Chapter Summaries

Hai Na worried that her revenge would bring trouble to Iver, but Lily explained that Hai Na had acted out of hatred for her former self and needed to recognize her own strength. Lily left Hai Na reflecting on her advice and revealed that she had understood power before choosing to become Iver’s dog.

• Hai Na feared that powerful people in Holy Spring City would discover them and cause trouble for Iver.
• Lily asked Hai Na whether her revenge had satisfied her, and Hai Na admitted that it had not.
• Lily told Hai Na that she had sought to justify her actions because she hated her weak, foolish past self.
• Hai Na remembered Professor Moriarty’s advice and agreed when Lily said she lacked a strong person’s awareness of herself.
• Lily urged Hai Na to display her strength instead of acting like a dog while expecting to be treated as a human.
• Hai Na asked how Lily understood so much, and Lily said she had understood everything before willingly becoming Iver’s dog.

Lily killed a unit of Slave Knights to make sure Holy Spring City discovered the attack, then brought Hai Na back to Iver for an explanation. Iver explained how goodmasters would treat the incident as a threat from the Rebels rather than a feud between themselves, and left Hai Na with a question about why the Slave Knights were called knights.

• Lily led Hai Na into a unit of Slave Knights and killed them with shadow blades.
• Hai Na questioned whether the attack would cause trouble for Iver, and Lily told her to ask Young Master for a lesson.
• Hai Na returned to find Iver exhausted, and Lily recounted what had happened.
• Iver explained to Hai Na and Prodino that the attack needed to be discovered so Holy Spring City's goodmasters would investigate and avoid suspicion.
• Iver described how goodmasters valued their fellow rulers above the people treated as their property, then asked Hai Na why the Slave Knights were called knights.

Iver explained the origins of the Slave Knights and urged Hai Na to stop letting others’ opinions hold her back. After recognizing that she needed achievements to gain confidence, he began preparing a ritual to give birth to Amber while sealing the building.

• Prodino and Iver explained how the first Slave Knight betrayed his family, spread knightly techniques, and gave rise to the Slave Knight profession.
• Iver described how rebellious knights were exiled to Avalon and how the Slave Knights later became servants of the masters and enemies of the Rebels.
• Iver told Hai Na that Aymar Nur had likely sent the Slave Knights to provoke her, and urged her to act more forcefully.
• Iver realized Hai Na feared being disliked and believed military achievements could help her become a hero.
• Iver instructed Hai Na to protect him and Lily to watch the guest while he sealed the building and prepared a vessel for Amber.

Iver discovered that the Eden Stone was the unhatched egg of a Winged One and chose it as Amber’s vessel. As Amber prepared to hatch beyond her cycle of solitude, Iver selected Tarot Cards for her and A Huan.

• After his Container Entry changed to Amber Mother, Iver learned that the Eden Stone was a Winged One egg that had lost its ability to hatch.
• Iver reasoned that the fall of Tai Yi and the rise of the Path of Beasts had caused the Winged Ones to disappear, leaving his rescued egg as the last true Winged One.
• Iver prepared the Eden Stone as a vessel for Amber and considered which Tarot Cards to give her and A Huan.
• Iver chose the Magician for A Huan and the Tower for Amber, putting away the Hermit because Amber would no longer be alone.

Iver touched the Eden Stone and relived memories of Snake meeting a pure-white Winged larva and Lucifer revealing the ruined future in which a girl sacrificed herself to take the Ouroboros Ring and turn back time. The larva returned to life in Iver’s hands, leaving its next move unknown.

• Iver’s amber power awakened the Eden Stone, and touching it brought him a memory of Snake meeting a white-winged larva with Lucifer.
• Lucifer explained that Winged Ones fed on light in people’s hearts and urged Snake to take the larva with him, saying it would inherit Snake’s ideals.
• Iver saw a ruined future where a dying teacher urged a pure-white girl to use the Ouroboros Ring, and she seized it along with his Pillar God position.
• The teacher disintegrated into a Golden Apple, while the girl turned back time and later remained asleep when a young man approached her.
• Iver’s radiance restored the Eden Stone to its original form, and the white-winged larva spread its wings and flew into the air.

After awakening from Amber's memories, Iver pieced together how Taboo, Ai Shiping, Amber Angel, and Abyss Angel were connected, and how Amber and Ring Angel had begun the first restart. He realized the larva was a newly reborn individual rather than the original Pillar God Amber, and named her Inanna.

• Ai Shiping awoke from the illusion, and Iver identified him as Taboo, the Reincarnation Angel of the First Loop who had become a Pillar God.
• Iver deduced that Amber Angel and Abyss Angel together embodied Taboo and reconstructed how the Pillar Gods fell during the First Loop.
• Iver concluded that Amber used a ritual to seize the dying Taboo's power and, with Ring Angel, triggered the first restart into the Second Loop.
• Iver realized the larva in his hand had none of Amber's memories and was a new individual whose first light had come from him.
• Iver named the reborn larva Inanna.

Iver used Inanna’s connection to Amber and Ai Shiping to grant her the Mark of Gluttony, but the sealing ritual stalled because Amber’s power was too great. The Amber Angel’s shard then enabled Inanna to be born directly as the Great Sin Gluttony Star.

• Iver recognized that Inanna’s myths reflected Amber and Ai Shiping’s history and understood why she needed someone to remember them.
• Iver called Inanna’s name and granted her the Mark of Gluttony, beginning the ritual to seal her as a Great Sin Beast.
• The ritual stalled because Inanna’s existence was connected to Amber, whose power the ritual could not contain.
• An Angel Shard of Memory and Recollection fell into the room, and Iver realized the Amber Angel had sacrificed herself to complete her final mission.
• The shard’s power flowed into Inanna, who transformed into a card and skipped the Great Sin Beast stage to become Gluttony Star.

Iver obtained Inanna’s powerful Phantom Demon Card and realized he could not count on a second chance against the Abyss Angel. After the Twilight barrier around Plotinus’s house fell, he found the famous Benefactors Mahidfran and Ismail arguing outside over his petrified visitors.

• Iver examined Inanna’s card, assessing its powerful summoning and area-control effects and considering how its level surpassed the Wall of Equilibrium.
• Iver concluded that the Ouroboros Ring would have no second cycle and decided not to rely on Inanna as a trump card against the Abyss Angel.
• The Twilight Power receded, lifting the barrier around Plotinus’s house and allowing the sounds of an argument outside to reach Iver.
• Lily reported that six people had been petrified at the entrance, where Mahidfran and Ismail were arguing over Ismail’s attendants and the attack on the residence.
• Iver opened the door and recognized Mahidfran of Carnival City and Ismail of Ark City, while Mahidfran appeared angry that he had ignored her warning.

Iver confronted Mahidfran and Ismail over their disregard for the attendants endangered by the petrifying barrier, then revealed overwhelming power and declared that he had come to judge them. The chapter ended with a dusky yellow moth appearing as everyone around Ismail froze into black-and-white stone.

• Iver judged Mahidfran and Ismail’s argument as ugly and refused to take either side.
• Mahidfran mocked Iver for coming to Parthia as an outsider, and Iver calmly agreed that he had come to pass judgment on them.
• Iver summoned Inanna’s power, shattering the Wall of Equilibrium and cracking the surrounding space while Preservation protected nearby people and buildings.
• Mahidfran and Ismail realized Iver’s Path of Twilight power surpassed the limits of the Material Realm.
• A dusky yellow moth appeared, and Ismail discovered that the people around him had turned into motionless black-and-white stone statues.

Iver successfully used Inanna’s power to petrify everyone nearby except Ismayil, and the spatial rifts soon healed. Ismayil revealed why he had feigned hostility and began to accept that Iver might be the prophesied savior of Anxi.

• Iver briefly summoned Inanna, whose End of Civilization power turned the surrounding people, including Mahidfran, to grayscale statues while leaving Ismayil unharmed.
• Inanna told Iver she spared Ismayil because he had no hostility or killing intent toward him.
• Ismayil knelt before Iver and explained that his arrogant behavior had been a calculated act to eliminate his father’s former supporters and end Ark City’s wars.
• Ismayil revealed that he had killed his aging father, used a staged reconciliation to secure power, and later shifted Ark City toward raids and trade.
• Ismayil admitted he had doubted the prophecy and felt conflicted about a savior appearing, but Iver’s divine miracle left him unable to deny it.

Iver rejected the idea that a prophesied savior alone could change the future and persuaded Ismayil that people could save others through their own actions. He asked Ismayil to serve as his liaison and announced that he would abolish slavery.

• Iver told Ismayil that prophecy could be mistaken and that anyone with the power to act could help save the world.
• Iver reminded Ismayil that his benevolent rule had already saved people who would otherwise have died, prompting Ismayil to reconsider his beliefs.
• Iver helped Ismayil to his feet and told him neither he nor the slaves needed to kneel.
• Iver asked Ismayil to act as his liaison and report what he heard about the other Benevolent Lords.
• Iver announced that he would abolish slavery, arguing that its original purpose had ended and that harmful systems should be changed.

After Mahidfran and Ismayil retreated from Iver’s door, Iver confronted Hai Na about how much of her identity belonged to her and urged her to choose a path for herself. Hai Na agreed to support the Red Hand Party and go to Holy Spring City to witness the suffering of enslaved people.

• Mahidfran regretted provoking Iver, apologized outside his door, and fled with her people after Ismayil left.
• Iver asked Hai Na what truly made her who she was and what kind of person she wanted to become, but she admitted she could not answer.
• Iver reminded Hai Na that Lancelot’s mission had ended, Isabel no longer needed her protection, and the Path of Transcendence would soon disappear.
• When Iver asked whether she would speak up for enslaved people, Hai Na answered that she would.
• Iver ordered Hai Na to support the Red Hand Party and help destroy Holy Spring City by seeing and hearing the suffering there for herself.

Hai Na left Holy Spring City to seek her identity while Lily secretly followed to protect her, and Iver confronted a Water Raven Guard who brought a message from Aymar Nur. Before the messenger could speak, a fiery announcement declared that the Dedication Path had surpassed its limits and the Material Realm was about to ascend, leaving Iver wondering whether Grey had talked Flame Angel to death.

• Hai Na accepted Iver's suggestion, packed supplies, and openly left Holy Spring City to discover who she was.
• Iver sent Lily to follow Hai Na secretly and rescue her only if she faced a danger she could not overcome.
• A Water Raven Guard arrived at Iver's door with a message from Aymar Nur, and Iver ordered him to kneel before addressing him.
• The Water Raven Guard began delivering Aymar Nur's message, but a surge of heat burned his throat and sent steam from his mask.
• A voice announced that the Dedication Path had surpassed its limits and the Material Realm was about to ascend, and Iver wondered whether Grey had talked Flame Angel to death.

After the Hourglass announced sweeping changes that marked a new era, Iver learned that Grey had persuaded the Flame Angel to abandon her plan to transform dwarven civilization. The Benevolent Lords then met without Iver and used his apparent victory over the Flame Angel to challenge one another.

• The Hourglass changed the Seventh-Level Dedication Path promotion ritual, strengthened healing, and weakened the barrier between the Dream Realm and the Material Realm.
• Iver learned that Grey had talked the Flame Angel into releasing her power and walking the earth to seek new possibilities for her Path.
• Iver considered how the Flame Angel’s power could turn the dwarves and their accumulated military technology into a formidable mechanical civilization.
• The Benevolent Lords convened a meeting without Iver and claimed that the young Pope had defeated the Flame Angel alone.
• A voice challenged the assembled Benevolent Lords to admit they were inferior to the newly appointed Pope.

Aymar Nur revealed the Chain of Friendship’s powers to Parthia’s benevolent lords and outlined his plan to sacrifice Holy Spring City and use a god-slaying ritual against the Great Abyss. He then identified Iver Moriarty as the enemy who threatened Parthia’s future and announced that a traitor was among them.

• Aymar Nur explained that the Chain of Friendship could create a barrier against material attacks and convert destruction or sacrifice into magic power.
• Aymar Nur said he planned to sacrifice all of Holy Spring City to power a ritual capable of sinking a continent and killing gods.
• Aymar Nur claimed Calamity Red had promised its blessing, and Ismail questioned what the New Pillar God wanted from them.
• Aymar Nur named Iver Moriarty as the enemy they still had to defeat, prompting Mahidfran and Ismail to recall Iver’s power.
• Aymar Nur declared that Iver was a prophesied King of Kings who would destroy Parthia’s history and future, then revealed that a traitor was among the lords.

Aymar Nur exposed and killed Lawmaker Babak, revealing that he could turn a living person into gold, then ordered the good lords to help sacrifice Iver in the next day’s ritual. Ismail realized he needed to warn Iver, while Aymar demanded secrecy and obedience from the gathered lords.

• Ismail feared that Aymar Nur suspected him, but kept calm as Aymar accused a traitor among the good lords.
• Aymar seized Lawmaker Babak and killed him with murky yellow flames, transforming his body into a golden skeleton despite Babak’s Preservation.
• Aymar accused Babak of secretly funding rebel groups and blamed slave sympathizers for undermining Parthia’s rule.
• Ismail realized Aymar had used Babak’s death to intimidate the good lords and resolved to warn Iver about the deadly spell.
• Aymar revealed that the Ring Angel’s apostle had helped him plan to use Iver as a vessel and sacrifice him in the next day’s Ouroboros Ring Ritual.
• Aymar ordered the good lords to secretly redirect the ritual’s sacrifice to Iver and demanded their obedience.

Iver arrived alone at a gathering in the Fourth Ring, despite Ismail’s warning that Aymar Nur and twelve Sixth-Level Transcendents planned to sacrifice him to the Abyss Angel. Aymar Nur greeted Iver with public honor, while Ismail was stunned that Iver had come without allies.

• Ismail sent Iver a detailed letter describing the Fourth Ring gathering, Aymar Nur’s goldifying spell, the planned ambush, and the people involved.
• Ismail warned Iver to flee with the Red Hand Party, explaining that he would not join a doomed resistance and risk his family.
• Ismail reasoned that Aymar Nur’s plan to sacrifice Iver rather than attack him directly showed that Aymar feared Iver.
• Iver entered the gathering alone, leaving Ismail stunned and wondering whether his Consort had delivered the letter.
• Aymar Nur rose to welcome Iver as the human Pope and Savior of Anxi at Rest.

Iver confronted Aymar Nur and the benevolent lords at their conference, concealing his plan to turn their intended sacrifice into a chance to reclaim his complete former self. He prepared to use the Shepherding Method during the ritual, leaving the story poised for his attempt to seize the Abyss Angel’s body.

• Iver taunted Aymar Nur and the benevolent lords, who restrained themselves because they needed Iver alive for their ritual and feared facing the Abyss Angel without him.
• Iver used details from Ismail’s notes to realize that Aymar Nur did not know Jacob’s motives or the secret of the Ring Angel’s regional forms.
• Iver recognized that the ritual could reunite nearly all the fragments of the former Taboo Pillar God within him, making his sacrifice a path to restore himself rather than merely weaken the Abyss Angel.
• Iver decided to activate the Shepherding Method during the ritual to save people threatened by the Great Abyss and gain enough Path Resonance for his coming battle.
• Iver planned to rely on Plotinus to draw the Abyss Angel’s consciousness away, then take control of the body that had originally been his own.

Iver joined the Good Lords in Holy Spring City as they prepared to summon an Abyss Angel, and Aymar Nur revealed their plan to use the ritual to secure power from either the Abyss Angel or Calamity Red. At the Ritual Room, Iver recognized that the Oracle of the Holy Spring described Amber, the world’s cycles of reincarnation, and the Taboo Pillar God.

• Iver rejected the Good Lords’ formalities, and Hero Ismayil openly supported his blunt approach.
• Aymar Nur explained that the Ouroboros Ring Ritual would summon the Abyss Angel on the seventh day of the seventh month, with Calamity Red expected to fight alongside them.
• Aymar Nur admitted that the Good Lords hoped to crown the Abyss Angel and would abandon the plan if a true god opposed them.
• The group reached the frozen spring in the Ritual Room, where Aymar Nur recited the Oracle of the Holy Spring.
• Iver understood that the oracle described Amber’s self-sealing, the world’s nine cycles of reincarnation, and the Taboo Pillar God’s self-severing.
• Aymar Nur said the spring was once where the gods descended into the Human World and where the Candlemaster brought fire and light.

Iver learned the creation history of the world and the origins of its ancient gods from Aymar Nur at Mirror Lake. As the good gods faced an impending threat, Aymar entrusted the past to Iver and began a ritual to summon the waters of the Great Abyss.

• Aymar Nur explained how the Candle Holder awakened Twin Mirrors and how their powers divided dreams from reality and created the world.
• Aymar described how the Hourglass and Serpent Father offered opposing principles of order and change, and how their dispute led to new Source Rivers and the first war.
• Aymar revealed that an outsider became the Lord of Scales and Feathers after killing the Hunting King, and that the Parthian King and viziers alone preserved this ancient history.
• Aymar asked Iver to remember the history of creation if the good gods perished, while the others objected and he chose to proceed.
• Aymar touched Mirror Lake, prayed for it to cleanse them, and ordered the good gods to recite hymns for nine hours while he summoned the waters of the Great Abyss.