Chapter Summaries

Shade used a memory-recovery potion on himself and the Witches, restoring forgotten memories from their pasts but not the memories they had lost in the swamp. Maggie Victor and old Dort Victor remembered that a white horse had carried away their memories, and they asked Shade to find it in the swamp.

• In a dream, the god asked Shade to guide the lost people and offered Little Mia a ray of sunlight if Carmen came to ask for help, but Shade refused to force Carmen to choose.
• After waking, Shade asked Carmen whether she wanted her memories back, and she said she only wanted to give birth to her daughter.
• Shade, lady Thorn, Maggie Victor, and old Dort Victor drank Siris's memory-recovery potion, which brought back many old memories but none of Shade's or lady Thorn's swamp memories.
• Lady Thorn recovered fragments about the Sea of Origin and the Silver Big-Headed Monsters, then calmed herself by meditating on the god's holy emblem.
• Maggie Victor and old Dort Victor remembered that their lost memories had become a galloping white horse in the mist and asked Shade to find it in the swamp.

Shade and Lady Thorn used a crude Compass to search The Swamp for the moving horse while discussing Lady Thorn’s recovered memories of the Red Sea. She recounted encountering the Silver Monster and being saved by her ancestral Pendant, but could not tell whether her eyes had touched the Firstborn Son’s blood.

• Lady Thorn made a fragile tracking Compass from the Grandmothers Victor’s belongings and blood while Shade tested Siris’s incense burner, which prompted no memories and left Lady Carmen crying.
• Shade put away the incense burner and the derivative bullets, then set out with Lady Thorn to search The Swamp while the Grandmothers Victor stayed with Lady Carmen.
• After leaving the Temple, Lady Thorn told Shade that a dream had led her from the Far North to the pink beach and the Red Sea.
• Lady Thorn recalled resisting the sea’s Call before falling into the water and seeing the Silver Monster’s spiral-like eyes approach her.
• Lady Thorn said her ancestral Pendant exploded and wounded the monster, destroying her eyes as the red water restored her body before she lost consciousness and returned to the Material World.
• Shade suggested that Lady Thorn’s eyes might have touched the Firstborn Son’s blood, but she could not confirm what she had seen.

Shade and Ms. Thorn encountered a being that traded knowledge and objects for Humanity in the swamp. Shade obtained a Philosopher’s Stone and warnings about dangerous entities, while Ms. Thorn asked how they could remain active outside the swamp longer.

• Shade and Ms. Thorn found a hooded being blocking their path and learned it wanted Humanity in exchange for goods or answers.
• Shade traded three portions of Humanity for a Philosopher’s Stone and learned that swamp-born beings sought Humanity to become complete lives.
• Shade spent two more portions to learn about Lady Gray, the Memory Demon, and the dangers of their own memories.
• Ms. Thorn asked what could extend their time outside the swamp, and the being produced a strangely colored candle.

Shade and Lady Thorn traded their remaining Humanity for a memory candle, the [Demon Hunting Seal], and [Legacy of the Earth], then captured the White Horse’s memory in the gemstone. On their return, Shade demonstrated his second memory-related ability by transforming into a serpent and attacking a figure from the fog.

• Shade negotiated with the black-robed Merchant and exchanged eight pieces of Humanity for three items, including a memory candle, the [Demon Hunting Seal], and [Legacy of the Earth].
• The Merchant pointed Shade and Lady Thorn toward the White Horse and explained that the gemstone could briefly carry its memory.
• Shade and Lady Thorn pursued the White Horse, stopped it with the Moon Library and memory chains, and recorded it in the gemstone.
• Shade and Lady Thorn headed back toward the Temple Entrance while Thorn shared techniques for controlling memories.
• Shade transformed into a giant silver serpent, coiled around a bandaged figure emerging from the fog, and bit it with Dissolve Snake Venom.

Shade and Lady Thorn returned to the Temple and found Lady Carmen in labor, forcing Shade to perform a cesarean section. When the newborn and her mother began suffering from a soul-draining curse, the group brought them before the god, who explained its source and asked who would pray for its removal.

• Shade and Lady Thorn escaped a memory Labyrinth and returned to the Temple, where Lady Carmen was giving birth.
• At Lady Thorn's insistence, Shade used Silver Moonlight to perform a cesarean section and safely deliver Lady Carmen's daughter.
• Shade and the Witches discovered that mother and child bore soul-level curses that were draining their strength.
• The group carried Lady Carmen and her newborn to the god's dwelling, where sunlight briefly revived them.
• The god said The Swamp had cursed mother and child out of envy for the newborn's full birth, then asked who would pray for the curse to be lifted.

Lady Carmen and the two Old Witches used their wishes to secure God’s blessing for newborn Dolly, while God explained the women’s original purposes to Shade. The Witches stayed to care for the child, and Shade was left considering whether God had granted them grace in an unexpected way.

• Lady Carmen asked God to save her daughter, but God explained that each person could make only one request and refused Shade’s attempts to make the request for her.
• The two Old Witches asked God to bless the newborn, giving up both their chances so the child could grow up healthy and peaceful.
• God healed Lady Carmen and blessed the infant, then said Dolly had to remain in The Swamp until she adapted to its environment.
• Lady Carmen left her address, named the child Dolly Victor Carmen, and departed, while Lady Thorn and the two Old Witches stayed to care for her.
• God told Shade that Carmen had come hoping to send away the child she did not want, while the Old Witches had hoped to escape aging.
• Shade suggested that the women had achieved their purposes in another way, and God asked whether he thought the grace had been granted by force in God’s own manner.

Shade received sunlight and a blessing for Little Mia from the god, who said the cat could briefly rival all things and help defeat the Abomination. After Shade restored Mrs. Thorn’s memories, she revealed that a Memory Demon had taken them in a bargain, leaving Shade to confront the demon to recover them.

• The god told Shade that the old Witches had regained their memories and gave Little Mia sunlight and a blessing.
• Shade asked the god how to defeat the Abomination, and the god said Little Mia could briefly wield power capable of defeating any enemy.
• Shade returned to the Witches and helped care for Mrs. Carmen’s newborn child before using a memory-restoring bullet on Mrs. Thorn.
• A black shadow appeared around Mrs. Thorn, so Shade drove it away with Moon Fire.
• Mrs. Thorn remembered that she had traded part of her memories to the Memory Demon to survive in The Swamp.

Shade visited Lady Thorn in the Swamp of Oblivion, discovered that Fire Seed Source power was hidden in her Magic Eyes, and returned with a god’s warning and blessing for the group’s fight against Abomination. At Wei Ge’s home, he recounted the adventure while the others considered what his discoveries meant.

• Shade gave Lady Thorn the Demon Hunting Seal and urged her to stay inside until he returned to help hunt the demon threatening her memories.
• Shade examined Lady Thorn’s Magic Eyes and sensed that their hidden power came from a Fire Seed Source, though he could not explain why ordinary Life Energy could harm Firstborn Sons.
• Shade left the Swamp of Oblivion, reunited with Luvia, Dorothy, Ellie, Emilia, Iluna, and Sylvia, and learned that Little Mia had no special scent despite receiving a god’s blessing.
• Shade told the group that the god had blessed Little Mia and given her a grain of sunlight to help them fight Abomination, then hugged Dorothy after explaining that he had delivered a baby.
• Shade and the others met Wei Ge and Flora at the Fragrant Residence, where he recounted his adventure and the group discussed the Sea of Origin, the Fire Seed Source, and the dangers of praying to gods.

Shade and his allies began an expedition through Arcadia City’s sewers to destroy the [Saint Alliance], while Luvia sensed an unseen extra person following the group. Deep underground, they found ancient statues that she identified as ancestors of the Burgundy Family.

• Shade and the others finalized their plan to attack the [Saint Alliance], with Flora’s force preparing to support them aboveground.
• The twenty-five-person team and Little Mia entered the sewers and began following the route Luvia and Bella had divined.
• Luvia sensed an extra person among the team, and Adele watched from the darkness without being detected.
• The group discovered and destroyed a disguised Life Aberration, and Shade extracted its Abnormal Life Kindling.
• At the deepest part of the old sewers, Luvia divined that the statues in the wall niches depicted Burgundy Family ancestors, prompting Vanessa to discuss ancestor worship.

Shade and his allies entered an ancient Derainore tomb to confront the [Saint Alliance] and the being called the 'Container' or 'Abomination.' After mapping the tomb and bringing in reinforcements, they launched a diversionary assault and teleported a strike team to the deepest part of the Third Layer.

• Miss Eden and Sivie discussed the tomb’s possible ties to the Burgundy Royal Family, and Luvia’s divination warned Shade of a deadly crisis that could still end in success.
• The team reached the underground reservoir, where Miss Eden purified a necromantic trap and the Witch Followers found a hidden entrance sealed by Bloodkin Thaumaturgy.
• Shade opened the Rune Lock, and the group entered the tomb, read inscriptions about a Derainore-era Marquis, and mapped its four layers.
• Luvia determined that the [Saint Alliance] occupied the Second and Third Layers and that the Infant-Holding Holy Mother and the main body of the 'Container' were likely deep in the Third Layer.
• Sylvia and Dorothy opened a brief Teleportation Gate to bring in thirteen high-ring Witch Followers, while twenty-five Witch Followers attacked the Second Layer as a diversion.
• Shade, Luvia, Miss Eden, and the other strike-team members teleported to the largest burial chamber in the depths of the Third Layer.

Shade and his companions destroyed the black egg and killed the Infant-Holding Holy Mother, but the egg’s power erupted and forced Abomination into premature birth. Luvia explained that the newborn could still be destroyed, and Shade asked everyone to help him fight it.

• Miss Eden, Iluna, Sister Devlin, and Shade attacked the Infant-Holding Holy Mother while their companions fought the golden Ring Arcanists.
• Sister Devlin’s Primordial Fire weakened the Holy Mother’s barrier, and Shade split the black egg with his sword as it began to hatch.
• The Holy Mother’s death and the egg’s destruction unleashed Abomination’s chaotic power, forcing the group to retreat behind a Heaton Seal.
• Luvia explained that their assault had forced Abomination into premature birth, leaving it powerful but no longer capable of becoming the true opposite of divinity.
• Shade asked the others to help him destroy the newborn Abomination.

Shade used the Red Moon’s power to defeat Abomination in the Underground Tomb, but the creature escaped into a dream and reached the Sea of Origin. There it merged with the Mad Firstborn Son, whose emergence left Shade and the others facing a terrifying new existence.

• Shade transformed into Life Fire Form and fought Abomination as Iluna, Miss Eden, and the others supported him.
• Shade’s Red Moon power grew into glaze-colored moonlight, allowing him to seize Abomination and cast Moon Prayer · Sanctuary Aura.
• The cleansing power erased Abomination’s presence from the tomb, but Sivie and Miss Eden realized it had escaped into a dream rather than been destroyed.
• The Underground Tomb vanished, revealing Pink Beach and the Red Ocean, where Abomination sank beneath the sea.
• A gigantic silver being emerged from the Red Ocean, combining the Mad Firstborn Son with Abomination, and the group saw it turn toward them.

Shade and his allies destroyed the Firstborn Son with a coordinated assault, but the victory revealed countless similar silver lifeforms rising from the Red Ocean. The chapter leaves Shade and the survivors facing a new attack on Pink Beach.

• Shade used the Fire Seed Source and Moonlight Ray to battle the Firstborn Son, while Iluna, Sivie, Miss Eden, Emilia, and Winnie slowed its advance.
• Priest Augustus appeared at Shade’s summons and blew his horn, briefly suppressing the Red Ocean’s power.
• Sister Devlin struck the Firstborn Son with Fated Death, allowing Shade’s Light Cannon to destroy its head.
• Shade watched as countless silver lifeforms emerged from the Red Ocean and gathered blood-red light to attack the shore.

Shade and his allies battled the Red Ocean and the Firstborn Sons in the Underground Tomb, but Little Mia transformed into a Sun-powered Cat Girl and turned the tide. Ellie then helped drive the Sea of Origin back; Shade collapsed into a coma, while the enemies were swept away to return another time.

• Grace, Helen, Dorothy, and Leisha joined Shade’s group on the beach as they tried to dispel the Red Ocean, but the Firstborn Sons’ attacks overwhelmed their defenses.
• Shade used the Philosopher’s Stone to strengthen his Night Curtain, and Adele, Luvia, and the others prepared to unleash more power as the shield failed.
• Little Mia rushed to protect Shade and absorbed the Sun’s power, transforming from a cat into a Cat Girl who burned away the Firstborn Sons’ attacks.
• Ellie invoked Fairy Tale: Snow White with help from the Space Chosen One, covering the battlefield in a forest scene and driving the Red Ocean back.
• Shade collapsed into a coma, while Little Mia stood over him; the Holy Mother, the Abomination, and the Firstborn Sons were swept away from the Material World.

After the group defeated the Saint Alliance’s assault, Luvia explained that the Abomination had joined the Sea of Origin and could still cause trouble, while Shade collapsed from contact with the Firstborn Sons’ power. Iluna and Sister Devlin entered the tomb’s fourth layer, and Shade awoke in a dream, remembering what had happened.

• Sivie caught the unconscious Shade, and Winnie determined that his soul was unharmed but his body had changed after contact with the Firstborn Sons’ power.
• Luvia explained that the Abomination had become part of the Sea of Origin, leaving the Saint Alliance weakened but still able to appear in the Material World.
• Iluna and Sister Devlin went to explore the tomb’s fourth layer while Luvia organized searches of the first three layers and sent Shade away for examination.
• The Chosen Ones of Death, Balance, and Time entered the fourth layer, where ancient undead and Bloodkin began to awaken.
• Shade dreamed his way from the Red Sea to Arcadia City, recognized that he was dreaming, and woke with his memories of the battle restored.

Shade explored his new Red Moon abilities in the Dream of Curses, then awoke in the Moon Sanctuary after the Witches and Elf Girls treated him with an ancient ritual. He felt restored and stronger as the ritual ended and Danist carried him from the hot spring.

• Shade learned that his body was changing in reality and that Danist was treating him at the Moon Sanctuary, and he was warned not to use the Twisted Life Fire Seed to cast Life Fire Form again.
• Shade discovered that his Life Ray could convert Life Energy and Red Moon moonlight and create lasting constructs, and he formed a ring from the combined energies.
• Shade learned that mastering the Red and Yellow Moon powers would transform his Core Ling Rune, Silver Moon, into the power of the Moon.
• Shade awoke in the Moon Sanctuary hot spring during an ancient Elven nocturne ritual, with Danist holding him as the ritual neared its end.
• Shade assessed that his Spirit and Soul had recovered and his body had grown stronger, while the Elf Girls finished singing and left to play with the Luku Birds.
• Danist carried Shade to the edge of the hot spring, where he realized he was naked and Winnie had prepared clothes for him.

Shade awakened after the operation and learned that Little Mia had shown no unusual behavior since transforming back into a cat. Though the others urged him to rest, he began making containers for Life Energy and planned to replenish Star Dew before the group’s post-battle meeting.

• Shade reassured the women that he felt fine, then listened as they recounted what happened after he fell unconscious.
• Luvia explained that the women had tested Little Mia after witnessing her transform, but the cat had shown no special abilities and stayed beside Shade.
• Shade speculated that sunlight, divine blessing, and abundant Life Force had revealed a new stage in Little Mia’s evolution, then tried unsuccessfully to make her demonstrate her powers.
• Shade reviewed the operation’s success, including Sister Devlin’s Fated Death killing the Firstborn Son fused with the Abomination, and noted that it could revive in the sea.
• Shade created a red eye-shaped container with Life Energy and moonlight, explaining that he would make more to help the group use life secret techniques as Sea of Origin disasters spread into reality.
• Despite Galina’s urging him to rest, Shade stayed at the woodland camp to make containers and replenish Star Dew, while the others planned to meet at Wei Ge’s place for a post-battle summary.

After Shade recovered from the operation at the Sea of Origin, he and the others discussed the gains from his Fire Seed Source and the dangers uncovered in the ancient tomb. The chapter ended with Shade spending the night at the Moon Sanctuary, testing new abilities while Galina, Dorothy, Luvia, and Daniste stayed with him.

• Shade learned that the Life Energy in his Fire Seed Source had more than doubled after the Sea of Origin supplied it with Life Fire Seeds.
• Luvia confirmed that the Infant-Holding Holy Mother and the Abomination had lost their ability to become Chosen Ones, while the Witch Council continued examining the Saint Alliance's recovered materials.
• Daniste told Shade that an ancient Bloodkin family had entered Slumber after discovering madness in the Burgundy Family's blood, which could infect their souls and descendants.
• Shade and the others suspected the Burgundy Family's bloodline and Hermons's New Humanity plan were tied to dangerous effects originating in the Sea of Origin.
• Shade reassured Dorothy that he did not blame her for fusing with Leisha, and Galina teased them about their tender exchange.
• Daniste sent Ellie back to the Academy, while Galina, Dorothy, Luvia, and Daniste stayed with Shade as he experimented with combining Life Fire Seeds and Red Moon moonlight.

Shade postponed exploring the dream and spent Monday preparing to investigate the memory demon in Arcadia City. Doctor Schneider offered to teach him a Demon Hunter Thaumaturgy, and Shade planned to combine it with Siris's memory and oblivion powers; the chapter ended with Priest Augustus relieved to find Shade safe.

• Luvia persuaded Shade to wait before entering the dream again, and Shade decided he could investigate the Demon instead.
• Shade collected a single boot as his weekly gift, then went to Arcadia City with Little Mia while Dorothy, Luvia, and Winnie left ahead of him.
• Shade told Doctor Schneider about the memory demon and asked how to obtain a traded memory from it.
• Doctor Schneider promised to teach Shade a universal Demon Hunter Thaumaturgy and suggested combining it with Potent Oblivion Thaumaturgy.
• Shade agreed to use Siris's powers to help uncover the memory demon's core and kept the option of seeking help from the god in the Swamp.
• At Dawn Church, Priest Augustus welcomed Shade and admitted he had spent the night worrying about him.

Shade learned that the Sea of Origin would reach the Material World this summer, giving everyone at least some time to prepare for the Final Battle. At Fragrant Residence, the others confirmed that he and Dorothy were unharmed, while Iluna confided that she felt disappointed by her limited role in the successful operation.

• Priest Augustus told Shade that the Death Bringer's spinal bone remained in the Sea of Origin and that he could sense the sea's approach, which he estimated would reach the Material World within two months at the latest.
• Shade heard the Sea of Origin's tides near Blue Ink Library and left a Red Jade Eye there to absorb the Life Energy expected to gather in the area.
• Wei Ge, Megan, Audrey, and the others welcomed Shade at Fragrant Residence and examined him and Dorothy for lingering problems.
• Megan and Audrey carried out an additional examination of Shade at Luvia's request, and Dorothy's examination revealed no new abnormalities, though her connection to Leisha was worsening.
• Iluna told Shade she felt unhappy that her power had contributed little to the operation, and Shade reassured her that she should not compare herself to Little Mia.