Chapter Summaries

Audrey learned that more than ten thousand people had died in the East Borough catastrophe and resolved to advance as a Psychiatrist so she could save more lives. As Luther witnessed the suffering left behind, George III offered sweeping political concessions that quieted the kingdom’s powerful figures, leaving the poor dead without anyone to pursue justice for them.

• Countess Hall told Audrey that the crisis was under control but more than ten thousand people had died, and Audrey decided to keep seeking the main ingredient for Psychiatrist.
• Luther walked through the East Borough, saw the mass burial and crowded treatment sites, and spotted Emily helping the wounded.
• Luther sensed the despairing remnant souls of the tens of thousands who had died, while ordinary people remained unaware of them.
• At Sodela Palace, the Earl of the Royal Residence announced that George III blamed Prince Edessak’s rebellion on a Demoness and offered major political reforms and concessions.
• Earl Hall realized that the concessions had satisfied the powerful figures, who would no longer pursue the deaths of the poor.

Luther decided to seek justice for the East Borough’s dead by making an enemy of the Loen Royal Family, treating the confrontation as his opportunity to advance. He gathered the lingering souls of roughly thirty thousand victims and began the Black Knight Advancement Ritual by absorbing their pain and degenerating them into his shadow.

• Luther told the Queen he would pursue justice for his Lambs, and she warned him that doing so meant opposing the Loen Royal Family.
• Luther asked whether the Advancement Ritual could be performed ahead of time, and the Queen confirmed that it could.
• The Queen departed with Luna and told Luther to find her near Pritz Harbor if he survived.
• Luther and M walked through the East Borough, gathering about thirty thousand lingering souls.
• Luther used the Spectator pathway to turn the souls against their king and invited them to merge with his shadow, bearing their pain as they degenerated.

Luther completed the ritual that absorbed the fragmented souls of the wrongfully dead and vowed to seek justice for them, fully digesting the Shepherd Potion. He retrieved his stored items from the sea, destroyed Katie's soul for its Beyonder Characteristic, and removed Cecilia's soul from his body to protect and restore it in the seawater.

• Luther absorbed the fragmented souls of the dead into his shadow, endured their suffering, and declared that he would become their savior because no one else would seek justice for them.
• Luther's vow completed the digestion of his Shepherd Potion, though his mental state remained precarious.
• Luther traveled to the sea, retrieved his Beyonder Items, and crushed Katie's soul into fragments to obtain her Sequence 7 Interrogator Beyonder Characteristic.
• Luther decided to remove Cecilia's soul from his body because his coming battle with the Royal Family could put her at risk.
• Luther carefully immersed Cecilia's soul in the seawater, and she appeared relaxed as it began to restore her.

Luther returned to the sealed Fourth Epoch ruin beneath Number 8 Williams Street to Graze Medici, the Red Angel Evil Spirit. After resisting Medici’s terrifying illusions, Luther activated Grazing and drew the spirit into his palm, though its intentions remained dangerous.

• Luther used Spirit Body Transformation to enter the sealed ruin beneath Number 8 Williams Street.
• Luther confronted Medici and told him he had come to Graze him rather than lift his Sealing.
• Luther walked through illusions of Medici, Sauron, and Einhorn until he reached the blood-covered doors.
• Luther forcibly activated Grazing, and the spirit behind the doors passed through them into his palm.

Luther trapped the Red Angel Evil Spirit Medici in the Phantom Tide and tried to Graze him, but Medici’s violent resistance left Luther’s body in flames and badly damaged. On Year-End Day in Backlund, a sergeant’s distorted order sent two soldiers aboard the Pritz to attack Sodela Palace.

• Medici possessed Luther and began taking over his body, but Luther released the Phantom Tide and restrained him.
• Luther used Grazing to try to make Medici a Lamb, while Medici’s gaze caused a devastating explosion inside Luther and ignited the underground structure.
• Two soldiers complained about being kept aboard the Pritz on Year-End Day instead of receiving leave.
• The sergeant gave the soldiers a distorted order to use the Pritz to attack Sodela Palace, and they eagerly grabbed their rifles.

Luther used Medici’s power to incite the crew of the Pritz to sail up the Tussock River and shell Sodela Palace. At Audrey Hall’s coming-of-age ball, the palace shook as the warship’s attack approached.

• Luther provoked the Pritz’s soldiers into treating Sodela Palace as their enemy and ordered them to fire on it.
• Luther killed a Sequence 6 officer who tried to stop the crew and raise the alarm.
• The Pritz left the harbor and sailed toward the royal palace along the Tussock River.
• Audrey Hall attended her coming-of-age ball at Sodela Palace and watched the nobles celebrate.
• A loud roar approached the palace, and the building shook violently.

Luther used the Pritz to bombard Sodela Palace, destroying part of the palace and bringing down the Bell of Order before a figure rose into the air and headed toward the ship. At the palace, Audrey realized the attack came from the Pritz, while George III called for Prince Grove Augustus after the first strike.

• Luther ordered the Pritz’s four main guns to fire on Sodela Palace, and the salvo demolished a grand hall and split the Bell of Order.
• Luther spotted a figure rising above the palace and moving toward the Pritz, then ordered the crew to prepare its smaller guns and machine guns.
• Audrey and the other guests were thrown into panic by the bombardment, and Audrey found her mother, Hall, who told her that her father was with George III.
• Audrey watched the Bell of Order collapse and crush part of the palace.
• At the royal residence, George III called for Grove after the first artillery strike shook the palace.

The Pritz bombarded Sodela Palace, prompting George III to order Prince Grove to stop the warship. Grove’s powers halted the crew and seemingly killed Luther, but Luther transformed the Pritz into a Weapon and the bombardment resumed.

• George III learned that the Pritz had attacked the imperial villa and ordered Grove to do his best to stop it, even if the warship was destroyed.
• Luther ordered the Pritz’s guns to keep bombarding Sodela Palace and fire on Grove as the prince approached.
• Grove slowed the incoming fire with his powers, then prohibited the soldiers from using artillery and imprisoned Luther.
• Grove struck Luther down, but Luther’s flesh merged with the Pritz, turning the warship into a Weapon.
• The soldiers resumed firing, sharing the punishment for defying Grove’s Prohibition through Luther.

Prince Grove destroyed the Pritz with his Sequence 3 Edict, but the damaged warship fired one final blood-red shell at Sodela Palace. The shell landed on the collapsed clock tower, where a crimson-robed figure emerged and called out King George Augustus.

• The Pritz's guns fired on Prince Grove, but Weaponization shells struck him before he could fully raise his defenses.
• Prince Grove used his Execution to split the Pritz in two, killing soldiers and leaving the warship wrecked in the Tussock River.
• As Prince Grove searched for Luther, the surviving artillerymen fired the Pritz's final blood-red shell at Sodela Palace despite his Prohibition.
• Audrey watched the shell land on the collapsed clock tower, where a crimson-robed figure emerged and called out, "George Augustus!"

Luther attacked the royal palace and accused George III of causing the Great Smog, while his Blood River swept through the palace. George III sent Duchess Georgina and Qonas Kilgor to stop him, as Audrey realized Mr. Temperance was the attacker and considered contacting Mr. Fool.

• Luther shouted that George Augustus was the true culprit behind the Great Smog, then re-formed as a Blood River after palace guards shot him apart.
• M searched a guard captain's mind and directed Luther toward the royal residence, while the Blood River swallowed the guards and surged into the palace.
• Audrey recognized Luther as Mr. Temperance and, shaken by his accusation against George III, decided to find a chance to pray to Mr. Fool.
• George III dismissed Luther's accusation as a lunatic's rambling and sent Duchess Georgina and Qonas Kilgor to capture him.
• Qonas arrived at the battlefield and saw Georgina's guards fighting the towering Blood River.

Luther’s Blood River advanced on George III’s palace as Duchess Georgina, Prince Grove, Qonas, and the royal guards tried to stop him. Medici and the other Flesh Puppets joined the battle, and although Grove diverted Medici’s Flame Spear from the palace, the Blood River continued advancing.

• Duchess Georgina trapped Luther’s Blood River behind barriers and tried to deprive him of Flesh and Blood Magic, but the river broke her Order and resumed its advance.
• Prince Grove, Qonas, and the royal guards arrived, and Luther stabbed himself with the Pain bone, inflicting agony on his enemies as Flesh Puppets and Beyonders rose from the river.
• Medici joined the fight and hurled an Angel’s Flame Spear toward the palace, but Grove and Qonas slowed it before Grove knocked it off course, leaving it to explode outside the palace hall.
• George III restrained himself from leaving the palace because the Churches were watching, while he waited for Dlink Augustus to arrive and learned William I remained in the ruins.
• Grove returned to the battlefield, where Medici blocked him as the Blood River continued toward the palace amid the fighting.

Luther used the Blood River, his suffering ability, and the Abyss card to break through the royal guards and turn the tide of the battle. After Duchess Georgina attacked him, a hidden painting drained her vitality, and the Blood River drove her mad and caused her to lose control.

• Luther summoned Flesh Puppets and fought alongside Mr. A, Steve, and Medici against the royal forces.
• Luther used the Abyss card to transform into a powerful Devil, then killed the two Sequence 5 Disciplinary Paladins and routed the royal guards.
• Duchess Georgina broke away from Mr. A and Steve and struck Luther with her invisible whip.
• Georgina saw the picture frame embedded in Luther’s back and felt it drain her vitality, leaving her momentarily stunned.
• The Blood River swallowed Georgina, and its incomprehensible tide drove her mad.
• Georgina emerged from the Blood River transformed into a bloated monster and had lost control.

Luther fought through the royal defenses and reached the steps before George III’s throne, but Dlink Augustus stopped his advance and killed him. At the final moment, Luther hurled his head into the palace, cursed George III, and exploded.

• Georgina transformed into a monster after the Blood River touched her, while Medici, Mr. A, and their Puppets battled Prince Grove and Qonas.
• Audrey Hall followed the fighting as Luther drove the Blood River toward the royal residence and confronted George III.
• Dlink Augustus arrived, suppressed Luther’s abilities and the Blood River, then used the dead guards to attack him.
• Luther climbed the palace steps despite his injuries, but the guards pierced him before he could cross the threshold.
• Luther tore off his head and hurled it to the foot of George III’s throne, cursed the King, and exploded.

Luther returned to Bernadette’s ship after surviving a battle at the imperial palace, with Medici’s corrupting spirit still inside him. He reunited with Luna and told Bernadette that he could not yet control the spirit completely.

• Luna vomited Luther’s mangled body onto Bernadette’s ship, along with a rib, a picture frame, and two Tarot cards.
• As Medici’s corruption spread across Luther, Bernadette used a pale mask and her powers to suppress it and drive Medici’s soul back into the Shepherd slot.
• Luther recovered his human form and told Bernadette that he had attacked the palace but barely reached the king.
• Luther reunited with Luna, then explained that Medici was an evil spirit formed from the deaths of three Hunter Angels.
• Bernadette recounted the Medici family’s history and asked whether Luther could control the spirit; Luther said he could not yet.

Luther accepted Bernadette’s offer to take him to the God War Ruins in the Sonia Sea, where he might find the ingredients for his Sequence 4 advancement, and received new identity papers under the name Alexander Gascoigne. At Sodela Palace, George III ordered a nationwide hunt for the Blood Bishop as Church leaders arrived demanding an explanation.

• Luther told Bernadette that he had the Black Knight Potion formula and that Luna’s divination pointed to the Sonia Sea for its main ingredients.
• Bernadette revealed that she was Queen Mystic and prophesied that Luther had an opportunity to advance in the God War Ruins.
• Bernadette offered Luther passage aboard the Dawn, and he accepted her help.
• Bernadette gave Luther identification papers bearing his new name, Alexander Gascoigne.
• At Sodela Palace, the Earl of the Royal Residence told George III that three Church archbishops were waiting to see him and wanted an explanation.
• George III ordered Celt to issue a nationwide warrant for the Blood Bishop and eliminate the traitor.

Klein learned that Luther, as the Blood Bishop, had attacked the royal palace and become a wanted fugitive with a 120,000-pound bounty. As news spread across the world, Fors and Xio discussed the attack, while Alger received the shocking report at sea.

• Klein traveled to Pritz Harbor and read that the Blood Bishop had attacked Sodela Palace, sunk the Pritz, and earned a 120,000-pound bounty.
• Klein worried that the bounty would draw hunters after Luther and planned to question him at the next Tarot Club meeting.
• Fors read the report about Temperance and was startled by what Luther had done.
• Xio told Fors that MI9 had asked her to investigate the Blood Bishop and described the palace attack.
• Alger received a newspaper reporting the attack as news spread across the Five Seas and beyond.

Luther tried to learn about the sea within his body and Medici’s past, but the Red Angel refused to explain Rose Redemption and withdrew. He later joined Bernadette on the Dawn’s deck as the ship sped toward a seaport.

• Luther questioned Medici about the secret sea within him, but Medici fell silent when asked what it was and why it had appeared.
• Medici said the Blood Emperor had not captured him alone, while Sauron and Einhorn blamed Medici’s arrogance and revealed that two brothers had helped bring them down.
• Luther asked whether Medici had founded Rose Redemption and what it had to do with the True Creator, but Medici rebuked him and withdrew.
• Luther left his cabin and found Bernadette fishing from the bow while Luna waited beside her.
• Bernadette reeled in a huge fish and tossed it to Luna as the Dawn continued sailing at full speed.

Luther arrived at Toscarter Island, prepared to attend the Tarot Club, and planned to identify the member who had warned him about the Demoness. At the gathering, he noticed a new member before Justice thanked the Fool for saving Backlund.

• Queen Mystic Bernadette left Luther on Toscarter Island while she handled other matters, and Luther went ashore with Luna.
• Luther checked into an inn, heard about the coming Pirate Assembly, and considered asking the Tarot Club for ingredients for the Black Knight Potion.
• Luther concluded that Mr. World might be Klein and decided to confront him at the gathering.
• M appeared in Luther's room and created a Virtual Personality for him before the Tarot Club began.
• Luther arrived in the Gray Fog and noticed a new, red-eyed figure seated at the table as Justice thanked the Fool for saving Backlund.

Emlyn joined the Tarot Club as [Moon], where the members discussed the Great Smog and Luther’s warning before beginning a trade session. Luther sought ingredients for his Sequence 4 advancement, and Emlyn revealed that a Sanguine Earl might have one of them.

• Emlyn joined the Tarot Club and listened as Audrey thanked [World] for warning her about the Great Smog.
• Audrey asked Luther about the smog’s deeper background, but he redirected the meeting to Mr. Fool’s reading, and Fors offered three pages of Roselle’s Diary.
• Klein introduced Emlyn as the new member, and the Tarot Club members greeted one another before starting the trade session.
• Luther asked for Grigel’s Shadow Trace and a Shadow Knight’s Black Fluid to prepare for his Sequence 4 advancement, and Audrey and Fors offered to ask around.
• Emlyn revealed that a Sanguine Earl owned a Blood Giant’s Shadow Trace and said it might be obtained for a price.

At a Tarot Club gathering, Luther and the other members arranged several Beyonder transactions and discussed the resources they could access. In Backlund, the Churches began a joint investigation into the Great Smog, and Soest reported that Prince Edessak’s staff had been silenced.

• Emlyn offered to find Grigel and Shadow Knight Black Fluid for Luther, who arranged for payments and exchanges to be completed through offerings to Mr. Fool.
• Alger told Luther that the Judge Beyonder Item had sold, and they agreed that Alger would pay 8,000 pounds for the Wind-blessed potion formula and Beyonder Characteristic.
• Emlyn offered Audrey Elder Tree Fruit and Mirror Dragon Blood at agreed prices, and she accepted his terms.
• Klein reflected that the Tarot Club’s members brought together increasingly useful trading channels and resources.
• Ikanser attended a joint meeting of the Churches of Steam, Storms, and Evernight to investigate the Great Smog.
• Soest reported that the Red Gloves’ investigation linked the Royal Family to the Demoness Sect, but the prince’s estate steward and Trissy’s personal maid had been silenced.