Recaps

Lanchi and Antanas assessed the strength of Law-Breaking Sinora and considered how she and other demons might fare against a powerful mage. Lanchi used their estimates to prepare for a formidable opponent at the upcoming Bishop Election, while Hughberlian hoped to finish the Ba Tian Branch transaction and leave Helrom.

• Lanchi told Hughberlian that he had found the warden already badly injured and sent her back to the Basic Level for medical care.
• Lanchi and Antanas confirmed that Law-Breaking Sinora was imprisoned on the Negative Fifth Floor, while Truth-Seeking Planai was on the Negative Sixth Floor.
• Antanas explained that Sinora could reverse-engineer spells and dismantle them after seeing them once, though the Hopeless Extinction War made her own cell a Safe Zone.
• Lanchi asked Antanas whether she and Sinora could defeat an Eighth-Rank mage, and Antanas said they might succeed with Planai's help, even against Isis.
• Lanchi resolved to judge the coming opponent at Askesang's peak strength, while Hughberlian hoped to complete the Ba Tian Branch deal and return to the Aetherland Kingdom.

Lanchi, disguised as the Poet of Great Love, traveled with Antanas and Hughberlian to Law-Breaking Sinora’s cell in Helrom Prison. As Antanas explained Sinora’s weakness around handsome men, Lanchi prepared to negotiate with her, while Hughberlian briefly glimpsed something demonic in his eyes.

• Antanas led Lanchi and Hughberlian toward Sinora’s cell and warned Lanchi to stay cautious around her.
• Antanas revealed that Sinora kept her eyes closed because handsome male enemies distracted her and made her hesitate in battle.
• Lanchi decided he would negotiate with Sinora while Hughberlian waited outside with Antanas.
• Antanas guided Lanchi and the Poet of Great Love to Sinora’s sealed cell after they paid the Service Points to unlock its entrance.
• As Lanchi refocused on Helrom Prison, Hughberlian briefly saw emerald-green demonic pupils in his eyes, though they looked human when she examined them.

Poet of Great Love and Antanas entered Sinora’s special cell, despite Hughberlian and the Ice Witch’s fears that approaching the dangerous demon would provoke her. They reached Sinora sitting quietly in the dark, and she showed no reaction to their arrival.

• Hughberlian worried that Sinora and Planai might attack the group, but Poet of Great Love followed Antanas into Sinora’s cell.
• The Ice Witch warned Hughberlian against provoking the imprisoned demons and blamed Loren’s student for encouraging her recklessness.
• Loren endured the Ice Witch’s anger and wondered what Lanchi was trying to accomplish at the prison.
• Poet of Great Love and Antanas found Sinora seated in the dim cell, her powerful aura filling the room.
• Sinora remained still with her eyes closed as Antanas and Poet of Great Love approached.

Antanas and the Poet of Great Love entered Sinora’s cell, where Sinora attacked them before recognizing Antanas’s magic. The Poet revealed her face, leaving Sinora shocked by how much she resembled Talia.

• Antanas approached Sinora’s cell with the Poet of Great Love behind her and called Sinora’s name.
• Sinora attacked them with her halberd-staff, but Antanas’s barriers blocked the blows.
• Antanas shouted her name and trapped Sinora inside a barrier, prompting Sinora to recognize Antanas’s magic.
• Antanas denied betraying the demons and told Sinora they had come to rescue her.
• The Poet of Great Love removed her mask, and Sinora mistook her for Talia before wondering whether Talia had married.

The Poet of Great Love asked Sinora to leave Helrom Prison in exchange for a fair Demon Race Trade Contract, but Sinora challenged her with the pressure of a Great Demon Race. Sinora discovered that the Poet of Great Love had a resonant demonic mark and agreed to consider a transaction, though she refused to leave without seeing her true form.

• The Poet of Great Love asked Sinora what she wanted and proposed a fair trade in return for Sinora forming a contract before leaving Helrom Prison.
• Sinora rejected the offer and released the pressure of her Great Demon Race status, but the Poet of Great Love stood firm as different patterns appeared in her eyes.
• Sinora teleported away and realized the Poet of Great Love was also a Great Demon Race whose power she could not discern.
• The Poet of Great Love said she had come to rescue Sinora and asked to borrow her strength in exchange for an equivalent transaction.
• Sinora asked to see the Poet of Great Love's true form, but the Poet of Great Love said Sinora could see it only after leaving with her, so Sinora lost interest.

Poet of Great Love revealed herself as a Great Demon and refused Sinora’s offer to lead a rebellion against the Protos Empire, proposing instead that humans and demons coexist peacefully. Sinora remained unwilling to abandon vengeance, but Poet of Great Love’s questions left her uncertain about what victory would achieve.

• Sinora asked Poet of Great Love to lead the demons in restoring their nation by taking control of the Protos Empire.
• Poet of Great Love refused, saying she did not want innocent people to suffer, and suggested changing the Empire so humans and demons could coexist.
• Sinora argued that the demons’ pursuit of revenge was justified and rejected the idea of surviving by meekly cooperating with humans.
• Poet of Great Love warned Sinora that conviction could become harmful and asked whether revenge would truly help the demons.
• Sinora admitted she did not know what would happen after defeating the Empire, while Antanas noticed that Poet of Great Love’s words were making Sinora’s resolve waver.

The Poet of Great Love persuaded Sinora to question her desire to restore the demons’ former power and focus on the present. Sinora chose to leave Helrom Prison with him, while Antanas suspected his words had an unsettling power over people.

• Sinora challenged the Poet of Great Love to explain whether demons should reclaim their status and rule, and he asked what kind of leader she expected him to be.
• The Poet of Great Love questioned whether conquering the world would solve the endless struggle for resources, leaving Sinora unable to answer.
• He urged Sinora not to remain trapped in the past or place too much hope in the future, and promised to give her the best present.
• Antanas noticed that Sinora’s resolve was wavering and wondered whether the Poet of Great Love could influence people through their thoughts.
• The Poet of Great Love mentioned Talia’s happy life and suggested Sinora was wasting her time in prison, stirring Sinora’s jealousy.
• Sinora decided to leave and seize the present, while Antanas grew suspicious of the Poet of Great Love’s persuasive ability.

Sinora pledged allegiance to the Poet of Great Love, who chose a Demon Race's Transaction over a slave contract because he trusted her. Before leaving Helrom Prison, Sinora gave Lanchi her Law-Breaking Mark, adding another passive magic to his collection.

• Sinora bowed to the Poet of Great Love and pledged to follow him, agreeing to help him and Antanas fight an eighth-tier enemy.
• Sinora offered to sign a slave contract, but the Poet of Great Love refused and said he trusted her, choosing a Demon Race's Transaction instead.
• Sinora asked how else she could help, and the Poet of Great Love requested her title mark.
• With Antanas lowering the protective barrier, Sinora performed the inheritance ritual and bestowed the Law-Breaking Mark on Lanchi.
• Lanchi inspected the mark, which slightly reduced the impact of spell effects, and thanked Sinora for its usefulness.

The Poet of Great Love arranged for Sinora to escape Helrom Prison by trading places with a loyal Ba Tian Priest and giving Sinora a human identity. Sinora learned she would live as a professor and student in the Protos Empire, leaving her stunned by the comfortable life prepared for her.

• The Poet of Great Love asked a female Ba Tian Priest to impersonate Sinora until he and the bishop could rescue her.
• The Ba Tian Priest transformed into Law-Breaking Sinora, while Sinora used Transformation Art: Human to take on the priest's appearance.
• Sinora realized the New King had prepared her new appearance and identity with care, and she thanked him.
• The Poet of Great Love gave Sinora an academy Student Bracelet and explained her identity as a Boen City native and third-year student at the Protos Royal Magic Academy.
• The Poet of Great Love told Sinora she would work as a Senior Professor four days a week, take minor church assignments, and experience life in Helrom before possibly leaving the Northern Continent with them.

Lanchi arranged for Sinora to leave Helrom Prison and take a long vacation in the Southern Continent, where she could help at Cat Boss Restaurant when needed. After the group escaped Sinora’s cell, her dangerous phantom appeared, forcing them to flee toward the Exit Teleportation Hall.

• Lanchi offered Sinora a paid vacation in the Southern Continent and said she could help at Cat Boss Restaurant during busy periods.
• Sinora and Antanas left the cell with the Poet of Great Love, knowing Sinora’s phantom would pursue them outside the Safe Zone.
• The Ice Witch recognized Sinora in the observation space and suspected Loren was secretly orchestrating events.
• Hughberlian carried the Poet of Great Love and ran after the escaping group as they fled Sinora’s phantom.
• Antanas told Sinora that Hughberlian was Ifatia’s daughter, and Sinora wondered who would dare marry Ifatia.

Poet of Great Love and the others reached the Negative Sixth Floor’s Teleportation Hall, where Lanchi asked Sinora about her brother, Truth-Seeking Planai. Sinora explained Planai’s beliefs and abilities, and Lanchi prepared to meet him with her help.

• Hughberlian carried Poet of Great Love to the Exit Teleportation Hall, while Antanas led the group along the mapped route.
• Sinora reached the Teleportation Hall and felt relieved that she could now pass through the Void Teleportation Gate with her legitimate Protos Empire identity.
• Lanchi asked Sinora about Planai, and she explained that her older brother opposed the holy war and wanted demons to understand and coexist with humans.
• Sinora told Lanchi that Planai could see through falsehood and magical disguises and could predict opponents’ movements to a limited extent.
• Lanchi reflected that Planai’s Talent Magic might have developed further if he had reached the ninth tier, and Sinora offered to help him speak with her brother.
• Lanchi felt relieved that Talia and Ifatia still remembered the Sinora siblings and resolved to bring Talia’s friends home for a good New Year.

Hughberlian and her group reached Helrom Prison’s Negative Sixth Floor, where they had to patrol and repair cells inside an increasingly dangerous illusion. Warden Deria stopped them before they could begin, leaving the group waiting to hear what she wanted.

• Hughberlian and the Poet of Great Love entered the Negative Sixth Floor through the Void Teleportation Gate with their teammates.
• The group read the floor’s rules and learned that they needed to inspect the cells, earn Warden Deria’s permission, and pass a final evaluation to return to the Basic Level.
• Hughberlian recalled the Upside-Down Path to Rebirth trial and considered how the illusion’s danger increased with fear and time spent outside the Safe Zone.
• Hughberlian greeted Warden Deria and said the group would start their patrol and repair work.
• Deria stopped the group as they were about to leave the Safe Zone and beckoned them over.

Hughberlian and her companions reached Deria, the Negative Sixth Floor warden, who demanded they drink with her to earn permission to proceed. Poet of Great Love recovered his senses and volunteered to handle the situation, but froze when he recognized the liquor.

• Hughberlian asked Deria how the group could earn her evaluation and permission to pass.
• Deria explained that drinking with her would determine their evaluation, then set out Snowy Plains Liquor.
• Deria said she was protected by her mentor, Great Sage Isis, and teased the students for hesitating.
• Poet of Great Love sensed Hughberlian's distress, reassured her, and assessed the situation.
• Poet of Great Love fell silent when he saw the liquor, remembering the trouble alcohol had caused him before.

Poet of Great Love drank against Warden Deria to secure help for Hughberlian, despite the liquor overwhelming her body. Hughberlian fed her more drinks as the contest continued, while Antanas and Sinora worried she might not survive.

• Poet of Great Love chose to drink with Warden Deria rather than let Hughberlian take his place.
• Poet of Great Love and Warden Deria began a drinking contest, with Deria growing increasingly excited as they matched each other glass for glass.
• Poet of Great Love became too weak to lift his glass and asked Hughberlian to help him.
• Hughberlian realized Poet of Great Love wanted her to pour the liquor into her mouth and, trusting her, fed her the drink.
• Antanas worried Poet of Great Love might already have died, while Sinora admitted she would have collapsed much earlier.

The Poet of Great Love defeated Warden Deria in a drinking contest and earned a top-tier evaluation, then insisted on continuing through the Negative Sixth Floor despite his failing body. As Lanfu dreamed helplessly through his actions, he headed into the Upside-Down Path to Rebirth while Antanas and Sinora prepared to reach Truth-Seeking Planai.

• The Poet of Great Love kept drinking until Warden Deria collapsed, and she awarded the group a top-tier evaluation before passing out.
• The Poet of Great Love gave Warden Deria the Redmond Building’s visiting hours through his Demonic Voice, then fell over from physical exhaustion.
• The Poet of Great Love refused Hughberlian’s offer to take over and ordered Antanas and Sinora to rush toward Truth-Seeking Planai’s cell once he unlocked the floor.
• The Poet of Great Love entered the Upside-Down Path to Rebirth alone, while Sinora and Antanas marveled at his resistance to the illusion.
• Lanfu dreamed that a demon controlled her body, tormented her with a giant wolf, and forced her to drink until she felt as though she were falling apart.

Lanchi endured the Upside-Down Path to Rebirth’s illusions on Helrom Prison’s Negative Sixth Floor and earned the Upside-Down Mark. Antanas and Sinora waited to open the way to Truth-Seeking Planai’s cell as Lanchi considered what gaining a sixth mark might do to him.

• Lanchi, controlling the black-haired Poet of Great Love, walked through illusions of blades, fire, and poisonous snow without stopping his inspection of the prison.
• The illusions subsided, and the ancient barrier formed the Upside-Down Mark between Lanchi’s brows, increasing his Spirit attribute.
• Sinora asked whether Lanchi had succeeded, and Antanas confirmed that he had passed the Mental Trials.
• Antanas and Sinora waited for access to the Negative Sixth Floor to open so they could locate Truth-Seeking Planai’s cell.
• Lanchi considered whether gaining a sixth Great Demon Race Mark would transform him into a Great Demon Race.

Antanas and Sinora crossed the Negative Sixth Floor’s illusion-filled corridors to reach Truth-Seeking Planai’s cell, hoping to rescue her and leave Helrom Prison. Planai attacked as soon as they entered, and Antanas raised a barrier to defend them.

• Antanas and Sinora left Hughberlian behind and hurried through the Frost Corridor toward Planai’s cell.
• Antanas shielded them from the increasingly powerful illusions while Sinora weakened their attacks with interference spells.
• Antanas and Sinora reached the cell and entered, expecting the New King to arrive later.
• Antanas and Sinora found Planai bound inside a sealed chamber, and her magic made the Magic-Sealing Steel tremble.
• Planai caused black flames to erupt beneath Antanas and Sinora, and Antanas unfolded a defensive barrier while telling Planai not to attack them.

Sinora and Antanas freed Planai from Helrom Prison and tried to convince him to join the New King. Planai refused to leave, warning that the Protos Empire would soon fall and that the Bishop Election in three days would be the turning point.

• Sinora dispelled Planai's attack, and she and Antanas revealed their identities and explained that they had come to rescue him for the New King.
• Sinora removed Planai's chains and restraining mask, but he remained wary and said he would not leave yet.
• Planai explained that the demons could not survive on the surface in their current state, despite Sinora's assurances about the New King's strength.
• Planai predicted the Protos Empire would perish within a few years and said the Bishop Election in three days would mark a turning point.
• Planai revealed that an unknown battle in the north had featured enemies whose power suggested the empire's downfall, and he realized the New King knew nothing about these developments.

Poet of Great Love arrived at Helrom Prison to meet Truth-Seeking Planai, who refused to leave the Negative Sixth Floor despite Sinora and Antanas’s efforts. The New King thanked Sinora and prepared to speak with Planai himself.

• Planai warned Sinora and Antanas that escaping to the Southern Continent could leave them destitute, while staying in his prison cell might keep them safe.
• Planai urged Sinora and Antanas to leave before Helrom Prison discovered them, but they stayed to await the New King.
• Poet of Great Love entered Planai’s cell, and Sinora and Antanas greeted her as their New King.
• Planai insisted that his refusal to leave Helrom Prison was his own decision, hoping to protect Sinora from blame.
• Poet of Great Love thanked Sinora for trying to persuade Planai and told her he would handle the rest.

The Poet of Great Love questioned Planai about potential allies for changing the Protos Empire, while Planai judged each candidate too unreliable. Planai singled out Luo Qi McCarthy as the Empire’s faintest hope, but said his mortal body lacked the power to turn things around.

• The Poet of Great Love patiently reassured Planai that he still had hope for the Protos Empire.
• Planai argued that Great Sage Isis Melorne, Duke Morodian Berenhard, and the Rebirth Church cardinals were unsuitable partners.
• Antanas asked Planai what he thought of Luo Qi McCarthy.
• Planai called Luo Qi McCarthy a mortal unable to turn back the heavens, suggesting the Empire might have a chance if he had more power.

Poet of Great Love asked Planai to assess the demons’ chances in the struggle for the Protos Empire, and Planai explained that they lacked enough powerful fighters and reliable intelligence. The discussion left Lanchi believing their position was more promising than Planai thought because Askesang and the Black Robed Man were weakened, and freeing Sigrid could shift the balance.

• Planai warned Poet of Great Love that the Protos Empire could not be saved unless Luo Qi McCarthy joined them, but said victory would remain unlikely.
• Poet of Great Love asked whether he could defeat Great Sage Isis, and he admitted that he could not.
• Planai said they needed at least two General-level combatants and described the hidden factions and uncertain strength competing for control of the Protos Empire.
• Poet of Great Love realized the three Great Demon Race members could provide at most one General-level combatant, while Planai might also be overestimating his own strength.
• Lanchi judged that Askesang and the Black Robed Man were weakened, and that defeating Askesang could free and strengthen Sigrid, giving their side a major advantage.

Planai warned the Poet of Great Love that Luo Qi McCarthy would be targeted if he gained enough military support to disrupt the enemies’ plans in the Protos Empire. The Poet of Great Love urged Planai to come with him and let him offer protection, while Antanas watched, expecting another attempt at emotional persuasion.

• Planai explained that Luo Qi McCarthy lacked sufficient military support and would be killed if he became a major threat to the enemies undermining the Protos Empire.
• The Poet of Great Love regretted that the Demon Realm’s former king had not listened to Planai a hundred years earlier.
• Planai replied that the Demon Realm’s fate might have been different if the Poet of Great Love had been its king.
• The Poet of Great Love asked Planai to come with him so he could protect him.
• Planai struggled with the urge to follow the New King, while Antanas shared biscuits with Sinora and watched the conversation.

In Helrom Prison, Poet of Great Love urged Planai to stop seeking absolute safety and reconsider what peace of mind meant to him. Planai agreed that he had not found peace, but Poet of Great Love’s words helped him recognize the value of his own strengths.

• Planai asked Poet of Great Love why they could not flee to the Southern Continent, but Poet of Great Love refused to promise that escape and explained that no one could calculate their way past change.
• Poet of Great Love asked Planai to consider whether the simple life and emotional restraint he had pursued in Helrom Prison had brought him peace.
• Planai admitted he had been in pain every day for a hundred years and that this had been the happiest day of his life.
• Poet of Great Love offered to protect Planai if he came along, promised to let him avoid unnecessary fighting, and said he would die before allowing an enemy to threaten Planai’s peace of mind.
• Planai asked why Poet of Great Love chose him, and Poet of Great Love urged him to recognize his strengths instead of fixating on his shortcomings.

The Poet of Great Love freed Planai and challenged his belief that two General-level combatants were needed to enter the imperial conflict. He revealed a gigantic wolf as an ally, leaving Planai awestruck and the group preparing to escape Helrom Prison.

• The Poet of Great Love comforted Planai, who chose to follow him, but the Poet refused his loyalty and returned his freedom.
• The Poet asked why Planai thought two General-level combatants were the admission ticket to the imperial conflict, and Antanas explained what Planai had seen at the northern border.
• The Poet showed Planai a stack of Magic Cards and explained that getting too close could make the truth harder to see.
• The Poet revealed the Nuclear Fusion Wolf, which Planai recognized as the creature he had seen on the Northern Snowy Plains.
• The Poet said he would explain more after they left prison, and Antanas concluded that Planai had completely fallen for him.

Planai freed himself from his restraints and gave the Poet of Great Love the Truth Mark, awakening the sixth imprint and revealing his potential as a Demon King. After the Poet of Great Love left to fetch a companion, Antanas began explaining Planai’s new life in the Protos Empire and sharing rumors about the King and the Second Princess.

• With Sinora's help, Planai removed his restraints and agreed to leave the cell with the Poet of Great Love.
• Planai performed the Demon Race inheritance ritual and gave the Poet of Great Love the Truth Mark, which granted resistance to divination magic.
• The Poet of Great Love’s sixth imprint awakened, revealing his Demon King potential before Disguise Magic concealed his aura again.
• The Poet of Great Love left to bring a companion and asked Antanas and Sinora to explain Planai’s arrangements in the Protos Empire.
• Antanas began describing life around the King and speculated that the King and the Second Princess had crossed a line, astonishing Planai and Sinora.