Chapter Summaries

Klein received Luther’s Beyonder Characteristics and Roselle’s Diary, but refused Luther’s request to preach in the Fool’s name. Luther decided to invent a false god called Lord and began feeding his newly gathered flock, loosening his Shepherd Potion.

• Klein accepted a Psychiatrist Characteristic, a Judge Characteristic, and ten pages of Roselle’s Diary from Luther, then passed the Characteristics to Alger.
• Luther asked to spread the Fool’s glory as part of his Acting, but Klein refused and closed the sacrificial door.
• Luther decided to fabricate a god called Lord rather than serve the Seven Gods or a mysterious existence.
• Luther ordered the gang member who had officiated the ritual to forget what had happened and clean the altar.
• Luther welcomed his impoverished flock, promised them food before teachings, and distributed stew and bread, sensing his Shepherd Potion begin to loosen.

Luther fed and assessed a group of wanderers, then decided to confront the Zimang Party after learning it had resumed fighting the Lyman Gang. Meanwhile, Klein stood alone in Isengard Stanton’s bloodstained sitting room, braced for an unseen killer, until the police arrived.

• Luther gave the wanderers food, asked about their literacy and work histories, and sent them to rest without preaching to them.
• Luther questioned Ciel about the Zimang Party, learned it had taken two streets and injured several gang members, and asked for information about its headquarters and leader.
• Ciel agreed to gather information for Luther, who planned to involve himself in the conflict and seek a suitable Beyonder soul for Grazing.
• Klein visited Isengard Stanton’s empty home and found a dismembered young man and a bloodstained sitting room, then stood on guard against a mysterious killer.
• The police burst into the sitting room and snapped Klein out of his tense vigilance.

Gabriel, an Intisian agent, used divination to help Singh plan against the Lyman Gang, but his attempt to uncover Ciel’s motives revealed a terrifying figure watching over him. After the figure noticed him, Gabriel’s eyes burst, and he killed himself in terror.

• Gabriel warned Singh not to rush the Zimang Party’s expansion, then agreed to divine the Lyman Gang’s personnel arrangements.
• Gabriel’s divination showed that the Lyman Gang’s members were spread out and apparently unguarded.
• At Singh’s request, Gabriel divined what Ciel was doing and saw that Ciel had been providing food and shelter to homeless people.
• Gabriel divined the reason for Ciel’s change and saw a crimson-robed figure beside him, who turned toward Gabriel with a flash of golden light.
• Gabriel’s eyes exploded, and after screaming that the figure had seen him, he shot himself.

Luther entered the Zimange Gang headquarters after Gabriel shot himself during a divination and forced Singh to return the territory seized from the Lyman Gang. He returned to his residence to write a Holy Bible for his missionary work.

• Gabriel shot himself after his divination, leaving Singh shocked and uncertain how to explain the death to the ambassador.
• Luther arrived with Singh's men, questioned Singh about Gabriel, and realized the Seer had likely died from the backlash of divining him.
• Luther picked up Gabriel's Seer Beyonder Characteristic and ordered Singh to return the territory taken from the Lyman Gang and keep Luther's involvement secret.
• Luther attached a piece of flesh to Singh's heart and threatened to crush it if Singh revealed anything.
• Luther returned to his residence and began writing a Holy Bible, starting with a creation story.

After waking from a disturbing vision, Luther forced himself back to his mission and fed the little black cat. While he pondered the vision, the cat swallowed the Seer Gabriel’s Beyonder Characteristic, and Luther rushed to make it spit it out.

• Luther woke from a hallucination of a golden figure bringing light to the world before being corrupted and hung on an inverted cross.
• When Cecilia’s final words left him overwhelmed with grief, Luther stabbed his thigh with a pen to revive his anger and focus on avenging her.
• Luther cooked meat for the little black cat and wondered why the hallucination’s imagery reminded him of his previous life.
• The little black cat swallowed the Seer Gabriel’s Beyonder Characteristic, and Luther used Flaming Jump to rush over and demand that it spit it out.

Klein reassured a gathering of Detectives worried about Isengard Stanton’s disappearance and death threats, then let Luther into his house after verifying his identity. Luther asked whether a cat could consume a Seer Beyonder Characteristic, and Klein judged the kitten appeared safe; the Detectives’ danger and Isengard’s fate remained unresolved.

• Klein told the Detectives that the police were investigating Isengard Stanton’s disappearance and that Isengard might still be alive.
• Someone knocked, and Klein used a passphrase to confirm that the visitor was Luther Rondal rather than an impostor.
• Klein introduced Luther to the Detectives as Kafka Anderson, a doctor, then took him aside to speak privately.
• Luther asked whether the Seer Potion had side effects and whether an animal could consume a Seer Beyonder Characteristic.
• Klein said animals could use Beyonder Abilities and that Luther’s black kitten did not appear to be in danger of losing control.
• Luther said he had picked up the kitten and tentatively named it Mimi before asking Klein what had happened.

Luther warned Klein that a powerful Beyonder was upstairs in his house, and the intruder attacked before fleeing. Luther pursued the Sequence 5 Devil through the Shadow World and confronted him in the street.

• Luther told Klein that Kaslana was a Beyonder and sensed another, stronger Beyonder upstairs.
• Klein warned that the intruder was an enemy after a Detective fired a gun, and Kaslana used her power to control the panicked Detectives.
• The black-clad Beyonder escaped through a window and fled as a shadow, while Luther used a fireball to pursue him.
• Luther entered the Shadow World, blocked the Devil's path with shadow, and struck him with the Language of Foulness.
• Luther returned to reality with a sword of dark blue magma, and the Devil recognized him as a Shepherd.

Luther battled a Sequence 5 Desire Apostle whose emotional attacks shattered his body, while Isengard Stanton intervened. Luther revealed he had infected the Devil with a Plague Seed and trapped him with Distortion, leaving the exposed enemy at his mercy.

• The Devil attacked Luther with ghostly flames and intense emotions, crushing his heart and scattering his body across the ground.
• Isengard Stanton arrived and warned Luther that the Devil was a Sequence 5 Desire Apostle who could manipulate emotions.
• The Devil mocked Isengard and attacked him, while Isengard prepared a Beyonder Item and tried to keep his emotions steady.
• Luther revived and revealed that he had infected the Devil with a Plague Seed by Grazing a Shepherd.
• The sick Devil fled, but Luther used Distortion to turn him back; after the Devil's shadow dispersed, Luther stomped on his head and drew the Lucky Revolver.

Luther killed the Sequence 5 Desire Apostle and erased the witnesses’ memories while Isengard arranged for the Machinery Hivemind to handle the scene. Back at Klein’s home, Klein began divining the captive soul’s identity and purpose.

• Luther survived five consecutive empty shots with Lucky Roulette, then killed the Desire Apostle with an enhanced bullet.
• Luther extracted the dead man’s soul and Beyonder Characteristic, and Isengard agreed that Klein could use them to uncover clues.
• Isengard said he had contacted the Machinery Hivemind to deal with the corpse, while Luther concealed his presence and asked Isengard not to reveal him.
• Luther made the Detectives at 13 Minsk Street, including Kaslana, forget everything related to him.
• Klein wrote a divination statement about the soul’s identity and purpose, then entered a dream to seek an answer.

Klein identified Jason Beria’s plan to distract official Beyonders and assassinate Duke Negan, while Luther swallowed the demon before it could reveal its secret. After gaining the demon’s three abilities, Luther used Psychological Invisibility as Machinery Hivemind members arrived at Klein’s door.

• Klein told Luther and Isengard that Jason Beria belonged to the Beria Family and intended to divert official Beyonders before assassinating Duke Negan.
• Klein withheld the name Twilight Hermit Order after sensing that speaking it aloud would bring danger.
• Luther swallowed the demon before it could disclose its remaining clues, then kept its Desire Control, Mental Shock, and Desire Incarnation abilities.
• Machinery Hivemind members arrived at Klein’s home, and Luther used Psychological Invisibility to escape their notice.

Ikanser Bernard and the Machinery Hivemind investigated the Devil’s death at Klein’s home, where Arrodes revealed the corpse’s identity and punished Ikanser for answering its question incorrectly. The mirror’s reaction to Luther’s presence remained unexplained as Ikanser recovered.

• Ikanser told the Detectives that the murderer had been captured and sent them to the police station to give statements.
• Ikanser informed Isengard and Klein that the Desire Apostle was dead, and Klein described how the two Beyonders had fought and fled through the windows.
• Ikanser asked Arrodes to identify the Devil’s corpse, and the mirror revealed Jason Beria’s current alias, Patrick Jason.
• Arrodes asked for the true name of Red Light, but Ikanser answered incorrectly and was struck by lightning as punishment.
• Isengard told Ikanser that Red Light’s true name was Aiur Moria, while Luther noticed that his Phantom Tide reacted to Arrodes.

During the investigation, Isengard questioned the Mirror Arrodes about his prospects for advancement and was embarrassed by its personal follow-up question. Klein then discovered that Arrodes eagerly served him but reacted with fear when Luther touched it, leaving the reason for their different treatment unclear.

• Ikanser recovered while the Machinery Hivemind members examined the scene, and Isengard asked Arrodes where he could advance.
• Arrodes showed Isengard a city in Lenburg, then asked whether he had been infatuated with a much younger woman; Isengard admitted it and said he understood social conventions and morality.
• Isengard left to inspect the bedroom, and Arrodes addressed Klein as its loyal and humble servant when he touched the Mirror.
• Luther touched Arrodes, causing the Mirror to tremble and beg forgiveness for failing to sense his presence.
• Ikanser warned Klein not to toss the precious Sealed Artifact around, while Klein wondered why Arrodes feared Luther but had eagerly pleased him.

After Luther killed Jason Beria, the Machinery Hivemind failed to learn the killer’s identity from Arrodes and decided not to pursue the case further. Isengard thanked Luther before leaving, and Luther and Klein discussed the mirror and Luther’s divination-capable cat.

• Ikanser asked Arrodes who had killed Jason Beria, but the mirror gave no answer and returned to normal.
• The Machinery Hivemind found no further clues and left, with Ikanser saying they would continue following up only if new information emerged.
• Isengard explained that the officials prioritized more consequential cases, and he thanked Luther for avenging his assistant before departing.
• Klein offered Luther a drink, and they discussed Arrodes’s fear of Luther and its desire to please Klein.
• Klein reassured Luther that his cat could act by instinct and use its abilities, while Luther said he only wanted it to live well.

Luther told Klein that Cecilia had died for him and revealed his plans to pursue revenge and advance further along his dangerous pathway. Meanwhile, MI9 received a new lead on the Blood Bishop and assigned Cons Leerhsen to investigate.

• Luther told Klein that Cecilia was dead and that he blamed the True Creator and the pathway for her death.
• Luther said he had Grazed Mr. A, was eliminating the Aurora Order in Backlund, and intended to advance to Sequence 4 despite the risks.
• Luther gave Klein his new address, and Klein resolved to seek the Black Knight Potion formula for him through the Tarot Club.
• At MI9 headquarters, a Major reported that the Blood Bishop had killed a Sequence 5 Desire Apostle and escaped the Machinery Hivemind.
• When no one volunteered to investigate, the Major ordered Cons Leerhsen and others to pursue the new lead.

Luther recovered from another brief episode of madness and considered how to obtain the Black Knight Potion formula. He weighed possible trades and contacts while Luna guarded the house, and he left to check on his lambs.

• Luther emerged from an illusion after thirty minutes and noted that his episodes of madness were becoming shorter and less frequent.
• Luther planned to ask the Sun about obtaining the Black Knight Potion formula at the next Tarot Club meeting, but doubted money or his available Beyonder Characteristics would be enough.
• Luther considered seeking treasure with Sharron in an Amon Family tomb or requesting a formula from Aurora Order headquarters, but recognized the risks and obstacles.
• Luther discovered Luna had killed a mouse and burned its carcass to ash.
• Luther stood up to check on his lambs.

Luther bought his usual medicines from Darkwill, who announced that he was leaving the East Borough to advance his Sequence. Luther then returned to his free medical station and began treating Oliver, a five-year-old chimney cleaner with a broken arm.

• Luther bought his medicines from Darkwill, who said he was leaving before anyone noticed something strange and because he wanted to advance his Sequence.
• Luther left the herbal shop, thinking Darkwill's departure would spare him from learning that Cecilia had never truly existed.
• Luther arrived at his free medical station, where injured East Borough residents welcomed him and he organized them into a line.
• Luther learned that Oliver had fallen while cleaning a chimney and broken his arm.
• Luther asked the exhausted child his name, and Oliver answered.

Oliver, a former orphanage child whose lungs were damaged by chimney work, was bought by Luther and treated with a potion and surgery. As Oliver slept, Luther considered how to deepen his Shepherd Potion’s digestion and decided to begin preaching to his growing Flock.

• Oliver recalled how the orphanage sold children and how he was sent to clean chimneys until he injured his arm and damaged his lungs.
• The elderly woman offered Oliver more porridge, then sent him to see Luther after her son brought bread to the kitchen.
• Luther gave Oliver a potion that put him to sleep and used Flesh and Blood Magic to heal his lungs.
• Luther observed that his Shepherd Potion was digesting slowly because his Flock was too small and his Acting was too limited.
• Luther decided it was time to formally preach and called everyone to gather around.

Luther’s improvised sermon unexpectedly connected with a terrifying presence and was interrupted by M, after which he sent the congregation to eat. Meanwhile, Levi and Cons began a half-hearted investigation into the Blood Bishop and questioned why so many Ninth Bureau agents had been sent to Capim’s residence.

• Luther preached from his fabricated Holy Bible, and his congregation grew devout as he sensed a powerful presence and hallucinated M praising the Lord.
• M shouted “Pierce,” jolting Luther out of his abnormal state, and he hurt himself to stop recalling the presence he had sensed.
• Luther ended the sermon and sent the congregation to line up for meat, then went to restore Order as they rushed for food.
• Levi and Cons walked through Cherwood Borough to investigate the Blood Bishop, though Levi admitted he planned to do little and write a report.
• Levi asked why the Ninth Bureau had sent a Sequence 6, a Sequence 7, and two Sequence 8s to Capim’s residence, suggesting the assignment had a hidden purpose.

Levi warned Cons not to investigate the Ninth Bureau’s hidden agenda, while Luther used a disguised Mr. A to host another gathering and seek Roselle’s secret notes. Audrey recognized that the apparent Mr. A was actually Luther, though Xio only sensed that he seemed different.

• Levi told Cons that curiosity was dangerous and that they should follow orders without probing the Ninth Bureau’s secrets.
• Levi and Cons ended their cursory investigation of the Desire Apostle’s death scene, then Levi spoke with Mandated Punishers who were also investigating the Blood Bishop.
• Cons suspected that Group Two was a smokescreen for the Church of Storms while Group One conducted the real investigation, but Levi interrupted his thoughts.
• Luther disguised himself as Mr. A and hosted a gathering where participants traded commissions and he sought to buy Roselle’s secret notes.
• Audrey attended with Xio, recognized that the apparent Mr. A was actually Luther, and heard Xio remark that Mr. A felt different.

Audrey suspected that Mr. A was Luther in disguise, while Luther used his role to draw out the remaining Aurora Order believers in Backlund. After buying a page from Roselle’s diary, Luther read about the Sauron ancestor disappearing alongside the Einhorn ancestor and the Red Angel.

• Audrey concluded that the Mr. A at the gathering was probably Mr. Temperance in disguise.
• A young Aurora Order believer told Luther that many of the Lord’s Lambs in Backlund had vanished.
• Luther urged the believer to gather the remaining cultists or provide their identities and addresses so he could catch them.
• Luther bought a diary page for eight pounds and read Roselle’s account of Florent and the Sauron Family.
• Luther learned that the Sauron ancestor, the Einhorn ancestor, and the Red Angel had disappeared together in the Fourth Epoch.