Chapter Summaries

Shade prepared for the coming battle in Vesta Woodland by arranging support from Doctor Schneider and collecting supplies from Old John. Old John gave him a Shattered Star Fragment that might answer questions about his worries, leaving Shade with a new relic as the final battle approached.

• Shade received a bone from Priest Augustus that could let the priest control a corpse, then bought potions for the battle.
• Shade asked Doctor Schneider to wait in Vesta Woodland and help him during the final battle, and the doctor agreed.
• Shade told Doctor Schneider he feared what the future held, and the doctor urged him to make preparations and keep moving forward.
• Shade visited Old John, who gave him two suitcases of supplies and asked whether any Ancient Gods remained in the present era.
• Old John gave Shade a Shattered Star Fragment relic that could possibly answer questions addressed to the Moon and stars.

Shade visited Leisha, the Guardian, and Mr. Ptolemy Albert as he prepared for the coming battle at Vesta Woodland. He arranged for the Guardian to help defend Vesta City and learned that Albert could briefly control his petrified body to fight.

• Shade visited Leisha at Yodel Palace, sought comfort, and asked whether the king had begun preparing for nationwide conscription.
• Shade met the Guardian at Forgotten Church and asked him to help defend Vesta City during the battle on Saturday night.
• The Guardian agreed to travel to Vesta City and prepare a large ritual to strengthen his defenses.
• Shade traveled to Moon Bay City to borrow a sword from Mr. Ptolemy Albert.
• Albert explained that he could temporarily join his avatar to his petrified main body, transform it into a dragon, and fight for a limited time.

Shade obtained the Chosen One of Light’s help and several powerful items for the coming battle in Vesta Woodland. At lunch, the group discussed the other Chosen Ones and learned that the temporal anomaly would keep the region in darkness until at least Sunday.

• Shade agreed with Mr. Ptolemy Albert that the coroner would fly to Vesta Woodland and join the fight when Shade summoned him with Blood of Sorrow.
• Mr. Ptolemy Albert gave Shade Blood of Sorrow, the Blade of Blessing, Prayer Light, and eight Dragon Transformation Potions for the coming battle.
• Shade returned to the ship and explained his new support to the gathered group over lunch.
• Miss Danist described the other Chosen Ones to Miss Olanord, and Luvia explained that Iluna Bayes had great potential despite her current weakness.
• Luvia and Bella told the group that time still moved in the sky, but its flow was mismatched with the ground and the darkness would last until at least Sunday.

Margaret reported that the Church had rejected her request to free Albert Bennett, while Shade and the Witches coordinated with the Church and Academy for the coming battle. As Vesta City prepared for a lockdown, the Church and Academy took responsibility for defending the city so Shade and the Witches could help Emilia complete the Time War.

• Margaret told Shade and the Witches that Ashley Bethany's body had been found with a forged photograph of Albert Bennett, and that the Church had refused to let him regain his freedom.
• Megan delivered supplies to the Church, while the Witches discussed Flora's dangerous Dragon transformation and Vesta City prepared for a twenty-four-hour lockdown.
• Shade refused to meet the Church directly, so Megan discussed the coming battle on his behalf and outlined his plan to divide the defense of Vesta City from Emilia's Time War.
• The Church agreed with Shade's plan and committed with the Academy to hold off the Paradox Worm army and, if possible, find its Watcher.
• City hall began moving residents from nearby villages and the woodland outskirts into Vesta City, while the Church stationed two Thirteenth Ring Warlocks and ten elite Twelve-Ring Arcanists there to support Shade.

Shade and his allies prepared for the decisive battle against the Ancient One, gathering reinforcements and weighing the demigods and Arcanists who could join the fight. The chapter ended as Shade opened a strategy meeting aboard the Radiance Messenger.

• Miss Danist reported that Elderon, a Thirteenth Ring elf, had arrived with the Nine Great Elf Clans to support the battle.
• Shade told Luvia that he planned to summon Adele and rely on the Guardian of the Earth, Miss Olanord, the Chosen Ones, and other allies against the Ancient One.
• Luvia asked to accompany Shade into the forest, and Shade agreed on the condition that she avoid dangerous actions without his permission.
• The allies gathered for a final dinner aboard the Radiance Messenger before the decisive battle.
• Shade and the Witches assembled the leaders and observers around an enchanted map of Vesta Woodland, and Shade began the strategy meeting.

Shade and the witches planned their roles in the coming battle for Vesta Woodland, coordinating with the Church and the Academies to awaken and divert the Paradox Worms while Emilia and Shade pursued the Ancient One. Shade also revealed that his dream suggested the Crescent Moon Secret Society’s treasure hunt could affect the battle’s outcome.

• Vanessa explained the plan to detonate Mithril Mine veins and draw the Paradox Worms out before the siege, while the Academies would lure them away from Vesta City.
• Shade assigned the witches and their allies tasks for the battle, including defending the city, locating the Watcher and Clockmaker, supporting the ship, and helping Emilia complete the Chosen One Ritual.
• Shade said he and Emilia would enter the Time Transfer Station and then head to the Accordion Hotel if the Invitation Letter failed.
• Galina challenged Shade for leaving her without an assignment, and Shade reminded her of the Crescent Moon Secret Society’s promised treasure search.
• Shade revealed that his dream suggested the treasure sought by the Secret Society’s nonhuman Sorceresses might affect the outcome of the battle.

Shade and his allies finalized preparations for the coming battle, then traveled to Moon Sanctuary to treat Miss Danist’s Time Curse and restore her strength. The three-moon ritual succeeded, and Miss Danist fell into a deep sleep in the hot spring.

• Shade told Galina to search the Witches of the Fifth Epoch’s treasure for a piece of bark that could strengthen his Fairy Tale Mizzle.
• The group planned how to confront Thomas Bennett and the Paradox Worm, arranging a divine art, church ritual formations, and weapon enchantments.
• Miss Danist explained that her curse had reduced her to the Tenth Ring and that recreating the strike from the night of the Mad Moon required the three moons to resonate.
• Miss Olanord proposed using Moon Sanctuary, Shade’s Moon Fire, and a ritual to temporarily suppress Miss Danist’s Time Curse.
• Shade, guided by Miss Olanord, painted ritual symbols on Miss Danist before using Moon Fire to activate the ritual.
• The Silver, Red, and Yellow Moon powers merged around Miss Danist, and the ritual ended smoothly as she fell asleep in the hot spring.

Shade and Miss Olanord shared a dream to strengthen their spiritual connection before the Final Battle, then joined the others as preparations for Vesta City’s defense continued. The chapter ended with Luvia telling Shade that Grandma Cassandra’s Omnipotent Currency had arrived, giving her four special coins.

• Miss Olanord warned Shade that she could force herself to wield near-Demigod power if the coming battle became desperate.
• Shade and Miss Olanord slept together in the ship’s Astrology Room and shared a moonlit dream.
• At breakfast, Shade arranged to bring the Golden Lion Armor for Emilia and left Little Mia aboard the ship to protect the others.
• Shade returned to the ship with relics as the Guardian of the Earth joined Vesta City’s defense and the city entered full lockdown.
• During the day, Shade helped move the Luku Birds aboard the ship while the blizzard worsened across Vesta Woodland.
• Luvia told Shade that Grandma Cassandra’s Omnipotent Currency had arrived, bringing her collection of special coins to four.

Shade and Emilia entered Vesta City as the Battle of Vesta Woodland began, then prepared to open the hidden entrance to the Time Transfer Station. The chapter ended with them using the Yggdrasil Staff and Emilia’s crown to reveal the door behind the Accordion Hotel.

• Shade saved the extra coins and reassured Luvia before Leisha arrived aboard the Radiance Messenger with supplies and sacred emblem badges.
• The Radiance Messenger departed, the Great Witches coordinated their forces, and Sivie, Vanessa, and Megan Audrey entered the city to establish a base and help defend it.
• Shade and Emilia left the ship and traveled to Vesta City, where they hid near the sealed Accordion Hotel until explosions signaled the battle’s start.
• Shade explained that the Time Transfer Station lay within the World Tree’s remains and that Emilia would face Thomas Bennett in a decisive duel.
• Shade and Emilia combined the Yggdrasil Staff and Emilia’s crown to cast Thaumaturgy—Door Key and reveal the hidden door.

Emilia and Shade faced Thomas Bennett and his ancestors in the frozen, dark city of Vesta, where he challenged Emilia to a final battle. Shade illuminated the city with moonlight as Emilia fought Thomas, but he vanished into the lantern’s light after freezing her midair.

• Thomas Bennett revealed his Eleventh Ring and called upon his ancestors, whose souls had been bound to the World Tree Remnants.
• Thomas assigned the Corpses to fight Shade across the city and reserved the street for his duel with Emilia.
• Shade flew above Vesta City and cast moonlight over the battlefield.
• Emilia and Thomas entered Time Acceleration and fought with her Ocarina of Time against his cane and lantern.
• Emilia redirected time and summoned withered vines from a Time Rift, then attacked Thomas with a plunging Sword Dance strike.
• Thomas froze Emilia in midair, escaped the blade storm, and disappeared into the lantern’s light and shadow.

Emilia overwhelmed Thomas Bennett in their battle, but he invoked the Words of Sublimation to reverse the city’s time and restore himself. Using her Destiny Ring’s time resistance, Emilia prepared to counter him with her own Words of Sublimation.

• Emilia found Thomas Bennett with the Ocarina of Time and drove him back with a Sun Flare Ray and the Witch Secret Art, Song of Storms.
• Emilia destroyed Bennett’s summoned defenses and pierced the lantern atop the Accordion Hotel, making him fall and the frozen time effect end.
• As Emilia pursued Bennett, he invoked Prisoner of Time and reversed the traces of their battle while restoring himself without healing Emilia.
• Emilia used her Destiny Ring’s time resistance to cast a spell, transformed into an elf-style formal gown, and recited her Words of Sublimation.

Emilia used her Words of Sublimation to defeat Thomas Bennett’s younger self and then faced the centuries of resentment he had awakened. As the darkness threatened to overwhelm her, the Forest Elf appeared behind her and joined her in raising a radiant sword.

• Emilia’s Words of Sublimation drew out Thomas Bennett’s memories of his youth, and his younger self collided with him, leaving him spiritually wounded.
• Thomas thanked Emilia for letting him dream of his youth, then rose again as the curses and resentments stored in the Time Transfer Station gathered around him.
• Shade realized Thomas had unleashed the accumulated hatred of past travelers, possibly as part of the Ancient One’s final purpose.
• Emilia activated her crown and Destiny Ring, flew toward the immense shadow, and confronted the mass of resentment despite its darkness suppressing her light.
• As Shade prepared to intervene, the Forest Elf appeared behind Emilia, embraced her, and helped her raise a longsword whose light made the darkness retreat and begin to melt.

Shade and the Elf Girls restored the flow of time in Vesta City, then confronted Thomas Bennett as he invoked the Mermaid across time to accept a contract with the Ancient One of Great Desire. The Mermaid agreed to grant his wishes, but revealed that his daughters were included in what he had offered.

• The Elf Girls used the Sword of Light to restart time in Vesta City, and the Great Elf told Shade that Thomas Bennett had not yet failed in the Time War.
• Shade and the Elf Girls found Thomas Bennett in Clover Petals Square as pink snow began to fall, and he explained that he wanted freedom from the Fate that bound his family.
• Thomas Bennett accepted a contract with an unseen existence, and Shade recognized the Mermaid's power crossing time through the pink snow and Bennett's contract.
• The Mermaid appeared within the Golden Music Hall doorway and watched Shade as Thomas offered everything he possessed in exchange for power and wealth for his daughters.
• The Mermaid accepted Thomas Bennett's offer and told him that everything he possessed included his three daughters.

Thomas Bennett gained the Ancient One’s power, then conceded the Time War to Emilia and escaped through a Time Rift with the contract’s debt unresolved. Emilia inherited the World Tree mark, while Shade and the Ancient One debated which version of her could collect from Bennett.

• Thomas Bennett’s Destiny Ring reached the Thirteenth Ring before collapsing, and the Ancient One’s power transformed him into something no longer human.
• Bennett tested his new strength against Shade’s Night Curtain Seal but did not follow up with another attack.
• Bennett cut off his own right hand, conceded the Time War to Emilia, and escaped through a Time Rift, leaving his hand and the World Tree Branch behind.
• Emilia received the glowing leaf pattern from Bennett’s severed hand, and Shade recognized the branch as a World Tree Remain.
• The Ancient One asked Emilia which version of herself should collect Bennett’s debt, and Shade pointed out that Bennett’s escape into the past made the contract’s claim uncertain.

Emilia and Shade uncovered how Thomas Bennett used time travel and Shade’s debt-collection task to escape the Ancient One in the Woods. Desire claimed Bennett’s soul, explaining that his tragic love for his wife was the reason she had engineered the events, and the chapter left Shade facing her questions about why she had chosen him for the role.

• Emilia realized Thomas Bennett had escaped his debt because his past self had never signed the contract, and understood that she had helped enable his plan.
• Emilia suggested that Desire could have arranged for Shade to collect the debt in advance, and Shade recognized that Desire had set the events in motion during the summer.
• Desire appeared at the Music Hall door and asked Shade to hand over Bennett, whose corpse had become a toy.
• Shade reconstructed Bennett’s journey through time and learned why no one had been able to contact his spirit: Desire had reserved his soul.
• Desire explained that she had arranged the events because she treasured Bennett’s tragic, devoted love for his wife.

Shade completed the Mermaid’s debt-collection task and received the Founding card, but she delayed his departure to give Emilia a love potion and offer help against the ancient tree. Before Shade left through a doorway of pink snow, the Mermaid reminded him that the Metamorphosis Ring might let Helena Carter arrive in physical form when he summoned her projection from 1821.

• Shade claimed the three Miss Bennetts and their wealth under his agreement with the Mermaid, who gave him the Founding card.
• Emilia accepted the Mermaid’s gift, a pink ice crystal that would make anyone who drank it fall hopelessly in love with her.
• The Mermaid offered to help Shade fight the ancient tree in exchange for a sexual encounter, but Shade refused and prepared to leave with Emilia and the other elf.
• The Mermaid warned Shade that the Metamorphosis Ring might give Helena Carter a physical body when he summoned her projection from 1821.
• Shade recalled that Mana Falianna had used Saint Byron’s Dream and the Metamorphosis Ring to gain a body in the present.

Shade, Emilia, and Emilia escaped the World Tree Remnants after defeating Thomas Bennett, but Shade suspected the Ancient One had orchestrated Bennett’s escape and their victory. As the siege of Vesta City began, they saw signs that the first wave of Paradox Worms was being suppressed, though Shade expected Bennett to return as an enemy.

• The Mermaid teased Shade and Emilia about kissing before explaining how to use the Pink Essence and Metamorphosis Ring to give a projection a combat-capable body.
• Shade returned with Emilia and Emilia to the Accordion Hotel and reasoned that the Ancient One may have collaborated with the Mermaid to arrange Thomas Bennett’s escape and their battle.
• Shade warned Emilia that Bennett would likely reappear in the future Doomsday Era and become their enemy again, though she would not have to face him alone.
• The Great Elf gave Shade the pink crystal, and the three left the hotel as a Paradox Worm crashed into the woodland and started a fire.
• Shade surveyed Vesta City’s Golden Spherical Shield and saw that The Church was suppressing the first wave of Paradox Worms, though the siege had only just begun.

Shade reunited with Vanessa’s group after Emilia defeated Thomas Bennett and brought the exhausted Elf to the Golden Music Hall, where the Witches and Church coordinated the city’s defense. As the night’s dangers escalated, they learned that time rifts were multiplying and a powerful tremor plunged much of the city into darkness.

• The Great Elf left Shade and Emilia to search for more arrows, and Shade lent her his longbow, Star Mark, before promising Emilia he would keep the Elf with them.
• Shade carried the sleeping Emilia to the Witches’ camp at the Golden Music Hall, where Siris and the others welcomed them and learned Emilia had defeated Bennett.
• Sivie told Shade that Paradox Worms were awakening underground, the Paradox Worm Watcher remained missing, and the battle had not yet reached its expected intensity.
• Sivie reported that a contained Tree Hollow had collapsed into a time rift and that rifts in the forest and black fissures in the sky were increasing.
• An earthquake struck the city, extinguishing lights across most districts; Emilia slept through it, and Siris carried her to bed while she murmured about her Unicorn Pillow.

Shade stayed at the church while Emilia rested and received a prophecy from Luvia and Bella about the coming battle. He arranged a rescue for the Hermits of the Forest and prepared to spend one of his remaining divination coins as the crisis continued.

• Shade stayed at the music hall after Sivie advised that the Watcher would probably not appear during the swarm’s first attack.
• Luvia and Bella projected themselves through the fireplace, confirmed that Miss Danist had not awakened, and told Shade that Galina’s group had found an underground cave.
• Luvia judged that Thomas Bennett’s choices could never have changed his tragic fate, prompting Shade to reflect on Luvia’s own path toward destroying time and restarting the era.
• Luvia and Bella shared a prophecy involving the Silver Moon, a new dawn, and the Clear Yellow Moon, then warned Shade that out-of-control Corrupted Tree Men had attacked the Hermits of the Forest’s camp.
• Shade ordered Flora’s mobile support squad to join the Academy team before rescuing the Hermits, and Bella arranged preparations for Sylvia to project a Teleportation Gate.
• Shade confirmed that four divination coins remained and asked Luvia what he wished to know.

Shade consulted Flame Luvia about the insect swarm and learned when its next attacks would arrive, while her long-haired incarnation appeared to comfort and protect him. He marked the sleeping Emilia so he could track her through the night, as the coming battle against the Watcher and the Tree remained ahead.

• Shade learned from Luvia that the swarm's leader would appear southwest of the city at 8:39, while its second attack would begin at 8:17 unless he went out to face it sooner.
• Luvia's divination could not reveal Shade's Words of Sublimation, and she said the Ancient One could not know their secret either.
• Long-haired Luvia revealed that she had not controlled the earlier prophecy, embraced Shade, and promised to protect Luvia during their planned journey into the woods.
• Shade told Long-haired Luvia that they would defeat the Tree and asked her to take care of herself until they met again on the ship.
• Long-haired Luvia blessed Shade with protection that could make masters of Time panic when they looked into his eyes.
• Shade marked the sleeping Emilia so he could always know her location, and resolved to apologize afterward.