Chapter Summaries

Shade and Sylvia opened a new landmark at the summit of Fatumonst Snow Mountain, and Sylvia offered to lease him her tower and its key in exchange for his continued attention. Shade then shared secret information about the Demon Swords with Elder Harald and Miss Reinhart before setting out with the witch and Stella Larson to investigate a contaminated site on the mountain.

• Shade and Sylvia entered the Space Labyrinth beneath the snow and established the Summit of Fatumonst Snow Mountain as his thirteenth landmark.
• Sylvia refused to give Shade the tower key but offered to lease him the tower and key, with the lease subject to regular assessments.
• Shade gave Elder Harald the extra Holy Blood and shared confidential information about the Angel Level Relic, the Demon Swords, and how to treat their metallization effect.
• Elder Harald agreed to prepare a ritual to detect the number of Demon Swords and reported that The Church was using a controlled sword as bait to trap them.
• Shade, Miss Reinhart, and Stella Larson left by boat to investigate a contaminated site and receive a baptismal blessing at a small auditorium on the mountain.

At the contaminated spring beneath Snow Mountain, Shade and the two witches fought ice-crystal monsters and investigated the source of the pollution. The landscape awakened Shade’s insight, and he gained Chloe’s Time-Space Freeze, leaving the group to discover his new power.

• Shade suggested bringing wild Luku Birds from Vesta Woodland to town as mountain mounts, and Claire Reinhart explained that she and Miss Larson had missed the Woodland War while handling trouble in the Archipelago Kingdom.
• The group reached the sealed spring near Geiranger Village, received protective charms, and entered the contaminated Cedar Forest.
• Shade used Thunderclap Wave to knock down two black ice-crystal giants, while Claire Reinhart explained that fire or solar power could destroy them and leave valuable Ice Blocks.
• The group fought more ice-crystal giants and found the frozen spring, where Shade sensed the harmony of the Sun, Snow Mountain, and time.
• Shade froze the falling snow and gained the Thaumaturgy Chloe’s Time-Space Freeze, which could affect soulless entities, non-entities, and scenes.

Shade examined the contaminated spring and found no trace of a Demon in Stella Larson, though she carried a powerful coldness held in check by her Sun Power. After his first attempt to purify the spring failed from above, he entered its freezing water and successfully began the purification.

• Shade used Freeze Spacetime to let the suspended snow fall, impressing Miss Reinhart with his mastery despite lacking an ice-related Spirit Rune.
• With Miss Reinhart and Stella Larson's consent, Shade examined Stella and found no Demon influence, but detected a dangerous cold power balanced by her Sun Power.
• Shade tried to purify the spring from the ice above it, but the ice blocked his Earth Power.
• Miss Reinhart prepared blessings and a rope for Shade, while Stella Larson set out potions and Little Mia stayed beside the spring.
• Shade entered the freezing water, used his First Fire Embers state to resist the cold, and successfully cast Earth Power - Healing Aura to begin purifying the contamination.

While undergoing purification in the Cold Pool spring, Shade heard and saw an echo of Long-Haired Luvia’s past conversation with Claire Reinhart, revealing that Luvia planned to retrieve a piece of Pi hidden at the spring’s bottom. Luvia sensed Shade across time and attacked him, and he answered with Night Curtain Seal.

• Shade closed his eyes in the spring and began hearing voices from a past moment.
• Shade heard Long-Haired Luvia tell Claire Reinhart that she intended to retrieve a piece of Pi hidden beneath the spring and discussed the dangers of interfering with Destiny.
• Luvia entered the spring, sensed Shade watching her across time, and accused Adele of spying on her.
• Luvia slashed at Shade with Shattering Spacetime: Moonlight Slash, and Shade countered with Night Curtain Seal.

Miss Reinhart and Miss Larson waited for Shade to cleanse the mountain’s filth when Kalle Fortuna, a bishop of the Misfortune Order, arrived to eliminate the Witch as a threat to fate. His bad-luck relic summoned a Moon Beast, but Little Mia drove the ancient evil away with a meow.

• Shade used his Thaumaturgy underwater to drive away the filth, while Little Mia kept the ice opening clear with her flame.
• Kalle Fortuna approached Miss Reinhart and explained that the Spinning Wheel had brought him to stop her from disrupting the island’s story.
• Miss Reinhart prepared to fight, but Kalle used the Brave Man’s Challenge to bring her misfortune and summoned a Moon Beast through a spatial rift.
• Little Mia called at the Moon Beast, which closed its eye and vanished along with the rift.

Shade emerged from the pool after Long-Haired Luvia’s black Moonlight struck him, damaging his Fate Relic and leaving him with new thaumaturgy. After driving off the Cultist bishop, Shade learned the Chosen of Fate might appear on Fatumonst Island and returned underwater to investigate something at the pool’s bottom.

• Shade flew out of the pool, collided with Kalle Fortuna’s die, and found the relic cracked and infused with black light.
• Shade’s thaumaturgy grew stronger, and he used Moonlight Slash against the Twelve-Ring Cultist, who turned to dust and apparently escaped.
• The witch told Shade that Little Mia’s cry had scared off an Ancient Evil Being and that the Chosen of Fate might appear on the island.
• Shade explained that he had to investigate something at the bottom of the pool, despite Claire Reinhart’s offer to go instead.
• Shade tied the rope around his waist and sank into the Cold Pool again while Claire Reinhart and Miss Larson waited on shore.

Shade retrieved a Serpent's Shedding from the spring, and its writing identified Claire Reinhart as a minor supporting character in the Chosen of Fate story unfolding on the island. After reporting the discovery and warning villagers about the Misfortune Order, Shade discussed the three Angel Level Fate Relics with Claire and Miss Larson.

• Shade found a hidden cave with Enhanced Space Perception beneath the spring, but it vanished before he could investigate further.
• Shade gave Claire Reinhart the Serpent's Shedding, and her blood revealed her role and personal storyline in the Chosen of Fate.
• Shade theorized that the island's residents had roles in a story directed by three Angel Level Fate Relics, while Claire worried about the Snow Mountain's fate.
• Claire sent a report about the cultists and the Serpent's Shedding to Kel-Todd Town, and the group warned a nearby village to watch for strangers.
• Shade named the Puppeteer's Script, the Prophecy Spinning Wheel, and the Crossroads Kaleidoscope as the likely Fate Relics behind the story, and Claire suggested the Kaleidoscope belonged to a neutral or benevolent faction.

Shade and Miss Reinhart and Miss Larson climbed to a remote mountain auditorium to cleanse the second source of pollution. After using the Holy Grail, Shade was transported into a blizzard toward an ice-blue light and touched a Miracle and Enlightenment.

• Miss Reinhart explained the Fate Order's connection to the Tragedy Troupe, and the three left the village after lunch.
• Shade, Miss Reinhart, and Miss Larson climbed toward an abandoned auditorium while fighting corrupted creatures along the cliffside path.
• Shade melted the black ice blocking the auditorium and used the Holy Grail to cleanse the pollution.
• An ice-blue mist appeared, and Shade found that Miss Reinhart and Miss Larson had vanished as the auditorium gave way to a snowstorm.
• Shade followed the light through the blizzard and touched it, receiving the message that he had touched Miracle and Enlightenment.

Shade received the Snow Mountain’s blessing after purifying its corruption and encountered the Witch Echo of Chloe, who told him to seek answers in ice and snow. Back in Kael-Todd Town, Elder Harald arranged a meeting with the other Elders to discuss the blessing and what might lie beneath the mountain.

• Shade engraved the Ice and Snow Ling Rune, sublimated three spells into Thaumaturgies, and met the Witch Echo of Chloe, who urged him not to forget her.
• Claire Reinhart recognized Shade’s experience as resembling the Fatu People’s rite for becoming Elders and explained that the Snow Mountain had likely repaid him for purifying its corruption.
• Claire performed a baptismal blessing for Miss Larson, and the group returned to Kael-Todd Town to meet Elder Harald.
• After Shade described his blessing, Elder Harald called for a meeting of the other Elders and promised to answer Shade’s questions about what lay beneath the mountain.
• Shade and the witch discussed the island’s tangled events and wondered who its true protagonist was, while Shade questioned whether the Demon Sword had to be central.

Shade and Claire Reinhart discussed the possibility of an evil god appearing on Fatumonst Island before meeting Sun Church officials investigating an anonymous report that Claire belonged to the Witch Council. Shade used his Military Intelligence Section Six identification to defuse their suspicions, and the group left Snow Mountain Hall while Elder Harald prepared to inspect the ritual preparations.

• Shade argued that a Demon Sword would not be a major character in Fated Story and noted that evil gods had appeared in four Chosen Ones' stories.
• Elder Harald summoned Shade, Claire Reinhart, and Miss Larson to Snow Mountain Hall, where Sun Church Ring Arcanists Mr. Lems Ericson and Ms. Eino Kolhonen questioned Claire about the Witch Council.
• Claire and Miss Larson denied knowing about the Witch Council, while Claire stayed close behind Shade as he answered questions about his identity as John Watson.
• Shade showed the Sun Church officials his Military Intelligence Section Six identification and hinted at the Grand Duke of Laggson's negotiations, convincing them to drop the inquiry and apologize.
• Elder Harald left with the Church officials to inspect preparations, while Shade departed with Claire and Miss Larson after agreeing to play cards with him that evening.

After returning from Fatumonst Island, Shade discussed the emerging Chosen Ones’ story and its Destiny-affecting Relics with Luvia, Iluna, and Galina. He returned to Kael-Todd Town that evening, where Claire hurried him into Snow Mountain Hall for an important gathering.

• Shade left Claire Reinhart and Stella after explaining that his identification belonged to Military Intelligence Section Six, then returned home with Little Mia.
• Iluna described a mission involving an out-of-control Relic, and Shade told Luvia, Iluna, and Galina about the snow mountain and the Relics connected to Claire’s misfortune.
• Shade and the others discussed how the Puppeteer's Script, the Prophecy Spinning Wheel, and the Crossroads Kaleidoscope might shape the Ninth Chosen One’s story.
• Shade showed them the Dice of Destiny and the damaged Brave Man's Challenge, and Luvia advised him to consult Daniste before combining the Relics.
• After dinner, Shade left Little Mia at home and returned to Kael-Todd Town, where Claire took his hand and hurried him toward the brightly lit Snow Mountain Hall.

Shade attended the Snow Mountain Hall gathering with Claire Reinhart, demonstrated his ice and snow magic, and joined the discussion about who would host the Ten Thousand Spirits Festival. The elders proposed that Claire undergo the Crown of Glory Ritual to qualify, and she agreed to attempt it next week.

• Claire Reinhart brought Shade and her followers into the banquet hall, where the Fatu elders gathered to discuss the festival.
• Shade demonstrated that the Snow Mountain strengthened his magic by freezing the fireplace flames and then restoring them with a Sunlight Ray.
• The elders voted on who should help host the Year 1855 Ten Thousand Spirits Festival and considered Claire as a replacement for the injured Harald.
• Ursa proposed that Claire undergo the Crown of Glory Ritual because she refused to become a priest.
• The elders arranged a more difficult version of the ritual, and Claire agreed to attempt it the following week.

The elders discussed the threat posed by nine Demon Swords and agreed to let the Sun Church fight them on the Snow Mountain. When Shade touched the Fatu People’s holy relic, Ice Jade, it showed the Snow Mountain and recognized him as a possible sixth Elder.

• Elder Harald explained that the Crown of Glory Ritual had to be completed alone and revealed that nine Sword Spawn Mother Nests remained, with the Demon Swords expected to attack the Sun Church soon.
• Elder Harald said the Sun Church had brought Camille Eden to handle the threat, and the elders unanimously agreed to let the battle take place on the Snow Mountain without joining it.
• Elder Ule brought out Ice Jade, which displayed Elder symbols for Elder Vilda and Claire Reinhart, and a priest symbol for an ordinary priest.
• Shade touched Ice Jade, which showed his Nine-Ring status before revealing an image of Fatumonst Snow Mountain engulfed in flames.
• Elder Vilda told Shade that the Snow Mountain and Ice Jade recognized him as their sixth Elder, and said he and Claire Reinhart might help with preparations for the Ten Thousand Spirits Festival.

After receiving the Snow Mountain Assembly’s recognition, Shade used the Ice Jade and glimpsed the second step of his Demigod Road: falling from somewhere. He and Miss Reinhart then questioned the Elders about the Snow Mountain’s strange caves and the Serpent’s Shedding, leaving them with more clues to investigate.

• The Snow Mountain Assembly named Shade an Honorary Fatu People and offered him a vision of his future through the Ice Jade.
• After the Elders prepared him with food, drink, music, and coral powder, Shade touched the Ice Jade and saw himself climb the Snow Mountain before leaping from its summit.
• Shade received a revelation that he had glimpsed the second step of his Demigod Road and gained insight into Snake, Destiny, and Cycle.
• Shade asked about the caves that appeared and vanished within the Snow Mountain, and Elder Vilda explained that they were ancient phenomena linked to a great existence.
• The Elders said the Fatu People once worshipped giant snakes and shared a five-hundred-year-old account of a Serpent’s Shedding bearing the words, “The story has not yet begun. The stage does not need actors.”
• The Elders offered Shade access to their library and discounted supplies, and promised to search for the old Serpent’s Shedding while limiting his Snow Mountain Water purchases to three portions per month.

Shade received the Steel Snake Thaumaturgy from Elder Ursa and learned that Miss Reinhart was the daughter of a folklorist who settled on Fatumonst Island. Back home, Shade discussed his upcoming plans and the Council's interest in the island, then reunited with Luvia in both reality and the Doomsday Dream, where they considered what had caused their brief contact across time and space.

• Elder Ursa gave Shade the Steel Snake Thaumaturgy as payment for treating Harald, and Shade gratefully accepted it.
• Elder Ule revealed that Miss Reinhart was the daughter of a Wilundell folklorist who had settled on Fatumonst Island after marrying a local woman, and Miss Reinhart invited Shade to meet her father.
• Shade told Galina and Megan he planned to visit Professor Reinhart on Sunday, while Megan said the Council might send a Great Witch to investigate the island and that the Speaker could visit later.
• Luvia prepared to investigate the Serpent's Shedding, while Shade spent the evening with Galina and Megan before carrying Luvia to the bedroom to sleep beside her.
• Shade met the Long-haired Girl in the Doomsday Dream and told her about their accidental contact in the pool; she concluded that their points in spacetime had briefly overlapped, and Shade wondered if a second Yggdrasil Key had caused it.

Shade learned from Luvia how Destiny and their connection had drawn him into a glimpse of a destroyed Spacetime, then received a primordial Fate rune and Ouroboros' Blessing. After waking, he mastered the high-circle spell Steel Snake, and Luvia began divining the Serpent's Shedding.

• Luvia explained that Shade's visions of the destroyed Spacetime came from Destiny, their bond, and his repeated closeness to her.
• Luvia gave Shade a portion of her primordial Power of Fate, and he received the choice to turn it into a Spirit Rune and gain Ouroboros' Blessing.
• Shade woke beside Luvia on Friday, then ate the ritual Snake and mastered the high-circle spell Steel Snake.
• Shade tested Steel Snake by transforming the Moonbeam Greatsword's hilt into a whip and smashing an apple.
• After Galina, Megan, and Audrey left, Luvia tossed two Lucky Coins to divine the Serpent's Shedding.

Luvia divined that the Serpent's Shedding classified people by their importance in a Fated Story, and urged Shade to help Claire Reinhart draw out the island's hidden contenders while staying offstage himself. Shade then visited Saint Byron's, where Daniste arranged the fusion of his two relics and explained how he could free the Hound soul trapped in the Corpse Tree.

• Luvia explained the five Story Character categories and theorized that a Chosen of Fate had to advance their role until becoming the story's sole Protagonist.
• Luvia told Shade to help Claire Reinhart stir up Fatumonst Island and expose other Protagonist candidates, while avoiding the Serpent's Shedding and remaining an audience member.
• Shade met Daniste at the Academy Library, learned that Saint Byron's had been asked to investigate the Angel-level relic on Fatumonst Island, and promised to join Daniste at Kalas Mountain when they had time.
• Daniste and Shade submitted the Dice of Destiny and Brave Man's Challenge for relic Fusion, and professors confirmed the damaged relics could be fused into a Keeper of Secrets Level relic.
• Daniste gave Shade detailed information on the Corpse Tree and advised him to draw out its consumed spirits, inflict soul-targeting pain until it released the Hound's soul, then defeat the weakened Tree and extract its remaining spirit.

Shade used his visit to Saint Byrens to plan how to extract the hound’s spirit, tour the Academy with Daniste, and catch up with Emilia. The chapter ended with the elves deciding that Emilia’s Crowning Ceremony had to be held in the Land of Fate.

• Shade told Daniste he could use the Benevolent Doctor's Injection Needle to safely absorb the hound’s spirit while pursuing the mission to learn the Gravestone Wasteland’s secret.
• Daniste took Shade through the History College museum, where Professor Odias recognized her but kept quiet at her signal.
• Shade and Daniste surprised Emilia at lunch, and Emilia explained that she was dieting after outgrowing the measurements for her formal dress.
• Emilia joined Shade’s Academy visit and traveled with him to the elves’ forest settlement in Far North City.
• Shade discussed Emilia’s Crowning Ceremony with Grandma Qishala and the other elders, who said it must be held in the Land of Fate rather than before the Crystal Throne.

Emilia showed Shade and Daniste her new ability to accelerate Little Liana’s growth, then Shade and Daniste headed for her tower before Aisha Eisberg arrived with news about discoveries on the Ice Field. The chapter ended with Daniste leading Shade inside and asking whether he thought she was old.

• Grandma Qishala told Emilia that the elves were preparing her coronation as the first Elf Queen of the Sixth Epoch, and Shade promised to crown her as the God Summoner.
• Emilia recalled a dream of a two-headed snake in a snowy mountain cave after Shade asked about Fatumonst Snow Mountain.
• At the unicorn pasture, Emilia used her Destiny Ring and Tree Staff to make Little Liana grow into her adult form.
• After Emilia rode away to class, Shade and Daniste set off for her tower to spend time together.
• Aisha Eisberg met Shade and Daniste at the library and asked Daniste to help with things dug up on the Ice Field.
• Daniste asked Shade if he thought she was old, then led him into her residence.

Shade joined Luvia, Priest Augustus, Doctor Schneider, and Dorothy at the abandoned Carnation House, where Luvia entered a spatial anomaly alone to seek spatial power. While the others waited for her return, Dorothy read a diary revealing the scandal behind the sanctuary’s closure.

• Shade arrived at Old John's pawnshop and learned that Luvia planned to enter a spatial anomaly to obtain spatial power.
• Luvia explained that she had to face the anomaly alone, while Shade and the others would wait outside and search for her if she did not return within an hour.
• The group traveled to the abandoned Carnation House and found the bound anomaly in a ward on the second floor.
• Luvia entered the distorted space, and Dorothy confirmed that it was stable enough to support her for an hour.
• While they waited, Dorothy read a diary describing how the sanctuary's founder had cheated her stepson out of his inheritance and how he later claimed the property and closed the house.