Chapter Summaries

Luther bargained with Medici for help against Leomaster, promising to visit Bansy Harbor and threatening Medici’s descendants if he refused. He then used the Red Priest Card of Blasphemy to reach the power of a Sequence 4 Hunter and launched a Flame Spear at Leomaster.

• Luther asked Medici to lend him power, offering to keep him free and threatening to scour him with the Tide and expose Bansy Harbor if he refused.
• Medici agreed to cooperate on the condition that Luther visit Bansy Harbor during his journey.
• As Leomaster charged with his black greatsword, Luther stabbed the Red Priest Card of Blasphemy into his chest and accommodated it.
• Luther’s power surged to at least Sequence 4, and he formed an azure Flame Spear after using his Reaper ability to find Leomaster’s weakness.
• Luther hurled the Flame Spear at Leomaster.

Luther killed Leomaster with a Flame Spear, but the Mirror split off a second Luther after the Tide’s protection vanished. Luther pursued his unstable double through the fog as M warned that his mental state was deteriorating.

• Luther’s Flame Spear pierced Leomaster, destroyed his armor, and killed the Saint of Darkness.
• The Tide inside Luther vanished, and he tried to take Leomaster’s corpse before the fog closed in again.
• A vast Mirror split Luther’s personality and produced a gloomy double with the same abilities.
• The double shot himself, regenerated, and fled through the fog using Flaming Jump.
• M warned Luther that his personality had split again, and Luther caught up with the double and demanded to know why he was running.

Luther confronted a split-off version of himself that could no longer endure the pain of his life, and M warned that killing the avatar would damage his humanity. Luther devoured him despite his pleas, then awoke in the foggy square beside Leomaster’s corpse with the Mirror still intact.

• Luther’s avatar explained that he had tried to flee because constant suffering and the deaths of those he cared about had left him wanting to end his existence.
• M told Luther that the avatar embodied a vivid part of his humanity and advised him to devour it rather than destroy it.
• The avatar fled, but Luther caught him and began merging him into himself as M warned that stopping could cause a mental breakdown.
• The avatar begged Cecilia to save him, provoking Luther to crush his jaw and rage at him before devouring him completely.
• Luther awoke in the foggy square beside Leomaster’s corpse and saw that his reflection in the Mirror had not split apart again.

Luther escaped the vanished Mist Island with the black key bound to him, while Barros Hopkins abruptly withdrew from the sea battle. Aboard the Dawn, Bernadette identified the key as belonging to Roselle’s Black Throne and asked Luther to let her inspect the ship if he found it.

• Luther emerged from Mist Island onto a reef beside Leomaster’s corpse as the island dissolved, and Luna joined him.
• Bernadette warned Luther to leave, but Barros Hopkins began addressing him before an enormous rabbit interrupted with urgent news.
• Barros ended the battle and departed aboard the Black Throne’s Flagship, while Luther collapsed on the reef and was rescued by Dawn and Anderson.
• Luther explained to Bernadette that the black key had bound itself to him, and Anderson confirmed that it had happened by accident.
• Bernadette revealed that the key belonged to Roselle’s Black Throne, a Ghost Ship built during the Fourth Epoch, and asked to inspect it if Luther found it.

Luther learned about the Solomon Empire Ghost Ship and the sea kings’ flagships, then claimed Leomaster’s Black Knight Beyonder Characteristic as payment for the Black Throne. After resting aboard the Dawn, he began preparing the Sequence 4 Potion.

• Bernadette explained that the Solomon Empire Ghost Ship could sail through the Spirit World and described the special abilities of several sea kings’ flagships.
• Bernadette revealed that Barros Hopkins led the Psychology Alchemists and that his ship sailed through the sea of the Collective Subconscious.
• Luther took Leomaster’s Black Knight Beyonder Characteristic and offered the remaining characteristics as payment for the Black Throne.
• The Dawn left the God War Ruins, and Luther began preparing his Potion with the Shadow Knight Black Fluid and Grigel’s Shadow Trace.

Luther prepared and drank the Black Knight Potion, enduring a transformation in which his Flesh and spirit were stained by Degeneration and pulled toward the Shadow World. With the degenerate souls supporting him and Divinity gathering his consciousness, he completed his advancement and emerged as a Black Knight.

• Luther added his blood and the Black Knight Beyonder Characteristic precipitated by Leomaster to the Potion, then drank it.
• Luther's body collapsed into Flesh and shadow as his consciousness began sinking into the Shadow World.
• The souls of those who had undergone Degeneration caught Luther and helped him escape the darkness.
• Luther's Flesh and spirit split and transformed as Divinity gathered his scattered consciousness and integrated with the Divinity in his body.
• Luther re-formed as a Black Knight aboard the Dawn, and Bernadette congratulated him.

Luther advanced to Sequence 4, becoming a Black Knight, and learned the abilities of his new pathway. After leaving the God War Ruins, he chose to remain at sea to digest his Potion and pursue several plans, while Anderson joined him on Storcatt Island.

• Bernadette explained that Luther’s Divinity had made him emotionally detached, and he recalled painful memories to restore his humanity.
• Luther learned that his Black Knight abilities included stronger Grazing, shadow armor, the Blade of Flesh and Spirit, and Fallen Shadow.
• The Dawn returned to the waters near Toscarter Island, where Luther decided not to return to Backlund yet and planned to stay at sea.
• Bernadette gave Luther a way to summon her messenger so he could report any trace of the Black Throne.
• Luther and Anderson disembarked at Storcatt Island as the Dawn sailed back into the Sonia Sea.

After reaching Toscarter Island, Luther and Anderson brought the bodies of three wanted pirates to the Adventurer Mutual Aid Association to claim bounties. Anderson arrived first and stunned the association’s members by identifying the corpses, including slaughterer Kircheis.

• Luther and Anderson sailed into Toscarter Island’s harbor after watching the Dawn sink.
• Luther asked Anderson where they could cash in bounties, and Anderson recommended the Adventurer Mutual Aid Association.
• Luther had his Flesh Puppets bring the preserved corpses of slaughterer Kircheis and his two subordinates onto the deck, then sent Anderson to collect the bounty.
• Anderson dragged the corpses through the harbor, drawing a crowd that recognized them as pirates linked to the King of Immortality.
• Anderson entered the Adventurer Mutual Aid Association and showed the corpses to Jante and the gathered adventurers.
• Anderson identified the bodies as 'Butcher' Damian, 'Mad Dog' Bennett, and slaughterer Kircheis, leaving the room stunned.

Anderson learned that Blood Bishop was a notorious criminal and warned Luther that the name had been exposed, but Luther was unconcerned. Luther then asked Anderson to tell him everything he knew about the seven pirate admirals and four pirate kings.

• Jante praised Anderson for bringing in Kircheis, but Anderson clarified that he had killed the other two men and claimed Blood Bishop killed Kircheis before retracting the claim as a joke.
• Anderson learned at a bar that Blood Bishop was wanted for attacking the king and bombarding the royal palace, with a bounty of 120,000 pounds.
• Anderson spotted Blood Bishop's wanted poster and hurried back to the inn, fearing that the Church might connect the blood-red crystals to the Shepherd Pathway and expose him and Gascoigne.
• Anderson told Luther that he had revealed the name Blood Bishop to the Adventurer Mutual Aid Association, but Luther said he did not mind and registered under the name Alexander Gascoigne.
• Luther asked Anderson to explain everything he knew about the seven pirate admirals and the four pirate kings.

Luther questioned Anderson about the pirate kings and generals, then decided to target Vice Admiral of Ailment Tracy and recruit a pirate crew. He invited Anderson to become his first mate, but Anderson asked for time to consider.

• Anderson described the territories, conduct, and powers of the pirate kings, then listed the seven pirate generals.
• Anderson identified Tracy as the newest pirate general, and Luther suspected she was a Demoness of Affliction.
• Luther decided to make trouble for Tracy and investigate the force behind her as part of his plans for revenge.
• Luther invited Anderson to join his planned fleet as first mate and explained that it would target pirates and Loen officials, not civilians.
• Anderson asked for time to consider the offer, and Luther agreed not to force him.

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.