Chapter Summaries

Professor Lasimi reported that Ms. Bayard was in Leipzig, prompting Pengbo Naqi to set out to meet his old friend. As he flew toward the city, he hoped she could answer why her spirit had remained vital after so many years.

• Pengbo Naqi mocked Professor Lasimi by recounting the story of Lasimi desecrating his dead sister's corpse, while the narration explained Lasimi's Netherworld Walker abilities and unusual career.
• Lasimi reported that Ms. Bayard, using the identity Aleister Crowley, had arrived in Leipzig wearing Herasul's Light and had defeated a Sea Bride; he also suspected she had killed Earl Dawn.
• Pengbo Naqi learned Blood Diamond had withheld the intelligence about Bayard, and he tore apart her liver and intestines for attacking his friend, then promised Lasimi a reward.
• Valentine VIII worried about being left vulnerable, but Pengbo Naqi dismissed his concerns and decided to travel to Leipzig himself, rejecting Louise's suggestion that Big Brother Leipzig bring Bayard back.
• Lasimi suggested Bayard's visit might relate to the Ouroboros Ring Ritual and the Perfect One, and Pengbo Naqi transformed into a blood bat and flew toward Leipzig.

Alester flew toward the Spirit Tower after learning that Christina had recruited two exceptional talents, and she prepared to demand the return of someone being held there. As she reflected on the valuable people Christina had uncovered, Alester wondered whether the Lord of Scales and Feathers viewed her as salary-driven bait, too.

• Alester mounted Leviathan and flew toward the Spirit Tower, leaving Selene and Honey Badger behind.
• Alester considered Christina's limited prospects as an alchemist and why the Path of Twilight suited her better.
• Alester learned that Christina had found Albert Lore and Aurora von Goethe, whose mentor was Little Fernando, Count Bruzwick's student.
• Alester recognized the three master and disciples as exceptionally valuable recruits and joked that high salaries made even bait work on its own.
• Alester wondered whether the Lord of Scales and Feathers saw her as salary-driven bait as well.

Aleister arrived at the Spirit Tower with Leviathan and met Vice-Headmaster Adolf von Menzel, who initially tried to turn her away over concerns about poaching. After Aleister presented Cyril Cardinal’s letter of introduction and said she wanted to see the Headmaster, Adolf let her enter, then froze when she called Leviathan her biological daughter.

• Aleister flew to the Spirit Tower on Leviathan and admired the living undead tower and its surroundings.
• Aleister considered whether Leviathan could become one of the Great Sin Beasts and fill the Water Attribute slot.
• Adolf von Menzel, the Spirit Tower’s Vice-Headmaster, met Aleister and warned her to leave if she had come to poach someone.
• Aleister explained that she wanted to see the Headmaster and showed that she carried a letter of introduction from Cyril Cardinal.
• Adolf welcomed Aleister and Leviathan inside, then stopped in shock when Aleister introduced Leviathan as her biological daughter.

Aleister and Leviathan visited the Spirit Tower, where Aleister learned that Blood Coral wanted to meet her and had sent the word “Heracles” as a message. On the elevator ride, Aleister recognized the Tower’s core as the spine of the Amber Angel and recalled that the Angel had once been an enormous sea monster.

• Aleister met Paul in the Spirit Tower, and he told her Dimit was recovering from his injuries.
• Paul said Blood Coral wanted to meet Aleister and had sent “Heracles” as a sign that she would agree; Aleister asked how to contact her and warned Paul to stay away if he could resist her kiss.
• Paul admitted he would try to resist Blood Coral, and Aleister told him to do it for himself.
• Adolf took Aleister and Leviathan in the Spirit Tower’s electric elevator and explained that its core produced the power of the Path of Twilight.
• Aleister recognized the core as the spine of the Amber Angel and recalled that the Angel had once been a giant sea monster with a human head and serpentine body.

Aleister learned how Amber Angel’s relationship with Amber shaped the Paths of Twilight, preservation, and necromancy, then began to doubt her own judgment while considering the coming Ouroboros Ring Ritual. The Mark of Sloth settled on her as she entered the Spirit Tower, where she met the First Black Prime Minister Matthias Grünewald.

• Aleister explained to Adolf that Amber Angel had separated the forbidden power from its sea monster body, and Adolf described preservation and necromancy as two sides of the same inheritance.
• Aleister reflected on the Angels’ history and the approaching Ouroboros Ring Ritual, then became confused about whether her thoughts were naive or righteous.
• As Aleister entered the Spirit Tower, the Mark of Sloth silently imprinted itself upon her heart and filled her with weariness and doubt.
• Matthias spoke to Aleister from within her mind and introduced himself as the Headmaster.
• Matthias’s Fear Aura startled Leviathan and Little Crow, then swept away Aleister’s distracting thoughts.
• Matthias appeared before Aleister as a thin, robed skeleton wearing three jade locks and gently told her not to be frightened.

Aleister met First Black Prime Minister Matthias, who agreed to help seal Gray Angel’s remnant consciousness after preparing a Sixth Level undead. Matthias revealed how he became the world’s first lich, while Adolf considered becoming an undead himself but agreed to remain Black Prime Minister for a few more years.

• Matthias recognized Aleister’s connection to Cyril and agreed to help with Gray Angel, explaining that he needed time to prepare a Sixth Level undead.
• Matthias revealed that he and Cyril had ended their friendship when he chose the Path of Twilight.
• Matthias explained his history as a Withered Glory Scholar and Mystic Painter, and how his work with necromancy led him to become a lich.
• Aleister described the lich advancement ritual and its single chance of success, requiring a Fifth Level Path of Adaptation and the sacrifice of the physical body.
• Adolf admitted he had planned to imitate Matthias and become an undead, but decided to stay in his position for a few more years until the younger generation was ready.

Aleister learned why the Spirit Tower’s Black Prime Ministers became undead and theorized that Amberization helped elves survive the pressures of their Paths. She offered to obtain a Sixth-Level undead for the ritual to contain the Gray Angel’s soul and promised to return with the Wild Hunt King.

• Adolf explained that the Black Prime Ministers became undead because their Paths’ urges overwhelmed their ability to grow, and that they eventually left the Spirit Tower as their memories faded.
• Aleister reasoned that Amberization might suppress other Paths’ urges and help explain the elves’ longevity and the problems that followed the Amber Angel’s fall.
• Adolf revealed that the Spirit Tower had abandoned the Amber Angel’s route and planned to use a Sixth-Level undead as a vessel for the Gray Angel’s soul.
• Aleister asked whether the ritual could begin as soon as they had a Sixth-Level undead, and Matthias confirmed it could.
• Aleister promised to return in three days at most with the Wild Hunt King.

Aleister returned to Avalon and reconnected with Iver, who discovered that she bore several Great Sin Imprints and warned that Asty’s mass worship of the Lord of Banquets was affecting her. As Iver cautioned her against rushing into promotion, Aleister realized his hesitation was tied to her old agreement with Isabel about naming their child.

• Aleister traveled from Leipzig to Glass Island with Leviathan and contacted Iver during the voyage.
• Iver examined Aleister’s soul and found Great Sin Imprints for pride, envy, lust, wrath, greed, and sloth.
• Aleister told Iver what had happened in Asty, and they suspected its worship of the Lord of Banquets was triggering a ritual that intensified her Path urges.
• Aleister and Iver shared what they knew about the mysterious Tenth Source River, and Iver revealed that the Most Holy Crown had advanced him to the Fifth Level.
• Iver warned Aleister to prepare for the Ouroboros Ring Ritual possibly moving forward and said he would send Lily to meet her and the Little Sheep.
• When Aleister questioned why Iver did not want them to advance together, he admitted it was because of her agreement with Isabel about naming their child Aleister.

Aleister returned to Avalon with Leviathan and asked to see Isabel, while she and Iver realized that his devotion as Pope might have cost him the ability to have a child. Isabel suddenly became nauseated during dinner, and her Queen Guard concluded she was likely pregnant.

• Iver and Aleister realized that his rapid progress on the Dedication Path came from sacrificing the possibility of having a child, and Aleister urged him to stop delaying and let Isabel decide what she wanted.
• Aleister told Iver she planned to visit Isabel that night and seek Hellerchein the next day, then warned that Antimony was collapsing into rebellion and civil unrest.
• Aleister arrived at Glass Island with Leviathan, revealed her identity to an arbiter, and demanded to see Isabel under their agreement.
• Isabel became nauseated while drinking wine, and a Queen Guard used an Illumination Spell to treat her before asking when she had last shared a bed with Iver.
• Isabel said it had been thirty-seven days since her first and only time with Iver, and the Queen Guard congratulated her on what appeared to be a pregnancy.

Aleister returned to Avalon and reunited with Isabel, revealing that she could transform into Iver. Their conversation uncovered that Isabel was pregnant, a gift Morgan may have arranged, and ended with Aleister noticing the Liquid Soul she wore could help fulfill her desire to become Iver’s Great Sin Beast.

• Aleister arrived at the Silver and Tin Palace and was escorted to Isabel’s bedroom by the Queen Guard.
• Aleister transformed into Iver, astonishing the Queen Guard, and embraced Isabel.
• Aleister told Isabel about her recent experiences and her plans to visit Eagle Cape Village.
• Isabel revealed she was pregnant, and Aleister sensed the new life within her and warned her to protect herself.
• Isabel showed Aleister the Liquid Soul necklace, reminding Aleister that she needed it to become Iver’s Great Sin Beast.

Isabel realized her affinity for the Path of Love and used the Puppet Mask Grimoire to take on Iver’s appearance. With Iver able to share her body, Isabel brought herself, Aleister, and Iver into an intimate exchange, ending with her invoking the Twin Mirrors and telling Iver she loved him.

• Isabel told Aleister she had discovered her potential in the Path of Love, and Aleister connected it to Isabel’s bloodline, past sacrifice, and the ritual tied to the Secret Method of Constant Self's Ten Abandonments.
• Isabel asked Aleister to take the form of the little girl from her dream, then hugged her and showed her how she could use the Puppet Mask Grimoire.
• Isabel put on a mask that made her look and feel exactly like Iver, allowing her to use the Pope’s stronger body while the real Iver slept in the Theocracy.
• Isabel gave Aleister the Bottled Soul, then began an intimate encounter with her while impersonating Iver; the real Iver sensed their shared body and could descend his consciousness into it.
• Isabel prayed to Twin Mirrors to become a mirror capable of carrying light and love, embraced Aleister, and told Iver that she loved him.

Aleister rested with Isabel in Avalon while, in Leipzig, Pengbo Naqi demanded that the Earl Leipzig find Ms. Bayard before nightfall. The Earl Leipzig proposed using the Ouroboros Ring Ritual to help Children of the Moon advance, leaving Pengbo Naqi to consider the idea.

• Aleister woke in Isabel's bedroom, recognized Isabel by her scent, and fell asleep in her embrace as Isabel sang to her.
• Pengbo Naqi confronted the Earl Leipzig about failing to find Ms. Bayard and ordered him to locate her before nightfall.
• The Earl Leipzig reported that Ms. Bayard had stayed with Prince Siya Erduo and taken a flesh-and-blood monster resembling a young dragon to the Spirit Tower.
• The Earl Leipzig reflected that Pengbo Naqi's mind seemed to be deteriorating and considered whether the Ouroboros Ring Ritual could offer another path forward.
• The Earl Leipzig suggested that Children of the Moon could use the Ouroboros Ring Ritual, which had originally been used to gather Transcenders and steal the Fallen Angel's power.

Pengbo Naqi explained the dangers of the Ouroboros Ring Ritual and sent the Earl Leipzig to find Ms. Bayard, who had already left for Avalon. Meanwhile, Aleister prepared to summon Hellerchein at Eagle Cape Village as the Wild Hunt Legion emerged beneath a storm she had conjured.

• The Earl Leipzig proposed using the Angel ritual to help the Moon Children advance, and Pengbo Naqi revealed that a similar ritual had once brought the Ring Angel into the Present World before a disaster devastated the Heracles capital.
• Pengbo Naqi warned that the Ouroboros Ring Ritual might trigger an Angel's attack, a backlash, or the Hourglass's intervention, and planned to learn from the Demon Scholars' attempt before acting himself.
• Pengbo Naqi ordered the Earl Leipzig to find Ms. Bayard, but the Earl learned she had sailed to Avalon and spent the evening wandering Stibium, unable to decide whether to return without her.
• Aleister, disguised as Iver, traveled aboard Leviathan to Eagle Cape Village and used the Book of Law and Thunder Strike Halberd to summon rain and thunder.
• The Wild Hunt Legion emerged in disciplined ranks beneath the storm, and a tall, pale knight leaped down from the thunderclouds.

Aleister met the purified heroic spirit Hellerchein and asked him to leave Avalon and become her follower. Hellerchein agreed to consider her offer through a fight, and Aleister prepared to face him with Viennes and the Wild Hunts.

• Aleister recognized Hellerchein as the spirit she had encountered during Iver's Promotion Ritual, and Hellerchein thanked the Lord of Scales and Feathers for his new power.
• Aleister told Hellerchein that Fafna and Rhine missed him and explained that Fafner was still training Rhine harshly because of Hellerchein's final wish.
• Hellerchein learned that Avalon had been at peace for four hundred years, and Aleister offered to release him from his contract and take him beyond Avalon as her follower.
• Hellerchein challenged Aleister to fight so he could answer to the Wild Hunts standing behind him.
• Aleister raised Little Crow as Viennes emerged in his demon form amid black-and-red lightning.

Aleister accepted Hellerchein’s challenge to a fair duel without followers, hoping to earn his recognition through combat rather than leverage. Though Hellerchein defeated her apparent Aiwass form, Aleister used the returning Thunder Strike Halberd to break his decayed spear, leaving the duel unresolved but exposing her plan.

• Hellerchein offered to match Aleister’s strength and techniques in a duel, promising to teach her if she earned his recognition, and Aleister accepted.
• Hellerchein attacked with Necromantic Charge, and Aleister struggled to defend herself until she summoned Leviathan and used the mount to bring her lance technique into play.
• Aleister and Hellerchein traded Storm Strike and Thunder Fury attacks, but Hellerchein knocked away the Thunder Strike Halberd, pierced Aleister’s chest, and pinned her to a tree.
• Aleister revealed that Cardinal Fafner could forge Hellerchein a new weapon, then summoned the Thunder Strike Halberd back and accelerated it through her own body to shatter Hellerchein’s decayed spear.

Aleister fought Hellerchein with her Child of the Moon immortality and a series of risky charges, eventually piercing his armor with a Star Ice spear. Hellerchein’s storm attack tore Aleister apart from within, and both unleashed their final attacks in a clash that threatened to kill them together.

• Aleister shattered her mirrored shell to destroy Hellerchein’s Dragon Spear, then dispersed into bats and re-formed despite her severe injuries.
• Hellerchein used Fear Aura against Aleister, who mounted Leviathan and created a shadow-coated Star Ice spear.
• Aleister charged Hellerchein head-on and used the Star Ice spear’s brief freezing effect to prevent his immediate counterattack.
• Aleister and Hellerchein launched a second charge, and Aleister pierced his armor while Hellerchein’s storm-wrapped spear tore through her body.
• Aleister drove her growing Ice Spear deeper into Hellerchein as he unleashed Thunder Fury, setting up a clash that could kill them both.

Aleister defeated Hellerchein in battle and sealed him as the Great Sin Card: Wild Hunt King, choosing the Wind Attribute. During the ritual, she learned how Hellerchein and his followers had been betrayed and killed, and the chapter ended with his new card showing him as a suppressed Level 50 phantom of the Twilight Path.

• Aleister defeated Hellerchein by using Thunder Fury while he restrained her with Storm Strike, and Hellerchein accepted her as his master.
• Aleister chose Judgment and the Pope as the Tarot Cards for Hellerchein’s sealing, then returned the next day to perform the ritual.
• Aleister’s ritual revealed that Utgarda-Loki had tricked Hellerchein’s village into poisoning him before the giants captured and executed him and his followers.
• Aleister learned that Hellerchein’s resentful soul had become the Wild Hunt and had remained consumed by hatred until his sanity returned.
• Aleister completed the sealing and created the Great Sin Card: Wild Hunt King, with the Eternal Calamity and Pope cards, the Twilight Path, and the Wind Attribute.

Aleister registered the Wild Hunt King and discovered that the Book of Law had become Divine Equipment, granting new summoning effects to her Great Sin Cards. After testing the Wild Hunt King, she found that Hellerchein could carry her and Leviathan across the sea, giving them a way to return to Antimony without a ship.

• Aleister registered the Wild Hunt King in the Book of Law, raising the collection progress to two-thirds and transforming the book into Divine Equipment.
• Aleister discovered that the Book of Law now granted fourteen points of Colorless Mana and added entrance effects to the Paradox Flame Butterfly, Night Demon, and Wild Hunt King.
• Aleister summoned Hellerchein and his seventy or eighty followers, and Hellerchein thanked her for allowing them to leave with him.
• Hellerchein transformed into a Ghost Pegasus and offered to carry Aleister wherever she wanted to go.
• Aleister brought Leviathan aboard the Ghost Pegasus and confirmed that they could fly back to Antimony in less than a day.

The Earl Leipzig learned that Aleister had returned to Leipzig and gone to the Spirit Tower, while Adolf discovered she had brought back Hellerchein, a Sixth Level Wild Hunt King. A sudden snowfall covered the world, Valentine VIII’s father’s remains vanished, and the Spirit Tower welcomed the Winter Angel.

• The Earl Leipzig learned Aleister had left for Avalon, then heard she had returned and gone directly to the Spirit Tower; he set out to find her and alerted Pengbo Naqi.
• Adolf arrived at the Spirit Tower after Aleister had left, and Matthias told him she had brought back Hellerchein, a Sixth Level undead from Avalon.
• A silent snowfall abruptly covered the world, and Valentine VIII feared the Black Prime Minister had come for him.
• Valentine VIII discovered that his father’s remains had vanished from the bedroom, leaving only half the human skin behind.
• A skeleton covered in ice emerged in the royal palace garden as Matthias announced the Spirit Tower’s protection by the Winter Angel and ordered its teachings revised.

Aleister returned to Siya Erduo Manor as the Winter Maiden’s ascension unleashed a blizzard that could become a world-spanning disaster. As she gathered Selene and Lily to address their problem, the growing influence of the Path of Transcendence stirred an unfamiliar, violent agitation in her.

• Aleister rode Ghost Pegasus through the manor’s barrier and found Prince Siya Erduo rushing out alone with a Petrification Potion.
• Honey Badger revealed Lily, and Aleister told them that the Winter Maiden had ascended as the Winter Angel.
• Prince Siya Erduo felt jealous of the Winter Maiden’s rise, while Aleister warned that the snow might isolate communities and turn the dead into undead.
• Aleister brought in Leviathan and summoned Selene, who had been waiting outside because she did not want to share a room with Lily.
• Aleister took Selene and Lily with her to address their problem, and Selene noticed Aleister’s trembling fingers and agitated urge to kill.