Recaps

He Xi earned 9,160 Gold Shields and 85 Silver Scales from his consigned goods, then gained the Spirit Bonding trait from Rustling Leaf's Favorability. He later questioned Ulag about the female gnome Bruno thought Ulag admired, but learned Ulag had mistaken her for a slow-serving maid.

• Cross auctioned Green Hag and Night Hag heads, claiming they came from a coven destroyed by a legendary mage, while bidders speculated about the mage's identity.
• He Xi received a note from Flora, collected his auction proceeds, and kept 285 Gold Shields while exchanging the rest for Kunda Grand Bank notes.
• Zoya told He Xi that Ringleaf had asked whether he was her servant, and she repeated its teasing question about Bruce to the embarrassed dog.
• He Xi gained the Spirit Bonding trait from Rustling Leaf's Favorability and decided it might let Bruce hide in his pocket space after he consulted Bruno.
• Kazmir took He Xi and Zoya to question Ulag, who explained that he had stared at Bruno's maid because she poured drinks too slowly, not because he was interested in her.

He Xi helped Ulag turn down Bruno’s daughter, then hired Kazmir to deliver an explanation that would spare the gnome’s feelings. After securing Bruno’s help with another Ringleaf-related ritual, He Xi went to the Observer’s Tower to ask Flora about demons, still unsure how to explain his interest in gathering their traits.

• He Xi told Ulag that Signey wanted to marry him, but Ulag refused because he wanted to remain an adventurer and preferred bearded women.
• Ulag hid behind a locked door and paid He Xi to explain his rejection to Bruno, while He Xi returned the Gold Shield through the floor with magic.
• He Xi hired Kazmir to tell Bruno that Ulag liked Signey, and Bruno accepted the explanation despite being stunned by Kazmir’s tearful performance.
• He Xi asked Bruno to prepare another Ringleaf-related ritual, and Bruno agreed after warning him to use no more than three Ether Roots at a time.
• He Xi parted from Zoya and Kazmir, then went to the Observer’s Tower with Bruce to speak to Flora about his search for demons.

He Xi explained to Flora that he planned to study demons’ Real Names by learning Abyssal from low-rank demons, and Flora trusted him while teasing him about their agreement. The three traveled to Black Elm Town to find the abandoned mage tower where demons appeared, and He Xi sought directions from adventurers.

• Flora accepted He Xi’s explanation and stopped him from revealing how he could obtain demons’ language, then invited him on an adventure.
• Flora and He Xi flew to Fernandez’s Gate Hall, where Mage Weaver directed them to the teleportation array for Black Elm Town.
• Flora told He Xi that a sorcerer named Milo had opened a passage to the Abyss at an abandoned mage tower, causing demons to appear and merchants to abandon the route.
• He Xi and Flora went to the Adventurer Guild to find people who knew the tower’s location and demon activity.
• Lankas recruited ranged fighters to clear dretches near the Leaky Tower Ruins, and Bruce asked whether dogs were weaker than demons.

He Xi and Flora joined Lankas’s team to clear Imps near Black Elm Town, and He Xi learned how the creatures had driven other Demonic Beasts toward the town and threatened its residents. The group reached the woods and prepared to fight after Lankas heard something approaching.

• Lankas warned He Xi and Flora that Imps could summon nearby kin, then gave them directions to the mage tower and an abandoned workshop where about thirty Imps had been spotted.
• He Xi and Flora agreed to join Lankas, Ethan, and a tall young ranger apprentice in clearing Imps, provided they followed Lankas’s commands during combat.
• As they traveled, He Xi learned that foreign adventurers focused on profitable Demonic Beasts while Lankas’s local team cleared Imps to protect Black Elm Town.
• Lankas explained that the Imps had disrupted the woodland, pushing Goblins and kobolds toward the town and endangering residents who could not safely move to distant Redwater City.
• Lankas heard rustling in the bushes ahead and ordered the group to prepare for battle.

He Xi and his companions reached the abandoned workshop and used a drainage ditch to trap a group of Imps. He Xi's [Withered Leaves Bloom] killed them far faster than Lankas expected, and he then proposed a new way to lure in even more Imps.

• Lankas, Clay, and Ethan killed five Imps on the forest trail while He Xi watched their coordinated archery and Lankas collected venom.
• Lankas led the group to the ruined workshop and explained his plan to lure the Imps into a concealed drainage ditch.
• Lankas drew more than ten Imps toward the ditch, where He Xi cast [Withered Leaves Bloom] and killed them within seconds.
• Flora teased He Xi about being the most amazing and joked about replacing his little girlfriend, while Clay and Ethan watched in astonishment.
• He Xi told Lankas he could attract even more Imps and asked Flora for a few strands of hair; ten minutes later, Flora ran toward the workshop with Lankas, holding up her skirt.

He Xi used an illusion and a deadfall trap to clear the imps around the abandoned workshop, then joined Flora to investigate the ruined mage tower and its Gate of Otherworlds. As they reached the gate on the third floor, Flora's voice abruptly stopped and He Xi told her to stay silent and follow him.

• He Xi lured the imps into the old water channel with an illusion of Flora, while Lankas, Ethan, and Clay helped kill the trapped creatures.
• He Xi reached Withered Leaves Bloom LV.4, selected Filth Resistance and Dark Vision, and then acquired Rotten Body after extracting traits from the imps.
• He Xi told Flora he truly wanted to adventure with her, and they decided to visit the abandoned mage tower despite Ethan's warning and Lankas's offer to guide them the next day.
• He Xi and Flora traveled to the tower, where Flora explained the Gate of Otherworlds had remained open after the Mage Association sealed it off.
• He Xi and Flora reached the third-floor ritual hall and approached the dark, mist-filled gate, but Flora's voice suddenly cut off and He Xi ordered her not to speak and to follow him.

He Xi and Flora lured Zekal, a Glabrezu demon hiding in the mage tower, into revealing itself and learned it had trapped adventurers with false clues. After Flora restrained Zekal and exposed its thoughts, she prepared to dominate it so He Xi could use it for his trait-drawing plans.

• Flora sensed a psychic fluctuation in a moonlit room and instructed He Xi to pretend to be a greedy, unstable scholar while she tracked it.
• He Xi examined strange symbols on the wall until a voice addressed him telepathically, and he feigned fear as heavy footsteps approached.
• Zekal emerged and explained that it had stolen research documents, lured adventurers to the tower, and sought a way back to the Abyss.
• Flora identified Zekal's plan to repair the gate and report to Demogorgon, then revealed that she could read its thoughts.
• Flora immobilized Zekal with [Hold Monster], and He Xi considered whether he could draw traits from the demon after its death.
• Flora summoned a silver-white staff and raised it to cast eighth-circle [Dominate Monster] on Zekal.

He Xi and Flora used Zekal to summon and kill three kss demons, gaining He Xi the choice of a new trait. After choosing Abyssal, He Xi deciphered the Dark Tome fragment and unlocked the ability to search for advanced classes.

• Flora explained that her Perfect Concentration Afterglow talent would keep her domination spell active for three minutes after she stopped concentrating, and He Xi examined Erikter’s notebook about the Dark Tome fragment.
• He Xi prepared a Web Spell trap, and Zekal summoned a kss demon that it seized and beat while He Xi killed it with Magic Missile.
• Flora dominated a second allure demon, which helped He Xi kill two more kss demons and extract their traits.
• After Flora ended her spell and killed the exhausted Zekal, He Xi supported her as she rested beside him, then chose the Abyssal trait over Blindsight Instinct.
• He Xi gained Wisdom, deciphered the Dark Tome fragment, learned Basic Demon Lore, and received a prompt asking whether he wanted to search for available advanced classes.

He Xi used the light in his mind to search for advanced-class guidance and discovered several possible paths, including an absurd, unnamed class with intimate rituals among its requirements. After Flora explained how such guidance could arise, He Xi revealed that he had received four additional directions, leaving her stunned.

• He Xi examined the requirements for the Forbidden Scholar and Elementalist classes, finding that he did not yet meet all of them.
• He Xi used Essence of Bhaal to reveal Profane Assassin requirements and searched further, uncovering several incomplete or unnamed class paths.
• He Xi found an unknown class whose requirements included intercourse with members of multiple races and creatures of higher life tiers, and wondered what qualified.
• Flora woke and asked He Xi what was wrong, then listened as he showed her the demon's notes and described sensing advanced-class guidance.
• Flora explained that gods and other powers could guide people toward special classes, and He Xi told her he had received four more directions, leaving her surprised.

A supplementary translation of the Dark Tome fragment recorded Turcot Nol Amu's study of the Abyss and his account of how the gods reshaped primordial chaos. With demons aware of his pursuit of knowledge and war approaching, he prayed to gods he no longer believed in for survival.

• Turcot Nol Amu studied demonology and endured the influence of abyssal knowledge.
• Turcot Nol Amu learned that the Abyss was primordial chaos from which the gods created the mortal world and their divine thrones.
• Turcot Nol Amu described how the gods imposed order on chaos and abandoned the demons, giving rise to the demons' wars against them.
• The demons learned of Turcot Nol Amu's thirst for knowledge and feared his power.
• Turcot Nol Amu anticipated war and prayed that his wisdom would allow him to survive.

He Xi told Flora about the advanced classes he could pursue and asked for her advice. Her encouragement helped him choose [Elementalist] as a fallback while he investigated the unknown classes, and he left the tower with Flora after deciding to put the demons’ bodies to use.

• He Xi described his possible advanced classes, and Flora explained the talents and transformations offered by [Elementalist].
• He Xi revealed the requirements and uncertainties of his other possible classes, including [Forbidden Scholar], a demon-controlling class, and an unknown melee class tied to the fairy horse.
• Flora urged He Xi to choose a path he genuinely liked, and he realized he was most curious about the unknown final class.
• He Xi decided to pursue [Elementalist] as a fallback while asking his teacher about the unknown classes and letting the final class’s conditions unfold naturally.
• He Xi discovered the demons had no valuable materials and used [Mage Hand] to pile their bodies in front of the [Gate of Otherworlds], recruiting Flora to help.

He Xi and Flora encountered and killed more Imps in the forest before Flora secretly used [Fly Spell] to carry them toward Black Elm Town. After Bruce caught up in a fiery flight and reunited with them, He Xi and his companions ate with Ethan and Lankas, then departed through the town’s Teleportation Magic Array.

• He Xi and Flora discovered two more Imps lying in wait and He Xi killed them with [Earth Spike Technique].
• Flora secretly cast [Fly Spell] and carried He Xi through the moonlit forest, while they realized they had left Bruce behind.
• Bruce used flames to fly to Black Elm Town, where Ethan praised him and the guard learned that he could talk.
• He Xi, Flora, and Bruce shared a meal with Ethan, Lankas, and Clay at the Gray Feather Tavern.
• He Xi asked Ethan to guide them to the Teleportation Magic Array, then sent Ethan a money pouch as he and his companions teleported away.

He Xi studied demon Real Names and planned to consult Teacher Fivik before approaching the Cambion again, while he began taking academy spell electives. He mastered [Shield Spell], practiced it against a golem, and arranged to attend Mirabelle’s upcoming [Fireball Spell] class.

• Flora warned He Xi not to approach the Cambion or other tempting places alone, and they agreed to confirm their Real Name theory together.
• He Xi decided to contact Teacher Fivik about demon-summoning spells and advanced class paths, but learned that Fivik had gone to another plane.
• He Xi attended Oleg’s [Shield Spell] elective, mastered the spell after consulting Oleg, and gained one Wisdom.
• He Xi used a practice-room golem to train [Shield Spell] and increased its proficiency.
• Mirabelle questioned He Xi about spending two credits on her [Fire Arrow] elective, and He Xi asked to attend her upcoming [Fireball Spell] class.
• Mirabelle told He Xi that the [Fireball Spell] class would meet next Thursday at 10 a.m. in Classroom 402.

He Xi taught Bruno and the students basic giant-frog commands, then learned that his adventurer party, Dragon Revival, had become a public topic after the Bhaal believer case. He went to Golden Scales Trading Company to look at horses and heard a familiar voice upstairs.

• He Xi bought nine Ether Roots, ate at Southern Flavor, and returned to the academy to help Bruno with his language-and-magic-pet research.
• He Xi taught Bruno and the students several basic frog commands, and Bruno successfully made a giant frog lower its head.
• Bruno told He Xi that the students had been discussing Dragon Revival, which He Xi had only just formed, and He Xi realized the Adventurer Guild might have publicized the party without telling him.
• He Xi asked Bruno where to find an affordable horse, then went to Golden Scales Trading Company to inspect its mounts.
• As a clerk led He Xi toward the back courtyard, he heard a familiar voice coming from upstairs.

A stranded man from Blue Star survived by posing as a bard and telling jokes, but his attempts to earn food led him into trouble with Dwarves and a Drow slave named Tucker. After he told another Dwarf joke in the tavern, an unnoticed gray dwarf prepared to confront him.

• The black-haired bard joined three adventurers and told them that Dwarves had learned to write so they could record insults in the Book of Hatred.
• The bard recalled how a Dwarf had thrown him across a tavern for making jokes, then explained that he had been a stranded man from Blue Star for ten days.
• He recounted how He Xi had brought him to safety and given him money, and how Tucker escaped from him twice before kneeling to a female Drow.
• The bard told the adventurers that Tucker was a masochist, and they resumed trading jokes about Dwarves and Drow.
• The gray dwarf noticed the bard telling another Dwarf joke and gripped the axe on his back.

Anya learned that He Xi had rescued her father and secretly followed him and Flora, whom she suspected was the legendary Dream Weaver. He Xi and Flora reached Lamasha’s establishment to discuss a contract, where he publicly called Flora his wife.

• Anya reunited with her unharmed father, Baxter, who described how a young adventurer had rescued him from the cultists.
• Anya fled her parents’ marriage talk and spotted He Xi leaving the trading company after receiving a letter from Beilu.
• He Xi read his teacher’s letter about summoning demons, then met Flora at the agreed street corner.
• Anya followed He Xi and Flora, recognized Flora’s resemblance to the Dream Weaver on an Adventure Card, and wondered about her connection to He Xi.
• He Xi and Flora arrived at Lamasha’s establishment, and He Xi called Flora his dear wife so the woman at the entrance would hear.

He Xi and Flora entered Descent into Malbolge with Lamasha to investigate her proposed contract, while Anya misunderstood what she saw and decided that Flora was corrupting her junior. When Lamasha summoned witnesses from the Nine Hells, they recognized Flora and treated her with deference, leaving Lamasha stunned.

• He Xi called Flora his wife, and Flora linked arms with him to maintain their cover as they entered the establishment.
• Anya learned that He Xi had gone inside with Flora and Lamasha, blamed Flora for beguiling him, and resolved to confront him later.
• He Xi, Flora, and Lamasha went to the third floor, where a drunken customer mistook the scene for a dream and was punished for approaching Deborah.
• Flora sensed that Lamasha bore devil blood despite her connection to Salamachis, and she and He Xi agreed to continue observing her.
• Lamasha began explaining her contract, but Flora asked her to state its terms and benefits before they agreed.
• Lamasha summoned three Sisters of Justice to witness the contract, and they bowed to Flora before introducing themselves, causing Lamasha's confidence to falter.

He Xi questioned Lamasha about Salamachis and learned that the devils considered the subject a dangerous secret. Phio tried to take Lamasha back to Baator, but she presented the contract instead, and He Xi eagerly read its terms.

• He Xi asked Lamasha what power Salamachis had possessed in the Nine Hells, and Flora sensed Lamasha's fear and hatred of Salamachis's betrayal.
• When Lamasha denied that Salamachis had betrayed the Nine Hells, Phio bound and tortured her, then attempted to take her back to Baator.
• Flora challenged Phio over her haste to remove Lamasha, and Lamasha claimed Phio was obstructing a lawful contract because she feared Lamasha would regain her power.
• Phio produced the soul contract and a Common translation, emphasizing that the Sisters of Justice only witnessed and notarized transactions.
• He Xi read the contract and excitedly told Flora that Lamasha offered power in exchange for ownership of his soul after death, which would go to Baator.

He Xi questioned Lamasha’s soul contract and proposed reversing its terms, while Flora tried to stop him. The chapter ended with He Xi asking what would happen if he could qualify as the Sect Master party after Phio said he could not.

• Flora warned He Xi that devils would not safely extend his lifespan and urged him not to sign Lamasha’s contract.
• He Xi challenged Lamasha’s motives and asked whether the contract’s powers were real, and Phio explained that [Pact Blessing] came from the Primordial Pact.
• Flora guessed He Xi wanted to extend his life so he could stay with her, and He Xi embraced her while privately telling her to play along.
• He Xi asked Lamasha to prove he would benefit from the contract, then proposed that he become the Sect Master party instead.
• Phio said He Xi lacked the power-sharing ability required to become a Sect Master party, and He Xi asked, “What if I can do it?”

He Xi forced Phio to let him test a revised contract with Lamasha, then fulfilled its power-granting clause in a shocking way. As the contract took effect, He Xi sensed three connected abilities and realized he could actively choose two of them.

• Phio tried to leave with Lamasha, but Lamasha resisted and urged her to let He Xi test his reverse-contract idea.
• He Xi provoked Phio into drawing up a revised contract, then objected when she removed the Pact Blessing clause and made her restore it.
• Lamasha signed the contract first, and He Xi signed as the first contracting party; Phio invoked the Primordial Pact to bind them.
• He Xi placed his hand on Lamasha's head, causing her abdomen to swell rapidly and leaving everyone stunned.
• He Xi sensed the Blade Pact, Book Pact, and Chain Pact abilities, and realized he could actively choose two of the three.

He Xi tricked Phio into granting him a [Pact Blessing] while avoiding the contract that would sell his soul. After Phio and her sisters left, Lamasha chose [Book Pact], but He Xi refused to give her spells or change her other ability and proposed making her his magical pet through [Chain Pact].

• He Xi explained Lamasha’s new gas ability, and Lamasha blasted Phio and her sisters with poisonous fog.
• Phio presented the soul-sale contract, but He Xi obtained the already-effective reverse contract, then refused to sign and kept the [Pact Blessing].
• Phio and her sisters departed, and He Xi confirmed that his achievement for taking control of the contract transaction had been completed.
• He Xi explained [Book Pact], [Blade Pact], and [Chain Pact] to Flora and Lamasha.
• Lamasha chose [Book Pact], but He Xi refused to add spells or replace her gas ability and offered to make her his magical pet with [Chain Pact].

He Xi bound the Cambion Lamasha to a one-year contract and learned from Flora about Asmodeus, the Nine Hells, and the Blood War. After returning home with a Dusk Demon Horse, he used [Blade Pact] to bind [Vicious Cut] and discovered he could summon it from the void.

• Lamasha resisted becoming He Xi’s pet, but she signed an additional agreement making her a contract beast for one year, with summoning limits and magical costs borne by her.
• He Xi used [Chain Pact] to bind Lamasha, then removed [Putrid Body] and left the pleasure den with Flora.
• Flora told He Xi that Asmodeus had been an archangel, established the Primordial Pact, and later became the Lord of the Nine Hells; she also explained how devils and demons differed in the Blood War.
• He Xi and Flora discussed Salamachis’s former identity as a devil and parted near the Golden Scales Trading Company.
• He Xi bought a Dusk Demon Horse, rode it back to Sea Breeze Street, and found that Zoya was still away while Bruce slept at home.
• He Xi bound [Vicious Cut] with [Blade Pact] and repeatedly practiced making the dagger vanish and return to his hand.

He Xi practiced [Overlapping Edge Swift Strike], attended Adeline’s [Major Image] class, and cleared up Anya’s suspicion that he had been coerced by Lamasha. He asked Anya to invite Lidona to join him at Alser’s Steps, and Anya planned to reserve a team spot for herself.

• He Xi practiced [Overlapping Edge Swift Strike] at breakfast, accidentally sending his dagger toward Tata before Zoya kicked it aside.
• Anya called He Xi over in class and asked whether he had gone to Lamasha’s place willingly, whether he had been forced into anything, and whether he was married; He Xi explained that he and Lamasha were investigating together.
• He Xi and Anya practiced [Major Image] during class, and He Xi gained proficiency and Wisdom.
• He Xi asked Anya to invite Lidona to join him at Alser’s Steps, and Anya offered to find a fourth teammate.
• Anya decided she would join He Xi herself and planned to persuade Lexi to give up her spot, while keeping He Xi’s connection to the Dream Weaver as possible leverage with Lidona.

He Xi arranged to join Lidona and Anya for the next Alser's Steps run, hoping to help Lidona recognize the value of Flora's support. After mastering a dagger technique, he visited Bishop Kolfus to seek divine arts that might help him face Rowan in the illusion realm.

• He Xi planned to show Lidona his abilities without humiliating her, then gently encourage her to seek Flora's help.
• Anya told Lidona that He Xi wanted her on the team, and Lidona agreed to join him and Anya while asking Anya to conceal her failed attempt to fool her.
• He Xi mastered Overlapping Edge Swift Strike, gained two Agility, and arranged to meet Lidona and Anya at the Tower of Illusions.
• He Xi went to the Church of the Sufferer and asked Bishop Kolfus to reveal divine arts in a book.
• Bishop Kolfus used a prayer to reveal Light-forging Incantation, Holy Fire Spell, and Resistance Spell.

Adrian Devol shared clues about the second step of Alser's Steps, while Reese passed them on to He Xi and his companions. He Xi, Lidona, and Anya entered the illusion realm and found themselves on a battlefield facing an approaching orc army.

• Adrian Devol explained the dangers and clues of Balvey Town to Margot and Reese, including the mayor's daughter, a mysterious killer, and a mill that might hold an important clue.
• Kalan revealed that Adrian and his team had also found a route to a nomad camp, and Adrian agreed to share information because exploring further could help him qualify for advanced professions.
• Adrian expressed anticipation about He Xi potentially surpassing him, while Kalan privately resented Adrian's confidence that a junior would take first place.
• Reese left Margot to tell He Xi, Lidona, and Anya the clues he had gathered, prompting Anya and Reese to trade insults over seniority.
• At ten, He Xi, Lidona, and Anya entered Alser's Steps and appeared amid a battlefield as wolf cavalry broke through a chevaux-de-frise and an orc army advanced.