Recaps

After advancing to Black Knight, Luther explored how his Phantom Tide had changed, discovered Cecilia was safe in a raised white tower, and gained stronger control over the sea and new Sun authority. The chapter left him returning to reality as Audrey was summoned to meet her father and several military officers, apparently from MI9.

• Luther entered the Phantom Tide and found Cecilia's soul safe in a pool atop a newly risen white tower.
• Luther discovered that his controllable sea had expanded, the mist had receded, and he could glimpse the True Creator in the distance.
• Luther infused himself with phantom seawater and found that his Sailor and Spectator abilities had grown stronger.
• Luther condensed Sun Pathway authority but expelled the seawater when his spirit body neared collapse.
• Annie told Audrey that Earl Hall had summoned her to his study, where several military officers were waiting.

Audrey was questioned by MI9 about her investment in an East Borough textile mill, but an emergency report of the Blood Bishop’s whereabouts interrupted the interrogation. Meanwhile, Luther discussed his plans with Anderson on Toscarter Island and sensed that a shabby newcomer was a Beyonder.

• Audrey used a Psychological Suggestion to send Annie away, then prayed to the Fool for protection against revealing intelligence to MI9.
• Audrey met MI9 officers Mary and Chuck, who questioned her about investing in an East Borough textile mill and its former owner.
• Mary proposed using rituals to examine Audrey’s memories, but Ham Duke objected and Mary said the investigation concerned the Blood Bishop and had the King’s authorization.
• A military messenger interrupted the questioning with news that the Blood Bishop had been spotted at sea.
• On Toscarter Island, Luther said he would inspect the island and seek crew members while Anderson went to collect a bounty from the Adventurer Mutual Aid Association.
• Luther sensed a Beyonder’s aura from a down-and-out middle-aged man who entered the inn.

Luther surveyed Storcatt Island’s oppressed native population as potential recruits, then sensed a powerful spiritual fluctuation across the island. Anderson collected the bounty money and was ambushed in the crowded streets, where he used blazing flames to escape the attackers.

• Luther watched the island’s locals and considered recruiting them, then sensed a powerful spiritual fluctuation near the Adventurer Mutual Aid Association.
• Anderson collected 8,000 pounds from Jante for Kircheis’s bounty and left carrying the suitcase.
• A stall owner attacked Anderson with a steel skewer, while a nearby pirate shot at him; Anderson evaded both attacks.
• More attackers, including an old man with boiling water and people with daggers, targeted Anderson as the panicking crowd blocked his escape.
• Anderson erupted in blazing white flames, melting the daggers and driving the crowd to flee.

Anderson was trapped by a powerful hidden Beyonder who wanted him to deliver a suitcase of cursed-looking banknotes to Blood Bishop Alexander Gascoigne and make him count them. Anderson resisted the mental manipulation, identified the attacker as merchant Richardson, and signaled for help, but Richardson’s roar stopped his escape.

• Anderson realized a powerful Beyonder had manipulated the crowd and could read his thoughts.
• The unseen Beyonder demanded that Anderson deliver a suitcase of strange banknotes to Blood Bishop Alexander Gascoigne and have him count them.
• Anderson used a Judge Pathway button to resist the mental coercion, then threw a charm that caused misfortune.
• The charm disrupted Richardson’s control, and Anderson recognized the merchant before firing a signal flare into the sky.
• Richardson roared, seized control of the crowd again, and gave them time to catch Anderson.

Luther rescued Anderson from [Gluttony], a Demigod of the Spectator Pathway, and confronted him after he transformed into a Mind Dragon. The chapter ended with Luther armoring himself and preparing to slay the dragon.

• [Gluttony] held Anderson down and used a Psychological Suggestion to drive him toward madness.
• Luther soothed Anderson, freed him from [Gluttony]'s control, and sent the crowd fleeing.
• [Gluttony] introduced himself as a member of the Psychology Alchemists’ Council, then appeared to burst and vanish after Luther attacked him.
• [Gluttony] concealed himself psychologically and transformed into an Incomplete Mythical Creature Form, unleashing Mind Deprivation across the street.
• Luther resisted the dragon’s mental assault, formed black armor and a broad sword, and advanced to fight him.

Luther fought Gluttony in the streets, using his Black Knight abilities to wound the dragon while Gluttony sent hidden duplicates to invade Luther’s Mind Island. Anderson tried to escape but was intercepted by Church of Storms forces and officials, who declared him wanted.

• Luther recognized Gluttony’s illusory duplicates in the Subconscious World as they headed toward his Mind Island.
• Gluttony feinted with a claw attack and struck Luther with his tail, but Luther’s armor absorbed much of the damage.
• Luther flew after Gluttony and slashed his wing, sending the dragon crashing into the street.
• Gluttony revealed that his duplicates were invading Luther’s Mind Island as Luther approached him.
• Anderson fled through the frightened crowd but stopped to evade the bishop’s wind blades.
• Carter identified Anderson as wanted and offered leniency if he surrendered.

Luther thwarted [Gluttony]'s invasion of his mind and pursued him through dreams as [Gluttony] fled to the Garden of Eden. The chapter ended with Luther catching up to him in a strange city inhabited by dressed-up beasts.

• [Gluttony]'s avatars invaded Luther's mind island, but Luther swallowed them with illusory tides and forced [Gluttony] to tear the corruption from his own mind.
• [Gluttony] realized Barros had deceived him, then escaped by traveling through the dreams of intelligent beings.
• Luther recognized [Gluttony]'s Dream Traversal and followed him through a sleeping child's dream.
• [Gluttony] used his mask to flee into the Garden of Eden, a city of beasts wearing clothes.
• Luther entered the city carrying a remnant of [Gluttony]'s avatar and raised his greatsword as he caught up to him.

Luther followed [Gluttony] into a strange city, where the Corpse Cathedral destroyed their masks and [Gluttony] transformed into an out-of-control dragon. The world vanished, and the dragon crashed onto Toscarter Island amid Anderson's battle with the authorities, carrying a black knight on its head.

• Luther used the mask fragment to enter the strange world and pursued [Gluttony] after discovering he had escaped by shedding a husk.
• [Gluttony] fled to the Corpse Cathedral, whose radiance broke apart his mask and the fragment Luther carried.
• The masks disappeared, the world began to fade, and [Gluttony] transformed into a dragon after losing control.
• Anderson evaded attacks from the red-uniformed soldiers and Church of Storms Beyonders while Carter and the bishop watched.
• Carter claimed that a powerful lord could transform into a dragon, then a roar sounded and a gigantic dragon crashed onto Toscarter Island with a black knight atop its head.

Luther defeated the out-of-control demigod [Gluttony] in his first battle as a Black Knight, then landed on the island to rescue Anderson. The crowd feared Luther, while Anderson ran to inspect the fallen dragon.

• [Gluttony] lost control and roared across the island, drawing everyone's attention to the dragon and the black knight confronting it.
• Luther detected a weakness on the dragon's forehead and pierced it with the Blade of Flesh and Spirit, killing [Gluttony].
• Luther spotted Anderson surrounded by people and steered the falling dragon toward him.
• Luther crashed down atop the dragon, frightened the gathered Beyonders and soldiers, and silenced a man who called him a Blood Bishop.
• Luther asked Anderson if he was alive, warned him away from the dead demigod's lingering Spirituality, and watched him run over to inspect the dragon.

After killing [Gluttony], Luther sensed a mysterious watcher who destroyed the demigod’s soul before Luther could question it. He learned the ambush had been reported to Kottman, who was already on his way to Toscarter Island.

• Luna ran up to the dead dragon and slapped its head before returning to Luther.
• As Luther prepared to Graze [Gluttony], he sensed an emotionless gaze and found no one when he searched the area.
• Luther drew out [Gluttony]’s soul to question him, but a white-robed figure departed and the soul exploded.
• Luther learned from the bishop that Carter had led the pursuit, but Carter’s memories of [Gluttony] had been altered.
• The bishop said he had reported Luther’s suspected appearance to Kottman, and Anderson realized the Sea King was coming.

With a Sequence 3 Sea King pursuing them, Luther recruited Anderson as his first mate and quickly assembled a fleet on Toscarter Island. Anderson’s spectacle of distributing stolen money and humiliating the island’s authorities drew locals like Philia to enlist, while Luther took a pirate captain’s ship.

• Luther asked Anderson to join his crew, and Anderson accepted the position of first mate.
• Luther sent Anderson to rally the island’s locals while they prepared to leave before the Sea King arrived.
• Anderson paraded the dragon’s corpse and the bound local administrator through the slums, distributing coins and recruiting people to the fleet.
• Philia saw the procession, felt inspired to resist Loen, and ran after it to enlist.
• Luther took a pirate captain’s ship, completing the fleet’s rapid assembly.

Luther chose the Doe as his fleet’s flagship and considered whether to recruit the pirate captains offering their crews. After Anderson exposed their violent histories and Luther questioned their promises to change, the pirates’ shadows came alive with a dark aura.

• Sea Serpent Walter Gout introduced his fast, well-armed ship, the Doe, and Luther chose it as his flagship.
• Sea Serpent offered his crew to Luther, and the other pirate captains also asked to join his fleet.
• Luther asked Anderson about the captains, and Anderson described their brutal attacks and crimes against civilians.
• Luther said his fleet would not harm civilians, and the pirates claimed they would reform so they could join.
• Luther questioned whether the pirates truly meant their promises, then revealed that their shadows had become alive and radiated a dark aura.

Luther took control of the Doe and assembled a small crew from the survivors on Toscarter Island. The ships left the harbor, carrying Philia away from his home and beginning his new life at sea.

• Luther’s shadows swallowed most of the pirates, while Anderson persuaded him to spare Sea Serpent Walter, who asked to become boatswain.
• Anderson gathered the remaining pirates and locals, assigning a cook and finding a former Loen sailor who had served as a cabin hand.
• Luther accepted the former sailor and ordered the crew to board the Doe and set sail.
• A strong wind carried the Doe out of the harbor as the other pirate ships followed, operated by Luther’s Puppets.
• Philia watched Toscarter Island recede and felt excited about beginning his legend at sea.

Xio learned that the Blood Bishop had left Backlund and attacked Toscarter Island, where he declared war against the Loen Royal Family and began recruiting pirates. Meanwhile, Luther read an account of the ancient gods and asked Medici which creation myth was true, but Medici did not answer.

• The Gold Mask told Xio that the Blood Bishop had left Backlund and asked her to search for Feysac's missing princess, Sophia Einhorn, offering at least 1,000 pounds for reliable information.
• Xio read that Alexander Gascoigne had attacked Toscarter Island with a former pirate hunter, left its administrator unconscious, and recruited pirates and rioters to oppose the Royal Family.
• Amyrius Levitt publicly vowed that the Royal Navy would capture the Blood Bishop and bring him to trial.
• Aboard the fleet in the Sonia Sea, Luther read Sun's account of the ancient gods and noted that it differed from the Seven Gods' creation stories.
• Luther asked Medici which creation account was closer to the truth, but Medici did not answer.

Luther read City of Silver records about the Creator and the Kings of Angels, provoking Medici with questions about the True Creator. Anderson then confessed that he came from the Church of Knowledge and asked Luther what force stood behind him.

• Luther read that the awakened Creator reclaimed the authorities of Ancient Gods, and Medici confirmed that he had followed the awakened Creator.
• Luther learned that eight Kings of Angels had served the Creator, including the Angel of Time and Angel of Fate, and wondered whether Ouroboros had changed faith.
• Luther suggested the True Creator was the degenerated awakened Creator, provoking Medici until dark-red blood sprayed from Luther's body.
• Anderson entered the captain's cabin, saw Luther bleeding, and confessed that he came from the Church of Knowledge.
• Anderson explained that he had left the church because its daily classes stifled him, then asked Luther what force stood behind him.

Luther chose Oravi Island as the fleet’s next destination after learning about nearby shipping routes and confirming they had enough supplies. Anderson hoped to find a Fate Councilor there, while Luther revealed a Hunter Pathway Card of Blasphemy that made Anderson pledge his loyalty.

• Anderson asked Luther whether a force backed him, and Luther gave a vague answer about his connection to the Fool.
• Luther summoned Sea Serpent Walter, who described the shipping routes to Symeem Island and Oravi Island and confirmed the fleet had ample supplies.
• Luther ordered the fleet to sail to Oravi Island, where Anderson hoped to find a Fate Councilor who could dispel his misfortune.
• Luther asked Walter about his Lawyer Pathway Potion and implied that good service could earn him a Sequence 7 Potion.
• Luther showed Anderson a Hunter Pathway Card of Blasphemy containing the Sequence 0: Red Priest formula, and Anderson immediately pledged his loyalty.

Luther chose the title King of Blood for himself and prepared to join the Tarot Club after leaving Toscarter Island. As he reviewed his gains and plans aboard the ship, he considered how to act as a Black Knight and pursue Tracy and the key to the Black Throne.

• Anderson asked Luther to choose a pirate title, and Luther named himself the King of Blood.
• Anderson excitedly began planning to repaint the ship's sails, then collided with a spar when the ship turned toward Oravi Island and traded curses with the helmsman.
• Luther examined the Manipulator Beyonder Characteristic taken from Gluttony, suspected it might contain a hidden danger, and put it away.
• Luther considered his Black Knight acting and thought about targeting Vice Admiral of Ailment Tracy and finding the key to the Black Throne.
• Near three in the afternoon, Luther summoned M to create a Virtual Personality so he could ascend Above the Gray Fog.

Cattleya joined the Tarot Club and drew Luther’s cold attention after using her ability to study the members. In Backlund, the Red Gloves learned the Blood Bishop’s appearance and received news about a supposed Fool’s Blessed being struck by lightning, while Leonard failed to recognize Luther.

• Cattleya joined the Tarot Club and used Eyes of Mystery Prying to inspect the members through the Gray Fog.
• Luther noticed Cattleya’s strange eyes and asked coldly what she was looking at, freezing the meeting’s atmosphere.
• A Nighthawk showed Soest and the Red Gloves a wanted poster identifying the Blood Bishop as a handsome young man.
• Leonard examined the poster but did not recognize Luther because Luther had altered his appearance.
• Soest received a telegram reporting that a false Blessed of the Fool had been struck dead by lightning, and Leonard read the report.

At her first Tarot Club gathering, Cattleya was confronted by Luther for using the Eyes of Mystery Prying to observe the members through the Gray Fog. She apologized, and Klein was left to decide how to deal with her.

• Luther objected to the new member and revealed that he could see strange eyes floating before her.
• Klein identified the new member by the codename Hermit, and Luther accused Cattleya of possessing the Hidden Sage's Eyes of Mystery Prying and possibly seeing the members clearly.
• The Tarot Club members grew alarmed, while Klein's Sea God's Scepter sat beside him on the table.
• Cattleya explained that she could not control or close the eyes, but Luther and Audrey insisted she should have reported them to Mr. Fool and treated the others with respect.
• Cattleya apologized, and Alger asked Klein to decide how she should be dealt with, leaving Klein wondering whether her first gathering would also be her last.

At the Tarot Club, Klein warned Cattleya after revealing her appearance, then guided the meeting through Roselle’s diary and trading. Luther offered stolen valuables for sale and asked the members to look for demigod-level Beyonder Items.

• Klein used the Gray Fog to reveal Cattleya’s appearance, and Alger identified her as the Admiral of Stars.
• Klein released Cattleya from the pressure, warned her not to repeat her rash behavior, and placed restrictions on a pair of glasses for her.
• The members read Roselle’s diary pages, which described Zaratul’s pursuit of the Antigonus Notebook and the Twilight Hermit Order’s hostility toward the Solomon Empire.
• Luther offered jewelry, bills of exchange, deposit certificates, and valuable artworks for sale; Emlyn and Cattleya agreed to help find buyers.
• Luther asked the members to look for powerful Beyonder Items, specifying that he wanted demigod-level items.

At the Tarot Club meeting, the members realized Klein had replaced Kalvetua as the Sea God, and he offered them the use of the Sea God's Honorific Name. Luther then revealed that he had killed Gluttony, a Demigod of the Psychology Alchemists, and asked Alger whether an Artisan could make Beyonder Items from Demigod materials.

• Klein's members traded materials, with Cattleya agreeing to provide Klein and Derrick with what they needed for advancement.
• Alger described Laticia's discovery of an ancient elf ruin on Symeem Island and the collapse of Kalvetua, whose believers could still receive responses.
• Cattleya and the other members noticed the scepter beside Klein and realized he had taken Kalvetua's place as the Sea God.
• Klein invited the members to pray to him using the Sea God's Honorific Name, and they congratulated him on gaining new authority.
• Luther confirmed that a dragon had fallen on Toscarter Island and revealed that he had killed Gluttony, a Demigod of the Psychology Alchemists.
• Luther asked Alger whether an Artisan could turn Demigod materials into Beyonder Items.

Luther revealed that he had become a Sequence 4 Demigod and asked Derrick to watch Elder Lovia, while the Tarot Club learned that Helene had been captured by Vice Admiral of Ailment Tracy. In Bayam, Governor George Negan tried to ease tensions between Admiral Amyrius Rieveldt and MI9 Deputy Director Qonas Kilgor.

• Alger said a Sequence 6 Artisan could not safely craft an item from Demigod-level materials, and Audrey asked Luther whether the Demigod he fought belonged to the Psychology Alchemists.
• Luther confirmed that he had advanced to Sequence 4, then asked Derrick about Lovia's advancement and told him to observe her for clues about the True Creator's Sanctuary.
• Audrey shared her exploration of the collective unconscious, while Emlyn and Derrick argued over the Sanguine's history and City of Silver's records.
• Klein showed the Tarot Club a photograph of Helene, and Cattleya identified her as a fallen Intis noble who had been captured by Tracy, the Vice Admiral of Ailment.
• Luther reacted to Tracy's name, and in Bayam Governor George Negan tried to make Amyrius Rieveldt and Qonas Kilgor coexist peacefully.

Admiral Amyrius and Qonas clashed over who would lead a naval operation until Qonas used Amyrius’s brother to pressure him. Above the Gray Fog, the Tarot Club discussed the missing Feysac princess, and Klein and Luther agreed to cooperate in investigating Red-haired Helene, with Klein planning to contact Luther through his new messenger.

• Amyrius refused to let MI9 lead the navy’s operation, insisting that the navy take command.
• Qonas raised the possibility that Amyrius’s brother, Aston Rieveldt, might be removed as governor and recalled inland, and Amyrius paused at the news.
• Fors reported that Feysac’s third princess, Sophia, had gone missing, and the Hermit suggested her disappearance might relate to the succession.
• After the Tarot Club ended, Klein and Luther held their Transmigrators’ Gathering and shared news of their recent experiences.
• Luther proposed that he and Klein cooperate to investigate Red-haired Helene, and Klein agreed to contact him through his newly recruited messenger if he found reliable intelligence.

Philia struggled with the harsh routines of pirate life before witnessing a strange apparition enter the captain’s quarters. Luther received a letter from Klein through a dangerous messenger, and learned that the Vice Admiral of Ailment was behind the bounty on Red-haired Helene.

• Philia finished scrubbing the deck and reflected on the rules, chores, and combat training that made pirate life different from his expectations.
• Philia saw what looked like a floating, light golden-haired head pass through the wall into the captain’s quarters.
• Luther received a letter from Klein’s four-headed messenger, whose presence caused pain in Luther and made Anderson choke himself.
• Luther severed the force controlling Anderson with his greatsword, paid the messenger, and sent her away.
• Luther read Klein’s instructions about summoning and contracting a messenger, along with news linking the Vice Admiral of Ailment to the bounty on Red-haired Helene, then burned the letter.

Luther tried to summon a messenger but every Spirit World creature he called fled from him or refused to appear. He suspected the Red Light was responsible and summoned it to investigate.

• Luther summoned a winged serpent, but it fled as soon as it saw him.
• Luther changed the incantation and summoned a six-legged hound, which also ran away in terror.
• Luther tried summoning more Spirit World creatures, but none would respond, and he concluded something had changed after he advanced to Sequence 4.
• Luther suspected the Red Light and performed a ritual to summon it.
• The Red Light descended through a door of light, bathing the paper figure in red radiance.