circus.
• Natalie Sisters led William to the theater built in the area reserved for the Acrobatic Troupe’s missing fourth leader and offered to help with its preliminary work.
• Natalie Sisters asked William for Red Oil Dumplings and offered him a jujitsu massage, which he accepted for that night.

William designed improvements for the theater and encountered Catherine, who insisted on sharing his Red Oil Dumplings. After he accidentally hurt her while stopping her from grabbing the pot, she joined him at Softness Hall to eat with the Natalie Sisters.

• William drafted theater redesigns and decided to bring them to the Natalie Sisters while carrying dumplings he had made for them.
• Catherine found William, offered help with the theater, and tried to take the dumplings from his insulated pot.
• William threw Catherine to the ground while protecting the pot, and she cried until he offered her his portion of dumplings.
• Catherine accompanied William to Softness Hall, where Natalie agreed to let her join them for dinner.
• The Natalie Sisters' tension with Catherine faded when William opened the pot and revealed the dumplings.

At Softness Hall, William accepted contortion lessons from the older Natalie Sister to adapt to his newly advanced body. After training through the night, William said the exercises had helped him understand his body, though he still struggled with the hardest pose.

• Catherine and the Natalie Sisters enjoyed a food-born fantasy before the older sister took control and spoke with Catherine about her Boss.
• William diverted Catherine by claiming he and Natalie needed to discuss theater revisions, and Catherine left Softness Hall.
• The older Natalie Sister told William the theater work could wait and offered to teach him contortion in exchange for his Dumplings.
• William copied the older sister’s contortion poses as they trained through the night, helping him adapt to his body after advancing.
• The younger Natalie Sister awoke to find her head separated from her body and saw her sister and William struggling to hold an inverted pose.

After completing an all-night yoga session with Natalie, William returned to the theater to examine the changes in his body. Yellowhide’s report confirmed that he had completed his path and detailed his new disease, abilities, and S-rank title, The Gestalt One.

• William followed Natalie’s yoga movements until he reached a state where his body instinctively copied her poses and he could examine his physical changes.
• William asked Yellowhide to analyze his body at full stretch, then thanked Natalie and left renovation documents before returning to the theater.
• After William left, the younger Natalie proposed playing with him and speculated that he might inherit Boss’s position, prompting her sister to slap and warn her.
• William told Thirteen to receive the circus construction team and avoid disturbing him while he conducted a self-examination.
• Yellowhide’s report identified William as an Old Day Diseased who had completed his path, earned the S-rank title The Gestalt One, and developed the integrated disease Epileptic Syndrome alongside numerous related abilities and traits.

William explored the new Xuexin Brain Network, tested how Edification could guide and develop students, and learned that advancing beyond the Silver Ring required knowledge and the world's permission. As William prepared to return to the human side, Little Grape chose to leave and explore the Old World alone.

• William connected to the Xuexin Brain Network, reviewed student profiles, and assigned study goals to Moses Azmi and two aspiring performers.
• Yi Chen suggested creating an institution to train and screen students, then returned to his sealed place within William's consciousness.
• William enhanced Candle Puppet Thirteen's brain and urged her to develop her own Mad Brain.
• The Yellow Hide explained why Silver Ring progression lacked numbered Plague Values and said becoming a Plague Lord required the world's permission.
• Little Grape decided to explore firewood-related places in the Old World, and William gave it money and a Black Roundworm Organization membership card before it departed.

William learned that City Lord Price had passed the Deputy Minister assessment but had been assigned as a Sub-Beast Tamer, while former supervisor Mahart J. Nash became William’s Deputy Minister. After watching Nash survive Price’s powerful attacks through extraordinary regeneration, William brought him to help with the theater’s renovation.

• A Poker Face told William that Price had passed the assessment but had been assigned to the zoo as a Sub-Beast Tamer.
• William met Price and the newly appointed Deputy Minister, Mahart J. Nash, who offered to help establish the theater department.
• William learned that Price and Nash had fought to a draw because Price could not inflict fatal damage on Nash.
• William watched the assessment recording and saw Nash regenerate from Price’s attacks, even surviving a powerful moonlight ray by scattering his body.
• William invited Nash to help with the theater’s renovation, and Nash eagerly agreed.

William appointed Nash as his adjutant and brought him to help renovate the theater, where Nash revealed his origins as an Amoeba and pledged his loyalty. The chapter ended with Nash supplying his regenerating body for the theater’s biological seats while preserving the piece of flesh William had patted.

• William told Price to replace the Snake Woman at Calopes and advised him to tell Zoke that he was William's friend.
• William asked Nash about his past, and Nash explained that he was an uninfected giant Amoeba Protozoa who had killed the parasites that exiled him before finding a home in the circus.
• William confronted Nash about whether he intended to parasitize him, and Nash denied wanting to take over his body and swore on his cell nucleus.
• At the theater, Natalie raised concerns that the Jujutsu performers could not provide durable materials for William's biological seat designs.
• Nash offered his own regenerating body for the seats, then went backstage to harvest materials and saved the piece of flesh William had patted.

William left the Acrobatic Troupe for a month of leave and returned to the Human World with Jin, where they found the Passage Guardian Olman parasitized beyond recovery. William used re-education to restore Olman’s self-awareness, and Olman returned to the Old World to continue his life there.

• The theater passed its first inspection with a score of 83, and Boss put Mahat J. Nash in charge while William took a month of leave.
• William handed Nash plans for the theater, then left after a brief, strained encounter with Catherine.
• William and Jin traveled through a Passage tunnel back to the Human World, where they found Olman transformed by parasites.
• Jin said Olman could not be saved, so William used re-education to let Olman’s remaining self-awareness take control.
• Olman thanked William and returned through the Passage tunnel to live in the Old World.