Chapter Summaries

Yu Sheng'an negotiated with the Four Gods and the God of Death, proposing that the God of Death surrender Twelve Seats Plane in exchange for evacuating his population and securing a truce. The God of Death rejected the demand, and the chapter ended with Yu Sheng'an confronting him in Underworld Glazed Mountain as the God of Death halted his attack to hear him out.

• Yu Sheng'an identified the Four Gods’ attempt to extort him and proposed a plan that might satisfy both sides.
• The God of Death failed to recruit other gods into an alliance and discovered that the Four Gods had joined Yu Sheng'an at the Stone Palace.
• Yu Sheng'an proposed that the God of Death cede Twelve Seats Plane to the Four Gods in exchange for relocating his population and receiving a truce.
• The God of Death smashed the stone table and accused Yu Sheng'an and the Four Gods of carving up his Missionary Zones.
• Yu Sheng'an appeared openly at the foot of Underworld Glazed Mountain, and the God of Death stopped his necromantic dragon just before it struck him.

Yu Sheng'an negotiated a truce between the God of Death and the Four Gods, proposing territory transfers, population relocation, and an alliance that would give him time to grow. As the Six Righteous Gods Treaty neared signing, he demanded permission to open Internet Bank branches and offered to peg Kevil Currency to Source Essence.

• Yu Sheng'an persuaded the God of Death to accept ceding territory in exchange for relocating his population, while explaining how the arrangement would benefit both of them.
• Yu Sheng'an and the God of Death discussed terms, including food supplies, firearms, and safeguards against the Four Gods breaking the agreement.
• The God of Death and the Four Gods argued for two days and two nights over the territory to be ceded and the safe relocation of his people.
• As the five gods prepared to sign the Six Righteous Gods Treaty, Yu Sheng'an proposed opening Internet Bank branches in their Missionary Zones, and they rejected him.
• Yu Sheng'an offered to peg Kevil Currency to Source Essence and asked whether the gods would still refuse his Internet Bank branches.

Yu Sheng'an offered to let holders of Internet Coin exchange it for Source Essence, using the offer to draw the multiverse into his financial system and establish his control over its rules. While the Five Gods debated, he planned to secure his bases, improve his empire, and exploit the brewing war on the Vilia Plane; the gods had reached a conclusion, but had not yet revealed it.

• Yu Sheng'an announced that Kevil Currency would be renamed Internet Coin and could be exchanged for Source Essence at a set rate.
• The God of Life agreed to allow Internet Bank branches in his Missionary Zones, provided they had no offensive or defensive power, and Yu Sheng'an demanded Teleportation Arrays and security guarantees.
• The God of Death doubted Yu Sheng'an's motives, while Yu Sheng'an privately planned to use the currency system to make the multiverse dependent on the Internet.
• Yu Sheng'an returned his consciousness to Dorphy Temple and planned to eliminate the Dorphy orcs, improve the Kevil Empire, recruit professionals, and protect intellectual property.
• Yu Sheng'an decided to exploit the growing conflict between the Infer Empire and the Falai Dynasty by striking at Infer's Capital City.
• After half a day of private discussion, the Five Gods reached a conclusion.

Chad and Geli worried that war would reach the Kevil Empire, but an announcement that the God of the Internet and five other gods had formed an alliance eased their fears. The announcement also renamed Kevil Currency as Internet Coin and placed its issuance under the treaty’s protection, leaving the multiverse stunned.

• Geli refused to redeposit their savings because she feared war, while Chad tried to reassure her and said the God of the Internet would protect them.
• Chad met Pig-Grabber York at the factory, where York said he had bought a Bicycle because war might come and he wanted to enjoy life while he could.
• Workers erupted in cheers, and Geli called Chad to tell him that the Kevil Empire would no longer face war.
• Chad opened the Kevil Empire's Official Website and read that the God of the Internet, God of War, God of Life, Goddess of the Earth, God of Death, and God of the Sea had formed the Six Righteous Gods Treaty of Offensive and Defensive Alliance.
• The treaty renamed Kevil Currency as Internet Coin, pegged it to Source Essence, and promised that the gods would attack together if the Internet Bank defaulted.

Clementine returned to Morton Garden and told her brother Keshan that the Kevil Royal Clan had to surrender the throne and allow the Empire to become a republic under the God of the Internet. After explaining that the God of the Internet would move his institutions to a nearby city regardless, she asked Keshan whether he had made his decision.

• Keshan visited Clementine in Morton Garden and reflected on her growing authority over the Internet Bank and the multiverse.
• Clementine described the currency crisis caused by Internet Coin’s link to Source Essence and the measures she had taken to control counterfeit Kevil Currency.
• After judging Keshan’s efforts insufficient, Clementine told him to abdicate and proposed ending the Royal Clan’s rule in favor of a republic under the God of the Internet.
• Keshan angrily accused Clementine of betraying their family, then pleaded with her to preserve the Royal Clan’s title.
• Clementine said the God of the Internet would move Dragon Factory, Felix, and the Internet Bank to a new nearby city, leaving Keshan’s city unable to compete.
• After walking through Morton Garden, Clementine returned to the pavilion and asked Keshan whether he had decided.

Keshan abdicated, ending the Kevil Empire and allowing Yu Sheng'an to establish the Kevil Divine Kingdom under the God of the Internet. The political transition proceeded with little resistance as the nobles accepted reforms that stripped them of their privileges, while Yu Sheng'an prepared to turn his attention to the Orcs of the Dorphy Plane.

• Clementine told Keshan that the Kevil Royal Family had to enter history, and Yu Sheng'an explained that he intended to replace feudal rule with a system serving ordinary people.
• Yu Sheng'an told Aphnora that he would attack the Orcs of the Dorphy Plane after Keshan abdicated, using the conflict to redirect internal tensions.
• On May 4, 1080 of the Kevil Calendar, Keshan delivered the Internet's first livestream, abdicated without naming an heir, and ended the Kevil Empire.
• Dendall announced that the Kevil Divine Kingdom would be governed under the God of the Internet, with the Pillar Council as its highest administrative body and the nobles' privileges abolished.
• The nobles made little resistance, and the great nobles suppressed unrest as commoners continued their daily lives and crime rates fell.
• Yu Sheng'an waited for a revolt that never came and concluded that prosperity had kept the Kevil Divine Kingdom stable, while workers in the Infer Empire took up rifles for an approaching battle.

Rowell, a machine worker torn between his family, his homeland, and the Reduce Hours Raise Wages Movement, joined a secret armed operation against the Infer Empire’s Palace. After his wife quietly gave him bread packed with Blueberry Jam, he charged with his comrades as the palace gates opened.

• Rowell brought breadsticks and Blueberry Jam home, where his children celebrated while he worried over divisions in the movement and his wife remained distant.
• At dinner, Rowell’s family shared a rare lavish meal, and his daughter reported that Missionary Hawthorne had called Sister Judith to the Atonement Room to discipline her.
• A Level One Assembly Order summoned Rowell at night, and his wife gave him bread before he left to join the movement’s fighters.
• Rowell followed armed comrades through the Slums and learned that their mission was to overthrow the Royal Family at the Palace of the Infer Empire.
• A firework exposed the assembled fighters, the palace gates opened, and Rowell charged with his comrades after discovering his wife had filled his bread with Blueberry Jam.

Benjamin’s uprising captured the Capital City and surrounded Emperor Yarvis, but Yarvis used divine power to disable the rebels’ weapons and threaten their victory. As Benjamin’s followers faltered, Archid appeared in a pillar of light, and dawn spread across the crowd.

• Rowell and the Reduce Hours Raise Wages Movement stormed the castle and fought their way to Yarvis’s residence.
• Benjamin demanded Yarvis abdicate, but Yarvis revealed that the Primal God Church still stood against the uprising.
• Yarvis summoned lightning that disabled the rebels’ rune-inscribed weapons, leaving them terrified and uncertain.
• Yarvis offered Benjamin a title and concessions, but Benjamin refused and urged his followers to charge with bayonets.
• Yarvis ordered the Red Archbishop to unleash a lightning strike, but it harmed no one, and Archid appeared in a pillar of light.

Yu Sheng'an revealed his power in Infer Capital and confronted the Four Primal Gods, while Benjamin and the Reduce Hours Raise Wages Movement used the opening to attack the royal family. The gods agreed to negotiate a contest for Vilia, leaving both sides to stall for time as the struggle for Infer continued.

• Yu Sheng'an dispelled the storm and declared that Benjamin should lead the troops onward while he dealt with the Four Primal Gods.
• The Four Primal Gods appeared over Infer Capital, and Yu Sheng'an flew up to meet them as Emperor Yarvis and his guards fled.
• Benjamin rallied the Reduce Hours Raise Wages Movement and attacked Yarvis, while Rowell climbed the palace wall and raised the movement's flag above the royal bedchamber.
• Yu Sheng'an proposed that neither side send multiversal soldiers or descend onto the battlefield, and threatened to reveal Vilia's coordinates if the Four Primal Gods refused.
• The Four Primal Gods discussed the proposal and agreed to negotiate its terms, while Yu Sheng'an and the gods each hoped to buy time for their own plans.

After Rowell helped overthrow the Infer Emperor, Janice learned that the uprising had succeeded and found comfort in the new Infer Republic’s news network. Yu Sheng'an’s treaty with the Four Primal Gods left Infer’s steam technology disabled, and Benjamin faced an imminent invasion by the Falai Dynasty as he asked whether the capital should be relocated.

• Janice feared for Rowell as he joined the Reduce Hours Raise Wages Movement, then saw his image on a giant Scroll announcing the Infer Emperor’s death and the people’s victory.
• Rowell returned home, told Janice and their children that the rebels had taken the Palace, and credited Archid with stopping the Four Primal Gods and bringing daylight; he left them a prayer before returning to work.
• Janice recited the prayer, opened the Internet’s Infer Gazette, and saw reports of Rowell’s role and cities pledging allegiance to the Infer Republic.
• Yu Sheng'an and the Four Primal Gods agreed that gods could not directly intervene in their conflict, while Yu Sheng'an was barred from sending beings beyond the Vilia Plane.
• The Four Primal Gods’ intervention caused Infer’s Mechanical Steam Divine Runes to fail, crippling its factories, trains, and military as the Falai Dynasty invaded.
• Benjamin told Yu Sheng'an that the Falai army could reach the capital within three days and asked whether the Infer Republic should relocate its capital.

Yu Sheng'an explained to Benjamin how he would support Infer Republic and use the Falai Dynasty’s possible relocation of its capital to shape the war. He then used a paper bowl and water to show Benjamin that humanity sustained the gods, renewing Benjamin’s resolve in Archid Thought.

• Yu Sheng'an told Benjamin that gods could support a war indirectly and outlined a plan involving the Falai Dynasty relocating its capital.
• Benjamin agreed to cooperate with Yu Sheng'an but asked what gods were and whether humanity’s struggle mattered if gods determined the world.
• Yu Sheng'an demonstrated that water protected a paper bowl from fire and explained that people collectively protected gods, who relied on human unity and belief.
• Yu Sheng'an said Archid Thought aimed to unite humanity and bring the gods down from their altars, and denied that he spread worship of himself.
• Benjamin understood the purpose of his struggle, accepted Yu Sheng'an's message, and saluted him.

After the Infer Republic’s revolution ended newspaper printing, Kyle lost the work that supported him and his younger brother. Joan, an education officer, offered them free schooling, meals, and a chance for Kyle to earn wages through work-study, leaving him stunned by the Republic’s promises.

• Kyle learned that the newspaper plant and other presses had closed, leaving him without work.
• Kyle searched other newspaper plants and underground printers, but found none operating.
• Kyle returned to his shack with only enough money to buy half a loaf of bread and found Joan speaking with his younger brother.
• Joan told Kyle that school was free and provided meals, and that he could apply for work-study earning at least seventy Pennies a week.
• Joan explained that the Infer Republic offered these benefits because workers had become masters of the nation under Archid’s banner.

Kyle and Little Radish went to the City Center Church, where they received a free lunch and attended Joan’s lesson on Archid Thought. After the lesson, Joan called Kyle to discuss work-study employment, but Wilbur stopped her to ask for help reaching Mr. Benjamin through her father, Mr. Baird.

• Kyle took Little Radish to the City Center Church to see whether Joan’s offer was real.
• A volunteer gave the brothers free lunch, and they joined the children gathered at the church.
• Joan taught the children about Archid Thought using a Virtual Screen presentation.
• At three in the afternoon, Joan called Kyle aside to arrange work-study employment, and Kyle brought Little Radish with him.
• Wilbur approached Joan and asked her to arrange a meeting with Mr. Benjamin through Mr. Baird.

Joan tried to reassure Kyle and dismissed Wilbur’s warnings about education funding and the Falai Dynasty, but the Old Nobles’ taunts deepened her unease. A vast force of floating airships and steam locomotives suddenly appeared over the coast, leaving the crowd stunned and Joan convinced that Mr. Archid had created the spectacle.

• Wilbur urged Joan to redirect education funds toward arms, but she refused to intervene and led Kyle to a harbor job arranged with Uncle Sandy.
• Kyle asked whether the Falai Dynasty would attack, and Joan assured him Infer’s soldiers would stop them.
• Workers paraded imprisoned Old Nobles through the streets, and the prisoners warned that the Falai Dynasty would soon conquer Infer and condemned the God of the Internet.
• A huge black hole opened above the sea, releasing countless floating airships as announcements ordered citizens to comply with coastal restrictions.
• Joan, Kyle, Wilbur, the workers, and the Old Nobles watched the military force and distant steam locomotives appear, and Joan identified Mr. Archid as the one who had created the spectacle.

Rowell and the Reduce Hours Raise Wages Movement witnessed Archid’s advanced Tanks and virtual command platform as forces advanced toward the Falai Dynasty. Benjamin revealed that the assembled leaders were only observing the battle, which Archid himself was commanding.

• Rowell piloted a tracked Tank from a Teleportation Array to Puen City and received orders to advance toward Point A.
• The movement’s leaders watched friendly forces spread across Infer’s coastline through the virtual command platform and marveled at its detailed battlefield view.
• Major Neil asked Benjamin whether Tanks were useful, noting that Steam Cars and airships had previously proved vulnerable in battle.
• Benjamin admitted he shared the doubts and explained that the leaders had come to observe rather than command the battle.
• Benjamin told the astonished command center that Archid was directing the battle himself.

Yu Sheng'an personally directed Infer's campaign while Aphnora monitored a feint against Falai's forces and the main airship force moved to recover captured Infer soldiers. At an Auston Line prisoner camp, Yarman was humiliated and mocked for being abandoned by the Four Primal Gods, and he wished a devil would grant him power before a startled cry interrupted him.

• Aphnora asked whether Yu Sheng'an could command alone, and he said he had called her to help while he directed the campaign himself.
• Yu Sheng'an told Aphnora to monitor Tank-04 as it approached Falai's main force, then focused on Airship-01, his real force targeting the Infer prisoners held at the Auston Line.
• Falai soldiers beat and mocked Yarman in front of the other prisoners, while Yarman's order kept them from resisting.
• Yarman taunted the Falai soldiers over their victory and challenged them to kill him, but they answered by mocking the prisoners as abandoned by the Four Primal Gods.
• Yarman despaired at the thought that Infer could no longer use Steam Divine Runes and wished a devil would give him power in exchange for his soul.
• A startled cry rang out from the prisoner camp, interrupting Yarman's despair.

Infer’s Airship-01 Formation dropped Steam Tanks onto the Osman Defense Line, where they overwhelmed Falai defenses and routed the soldiers. Yarman and his men survived in a trench, and Morris invited them to join the Infer Republic against the Falai Dynasty.

• Falai forces sounded the alarm and prepared their anti-aircraft guns when Airships appeared over Oston Camp.
• Yarman realized the objects released from the Airships were armored Steam Tanks, which landed across the Osman Defense Line.
• The Steam Tanks swept through Falai machine-gun and cannon positions, causing heavy casualties and driving soldiers to flee.
• Yarman’s soldiers rescued him and took shelter in a trench as the battle raged around them.
• A Tank stopped over the trench, and Morris introduced himself and invited Yarman’s group to join the Infer Republic against the Falai Dynasty.

Archid’s Tank assault at Auston stunned the Infer leadership, who realized his true aim was to annex the Falai Dynasty. The Four Primal Gods argued over the God of the Internet’s intervention and considered withdrawing their troops, fearing his next move against Falai.

• Infer Empire prisoners recognized Archid’s forces, joined the Tank assault, and cheered for Infer and Archid.
• Benjamin told the Infer command that Archid intended to annex the Falai Dynasty.
• The God of Mechanical Steam demanded intervention, while the Goddess of Night praised the God of the Internet’s ingenuity and argued with him.
• The God of Space reminded the others that the God of the Internet’s rise had fueled their suspicion and fractured their alliance.
• The Four Primal Gods discussed withdrawing their troops and feared the God of the Internet had sent Airships toward the Falai Capital.

Yu Sheng'an used a layered Skinning Tactic and Infantry-Tank Coordination to conquer Falai, while former Infer Empire soldiers joined the Tank troops in a lightning assault. News of the Auston Line’s fall reached Infer, where worker Joyce and his fellow factory workers feared a Falai invasion as new reports appeared.

• Yu Sheng'an chose the Auston Line as his first target and rapidly absorbed its former Infer Empire border troops into his forces.
• Former Infer Empire soldiers took airdropped weapons, boarded Tanks, and attacked the Falai Dynasty alongside Yu Sheng'an’s troops.
• News of the campaign spread across Infer, while cities pledged allegiance to the Worker's Republic and Red Armband Warriors arrested Marquis Mardiz.
• Joyce woke early, read reports about the Worker's Republic, and went to his factory in Puen City.
• Workers waiting outside the factory worried that the Auston Line had fallen and that Falai would enslave them.
• The workers cried out when news from the Auston Line appeared on the Internet.

Workers celebrated Infer’s victories after news showed Archid’s forces retaking the Auston Line and advancing into Falai territory. Prince Lindbergh urged captured royalist nobles to surrender, showing them that Falai’s invasion was failing and Infer’s republic was winning.

• Factory workers watched footage of Airship-01 retaking the Auston Line, rescuing captured soldiers, and pushing into Falai territory, then chanted Archid’s name.
• Marquis Mardiz and other captured nobles dismissed the news and vowed to rely on Falai forces to restore their power.
• Prince Lindbergh arrived at the stable and offered the nobles an agreement preserving their titles and private property outside factories if they surrendered.
• Yarlin accused Lindbergh of betraying the Royal Family, but Lindbergh revealed that Falai’s main force was trapped at Lake Clifford and Infer had retaken the Auston Line and captured the City of Sally.
• Lindbergh showed the nobles battlefield footage, and Mardiz collapsed while Yarlin finally lost his resolve and accepted that resistance was pointless.