Chapter Summaries

Luther consulted the Snake of Mercury about Anderson’s curse and learned how to contain it while seeking a permanent cure. Meanwhile, Alger began searching for a ship in Bayam for Temperance.

• The Snake of Mercury told Luther that Ricciardo of the Life School of Thought on Oravi Island could permanently lift the Ouroboros Mural’s curse.
• The Snake of Mercury taught Luther to make a Misfortune charm that would deliberately trigger Anderson’s bad luck and keep it manageable.
• Luther made the charm with the Goddess’s power and gave it to Anderson as a temporary safeguard.
• Alger inspected ships at a secluded fishery in Bayam and passed over a bloodstained ship said to bring bad luck.
• Alger learned that new ships cost around three thousand pounds and secondhand ones started at fifteen hundred, leaving the choice to Temperance.

Luther and Anderson sacrificed Hanged Man’s newly purchased sailboat to Mr. Fool, who transported it from above the Gray Fog to the shore at God War Ruins. They boarded the ship, but Anderson worried that the vessel was too large for the two of them to sail.

• Luther and Anderson continued the sacrifice ritual after the Sun Chariot passed overhead, and Anderson prayed to Mr. Fool in Ancient Hermes.
• Klein opened a passage above the Gray Fog after hearing Anderson’s prayer and accepted 3,400 pounds from Luther as payment for the ship and supplies.
• Anderson and Luther used their Spirituality and Luther’s wind to guide the large sailboat through the illusory door and onto the water.
• Luther inspected the ship’s food and supplies, picked up the Sailing Manual, and told Anderson to board.
• Anderson asked whether the two of them could sail the ship, and Luther confidently said they could.

Luther and Anderson prepared the ship to sail deeper into the dangerous waters, but night forced Luther to enter the dream before they could depart. The Queen Mystic sent him away from her battle with Barros, and he found himself trapped in a prison within the Black Monastery.

• Luther created ten Flesh Puppets from his severed arm to crew the ship and learned its basic operation with Anderson.
• Luther told Anderson he would sail farther into the waters to pursue his purpose, but night fell before they could leave.
• Luther entered the dream and found the Queen Mystic fighting Barros in the library of the Black Monastery.
• The Queen Mystic transported Luther away as Barros’s fire snakes attacked, leaving Luther in darkness inside a prison.
• Luther cut through his cell bars with a magma sword and found an open, messy cell with a key still in its lock.

Luther encountered the Black Knight in a dream and escaped when a linen-robed man drew the knight away. After waking, Luther followed Luna’s divination and chose to sail east, deeper into the Sonia Sea.

• Luther found an open prison cell and met the Black Knight, who attacked him with a greatsword.
• Luther struck the Black Knight with the Sword of Lava, but the armor absorbed the blow and the knight continued pursuing him.
• A linen-robed man emerged from a cell and fled, drawing the Black Knight away from Luther.
• Luther woke from the dream and considered whether the linen-robed man’s importance to the Black Knight could help him.
• Luther asked Luna to divine a route, and she pointed east into the Sonia Sea.
• Luther ordered the blood-red puppets to set sail toward the east.

Luther and Anderson sailed through the God War Ruins and encountered a fleeing ship pursued by the King of Immortality’s pirates. After the adventurers revealed a clue to the Fountain of Youth, Luther pursued the pirates when they suddenly turned away.

• Anderson directed the Flesh Puppets as they set sail, but Luther’s wind quickly filled the mainsail and made the work unnecessary.
• Luther fished while the ship traveled, until Anderson spotted two vessels: one fleeing and one pursuing it.
• Anderson identified the pursuing ship as part of the King of Immortality’s fleet, and Luther decided to approach and hunt its pirates.
• A golden-haired adventurer asked for help and claimed their crew had discovered a clue to the Fountain of Youth.
• When the black-sailed pirates abruptly turned away, Luther lifted himself and Anderson into the air and chased after them.

Luther and Anderson attacked the King of Immortality’s pirate ship, where Luther confronted its second mate, Kircheis, who recognized him as the Blood Bishop. Luther’s power overwhelmed Kircheis’s curse, and as Kircheis prepared to fight back, Luther vanished from where he had stood.

• Luther brought Anderson down onto the pirate ship’s deck, where Luther’s crimson attack instantly killed the pirates surrounding them.
• Anderson identified the ship’s leader as Kircheis, the King of Immortality’s second mate, and named his 9,500-pound bounty.
• Kircheis recognized Luther as the Blood Bishop and tried to persuade him to join the King of Immortality, but Luther attacked him with a spear of scarlet flames.
• Kircheis transformed into a Devil and cursed Luther, but Luther’s Language of Foulness caused Kircheis to scream and lose control of his fireballs.
• Kircheis recovered, summoned a magma greatsword, and prepared to fight, but Luther vanished and appeared to him as an illusory figure.

Anderson killed the pirates aboard the ship while Luther forced Kircheis to kill himself, then questioned Kircheis’s soul about the blood crystals found on the corpses. Kircheis revealed that the crystals came from the Death Announcer, which corrupted its crew and had a cooperative relationship with Agalito.

• Anderson used his Hunter abilities to kill the pirates attacking him.
• Kircheis’s Devil form was forced to decapitate itself, and Luther appeared beside its corpse.
• Luther and Anderson found blood crystals on Kircheis and the dead pirates.
• Luther pulled Kircheis’s soul from the corpse and demanded to know what the crystals were.
• Kircheis revealed that the Death Announcer corrupted its crew and worked with Agalito, shocking Anderson.

Luther and Anderson looted a pirate ship after Luther Grazed Kircheis, but found almost no money. In the galley, Luther discovered a message asking for help that pointed to the trapped Aurora Order saint, and he set sail to trace its sender.

• Luther released the Devil Dog's soul, Grazed Kircheis, and fixed three of Kircheis's abilities at Sequence 5 strength.
• Luther and Anderson searched the pirate ship and found only a few dozen pounds, food, and other supplies.
• Luther found three unusual fingers hidden inside a fish, which fused to spell “Help!”
• Luther recognized the fingers as a message from a likely trapped Aurora Order saint and used their spiritual imprint to trace the sender.
• Luther and Anderson took the supplies and bounty corpses, burned the black-sailed ship, and sailed toward the sender's location.

At the Tarot Club meeting, Luther arranged purchases of potion ingredients and requested records about the Second Epoch, while the members discussed unrest in Backlund. The meeting ended with Klein planning a private Transmigrators' Gathering to tell Luther about a terrifying discovery connected to him.

• Audrey bought Elder Tree and Mirror Dragon Blood from Emlyn, and Luther agreed to buy Grigel's Shadow Trace.
• Luther asked for information about the Ancient Gods and the Creator, and Derrick and Emlyn agreed to gather historical records for him.
• World asked the two women in Backlund to purchase a telegraph machine for him.
• Audrey warned that MI9's searches and arrests had made Backlund dangerous, while Alger said the sea had been peaceful.
• Klein recalled a perilous night at Bansy Harbor and a terrifying discovery related to Luther, then planned to arrange a private Transmigrators' Gathering.

Luther told the Tarot Club that he had killed Kircheis the Massacrer, second mate of King of Immortality Agalito, and suggested Agalito’s Fountain of Youth story was a scam. After the gathering, Klein privately told Luther about his dangerous visit to Bansy Harbor, whose ancient name was Binsy, prompting Luther to recall the Red Angel Evil Spirit’s advice about searching there for Medici’s descendants.

• Luther asked Alger and Klein for help collecting the bounty on Kircheis, but both declined because they were at sea.
• Luther described killing Kircheis and explained that Agalito might be a Sequence 4 Demon who used the Fountain of Youth legend to deceive people.
• Audrey remembered Cons Lee and resolved to grow stronger so she could protect her family.
• After the Tarot gathering ended, Klein and Luther remained Above the Gray Fog for a private conversation.
• Klein told Luther that Bansy Harbor was dangerous and had once been called Binsy, making Luther recall the Red Angel Evil Spirit’s lead about Medici’s descendants.

Klein and Luther exchanged information about Bansy Harbor and the Sonia Sea, then arranged to share secrets after future Tarot Club gatherings. Back underground, Luther confronted M about his growing suspicion, and she suddenly plunged her hand into her chest.

• Klein told Luther that Bansy Harbor’s ancient Weather God cult and its name, Binsy, suggested a connection to Medici’s bloodline, and Luther decided to explore it later.
• Luther revealed that he had visited God War Ruins in the Sonia Sea and told Klein that Mermaids lived there, giving Klein a lead for his advancement.
• Klein proposed that he and Luther exchange secret information after each gathering, and the Fool approved the arrangement.
• Klein said his new identity was Gehrman Sparrow, while Luther introduced himself as Alexander Gascoigne.
• After the gathering, Luther questioned M about the Virtual Personality’s late return and accused her of being opaque and possibly deceptive.
• M acknowledged Luther’s suspicion and plunged her hand into her own chest.

M gave Luther her heart, allowing him to destroy her personality if he believed she had betrayed him, and Luther cautiously accepted it. After the Tarot Club memories returned, Luther found an abandoned Aurora Order ship whose bloody clues suggested its crew had been driven to madness, then ordered Anderson to continue toward their destination.

• M pulled her heart from her chest and offered it to Luther as proof of her trust; Luna's divination confirmed it was genuine, and Luther accepted it as a mark on his wrist.
• The Virtual Personality returned from the Tarot Club and filled Luther's mind with memories, including news about Grigel's Shadow Trace, Medici, and Binsy Town.
• Anderson spotted a bloodstained, empty sailing ship, and Luther recognized the True Creator's emblem and the Aurora Order's presence.
• Luther found dried blood, strange ritual objects, and the message, "Help! There's another person in my head!" on the ship, then sank it.
• Luther told Anderson that the ship confirmed their direction and ordered him to keep sailing; Anderson reluctantly ordered the puppets, "Hard to port!"

Luther reached a fog-shrouded island and entered the Black Knight’s dream to learn more about it. He discovered that the trapped man, Leomaster, had led a pilgrimage to the island, but their conversation was interrupted when the Black Knight burst in.

• Luther found the fog-covered island where the bloodied owner of the finger was located and kept the ship at a distance from its corpse-strewn shore.
• Luther traded with Moon for Grigel's Shadow Trace, then entered the Black Knight’s dream after nightfall.
• Luther found Leomaster hiding in a storage room and learned that he had come on a pilgrimage with a religious group that worshipped the original Creator.
• Leomaster revealed that his companions had called the black knight the Saint of Darkness just before the knight blasted open the door.

Luther battled the Saint of Darkness in a dream and discovered that the knight shared Leomaster’s face. After waking and returning to the dreamscape, he concluded that the island split people into opposing personalities, leaving the connection between Leomaster and the Saint of Darkness exposed.

• The Saint of Darkness attacked Luther and Leomaster, but Luther used Flaming Jump to get them out of danger.
• Luther confronted the Saint of Darkness, stabbed himself with Pain, and used the resulting pain to disrupt the dreamscape.
• Luther struck the Saint of Darkness’s helmet with the Sword of Lava, breaking it and revealing a face identical to Leomaster’s.
• The dream collapsed and Luther woke, then used meditation to return to the dreamscape, where he encountered Anderson beside a mural.
• Luther reasoned that the island split people into opposing personalities and that Leomaster was both the Saint of Darkness and the prison’s Black Knight jailer.

Luther pieced together how Leomaster’s pilgrimage had ended in madness and considered ways to reach him safely on Mist Island. Before he could act, the King of the Black Throne’s hidden flagship appeared beside the ship.

• Luther deduced that Leomaster’s pilgrimage party had been driven mad by the Catastrophe on Mist Island, leaving Leomaster alone to send distress signals.
• Luther considered using his Phantom Tide, asking the Queen for help, or luring Leomaster aboard, and planned to confront the Black Knight through a dream.
• Anderson suddenly stabbed Luther and attacked him with fireballs, but claimed he had not controlled his own actions.
• Luther restrained Anderson and noticed the King of the Black Throne’s flagship reflected in Anderson’s eyes, though the ship was invisible to him.
• The flagship appeared in the real world, with the King of the Black Throne seated at its bow.

Luther confronted Barros Hopkins at the fog-shrouded island, resisted his attempt to trap him in a dream, and escaped into the mist after feigning that he had thrown away the black key. The key returned to Luther, leaving him alone as he ventured deeper into the island.

• Barros Hopkins approached Luther's vessel and used [Weaving] to trap Anderson in a Nightmare, but Luther resisted the dream with his illusory Tide.
• Barros asked Luther to return the black key, and Luther refused, accusing him of fearing the Tide.
• Bernadette's Dawn appeared and fired an enchanted shot at Barros's flagship as Luther anticipated an imminent attack.
• Luther showed Barros the black key, threw it into the sea, and transformed into a fireball to flee into the island's mist.
• Barros searched for the key with the minds of fish, while it returned to Luther, who stored it and walked deeper into the mist.

Luther crossed the fog-covered ruins of the island and found that its Mirror was made of mind-corrupting fog. Following the three fingers through the Mirror, he reached the Saint of Darkness, Leomaster, and watched him take form.

• Luther carried Luna with him while advancing toward Leomaster under Phantom Tide’s protection.
• Luther followed the Black Knight’s sword marks through the ruins and discovered a vast Mirror formed from fog that tried to corrupt his mind.
• Luther tested the Mirror with a fireball and used Flaming Jump to cross it without touching its surface.
• The three fingers throbbed, burst into blood, and drew a mass of shadow into the shape of the black knight Leomaster.
• Luther and Leomaster finally met in reality.

Luther disguised himself as Mr. A and tried to exploit Leomaster’s fractured mind while secretly infecting him with a disease. Leomaster exposed Luther as a blasphemer and attacked him, leaving their confrontation unresolved.

• Luther disguised himself as Mr. A and claimed he had come to rescue Leomaster with the Saint’s missing finger.
• Luther secretly used a Grazed Demoness of Affliction to spread a disease through Leomaster.
• Leomaster questioned why Luther was unaffected by the island’s madness, and Luther claimed a Grazed Dreamwalker stabilized his mind.
• Luther offered to merge Leomaster’s split personalities, and Leomaster pretended to lower his mental defenses.
• Leomaster announced that the Lord had identified Luther as a blasphemer and stabbed at him with a newly formed greatsword.

Luther fought Leomaster, using the mutated “Pain” and the “Abyss” Card to enhance himself and exploit the Saint of Darkness’s conflicting personalities. After repeatedly attacking Leomaster’s mind, Luther saw the plaza turn black as Leomaster’s shadow spread across it.

• Luther escaped Leomaster’s greatsword strike, sent Luna away, and stabbed himself with the mutated “Pain,” inflicting agony on both himself and Leomaster.
• Luther absorbed the “Abyss” Card and transformed into a powerful Devil.
• Luther clashed weapons with Leomaster, then used a filthy curse to interrupt the Saint of Darkness and create distance.
• Luther used Desire Control and Impact to intensify Leomaster’s conflicting emotions and worsen his mental agony.
• Leomaster’s shadow spread across the plaza, filling the fog with a heavy, fallen aura.

Luther and Leomaster fought in the plaza’s shadows, with Luther provoking the Saint of Darkness while trying to survive his attacks. Both were badly weakened and forced to recover, leaving the fight poised for a decisive final exchange.

• Leomaster used Shadow Dominion, but Luther’s shadow held it back with the accumulated resentment of the Degenerates he had swallowed.
• Luther attacked Leomaster’s faith to worsen his mental state, and Leomaster charged at him in a fury.
• Leomaster Grazed a Marionettist and slowed Luther, interrupting his Flaming Jump and slashing him with his greatsword.
• Luther escaped the killing blow with a Paper Figurine Substitute, but his wound spread with Corrosion and the Tide in his mind was heavily damaged.
• Leomaster’s Disease symptoms erupted, forcing him to pause and heal while Luther treated his wound, and both prepared for the fight to resume.