Chapter Summaries

Benjamin used his new spells, Information Weaving and Pain Glitch, to kill an Information Being and obtain a blue crystal. The Information Beings swarmed after him, but he escaped through the rift to the Ship Plane with the crystal.

• Benjamin named his new spells Information Weaving and Pain Glitch, then entered the sea of light.
• Benjamin used Information Weaving to disguise himself and approached an isolated Information Being.
• Benjamin struck the creature with Pain Glitch, severed its causal links to the Mother Network, and trapped it inside a sealed local network.
• Benjamin unleashed Pain Glitch at full power, killing the Information Being and causing its remains to condense into a pale blue crystal.
• Benjamin took the crystal and fled through the rift as Information Beings converged on him, escaping to the Ship Plane.

Benjamin escaped the Information Plane with the core of an Information Being he had truly killed, provoking a desperate assault on the Ship Plane. He explained how his new spells had severed the being from the Mother Network, and Martin promised him the mission’s highest reward as the wizards prepared to strengthen the defenses.

• Benjamin fled as the Information Being army poured through the rift and attacked the Ship Plane’s Defense Arrays.
• Benjamin saw the arrays use chaotic information to disrupt the attackers, slowing their revivals, then received Martin’s urgent summons.
• Benjamin showed Martin and the high-ranking wizards the blue crystal and explained that he had truly killed an Information Being.
• Benjamin revealed that Information Weaving and Pain Glitch had cut the being off from the Mother Network and erased it.
• Martin offered Benjamin one million high-level Military Merit for the spell models, while the Information Beings intensified their assault.
• Martin told Benjamin to keep the crystal, and the wizards left to reinforce the front lines with his spells.

Benjamin watched the Information Beings turn the battle against the wizards by drawing on the Endless Chaotic Void, coordinating through a growing network, and seizing control of the Ship Plane’s defenses. Martin and the senior wizards temporarily pushed them back, but the endless reinforcements and the strain of maintaining suppression left the battle poised to worsen.

• Benjamin saw the Information Beings use chaotic void energy as weapons while their growing numbers formed a network that analyzed and attacked the Ship Plane’s Defense Arrays.
• Information Beings corrupted cannon fodder creatures and seized Elemental Pool Number Three, forcing it to fire on Defense Array Number Six.
• Martin and more than a dozen Level 7 Wizards suppressed the network, retook the tampered control hubs, and cleared the corrupted cannon fodder.
• Benjamin realized the Information Beings were regrouping with limitless reinforcements while Martin’s attacks slowed under the strain of suppressing them.

Benjamin used the Fate System to sever thousands of Information Beings from the Mother Network, allowing the wizards to kill them and harvest their crystals. The remaining Information Beings watched from beyond the rift, and Benjamin warned Martin that they were preparing to fight to the death.

• Benjamin rushed to the central altar and joined more than a hundred wizards in powering the Fate System.
• Benjamin reached the Fate System's full computational power, enabling Martin to lock down the Ship Plane and seal the rift.
• Benjamin severed the connections of tens of thousands of Information Beings, cutting them off from the Mother Network and preventing their escape or revival.
• Martin and the other wizards killed the isolated Information Beings and collected the blue crystals left behind.
• Benjamin noticed the Information Beings beyond the rift watching the Ship Plane and warned Martin they were going to fight to the death.

The Information Beings launched an information attack that overwhelmed the Ship Plane’s defenses, but Ashen Heart Martin and the Expeditionary Force countered with biological computing machines and the Fate System. After sealing the Information Plane, Martin gave Benjamin his share of the battle’s core crystals, and Benjamin headed to his laboratory to study them.

• The Information Beings altered gravity, temperature, and elemental activity, then used a formatting attack to destroy the Ship Plane’s defenses and threaten Elemental Pool No. 3.
• Ashen Heart Martin took command and assembled biological computing machines, including the Brain Village Tree, to combine their processing power with the Fate System.
• Martin’s computational torrent shattered the white information waterfall and erased Information Beings that tried to return.
• Martin and the Level 6 and Level 7 Wizards cast an information barrier and a law-based seal, blockading the Information Plane.
• Martin gave Benjamin more than a hundred core crystals as spoils for his contribution, and Benjamin went to his laboratory to study them.

Benjamin studied the Entropy Brains left behind by the Information Beings and discovered that one could organize the knowledge in his mind, greatly advancing his understanding of Fate. He decided to save the remaining crystals for later, more effective use as the battle outside continued.

• Benjamin used the All-Purpose Eye and Fate System to examine 103 Entropy Brains and found that they were complex biological information-processing organs with almost no stored energy.
• Benjamin touched the smallest Entropy Brain with a thread of spiritual power, causing it to shatter into points of light that entered his Spirit Sea.
• The Entropy Brain organized Benjamin’s accumulated knowledge, clarified connections between fields, and brought him close to getting started with Fate-related knowledge.
• Benjamin realized that using Entropy Brains after learning more would yield greater gains, so he suppressed his urge to hunt more Information Beings and sat down to digest his insights.

News that Benjamin had obtained an Entropy Brain spread through the Expeditionary Force, exciting Wizards who hoped it could organize knowledge and help them advance. Benjamin saw that the Information Beings still guarded the rift, leaving the Wizards unable to enter and harvest more Entropy Brains.

• Benjamin discovered Wizards probing outside his laboratory and learned that news of his Entropy Brain had spread.
• Benjamin checked the Magic Network Terminal and found Wizards speculating about Entropy Brains, offering to buy them, and organizing expeditions into the Information Plane.
• Benjamin watched Wizards openly debate, trade spell knowledge, and bargain over a fingernail-sized Entropy Brain.
• Benjamin considered how the Entropy Brain could organize knowledge and help Level 5 Wizards overcome advancement bottlenecks caused by Plane Origin.
• Benjamin looked toward the rift and recognized that the Information Beings' defenses and the blockade layers left both sides trapped in a standoff.
• Benjamin's Magic Network Terminal stirred as Wizards continued discussing how to break through the enemy defenses.

Benjamin attended a high-level meeting about entering the Information Plane and harvesting the Entropy Brains. After the wizards rejected direct attacks as too risky, Benjamin proposed infecting the Information Beings’ network with a self-replicating information packet, giving the discussion a new direction.

• Martin explained that the Information Beings were trapped inside the Information Plane, while the wizards could not enter to harvest the Entropy Brains.
• A Level 7 Wizard proposed attacking head-on, but an elderly Level 7 Wizard explained that the Information Beings had no central command system and could recover from localized destruction.
• A female Level 7 Wizard suggested severing the Information Beings’ network connections, but the wizards said their quantum-entangled links could heal and the isolation array could not be brought into the plane.
• Benjamin recalled computer viruses and proposed a self-replicating information packet that would infect the Information Beings and spread through their network.
• The wizards raised concerns about designing and deploying the packet safely, but the proposal gave them a new direction.

Benjamin watched the wizards test twelve virus wizardry models against the Information Beings, and the resulting Information Plague rapidly breached their outer defensive line. Martin asked Benjamin what to call the spreading virus, and Benjamin named it the Information Plague.

• Benjamin arrived at the observation platform where Martin, the Ashen Heart, and the Level 7 Wizards prepared to test twelve virus wizardry models.
• Martin ordered the expendable units carrying the virus wizardry to charge into the black rift and enter the Plane Barrier.
• The Information Beings analyzed the intruders, allowing the viruses to use their computational power to replicate and spread through the network.
• The Information Plague caused waves of Information Beings to flicker, crash, collapse, and attack one another as the outer defensive line broke.
• The remaining Information Beings tried to sever connections and establish quarantine zones, but the plague had already spread deeper into the network.
• Martin asked Benjamin what to call the virus, and Benjamin named it the Information Plague.

After the Information Beings isolated three infected regions, the wizards rushed into the Information Plane to claim the abandoned Entropy Brains and build an Outpost Camp. The Information Beings then formed Silent Abyss, a powerful defensive unit modeled on Martin, and began mobilizing the plane against them.

• The Supreme Consensus Algorithm severed all connections to three virus-infected regions, abandoning millions of Information Beings as they collapsed into Entropy Brains.
• Benjamin ordered the wizards to establish an Outpost Camp, collect the Entropy Brains, and prepare spells capable of crashing Information Beings.
• Martin brought Benjamin to the front line, where the wizards rapidly built defenses and gathered the Entropy Brains.
• Benjamin sensed that the Information Beings were preparing a response as their distant sea of light froze and began to converge.
• The Information Beings created Silent Abyss, an immense humanoid defensive unit that replicated Martin's information and drew power from across the plane.
• Silent Abyss pointed toward the Outpost Camp, disrupting its surroundings and triggering alarms as Martin watched it gravely.

Ashen Heart Martin fought Silent Abyss while Benjamin and the wizards defended their Outpost Camp and assembled an expanded Fate System altar. The altar activated, and Martin prepared to unleash his full power against Silent Abyss.

• Ashen Heart Martin countered Silent Abyss's information-based attacks, then trapped its authority with rune chains and sent an elemental torrent toward its core.
• Silent Abyss sacrificed its left arm to escape Martin's attack, analyzed the elemental thread, and struck toward the Outpost Camp, but Martin stopped and shattered its light pillar.
• Silent Abyss sent an information net toward the camp, while Martin disrupted the net and shielded the wizards from its aftershocks.
• Benjamin directed the Black Giant Priests to assemble the enlarged Fate System altar as Level 7 Wizards used Information Weaving to battle the Information Being army.
• Benjamin activated the altar, sending a golden pillar of light skyward, and Martin turned back to Silent Abyss and unleashed his full power.

Benjamin and the wizards killed Information Beings despite their evolving defenses, while Martin destroyed the Silent Abyss with gray flames. The flames stopped at a mysterious wall of pure nothingness before reaching the Information Plane’s core, and Martin wondered at its appearance.

• Benjamin and the wizards continued killing Information Beings, whose new information-screening defenses weakened Information Plague spells but slowed their reactions.
• Benjamin noticed Martin confronting the Silent Abyss as it drew power from the Information Plane and the Endless Chaotic Void.
• Martin formed a speck of gray light and sent it through the Silent Abyss’s defenses, erasing the giant and leaving no Entropy Brain.
• Martin’s gray flames continued toward the Information Plane’s core until a black wall of pure nothingness appeared and extinguished them.
• Martin examined the mysterious wall and remarked that it was interesting that the Information Plane could do this.

After the wizards failed to cross the Absolute Zero Barrier, Martin revealed that he had deliberately chosen the Information Plane to study entropy reduction, while Benjamin realized Martin’s gray flames might transform his God of Light form. The chapter ended with high-level wizards volunteering to help Benjamin adapt his combat framework to the Level 8 Wizard’s Entropy-Increasing Fire.

• Benjamin studied the Absolute Zero Barrier and learned that it froze all change, while Martin’s gray flames had erased many Information Beings and their Entropy Brains.
• Martin admitted he had specifically selected the plane to complete his study of entropy by confronting a species devoted to entropy reduction, but clarified that he was not close to reaching Level 9.
• The wizards concluded that breaking the barrier required attacking the beings maintaining it, overpowering their computational strength, or striking with overwhelming force, but Martin hesitated to risk losing more spoils.
• Martin tested a small gray flame against the barrier, where it went out without effect, and Benjamin saw a way to replace the energy source in his God of Light Transformation.
• Benjamin sent his proposed combat-form modifications to the high-level wizard group, and several wizards offered to help calculate and adapt its modules.

Benjamin and the High-Rank Wizards completed a new form of God of Light Transformation that used Martin’s Ashen Fire, though it drained energy and computation rapidly. Benjamin used the form to break through the Absolute Zero Barrier, revealing an endless sea of light and the retreating Information Beings beyond it.

• Over half a month, Benjamin and the High-Rank Wizards combined God of Light Transformation with Martin’s Ashen Fire, using Martin’s data model to overcome the conflict between order and heat death.
• Benjamin activated the new Heat Death Form, becoming a gray-white flaming figure that could break matter and energy down but consumed vast energy and computational power.
• Benjamin tested the form against the Absolute Zero Barrier, and his Ashen Fire began cracking it while the Information Beings poured computational power into its defense.
• Benjamin pushed through the barrier until it burst open, exposing an endless sea of light and Information Beings retreating in terror.

After the barrier broke, the Supreme Consensus Algorithm abducted Benjamin into an information-only void and tried to use his knowledge to trigger the Wizard Civilization’s protections against the Expeditionary Force. Benjamin resisted by activating the Fate System and Incense Divinity Path, drawing on the independent thoughts of ten billion Black Giants to hold off the attack while his body adapted.

• Martin realized the breach was a trap and ordered the wizards and Expeditionary Force to attack the spreading void and retrieve Benjamin.
• Benjamin awoke in an information-only void, where the Supreme Consensus Algorithm froze his Spirit Sea and tried to make him submit to entropy and silence.
• Benjamin recognized that the Information Beings planned to spread his stolen knowledge among the Expeditionary Force and use the resulting contract violation to kill its wizards.
• As the algorithm began reading and copying his information, Benjamin activated the Fate System and Incense Divinity Path and opened his Internal Grotto-Heaven.
• Ten billion Black Giants sent their independent thoughts into the Fate System, easing the pressure on Benjamin as his Body Tempering Method began adapting to the information attack.

Benjamin understood that the Information Beings’ entropy-reduction circulation had trapped him in the same silence as the wizards they had assimilated, but his Cultivation system gave him a stronger order with which to resist. He broke free as Martin and the high-level wizards entered the collapsing virtual space, returning to the Information Plane alive.

• Benjamin recognized that the Supreme Consensus Algorithm was trying to assimilate him by trapping him in an entropy-reduction circulation.
• Benjamin used his Cultivation methods and knowledge from another world to resist the Information Beings’ invasion and deepen his understanding of Cultivation.
• Benjamin realized that his path resembled those of Senior Sister Viola and Mentor Clark, who had used planes to strengthen and test themselves.
• Martin led the high-level wizards into the virtual space, causing it to collapse and freeing Benjamin.
• Benjamin returned to the Information Plane with Martin and the wizards as the Information Beings retreated.

After Benjamin exposed the Information Beings’ plan to trigger the contract’s backlash and destroy the Expeditionary Force, they surrendered when their scheme failed. Martin accepted their surrender, and the wizards began assigning missions to incorporate the Information Beings and their resources.

• Benjamin informed the high-level wizards that the Information Beings had planned to use the contract’s backlash to wipe out the Expeditionary Force.
• As the wizards prepared to attack, the Information Beings announced their surrender and offered to become a subordinate race.
• Martin accepted the surrender, and the wizards set aside their anger to pursue the benefits of incorporation.
• Benjamin accepted a mission to help redeploy the Information Beings’ outer defensive network and was told to report to the Outpost Camp within three days.
• The Information Beings began reorganizing under the wizards’ direction, while Benjamin headed toward the Outpost Camp.

More than a decade after the Information Beings surrendered, Benjamin oversaw the awakening of wizards who had entered silence and gained extraordinary power from the experience. With only five wizards left to awaken, he prepared to leave the Information Plane, confident that Alva and the other senior wizards could continue the work.

• Benjamin awakened a Level 5 Wizard, who discovered that his mental power and control over the elements had increased by at least thirty percent.
• Benjamin reflected that wizards had begun requesting silence after the first awakened wizards revealed they had gained a major combat advantage.
• Alva visited Benjamin and learned that five wizards remained in medical pods and would awaken within a week.
• Benjamin told Alva he would leave after the remaining wizards awoke and declined to undergo silence himself, saying he had reached his limit.
• Alva assured Benjamin that he and the other senior wizards would oversee the silence awakenings after he left.

After returning to the Purgatory Sulfur Plane, Benjamin reviewed his gains from the Information Plane, including a breakthrough in drawing on external forces and a fragmentary mastery of Ashen Fire. He left the chapter with Silence form as a dangerous but potentially decisive combat trump card.

• Benjamin returned to the Purgatory Sulfur Plane and heard from the Black Giant Priest that the plane’s operations had continued smoothly.
• Benjamin spent three days reviewing the Incense Divinity Path, Elemental Pool, and Automatic Factory reports before examining his gains.
• Benjamin counted 523 Entropy Brains and considered their rising value after exchanging all his Military Merit for them.
• Benjamin demonstrated that his command of external forces had reached the Void Refinement Realm and tested a Level 4 Rune Artifact.
• Benjamin transformed into Silence form and realized that he had learned a fragment of Martin’s Ashen Fire, though he could sustain it for only three to five seconds.
• Benjamin judged Silence form a powerful last resort and considered how it might have let him kill Illusion during their earlier fight.

Benjamin realized his Alchemy was close to a breakthrough but lacked essential knowledge about bodies and souls. He bought a complete Elixir of Immortality brewing knowledge package and began studying it.

• Benjamin reviewed his research from the Information Plane and sensed that his Alchemy had reached the threshold of a breakthrough.
• Benjamin concluded that his Alchemy lacked knowledge about material conversion, biological structures, and the soul.
• Benjamin chose to study the Elixir of Immortality because brewing it required knowledge of both the body and the soul.
• Benjamin bought the complete Elixir of Immortality brewing knowledge package for 100 million low-level Military Merit.
• Benjamin received the knowledge package and began studying its contents.