Chapter Summaries

Cyril and Tobias fought the living figure emerging from the Painting Scroll as royal Demigod Randall Valentinus and the Church of Storms’ Saint arrived. Cyril escaped with the Die of Probability and a black hand bone, while Randall and Anthony suspected the Aurora Order was involved and learned that Horamick had failed to capture its Saint of Secrets.

• The Painting Scroll’s black-robed figure came alive and attacked Cyril and Tobias with deathly winds and black arrows, but they evaded its assault.
• Cyril used the Die of Probability and the Scroll of God’s power to release the figure, which summoned a phantom river that forced Randall and the Saint of the Church of Storms to fall.
• Randall Teleported away, the wind swept the Saint aside, and Cyril struck the black-robed skeleton with an empowered spear, destroying it as Anthony watched from a rooftop.
• Cyril fled through a phantom door with the Die of Probability and the crystalline black hand bone after Anthony warned him not to look into the Horror Bishop’s eyes.
• Randall questioned Anthony about Cyril’s escape and the powerful Sealed Artifacts, then Horamick arrived and explained that the Aurora Order’s Saint of Secrets had escaped through a cursed mirror into the Mirror World.

Cyril restored the Workers' Mutual Aid Association building after the battle and kept the Box of the Great Old Ones, then asked Adam whether it could help him advance to Secrets Sorcerer. Adam warned him about its dangers and recommended the Forsaken Land of the Gods as the best available choice, leaving Cyril weighing several possible paths.

• Fors and Xio decided to leave the East District after the explosion, while Klein heard Fors's prayer and chose to wait for the Church of Steam's investigation results.
• Cyril returned the Workers' Mutual Aid Association building to its original location, but placed it facing the wrong way before leaving unnoticed by the Nighthawks and Mandated Punishers.
• Cyril told Verdu he would keep the Box of the Great Old Ones, gave Tobias the Black Knight spoils, and heard how Tobias had survived the Church of Storms Saint's attack.
• Cyril asked Adam whether the Box could help him complete the Secrets Sorcerer advancement ritual, and Adam warned him about Primordial Hunger and the High-Dimensional Overseer.
• Adam advised Cyril to seek the True Creator's help in the Forsaken Land of the Gods, naming Feynapotter, Intis, and Feysac as less suitable alternatives.

Cyril delivered the Box of the Great Old Ones to the inn and prepared to travel through the God War Ruins. Meanwhile, Arrodes revealed details about Botis to the Machinery Hivemind, and Klein, disguised as Admiral Amyrius, received a warning from a Twilight Hermit Order demigod and discussed it with Cyril.

• Cyril stored the Box of the Great Old Ones at the inn, then opened a door to travel through the God War Ruins.
• Ikanser used Arrodes to identify those present at the Workers' Mutual Aid Association and saw how Botis had appeared in Saint Hillan Cathedral's basement.
• Arrodes showed Ikanser Botis in an intimate scene in Intis, prompting speculation among the Machinery Hivemind members about his fate.
• Klein, disguised as Admiral Amyrius, was pulled into a dream and warned by a mysterious figure not to interfere in the affairs of Aston and others.
• Klein broke free of the dream and contacted Cyril, who suggested the warning might reflect the Twilight Hermit Order's interests in Loen rather than a genuine threat to the era's tide.

Klein learned that the Naturism Sect and the Mother Tree of Desire may have targeted him through his commission to impersonate Admiral Amyrius, but his contract kept him in Olavi. Meanwhile, Cyril was attacked in the Spirit World and then confronted a strange middle-aged man calling himself King Tuthansis VI, whom Cyril suspected had gained power from outside the twenty-two Pathways.

• Cyril warned Klein that the Naturism Sect and the Mother Tree of Desire could detect what made him special, and Klein realized the commission might be a trap that even his Gray Fog divination had missed.
• Klein told Cyril he could not abandon his contract with Admiral Amyrius, so Cyril offered him an advanced Replication charm; Klein later received it in his carriage while Secretary Lueran seemed hypnotized.
• Klein impersonated Admiral Amyrius through a sleepless day of inspections, a briefing, and a banquet, then returned toward the residence wary of the danger surrounding him.
• Cyril entered the Spirit World, where a monstrous arm attacked him before a pillar of light drove off the black slime clinging to him.
• Cyril met a middle-aged man who claimed to be King Tuthansis VI, resisted his commanding abilities, and suspected that the man's greed and compulsive need for attention came from Gifts outside the twenty-two Pathways.

Cyril defeated a desire-driven Lunatic in Olavi, then faced Zatwin and a moon-aligned Shaman King while their factions pursued separate targets. As Ricciardo and Darkwill sheltered beneath Saint Draco Cathedral, Cynthia fell under the Mother Tree’s influence, and Ricciardo sensed that the danger tied to him had passed.

• Cyril used Frenzy to drive the Lunatic into a loss of control, collected his Beyonder characteristic and the Die of Probability, and purified the remains with sunlight.
• Cyril recognized Zatwin nearby, evaded attacks from a Shaman King under crimson moonlight, and blinded the young man with reflected light.
• Zatwin said the Mother Tree had ordered him to find Gehrman Sparrow, while the Shaman King departed to hunt a Life School of Thought demigod for the Primordial Moon.
• Darkwill and Ricciardo took shelter beneath Saint Draco Cathedral, where Ricciardo explained that fate had led him away from danger in Olavi.
• Cynthia dreamed of the Mother Tree and began transforming as its sinister aura and desires spread throughout Admiral Amyrius's villa.
• Ricciardo sensed that the crisis tied to him had passed, removed the silver scales from his face, and watched Darkwill sleep while the owl observed him.

Klein, disguised as Admiral Amyrius, confronted Cynthia’s monstrous transformation and a hostile demigod in the villa before Cyril intervened and replicated the Corpse Cathedral. Adam appeared beneath its cross and summoned brilliant light, leaving Klein facing the unfolding power of the real Adam.

• Klein entered Admiral Amyrius’s villa and found Cynthia transformed into a tree monster that had joined the servants and guards into a lust-driven mass.
• Klein used the Priest of Light’s Purification Halo and a Ninth Law charm, but Cynthia grew stronger under the Crimson Moon and a hostile Shaman King arrived.
• Cyril appeared with the Brilliant Spark, overcame the Shaman King’s attack, and drew Klein and the villa’s occupants into a composite dream.
• In the dream, Cyril replicated the Corpse Cathedral, while its cross struck Cynthia and its walls contained the Shaman King’s bats and her spreading branches.
• Adam appeared beneath the cathedral’s cross, and the blond priest declared, “Let there be light!”

Adam’s light destroyed the Shaman King and burned Cynthia’s transformed body, while Cyril battled Zatwin in a concealed space. Zatwin escaped after Cyril copied the purifying light, and his Transformation Curse left Cyril smaller but with his abilities intact as Zatwin fled.

• Adam’s radiance burned the Shaman King to ashes, and Cynthia apologized to General before her voice vanished.
• Cyril failed to imprison Zatwin, then concealed the mirror and surrounding space while Klein used the Ninth Law charm to block the Mother Tree of Desire’s power.
• Cyril copied Adam’s purifying light with Brilliant Spark and burned Zatwin, but Zatwin escaped through a hidden door in the concealed space.
• Klein summoned a pillar of light that forced Zatwin out of his hiding place, and Zatwin cursed Cyril with a Transformation Curse.
• Cyril discovered he had shrunk and could fly while retaining his abilities, then saw Zatwin’s intangible form flee between objects before disappearing.

After Klein and Cyril defeated the Mutated Monster in Admiral Amyrius's villa, Cyril returned to his Inn and discovered new insights about completing the Painting World. Klein prepared to explain the destruction to Amyrius, who returned and asked what had happened.

• Cyril reassured Klein that his fairy-like transformation was temporary, and the two watched the monster's remains get purified.
• Cyril used Soothing to ease Klein's despair, then let him examine the Sequence 4 Shaman King and Sequence 2 Planeswalker characteristics.
• Klein woke Secretary Lueran and instructed him to wake the others before leaving the damaged villa's survivors to recover.
• Cyril returned to the Inn, embedded the Brilliant Spark and crimson Beyonder characteristic in its night veil, and realized the Painting World could become a complete world through authorities and symbolism.
• Klein arranged for the villa's survivors not to disturb him and went to sleep, but Admiral Amyrius returned and asked him what had happened.

Cyril left Olavi for Saint Millon, explored the Feysac capital, and joined the Tarot Club meeting, where Roselle’s diary revealed his plan to switch to the Mystery Pryer pathway. The meeting continued with a sale of Cyril’s Meteorite Crystal and the World’s report that a Snake of Mercury wanted to know what Cattleya could offer.

• Klein told Amyrius how Cynthia’s mutation, the Rose School of Thought’s attack, and the villa’s destruction unfolded, and Amyrius promised him another Ninth Law charm.
• Cyril met Ricciardo and Darkwill in Olavi, learned Ricciardo needed a few more days before traveling to Backlund, and acknowledged his involvement in the city’s recent chaos.
• Cyril traveled to Saint Millon, explored the city, and prepared for the Tarot Club meeting in his inn room.
• At the meeting, Cattleya exchanged Roselle’s diary page for the Fool’s explanation that Roselle believed becoming a Knowledge Emperor would protect Bernadette from the Hidden Sage’s Knowledge Chasing.
• Fors bought Cyril’s Meteorite Crystal for 500 pounds, and the World told Cattleya that a Snake of Mercury wanted to know what she could offer.

At a Tarot Club meeting, the members discussed attacks on the Aurora Order and a conspiracy in Oravi that Cyril said he had helped thwart. Cyril revealed that he had killed a Shaman King, leaving the others to wonder whether he was an angel.

• Cattleya told the World she would consider his request, and Audrey said she had received the Hypnotist potion formula from the Psychology Alchemists.
• Fors reported that an explosion had preceded the destruction of an Aurora Order base in Backlund, and she and Cattleya said inquiries about the Abraham Family had appeared in Backlund and Enmat Harbor.
• Cyril described the damage and casualties in Oravi during Amyrius's absence and said the Mother Tree of Desire had woven a conspiracy there.
• Cyril said the authorities had cracked down on the Naturism Sect, Amyrius had left Oravi, and a Shaman King had died while a Silent Disciple escaped injured.
• Emlyn tried to buy the Shaman King characteristic, but Cyril refused and revealed that he had killed the demigod, shocking the Tarot Club members.

Cyril visited the Twilight Giant Palace, where he met Halhas and heard his hopes of finding the giants’ homeland. After traveling around the Sonia Sea and returning to Backlund, Cyril received a message from Arrodes, which began questioning him.

• After the Tarot Club meeting ended, Cyril left his hotel room in Saint Millon and opened an Illusory Door to the Twilight Giant Palace.
• Cyril listened to a giant playing bagpipes and sketched the scene before sharing the sunset with Klein above the gray fog.
• Cyril followed the giant, Halhas, and learned that he planned to search for the legendary Giant King's Court and the giants’ true homeland.
• Halhas thanked Cyril for listening, gave his name, and invited him to find him at the palace on weekends.
• Klein struggled with a large, unpleasant Feysac meal while Cyril traveled around the Sonia Sea and later returned to Backlund.
• On March 4, Arrodes appeared in Cyril’s mirror and greeted him, then asked whether Cyril’s question counted as a question.

On his birthday, Cyril received wishes from Arrodes and Miss Messenger, then treated himself to a lavish meal in Backlund. Later, he directed Harven to a contact connected to the Moses Ascetic Order and encountered a young man discussing the popularity of his adventure sketchbook.

• Arrodes asked Cyril to pass along birthday wishes to his master and requested a painting in exchange for three questions.
• Miss Messenger delivered Arrodes's birthday postcard, and Cyril paid her postage before opening it.
• Cyril went out for a lavish birthday meal, then later cooked for Harven and told him to direct Bock to Tobias at the Sonia Sea specialty restaurant for potion formulas.
• Cyril burned a note that contained directions to Caspar's Grand Hall and details about an art exhibition.
• A young man in gold-rimmed glasses praised the popularity of Groselle's Travels and wondered why its protagonist was a giant instead of a Fourth Epoch Solomon Empire nobleman.

Cyril met Pope Herabergen and arranged to leave a duplicate in Aisara to study while he traveled. After Klein summoned him to Nas, the capital of the Gargas Archipelago, Cyril arrived as the Admiral of Stars' Future approached the docks, leaving the city on edge.

• Cyril spoke with Erwin Harrison and learned that entry to the Temple of Knowledge required passing an examination; Herabergen promised a reward if Cyril took first place.
• Cyril asked Edefana to create a duplicate so it could study in Aisara under Herabergen's watch while Cyril traveled.
• After reaching Feynapotter, Cyril received a message from Klein summoning him to Nas and teleported there.
• Cyril met Angelina at an inn, then Gehrman Sparrow appeared and explained that he had encountered a fight between a local gang and pirates.
• The Admiral of Stars' Future arrived at Nas's docks, alarming the pirates, sailors, fishermen, and City Defense Force gathered there.

Cyril and Klein boarded the Future, where Bernadette warned them about the dangerous object Cyril carried. They met the ship’s eccentric first mate Frank and settled into their rooms, while Frank served Cyril food made from his experimental crossbreeds.

• Bernadette welcomed Cyril and Klein, asked where they wanted to go, and warned Cyril to keep his dangerous object sealed in the Sea of Ruins.
• Bernadette recognized Klein as Randolph Carter and led them through the Future’s cabins.
• Cyril noticed Frank, and Cattleya spoke up about the Church of the Mother Earth when Frank discussed his ideas.
• Frank enthusiastically described his experiments crossbreeding animals, plants, wine, milk, and fish to Klein and Cyril.
• Cattleya showed Klein and Cyril their rooms, and Frank later brought Cyril roast potatoes, red wine, and a salad made from his failed jellyfish experiment.

Bock Griffin met Tobias and heard his beliefs about the Silver Key, while Emlyn negotiated a Sanguine deal involving a Shaman King Beyonder Characteristic. Cyril asked Edefana to separate an extra Scarlet Scholar characteristic, but Edefana warned that doing so could purify Cyril as well and suggested seeking another Angel aboard the Future.

• Tobias told Bock Griffin that the Lord’s faith should be freely chosen and identified the Silver Key as his Lord.
• Emlyn told Cosmi that someone wanted to sell him a Shaman King Beyonder Characteristic containing extra characteristics from Apothecary to Scarlet Scholar.
• Nibis agreed to the proposed arrangement and offered Emlyn a reward if he took first place among the younger Sanguine.
• Emlyn returned to the study, pleased that the deal could clear his debts and help him become a Viscount.
• Cyril summoned Edefana and asked her to separate the extra Scarlet Scholar characteristic from the Shaman King characteristic.
• Edefana warned that purifying the characteristic could purify Cyril too and suggested asking the other Angel aboard the Future for help.

Bernadette agreed to help Edefana transform into a Mythical Creature in exchange for knowledge of the Second and Third Epochs. On the Future, Cyril prepared whale meat and watched the crew ready an underwater expedition; afterward, he accepted a Shaman King characteristic and crowns from Edefana, deciding to keep the complete characteristic intact.

• Bernadette agreed to assist Edefana’s transformation beneath the Sun in exchange for secret history, and Edefana directed her questions to Cyril.
• Edefana transformed into a Sunbird and attacked Bernadette with golden flames, while Bernadette evaded him by dissolving into bubbles.
• Cyril told Klein he had bought whale meat and oil, then asked Frank to have the ship’s cook prepare them.
• Frank showed Cyril and Klein a new red wine made from fish blood, while Cattleya ordered Nina to prepare to begin.
• Cyril returned to his room and found Bernadette and Edefana watching the seabed through the Eyes of Mystery Prying.
• Edefana offered Cyril a Shaman King characteristic and two crowns, and Cyril chose to keep the characteristic complete.

Cyril and Edefana showed Bernadette the corrupted seabed ruins and explained their connection to the Chaos Sea, while Cyril arranged for Emlyn to receive two Mystical Items and a Shaman King characteristic. Emlyn contained the characteristic, unaware that a noble-looking Vampire had emerged nearby.

• Bernadette watched Nina’s image reveal ancient steel ruins on the seabed, and Edefana explained that they may have predated the Second Epoch.
• Cyril told Bernadette that a trace of the Chaos Sea’s aura had caused the seabed mutation, and she left after accepting the information as payment.
• Bock Griffin prayed to the Silver Key and received an overwhelming response, while Emlyn left Harvest Cathedral and collected Pure White Vision and the Spirituality Ring from Cosmi.
• Cyril relayed Emlyn’s request to Klein, who sent the Shaman King characteristic and information about the two Mystical Items to their recipients.
• Emlyn received the Shaman King characteristic, felt drawn to consume it, and sealed it inside an iron box with a Wall of Spirituality.
• Several Vampire Bats watched Emlyn’s room before a tall, pale-haired Vampire stepped out of the shadows across the street.

Cyril watched the King of Immortality, Agalito, approach aboard the Death Announcer, but the pirate fled after sensing Bernadette’s hostility. The Future survived a sea monster’s pursuit and left the dangerous waters, while Cyril suggested Klein seek mermaids who worship the Evernight Goddess.

• A handsome man investigated the disappearance of Pure White Vision and the Spirituality Ring, then transformed into moonlight and departed.
• Cyril appeared on the Future’s aft deck, where Frank sat injured beside two Silver-Scale Fish as the Death Announcer approached through the storm.
• Black waves of emotion and desire overwhelmed the Future’s crew, but Cyril recovered through Pure White Vision, and Agalito fled with the Death Announcer.
• A huge sea monster with three serpent-like heads pursued the Future, and a wave nearly threw Frank and other crew members overboard before Cyril pulled them back.
• Cattleya ordered Frank to check on the crew, and the Future escaped the dangerous waters with the crew’s help and a sudden gale.
• Cyril told Klein that mermaids who believed in the Evernight Goddess might be a good choice, and Klein wondered whether they could be bait for Faceless.

Emlyn brought the Shaman King characteristic to Odra Manor, while Cyril and the crew of the Future entered a dangerous stretch of sea filled with strange ruins and supernatural threats. When a blazing Golden Carriage appeared, Cyril avoided looking at it and sought Frank’s help for his eyes.

• Emlyn delivered the Shaman King characteristic to Cosmi Odra, who went to fetch his grandfather while Emlyn waited in the study.
• The Future reached a rift in the Sonia Sea, where Cyril noticed that Pure White Vision was reacting to the environment and isolated it in the Painting World.
• Cattleya warned that the sea’s ravings endangered high-Sequence Beyonders, and Cyril identified the repeated gasps as coming from a Great Dragon.
• A charred floating island supported by diamond pillars approached, and a golden chariot drawn by two golden horses emerged from it.
• Cattleya ordered everyone not to look at the Golden Carriage, so Cyril teleported away with his eyes closed and asked Frank for a remedy.
• Frank gave Cyril modified seaweed paste to treat his eyes and warned him not to apply too much.

Cyril treated his injured eyes, then entered a shared dream with Klein and Cattleya, where he recognized the Giant King's Court. He explored a dark hall and examined a mural of Ouroboros, while Klein met the unlucky Anderson.

• Cyril applied Frank's seaweed paste and drank medicine mixed with beer, then told Cattleya that the Golden Carriage might have belonged to the Ancient Sun God.
• Cyril returned to his room and fell asleep, waking in a dream before the Giant King's Court with Klein and Cattleya.
• Cyril identified the place as the Giant King's Court in a dream, while Cattleya said the dream was shared by all of them.
• Cyril entered a dark hall and found Anderson, who warned him not to touch a mural for fear of bad luck.
• Cyril touched the mural depicting Ouroboros, and Klein introduced himself to Anderson, realizing why he called himself unlucky.