Chapter Summaries

Lord of Scales and Feathers explained how Supreme Heaven had been reborn as Bear Angel, while the Silver Crowned Dragon defeated him in both realms. Hourglass remained neutral toward Iver’s conflict with Ring Angel, and Iver learned that Wisdom and Supreme Heaven had once been two halves of the same person; Supreme Heaven then began to shatter after losing to the Silver Crowned Dragon.

• Lord of Scales and Feathers explained that Supreme Heaven’s divine blood had nourished a bear cub, allowing Supreme Heaven’s will to revive and the cub to become Bear Angel.
• The Silver Crowned Dragon stabbed Supreme Heaven through the heart and defeated him, while the Red Bear’s fall in the Material Realm caused disasters and sorrow as Supreme Heaven died.
• Hourglass praised Iver’s balance and declared that he would remain neutral in Iver’s conflict with Ring Angel.
• Lord of Scales and Feathers revealed that Supreme Heaven had once followed the Equilibrium Path and that Wisdom and Supreme Heaven were the same person, split into Mimir and Atlas.
• The Silver Crowned Dragon told Supreme Heaven that he had won, but Supreme Heaven claimed he had not lost to him alone and promised to wait at Twilight of the End as his body shattered into an Angel’s fragment.

After the Pillar Gods defeated Bear Angel, they discussed who would claim his remains and whether Iver deserved a reward for his role in the battle. Silver Crowned Dragon revealed that Isabel’s prayer had brought him to protect Iver, and Hourglass proposed acting as a middleman for a deal, displaying a notably changed demeanor.

• Silver Crowned Dragon shattered Bear Angel’s remaining form, and Lord of Scales and Feathers collected an Angel Shard and the essence of Supreme Heaven.
• Lord of Scales and Feathers and Hourglass declined the remaining essence, while Iver hoped to receive it; Hourglass warned that Iver could not yet digest it.
• Lord of Scales and Feathers explained that Iver had survived several near-deaths thanks to the Pillar Gods’ interventions, and Silver Crowned Dragon agreed that Iver deserved a reward.
• Silver Crowned Dragon told Iver that Isabel had prayed for him to protect Iver, and he thanked Lord of Scales and Feathers for making the encounter possible.
• Hourglass offered to mediate a deal, and Iver noticed that the old man’s sleeves had reversed and his manner had turned gentler.

The Lord of Scales and Feathers arranged for the Hourglass to restore the Great Sin Scholar and offered Iver a one-use way to separate his conflicting Paths. Iver chose the codename “Stars” for the Warrior Profession’s worldwide announcement, then received three upgraded traits before awakening.

• The Hourglass agreed to give the Great Sin Scholar the item and offered Iver the Gap of Dualities, which could split him into two people for up to five months to prevent his Paths from conflicting.
• The Lord of Scales and Feathers asked Iver to choose a codename for the worldwide announcement that the Warrior Profession had returned, and Iver chose “Stars.”
• Iver saw visions of the battles against the giants and Supreme Heaven, then received 7,800 promotion points and earned first place with a perfect promotion.
• The Lord of Scales and Feathers appeared to Iver in a golden-red palace, but the floor collapsed as Iver reached for his hand and plunged into the abyss.
• Iver awakened as the Lord of Scales and Feathers, the Silver Crowned Dragon, and the Hourglass each upgraded one of his traits.

During his Promotion Ritual, Iver weighed three golden Path Traits and rejected the Silver Crowned Dragon’s combat-focused gift and the Crown of Command. He chose Yin-Yang Harmonization, recognizing that he wanted to become an active planner in future battles rather than a protected pawn.

• Iver examined three golden Path Traits and eliminated the Lord of Scales and Feathers’ trait that empowered warriors under his authority.
• He compared the Crown of Command’s ability to make him a combatant with Yin-Yang Harmonization’s potential to link his mana pools and strengthen his Great Sin abilities.
• Iver considered how Yin-Yang Harmonization could help him capture more great beasts before facing the Fallen Angel.
• Iver realized he resented being kept away from the battle against the Bear Angel and wanted to take part in future plans and dangers.
• Iver chose Yin-Yang Harmonization after recognizing that the choice reflected his own ambitions and pace.

Iver completed his advancement and became a Great Sin Beast, gaining new abilities while feeling emotionally hollow. After recovering, he received the reward for Lord of Scales and Feathers' trial: a one-time rebirth trait called Adaptation—Essence of Atlas.

• Iver chose the golden star and saw a black-haired version of himself transform into the Beast of Arrogance, Moriarty, before their two arrays joined them together.
• Iver received the Great Sin: Moriarty Tarot Card and discovered that he could transform into the Beast of Arrogance when the other six Great Sin Beasts were on cooldown.
• Iver completed his advancement, gaining Yin-Yang Harmonization, Great Sin Ritual, and Phantom Demon Contract, while briefly feeling cold, detached, and emotionally empty.
• Sherlock asked whether Iver was all right and suggested eating or checking on Lily; Iver focused on a new prompt instead.
• Iver learned that he had completed Lord of Scales and Feathers' trial and gained Adaptation—Essence of Atlas, which would revive him once in a stronger form if he died.

After completing his promotion ritual, Iver received Resurrection Armor from Lord of Scales and Feathers and feared the gift foretold danger ahead. Revived with Sherlock’s Vitality Potion, he went to check on Lily as she performed a ritual to separate her Ovum Moon Grimoire.

• Iver interpreted Lord of Scales and Feathers’s Resurrection Armor as a warning that he might face death, though he reassured himself that the god intended for him to survive.
• Sherlock supported the weakened Iver and gave him a Vitality Potion made by Yulia, restoring his strength.
• Iver took a makeup mirror from Sherlock for his mirror-related ability and asked Sherlock to clean up the ritual site.
• Sherlock admitted that Iver’s promotion had inspired him to study harder, and Iver encouraged him.
• Iver went upstairs to check on Lily as she completed the separation ritual for her Ovum Moon Grimoire.

Iver found Lily in the middle of the Ovum of Lightlessness ritual, giving birth to a rapidly growing, sinister child. He fed Lily his blood and used the Shepherding Method to help the child emerge, and the newborn witch named herself Selene and called herself his little lamb, leaving Iver unsure whether the ritual had gone wrong.

• Iver entered the bathroom unseen and discovered Lily bleeding in the Blood Sea as a child drained her life force during birth.
• Iver realized Lily could not safely be healed and offered his blood after recognizing the Shadow Demon-like longing in her eyes.
• Iver cut his hand, recited the Shepherd's secret words, and activated the Shepherding Method.
• The child forced her way out of Lily, drank Iver's blood, and grew rapidly while Lily's eyes returned to gray.
• The girl introduced herself as Selene and called herself Iver's little lamb, while Lily remained silent.

Lily and Selene regained consciousness after their birth ritual, but discovered they could control separate bodies rather than fully separating their personalities. Iver used the Twin Mirrors to reveal that Selene resembled Fourteen, and Selene declared Fourteen her mother.

• Iver checked Lily and found her body healthy, but she remained unresponsive while Selene clung to him and bit his arm.
• Iver cut the umbilical cord connecting Lily and Selene, and both girls regained awareness as their bodies convulsed.
• Lily and Selene explained that they could each control one body, though Selene's consciousness had been suppressed during the ritual.
• Iver used the Twin Mirrors to compare Selene with Fourteen and discovered that the two girls looked strikingly similar.
• Selene hugged Fourteen and insisted that Fourteen was her mother because Selene's body had been born from her flesh and blood.

Iver realized the ritual had created Selene as a second body still linked to Lily, then began training Selene to obey him after she bit and drank his blood. A fragment of a Shepherd’s memory surfaced as he called himself Selene’s Shepherd, and he left the sisters to wash while he considered the ritual’s implications.

• Iver concluded that Lily and Selene shared control of two connected bodies and told them to practice testing the limits of their influence over each other.
• Selene bit Iver’s palm and drew blood, so Iver sent Lily back to her own body and reprimanded Selene.
• Iver struck Selene’s palm and warned her not to take what he had not willingly offered, then promised to give her blood if she behaved.
• Iver recalled a brief vision of a Shepherd taming a Punishment Demon and wondered whether the memory belonged to the Shepherd.
• Iver instructed Lily to help manage Selene and told Selene to listen to Lily and protect her, then waited outside while they washed.

Hai Na watched a Lizardman warrior defeat a flaming demon god with fluid halberd combos before Iver, appearing as a white-robed figure called the Star, revealed the lost history of the warrior profession. The vision left Hai Na overlooking a brutal battle between Lizardmen and a winged race.

• Hai Na awoke in a blood-soaked thicket and watched a Lizardman wield the Punishment Demon's halberd to attack a giant engulfed in flames.
• Hai Na recognized the Lizardman's chained techniques as Combos and saw him slay the giant demon god.
• Iver's voice asked Hai Na whether she wished to become a warrior, and a white-robed figure identified itself as the Star.
• The Star explained that warriors once followed the Pillar God Supreme Heaven and described the profession's origins and purpose.
• Hai Na found herself on a cliff overlooking a deadly battle between Lizardmen and a winged race.

Hai Na watched Lizardmen and Birdmen fight with a ferocity unlike any battle she had known, then heard Starlight declare that anyone willing to face death for a cause could become a warrior. She and people across many dreams embraced the fire and accepted the power of the Path of Adaptation, as countless warriors returned.

• Hai Na watched Lizardmen and Birdmen fight over a river, enduring devastating fire and lightning without retreating.
• Starlight showed Hai Na people fighting for survival, justice, protection, responsibility, profit, and personal interest, and declared that courage made a warrior.
• Starlight urged warriors to cast off their shackles and embrace the inheritance of warriors through the Path of Adaptation.
• Hai Na, Leo Karl, and David Barton raised their hands toward the descending fire, while countless others in different dreams welcomed its power.

Isabel secretly read explicit black-market fiction about herself and Iver, then hid it when senior officials arrived. The Grand Guardian brought David Barton to apologize after David abandoned the Path of Authority and awakened as a Warrior on the Path of Adaptation.

• Isabel read a scandalous novel about Iver and Miss Aleister and grew angry that its stories about her portrayed her as Iver’s rival.
• Isabel hid the booklet when Grand Guardian George, Grand Justice Arius, and Grand Arbitrator Ligeia entered her study.
• George apologized because his son David had left the Path of Authority, and he explained that he had hurried back from Stannum with Philip.
• David told Isabel that a dream had led him to leave his former Path and awaken as a Warrior on the Path of Adaptation.
• Arius reminded Isabel that she knew where a Warrior’s power came from.

After the Night of Burning Fire transformed many Avalonians into warriors, Royal Guards, and Sword Saints, Isabel decided not to seek the Silver Crowned Dragon’s approval. She ordered Avalon to accept people from different paths and vowed to take responsibility for abolishing the idea of illegal paths.

• David confirmed that the star in his vision had looked and sounded like Iver, and Isabel realized he was safe.
• Ligeia reported that the Night of Burning Fire had converted many Avalonians from the Path of Authority, leaving the oaths that bound officials at risk of losing their force.
• The Grand Justice and Ligeia suggested asking the Crowned Lord how Avalon should respond, but Isabel refused because she would not let Iver be treated as a criminal.
• Isabel told the Senior Generation she would use the changes to open the Round Table Hall to transcendent beings from more paths and eliminate the notion of illegal paths.
• The Grand Justice accepted Isabel’s order, and Isabel said she would address the people in a speech.

Isabel explained that hope for Avalon and her loved ones had made her strong enough to pursue change as queen, while Ligeia praised her growth. Ligeia suggested Isabel might now be compatible with the Path of Authority, but Isabel remained resolved to challenge tradition; the chapter ended with Ligeia teasing her about a risqué book.

• After the ministers left, Ligeia embraced Isabel and told her she had grown into a monarch.
• Isabel described her nightmare of Avalon falling into chaos and said she wanted to strengthen the kingdom rather than rely on the Path of Authority.
• Isabel listed her hopes for Avalon, Iver, her grandmother, and herself, and vowed to take responsibility for changing the kingdom.
• Ligeia caught a vase, discovered Isabel had used a risqué book to prop it up, and showed her a concealed storage rack beneath the desk.
• Ligeia advised Isabel to have her compatibility with the Path of Authority checked, and Isabel insisted that this would not change her resolve.
• As she left, Ligeia teased Isabel about the book and offered to bring her collector's editions, leaving Isabel embarrassed.

After gaining the warrior class and becoming a Royal Guard, Hai Na discovered her new strength and elemental powers, but the change ended her telepathic contract with Liz. Liz reassured her that they would remain companions, and the two accepted their bond anew.

• Hai Na explored her warrior techniques and Royal Guard abilities, finding that her Agility had greatly increased while her mana pool had shrunk and lost its Light Attribute.
• Hai Na transformed into a streak of lightning using her Wind Attribute mana and realized how powerful her new abilities were.
• Liz told Hai Na that their contract had ended and that she could no longer hear Hai Na's thoughts.
• Hai Na explained what had happened and feared Liz would need to find another companion to keep growing stronger.
• Liz told Hai Na she did not hate her and promised to stay by her side as a companion despite the ended contract.

Iver took Lily and Selene out for Selene’s birthday feast, where Selene chose a whole roasted lamb and devoured it with startling ferocity. As Iver worried over his fragmented memories and the person he might become if they were restored, Selene’s behavior revealed a beastlike side.

• Iver took Lily and Selene to a restaurant for Selene’s birthday feast, and Selene chose a whole roasted lamb.
• Selene called Iver “Daddy,” argued that the strong eating the weak was natural, and repeatedly tried to get him to pat her head.
• Iver told Lily they should leave Sherlock alone because he was close to understanding his Grimoire.
• Iver reflected on his fragmented memories and feared how restoring them might change him.
• Selene growled at the waitress, then tore into the roasted lamb with a ferocity that startled Iver and Lily.

Iver suspected Lily might be the reincarnated fragment of an Angel after noticing her extraordinary ability to master Grimoires, and he took Selene and Lily to the Ninth Ring to seek Cardinal Cyril’s advice. There, he revealed his connection to the Lord of Scales and Feathers and announced that he was a newly promoted Cardinal Bishop.

• Iver considered whether Lily’s unusual talent for learning Grimoires meant she was the reincarnated fragment of the Beast Lord or the Gray Angel.
• Selene finished most of her birthday lamb feast and saved enough of the best meat for Iver and Lily.
• Iver decided to visit Cardinal Cyril for advice about Lily’s failed self-splitting and his newly mastered divine arts.
• Iver brought Selene and Lily to the Ninth Ring, where he found Cardinal Cyril and seven other Cardinal Bishops gathered.
• Topaz and Fafna recognized Iver as “the Stars,” and Iver confirmed his identity as the Lord of Scales and Feathers’ agent and a newly promoted Cardinal Bishop.

Iver met Siegfried, a Cardinal Bishop and legendary founder of the knights, who revealed that Star had caused a catastrophe by implanting the Warrior profession in five percent of the elves. The affected included Siegfried and Cardinal Fafna, leaving Iver to face the scale of the Disaster of Star.

• Cyril Cardinal defused the tension as Belisarius confronted Iver over what he had done.
• Topaz introduced himself to Iver as Siegfried, a Guardian of the Second Ring and member of the Mediators.
• Iver recognized Siegfried as the legendary figure whose death in the Cardinal Bishops' internal struggle had been tied to Cardinal Loki's conspiracy.
• Siegfried praised Iver's rapid rise from the Second Level to mastering Advanced Divine Arts, prompting the other Cardinal Bishops to regard Iver with awe.
• Siegfried told Iver that Star had caused the Disaster of Star by implanting the Warrior profession in roughly five percent of the elves, including himself and Cardinal Fafna.

The Lord of Scales and Feathers took control of Iver’s body to explain how Classes could shift between Paths and why he had expanded the Path of Adaptation. He left the Cardinal Bishops to consider his justification for restoring the Warrior Class and told them to return with someone else if they still objected.

• Iver questioned whether a Professional’s Path could be reversed, and the Lord of Scales and Feathers said Class holders could shift Paths because their power came from their Class.
• The Lord of Scales and Feathers took control of Iver’s body and greeted the Cardinal Bishops, while Iver watched from within.
• Siegfried described Adaptation as a Path focused on survival, and the Lord of Scales and Feathers called it the Path of Cowards.
• The Lord of Scales and Feathers said he had expanded Adaptation to include violent struggle and argued that Stellar and the Silver Crowned Dragon had restored the Warrior Class by defeating Bear Angel.
• The Lord of Scales and Feathers reminded the Cardinal Bishops that they had joined his contracts willingly and told them to bring someone else if they wanted to continue arguing.

The Pillar Gods descended into the Cardinal Bishops during a gathering, and the Candle Keeper comforted Iver while explaining why the other gods misunderstood the Path of Adaptation. Iver learned that the Path had strayed from its original purpose of survival, leaving its practitioners exposed to danger.

• Iver summoned the Pillar Gods, who descended into the Cardinal Bishops and revealed their personalities through their hosts.
• Belisarius confirmed that he had traded Lord of Scales and Feathers descriptions of power from the Path of Authority in exchange for becoming a complete Pillar God.
• The Candle Keeper embraced the Cardinal Bishops and then comforted Iver, telling him the others bore him no hostility and explaining their limited understanding of the Path of Adaptation.
• Iver understood that Lord of Scales and Feathers sought warrior power to correct the Path of Adaptation's drift from survival.
• Iver reflected on how Hunters, Physicians, and other practitioners had been repurposed or misunderstood, leaving the Path of Adaptation's supernatural beings frequently endangered.