Chapter Summaries

Shade helped stop Crawling Chaos from invading Vesta Woodland, then returned to the Music Hall as Emilia woke. He and Megan were summoned to deal with an Ancient Gnome relic whose countdown threatened to destroy the woodland, and the chapter left them without an obvious way to stop it.

• A tentacle of Crawling Chaos emerged from a Time Rift and began destroying a street, so Shade used Blood of Sorrow to cut it apart and close the breach.
• Shade returned to the Music Hall, where Megan said she would stay with him, and Emilia woke from her sleep and described dreaming of a giant tree.
• The Church summoned Shade and Megan after a patrol found a sealed brass box in an alley, its countdown steadily decreasing.
• Megan identified the box as the Keeper of Secrets Level Relic Rune Firepowder of the Ancient Gnomes, powerful enough to devastate Vesta Woodland.
• Gaiana Lis Brown explained that only a few specific relics or time-stopping abilities could halt the countdown, but the woodland's time-related relics had already been transferred away.

Shade froze the Rune Firepowder of the Ancient Gnomes with crystal-form Time Stop and kept it as the insect swarm’s second assault began. He and Megan flew out with the other high-ring Witches to fight, leaving Emilia at the Golden Music Hall as the Old Days Temple answered her wish to inherit the Power of Time.

• Shade used crystal-form Time Stop to freeze the rune bomb’s countdown, then took the relic with him after Miss Brown agreed.
• At 8:17, a burst of light marked the start of the insect swarm’s second wave, as Corrupted Tree Men awakened and insects poured from pits across the forest.
• Shade recognized the falling snow as snow from another time, while the temples’ golden net held back ancient roots breaking free beneath Vesta Woodland.
• The Church deployed most of its prepared forces, and Shade, Megan, and the other high-ring Witches left the Golden Music Hall to fight the swarm.
• Emilia stayed behind to prepare for the next battle, and the Old Days Temple answered her wish as she thought, “If I also had the power of dragons...”

Shade joined the battle against the second wave of the Bug Tide, using the Moonlight Dragon and then his human form to help defend the city. After confirming the Church could hold its positions, he headed southwest to find the Watcher, who Luvia had prophesied would appear there at 8:39.

• Shade and the Moonlight Dragon fought off Paradox Worms, while the Witches warned him to stay within the Church's Ritual Matrix.
• Shade burned a Paradox Worm with Primordial Fire, and a mysterious voice told him he could destroy the creatures by eating them.
• Megan, Audrey, Sivie, and Vanessa joined the battle as the Witches and Followers coordinated their defenses around the city.
• Sister Devlin, the Guardians, and the city's defenders held the aerial and ground lines against the Paradox Worms and Corruption treants.
• Shade returned to human form, helped clear Paradox Worms, and moved southwest to search for the Watcher.

Shade and Vanessa searched the aerial battlefield for the Paradox Worm controlling a powerful earth-related monster while fighting dangerous relics and creatures. At 8:38, Shade transformed into the Moonlight Dragon, destroyed a giant skeleton attacking the city, and sensed an even stronger Whisper Element presence deeper in the forest.

• Vanessa and Shade watched a controlled giant skeleton attack the city before it was blasted down, then saw a Thunderbird, Blue Dragons, and the Laughing Acolyte enter the battle.
• Vanessa revealed a Deathbringer Believer, but Shade invoked the Death Bringer’s name and used his Pendant and Angel’s Right Arm to make it destroy its Paradox Worm and vanish.
• Shade and Vanessa searched the swarm for the commanders controlling powerful creatures, while Shade observed that killing a controlling worm briefly disrupted the nearby bugs.
• At 8:38, Shade told Vanessa to signal Sister Devlin and prepare to finish their target with the Angel’s Right Arm or the nun’s flames, then transformed into the Moonlight Dragon.
• Shade scattered the bugs with Chaos Remnants and burned the giant skeleton with Dragon Breath, then turned toward the forest after sensing the night’s strongest Whisper Element fluctuation.

A Watcher-controlled Gravel Worm fused with the Curse-Eroded Great Tree emerged outside the city and strengthened the Paradox Worms, overwhelming the defenders. As Shade and Vanessa joined the counterattack, the worm unleashed black smoke that created Mad Earth and turned one of The Church’s allies to stone.

• A Curse-Eroded Great Tree rose from the ground, followed by a Gravel Worm that coiled around its trunk and emerged with the Watcher embedded in its brow.
• The Watcher and the tree sent emerald leaves into the city, empowering the Paradox Worms and allowing them to break through the shield.
• Vanessa summoned a stone giant to attack the tree, but the Gravel Worm sandified it before The Church’s support team destroyed it with thaumaturgic attacks.
• Shade asked about Iluna Bayes and learned she remained in the church’s Meditation Room; Gareth Sander then hurled Golden Thunder at the tree, but the Gravel Worm swallowed it and breathed out black smoke.
• The black smoke created Mad Earth and turned the forest to stone, forcing the Ring Arcanists to raise walls; Shade pulled Vanessa aside as the worm sprayed smoke at them, but one of The Church’s team was struck and transformed into a stone statue.

Shade and the Church’s allies fought the Gravel Worm, the Curse-Eroded Great Tree, and the Watcher while trying to stop the Bug Tide. Thunder’s Wrath broke the enemy’s time-stopping magic and gave Shade a chance to attack, but the Watcher survived, and the battle remained unresolved as the others engaged the worm’s tail.

• Shade transformed into a Silver Wolf, absorbed the worm’s black mist, and used Moon Fire to ignite the worm and the tree.
• The corpses hanging from the tree cast Time Stop and Time Reversal, slowing Shade and reversing the attackers’ spells.
• Thunder’s Wrath of the Sun Church unleashed Holy Thunder’s Wrath, shattering the frozen time and striking the worm and tree with lightning.
• Shade struck the Gravel Worm with the Moonbeam Greatsword, then climbed onto the tree and used Moon Fire against the worm and the Watcher, but they survived and the worm bound him.
• Vanessa and the Ring Arcanists reached the crown and attacked the tree, while Vanessa and the Thirteenth Ring Construct Master led the others against the worm’s tail; the Divine Ritual kept the Bug Tide from joining the fight.

Shade and his allies fought the Watcher’s Worm around the Curse-Eroded Great Tree, and Shade used a second Gravel Worm to free himself before sealing it away. The remaining Worm transformed and attacked Shade and Sister Devlin with a sword that could accelerate time, leaving the battle at the city’s edge in greater danger.

• Elderon and the elves joined the dragons, Witches, and Ring Arcanists in attacking the Worms and corrupted treants around the hill.
• Shade summoned a second Gravel Worm, which bit and wrestled the Worm restraining him until both fell into the canopy and Shade escaped.
• Shade recalled his Gravel Worm before their collision could draw Doomsday, and Sister Devlin caught him as a Gale swept him away from the tree.
• The Watcher’s Worm drew on the tree’s Curse Power, grew six-fingered arms, and pulled a giant Stone Sword from beneath the hill.
• The Worm’s sword strike sent a White Fog scar across the ground and melted a hole in the city’s golden shield, forcing the support teams to join the battle.
• The Worm swung its Stone Sword horizontally at Shade as he approached the great tree again.

Shade and his allies set the Curse-Eroded Great Tree and the Gravel Worm ablaze and seemed close to victory, but the worm revealed a new Bug Man. Emilia intercepted it and was quickly overwhelmed, leaving Sylvia considering whether to call for more help.

• Sister Devlin’s Primordial Fire ignited the great tree and burned the Gravel Worm, while Shade grew into a giant and began pulling the tree from the ground.
• The Radiance Messenger, the Blue Dragon, Bella, and the witches joined the battle, and Bella’s blessing helped Shade pull the tree higher as Sister Devlin prepared a powerful Fireball.
• The Gravel Worm shed its burning shell and used an Earth Wall and the Watcher’s time magic to hold off the First Fire.
• The Gravel Worm spat out a black cocoon that burst open, revealing an armored Bug Man that charged at Shade.
• Emilia rode a swarm of Red Butterflies to confront the Bug Man, but it battered her through the air as Sylvia asked Luvia whether to call Leisha and Dorothy for help.

Emilia summoned the Dragon Maids through her Mystic Lock, turning the tide against the Watcher’s worm as Shade uprooted the giant tree and joined the dragons’ assault. The flames weakened the creature, but Sister Devlin warned that it could not be killed by fire, and Shade said he had another way.

• Little Unicorn flew Little Mia toward Emilia, and Emilia pursued the Bug Man while carrying the cat.
• Emilia entered a moment of frozen time, awakened the Thirteenth Ring of Fate, and called for the Dragon Maid Misses.
• Emilia’s Mystic Lock revealed the dragons and a vision of ancient Saint Byron’s, while five time-powered dragons joined the battle.
• The dragons’ breath and the Primordial Fire burned away the White Fog and badly damaged the Watcher’s core power.
• Shade uprooted the giant tree, tore the worm from it, and burned the creature with Moon Fire alongside the other flames.
• Sister Devlin warned that fire could not kill the conceptual evil being, and Shade said he had a way to stop it.

Shade and Emilia helped defeat the Gravel Worm and the Watcher, while Emilia’s Dragon Maid allies briefly appeared through time to help destroy the Watcher. The survivors prepared to return to the city and face the coming third Bug Tide, though the Clockmaker remained unaccounted for.

• Shade’s sealed Gravel Worm devoured the other worm’s tail, turning its body to stone, while Sister Devlin struck down the Paradox Worm that fled from it.
• The Bug Man rose after shedding its body, but Emilia and the five Dragon Maids joined forces to freeze and vaporize it with Time Cleavage; Little Mia and the Angel’s Right Arm destroyed a remaining beetle.
• Shade healed the exhausted Emilia and caught her, while the stone Gravel Worm shattered under the Ring Arcanists’ assault.
• The Dragon Maid projections vanished after speaking with Shade, and Vanessa recovered a mud-wrapped branch from the Bug Man’s burning ashes.
• Grace and Helen reported that the Clockmaker had not been found and relayed Miss Annette’s plan to help The Church resist the third Bug Tide’s vanguard.

Shade gathered all four World Tree Branches, whose combined light pointed toward the five thrones and the Ancient One, while he questioned the Ancient One’s purpose. As spacetime in Vesta Woodland deteriorated, Luvia and Bella warned that the crisis had to be resolved within three days, and that Emilia’s new status might not give her the power to fix it.

• Shade returned to the city with the others, left Emilia resting at the Golden Music Hall, and learned that Vanessa and Sister Devlin had gone to help fight the returning insect swarm.
• Shade assembled the four World Tree Branches, and their elemental lights formed a beam pointing toward the five thrones in Vesta Woodland.
• Shade considered how Professor Yuke Wood and other events had guided him toward the Ancient One, and wondered whether the Ancient One wanted to become a real tree.
• Luvia and Bella told Shade that spacetime anomalies had isolated Vesta Woodland, made spells easier as the world’s rules collapsed, and given them three days to restore normal order.
• Luvia warned that Emilia becoming a Chosen One would not necessarily let her perform a Miracle powerful enough to resolve the crisis.

Shade and the others assessed the city’s defenses, the search for the Clockmaker, and the dangers facing Flora’s returning group as the Bug Tide continued. After Sivie urged Shade to rest, Emilia woke and asked where he had gone.

• Shade told Luvia and Bella to prepare Miss Olanord to face the Clockmaker and learned that Galina’s group had entered a vast Underground Palace while searching for the treasure.
• Luvia explained that Flora and the Academy team had rescued the Hermits but were being inspected after encountering a Skin Object; the Hermits had also given Flora a Corrupted Holy Acorn that could temporarily restore her strength in a nonhuman form.
• Sivie returned from the battlefield, embraced Shade, and urged him to stay put and rest until the third wave of the Bug Tide.
• Emilia woke hungry, accepted a late-night snack from Miss Hailey Aurora, and reminisced about the witches she had met at Saint Byron’s Academy.
• Emilia realized Shade was not beside her and asked where he had gone.

As the third Bug Tide struck the city, Grandma Sianode told Emilia that she hoped she would live freely rather than become a tree for the clan. Emilia remained at Golden Music Hall while time distortions and dangerous creatures threatened the city, and Shade returned with the Clockmaker finally located.

• Grandma Sianode visited Emilia and said that although the clan hoped she would become a tree, she wanted Emilia to live happily and choose her own path.
• The third Bug Tide broke through the northern defenses, and time distortions caused streets to vanish and strange scenes and communications to appear around the city.
• Emilia stayed in Golden Music Hall and used her time talent to help with problems as the assault continued.
• A Subspace Evil Creature emerged from a Time Rift, and Iluna Bayes went to deal with it.
• Shade returned after searching for the Clockmaker and told Emilia that the diviners had finally located him.

Shade told Emilia that the Clockmaker was hiding in an ancient Second Epoch elf ruin beneath Vesta City, and a team of powerful allies descended underground to find her. The group reached a vast bridge leading to an ancient temple, where the two giant statues began to awaken.

• Shade explained that the Clockmaker was hiding in an ancient elf ruin beneath Vesta City and that her helpers had been driven back.
• Shade, Miss Olanord, Mr. Gerald Delong, Mr. Elderon, Emilia, and the rest of the team prepared to enter the ruins while Little Mia and Little Unicorn stayed with Margaret.
• Twenty-six members entered through a sewer entrance, and Mr. Gerald Delong used brass components to lower them through the ground.
• The team emerged beside a glowing Elf Rune Lock and saw a bridge over an abyss leading to an ancient temple guarded by two giant elf statues.
• Shade, Mr. Elderon, and Mr. Gerald Delong warned the team to stay on the bridge and led them forward as a roar sounded and the statues' eyes glowed purple-black.

Shade and the two Thirteenth Ring Warlocks led the group across the bridge through the relic’s defenses and an enormous enemy horde. When ancient elf construct puppets stopped their advance, Emilia put on the Elven Royal Authority and challenged them as the Elf King.

• Miss Olanord and the other diviners protected the group from the Undead Overture with a Death Prevention Barrier.
• Shade, Mr. Gerald Delong, and Mr. Elderon led the group across the bridge, fighting corpse ghouls, bat demons, Time Echoes, and construct puppets.
• The vanguard pushed through the enemies, with Shade reflecting lightning and blocking attacks while the others fought beside him.
• Thirteen construct puppets solidified and charged, stopping the group’s advance and increasing pressure from all sides.
• Emilia placed the Elven Royal Authority on her head and demanded that the enemies respect her as the Elf King.

Shade and his companions entered an ancient elven temple, where murals revealed fragments of the Ancient War and a luminous tree preserved memories. They found the Clockmaker waiting there, and as she invoked the Time War’s one-on-one rules to challenge Emilia, Miss Olanord stepped forward to join the fight.

• Shade’s group reached the temple, where its elf statues destroyed most of the monsters outside and the remaining puppets sealed the gates.
• Elderon and Shade led the group through murals depicting the Ancient God’s departure, the Upside-down Tree, and the war to subdue it.
• Emilia recognized an Elf King in one mural, and the group saw the final images of the postwar celebrations before reaching the palace’s end.
• The Clockmaker revealed that the luminous tree preserved memories and complained about the other organizations involved in the conflict.
• The Clockmaker summoned her Thirteenth Ring of Fate and declared that the Time War required a fair one-on-one duel with Emilia.
• Miss Olanord stepped beside Emilia and rejected the Clockmaker’s claim that the fight would be one-on-one.

The Clockmaker summoned an ancient Elf King’s memory, prompting Emilia and Miss Olanord to enter a Trial for a sealed elven memory while Shade and the others stayed behind. The Clockmaker then warned Shade that the Ancient One would unleash Time Clones of his past enemies tonight and asked whether he had intimate relationships with the Witches.

• The Clockmaker explained that the Ancient One had given her and the Tree Hole Association the secret of time, and she summoned a Great Elf from the Memory Tree.
• The ancient elf told Emilia that she could take a Trial to receive a memory left for the future Elf King, and the Clockmaker promised to concede regardless of the outcome.
• Shade verified the elf was a genuine memory fragment and sent Emilia through the glowing doorway with Miss Olanord while he and the others watched the Clockmaker.
• The Clockmaker met Shade’s gaze, saw a terrifying vision of a purple-eyed woman, and collapsed after a fissure appeared in her Magic Eye.
• The Clockmaker asked why the Tree Father favored Shade, and Shade said it was because he had used the Time Key.
• The Clockmaker warned that the Ancient One would bring back Shade’s defeated enemies as Time Clones tonight, then asked whether Shade had intimate relationships with the Witches.

Shade questioned the Clockmaker about the Tree Hole Association’s plans and learned it intended to create an eternal cycle of time. After Emilia returned from the ancient Elf Kings’ trials with new blessings and memories, the Clockmaker conceded the Time War and left, while the group prepared to face the Ancient One.

• The Clockmaker explained that the Tree Hole Association planned to complete its temporal closed loop and later use power like Time Reversal to trap the Material World in an eternal cycle.
• Shade said he was not a demigod and believed mortals could only surpass the Thirteenth Ring through extraordinary transformations or divine power.
• Elderon and Gerald Delong returned as the Clockmaker described her plan to free the world from the curse of time.
• Miss Olanord emerged with the exhausted Emilia, who had earned the ancient Elf Kings’ blessings, memories, and recognition for passing their trials.
• The Clockmaker conceded the Time War, told Shade that Miss Pawo was waiting in the woods, and vanished without setting off her claimed explosives.
• Miss Olanord told Shade that Emilia might summon projections of the ancient Elf Kings with Elven Royal Authority when they faced the Ancient One.

Shade and his allies returned from the underground elven ruins after defeating the Clockmaker and prepared to escort Emilia into the woodland to confront the Ancient Tree. With time and space collapsing beyond the city and the fourth Bug Tide approaching, Shade assembled a team to find a way through the forest.

• Shade learned that Emilia could now confront the Ancient Tree and arranged for the Witch Council, The Church, the Academy, and the Seer Association to help escort her.
• Miss Olanord teleported the group to the Golden Music Hall, where they reported defeating the Clockmaker and learned the third Bug Tide was ending.
• Luvia and Butterfly Wings Girl warned Shade that spacetime anomalies made the woodland dangerously difficult to navigate, while the Radiance Messenger and Iluna had both lost contact.
• Shade said the four World Tree branches could guide the team and declined Luvia's offer of a final divination, telling her to stay safe.
• Shade prepared to leave before the fourth Bug Tide and chose to take only one of Megan, Audrey, and Vanessa into the forest.

Shade led a thirty-person escort team into the spacetime-disordered forest to follow the World Tree branches and reach their destination. As the group fought through the forest, the primordial moonlight strengthened Shade until he nearly lost control of his imminent advancement.

• The Great Witches chose Vanessa to accompany Shade, and the factions assembled an escort team with Emilia, Little Liana, and Little Mia.
• The Creation Church gave the team a golden candle that could mark their location and summon support before they departed the city.
• Shade followed the branches north, but beyond the city’s shield they twisted toward the right as the group encountered the forest’s disordered spacetime.
• The team avoided or fought corrupted tree men, Paradox Worms, Relics, and other monsters while using the branches, the Ocarina of Time, and the Door Key to navigate.
• Primordial moonlight strengthened Shade throughout the journey, and after he struck down a snowman, Bella saw his eight-ring Destiny Ring appear.
• Shade told Bella that he could no longer suppress his imminent advancement under the gentle Silver Moon.