Chapter Summaries

Dark met Archbishop Sabrina to discuss the Holy Church’s search for Sloane and learned that Chief Inquisitor McCarthy was still alive after vanishing with 121 Holy Church elites. The church had no location for them, but one witness claimed to have seen the Grim Reaper.

• Dark received updates about the Holy Church’s pursuit of Sloane and accepted Archbishop Sabrina’s invitation to lunch.
• Dark met Sabrina at Brightlight Restaurant, where she explained that she was seeking cooperation against Sloane on behalf of the Holy Church.
• Sabrina revealed that McCarthy was alive according to the Threefold Corpse Vessel, though his whereabouts remained unknown.
• Sabrina described two possible explanations for McCarthy and 121 Holy Church elites disappearing, and Dark considered it more likely that Sloane had transported them elsewhere.
• Sabrina said one witness had briefly seen the Grim Reaper, and Dark asked whether the witness had noticed a distinctive feature such as a scythe.

Dark negotiated an intelligence exchange with Archbishop Sabrina, learning that Sloane was linked to the God of the Underworld and that the missing Chief Inquisitor McCarthy was likely in the Underworld. He sent information to the Holy Church’s spies, then prepared to go out disguised as Tompsin while his network kept tracking Sloane in the Free City.

• Sabrina and Dark discussed the witness’s report of a Grim Reaper-like figure and concluded that Sloane had returned from the dead with an Underworld deity’s favor.
• Over a meal, Sabrina said the Holy Church’s Grand Elder was on the way, and Dark warned that Sloane might know about the plan.
• Dark agreed to exchange intelligence with Sabrina and asked why Caleb Norris had made Pandora Dragon the Saintess; Sabrina activated a privacy barrier and offered to explain if Dark called her Big Sis.
• After their meeting, Dark learned that Sloane was connected to the God of the Underworld and that McCarthy was alive and likely in the Underworld with 121 Holy Church elites.
• Dark returned to the base, told Laura to pass selected intelligence to the Holy Church’s spies, and prepared to leave disguised as Tompsin while Laura’s network continued tracking Sloane.

Dark tracked Sloane through Free City and watched the Holy Church’s failed attempt to negotiate with him, learning that the God of the Underworld backed him. He then joined the students’ gathering at the Alliance Hotel, where the qualifier contestants were meeting separately to discuss the competition.

• Dark realized Sloane had no reason to flee because he was not afraid of death and held Holy Church elites hostage.
• Dark and Hanna followed Sloane and observed his brief, unproductive exchange with Archbishop Lance Gaskell.
• Dark learned that the Holy Church had confirmed Sloane had the God of the Underworld backing him.
• Dark arrived at the students’ gathering organized by Aurora and entered the dining area where the qualifier contestants were discussing the competition.

Dark joined his classmates as they studied information on the World Cup preliminary contestants and gathered for dinner. He then took Pandora aside and revealed that he had learned why Caleb Norris was so determined to find her.

• Dark brought his contestant dossiers to the table, and the students read them to prepare for the preliminaries.
• The students paused their research for dinner, where they discussed graduation and their plans after leaving Saint Marian Academy.
• Dark reflected on expanding his Chinese restaurants while he shared the meal with Pandora, Diana, and the others.
• After dinner, Dark and Pandora secluded themselves behind a barrier, and Pandora recounted Caleb Norris’s attempt to distance himself from the Church’s past actions.
• Dark told Pandora that he had discovered why Caleb Norris was seeking her out and began to explain.

Dark Demon explained that the Holy Church had created a Divine Source from millennia of faith and planned to use it to make a true Saint. The Church had chosen Pandora and Dark Demon as possible candidates, but the process required a suitable person to bind themselves to the Church and survive the Divine Source’s fusion.

• Pandora questioned the Holy Church’s motives, and Dark Demon relayed Sabrina’s account of its Artificial God project.
• The Holy Church discovered that its accumulated faith had become a Divine Source, a godlike substance without consciousness or a divine soul, and Caleb Norris feared it disproved the existence of holy.
• As miracles and God Card holders appeared rapidly, Pope Xis and Caleb decided the Church had to use the Divine Source to avoid falling behind other factions.
• The Pope wanted a wise and powerful candidate who could grow into a Heavenly God, while Caleb chose Pandora and the Pope chose Dark Demon.
• The Church planned to make its chosen candidate a Saint Son or Saintess, fuse them with the Divine Source, and eventually unite the Saint’s divinity with the papacy.
• The Church ruled out its elderly leaders as candidates because their bodies and souls could not endure the Divine Source’s fusion.

Dark explained the Divine Origin opportunity to Pandora and left the decision to her, while she chose to consider it after speaking with her mother. He then prepared for the World Cup qualifiers, which began the next morning, and joined his classmates for breakfast before the competition.

• Dark told Pandora everything he knew about Caleb Norris's plan to have her absorb the Divine Origin, and explained that she could consider becoming the God of Light.
• Pandora decided to discuss the opportunity with her mother before deciding, then thanked Dark and kissed him.
• Dark and the other students studied the contestants until late evening, then headed to their rooms to rest before the qualifiers.
• Dark woke at six, checked his Magitech Cards and Magic Spirits, and went to the breakfast hall.
• Dark's qualified classmates stayed to watch him eat, leaving him to finish breakfast under their fixed stares.

Dark Demon arrived at the World Cup qualifiers, joined the contestants' entrance ceremony, and gathered with the Saint Marian Academy group in the lounge. As the second-tier matches were about to begin, Marilyn started drawing the first three competitor pairings, but the chapter ended before revealing the result.

• Dark Demon arrived shortly before the entrance ceremony and studied the contestants as he joined the line.
• Lady Cynthia Saint Arte opened the qualifiers, and Marilyn took over as host before Mephis Glam and the other contestants entered the arena.
• Dark Demon entered in fortieth place and received cheers from spectators in the stands.
• Dark gathered with the Saint Marian Academy students, professors, and maids in the contestants' lounge as the 128 contestants prepared for their matches.
• Marilyn began the contestant draw, and the number panel stopped at zero and three before the next digit was revealed.

The World Cup qualifiers began with Bishop Benson defeating the Dwarf Yaxi after a fierce duel, while Dark watched the matches and the Holy Church’s contestants eyed Sloane. After two more bouts, Emily Grantham was called to face the Sea Folk contestant Ha Qian.

• Madam Marilyn drew the first three groups, pairing Bishop Benson with Yaxi and Emily Grantham with Ha Qian.
• Dark and Shrek recognized Grace Leon, the Lion-Man Prince, as the Orc Kingdom’s guest commentator.
• The World Cup qualifiers began, and Benson defeated Yaxi after sealing her twelve-star Magic Spirit and pressing his attack.
• Divine Factors flowed to both contestants after the duel, with Benson receiving the greater share as Holy Church supporters cheered.
• The next matches proceeded rapidly, and Emily Grantham and Ha Qian were called to compete in the third group.

Emily defeated Ha Qian in a fierce preliminary duel, and Shrek Holmes prepared to make his World Cup debut. Shrek took the field to face Fielding Selas, the renowned Sage of Fire.

• Emily summoned Holy Sword Angel and used Holy Sword Judgment against Ha Qian, who sacrificed an arm and his Shrimp Soul Vessel to survive the attack.
• Emily and Ha Qian fought across an arena flooded by his Overturning Rivers and Seas spell, and Emily won after defeating his sea monster and reviving her legendary holy knight.
• Shrek Holmes admitted he was both nervous and excited as Dark and Professor Kazel encouraged him before his match.
• Shrek took the stage to cheers from Saint Marian Academy and his fellow contestants.
• Shrek faced Fielding Selas, a long-famous Sage known as the Sage of Fire.

Shrek lost his first-round duel to the renowned fire mage Fielding, and Dark watched his senior accept the defeat. The draw then matched Professor Harvey against Professor Enid, while Gina Grant was paired with Hugo Houston.

• Shrek used a Rock Type deck and Floating Rock Fortress against Fielding, but Fielding's flames destroyed his strongest Rock Type Magic Spirit and defeated him.
• Professor Kazel and Professor Jones discussed Shrek's loss, and Shrek returned to Dark and encouraged him before the next draw.
• Professor Harvey was drawn to face Professor Enid, leaving the Saint Marian Academy group tense about their professors meeting in the first round.
• After the eighth duel, Gina Grant was paired with Hugo Houston, the Northern Lands' strongest Weather Envoy and Quintina North's former teacher.
• Gina asked Dark for information about Hugo, and Dark told her everything he knew.

Professor Enid and Professor Harvey battled at the Alliance Duel Hall, revealing their powerful undead and fantasy magic. Enid evaded Harvey’s attacks with an apparent modification to Fantasy World, while Harvey continued attacking to test its limits.

• Professor Harvey conjured a vast army of skeletons as Professor Enid activated the Fantasy World field, whose spatial distortions disintegrated the undead as they charged.
• Harvey sacrificed the skeletons to Ritual Summon the twelve-star Undead Overlord, whose stats grew according to the number of undead sacrificed.
• Enid summoned the Bard and used Fantasy Symphony and Life Symphony to extend her field and inflict continuous damage on undead creatures.
• The Undead Overlord attacked Enid with Death Storm, but she and the Bard evaded harm by hiding within an illusory space.
• Harvey suspected Enid had incorporated Illusory Realm into Fantasy World, ordered the Undead Overlord to keep attacking, and prepared to summon another Magic Spirit.

Professor Enid used Fantasy World and her twin symphonies to wear down Professor Harvey’s Undead Overlord, while Harvey countered with the Flesh Altar and its Flesh Puppets. Enid destroyed the altar with Fantasy Fairy, but Harvey revived it and produced a fourth puppet, leaving both professors preparing to summon another high-star Magic Spirit.

• Professor Harvey realized Illusory Realm was a permanent trait of Professor Enid’s Fantasy World, which let her shift between reality and illusion while controlling two symphonies.
• Professor Harvey summoned Flesh Altar and used magic power to hatch a Flesh Puppet, which spread Blood Mist across the field and forced Professor Enid to remain elusive.
• Professor Enid’s dual symphony wore down the Undead Overlord until it ran out of magic power and died.
• Professor Enid summoned Fantasy Fairy, which struck Professor Harvey for 2,500 life points and destroyed Flesh Altar without being touched by its deathrattle curse.
• Professor Harvey used Undead Summoning to revive Flesh Altar as a skeleton and created the final Flesh Puppet, allowing four puppets to begin fusing.
• As the puppets neared fusion into another twelve-star Magic Spirit, Professor Enid began preparing to summon a high-star Magic Spirit of her own.

Professor Harvey defeated Professor Enid after her Illusory Realm strategy failed, and Gina Grant began her duel against Hugo Houston. Hugo’s Wind and Thunder deck overwhelmed the arena with spectacular weather attacks, though the chapter ended before the result was clear.

• Professor Enid used her Fantasy Dragon and Fantasy Seal against Professor Harvey’s Flesh Puppet, but Harvey countered her attacks and the puppet killed the dragon.
• Professor Enid could no longer endure the Illusory Realm and withdrew, ending the duel with Professor Harvey as the winner.
• Professor Lily helped the unsteady Enid, while Professor Harvey learned that Lily had strengthened Enid’s Fantasy World deck.
• Gina Grant began the eleventh duel against Hugo Houston, whose Wind and Thunder deck summoned flying Electric Type Magic Spirits.
• Gina summoned the Thunder Chariot to gather lightning as she and Hugo fought at range, with Hugo’s dramatic attacks shaking the Alliance Duel Hall.

Gina Grant defeated her opponent, and the World Cup preliminaries continued with several prominent contestants advancing or being eliminated. The chapter ended with Eldest Prince Charles revealing his identity and drawing attention away from Eliza’s recent success.

• Gina Grant won her duel after countering her opponent’s spells and adapting her Tarot Card deck, then thanked Dark for his help.
• Albert Grantham lost to Archbishop Gascoyne, while Haley Saint Meredith easily defeated her opponent and Amirada Ingersoll defeated Eva Alsop with her Twilight Tribe abilities.
• The Sage of Winter lost to Archbishop Molière, and Professor Gatling later lost to a Mountain Turtle Tribe prophet despite covering the arena with Magic Cannon fire.
• Noah Sharp, Will Smith, Louis Kainan, and Coltoinbi won their duels, while several Saint Marian professors were eliminated early.
• Eliza defeated a substitute contestant and advanced, then Charles revealed himself as the Eldest Prince after winning his duel, causing an uproar and diminishing Eliza’s political advantage.

Charles defeated an Orc opponent, while the World Cup qualifiers resumed after dinner with Kazel facing the God Card holder Lei Qi Hochia. Lei Qi revealed the Thunder God Pearl and began summoning Thunder Dragons as the duel got underway.

• Charles smoothly defeated an Orc ranked around fiftieth, strengthening the audience's support for him.
• The contestants took a dinner break, and Dark noticed that Dulles had advanced to the next round.
• Kazel entered the arena to face Lei Qi Hochia, whose Thunder God Dragon God Card had drawn the spectators' attention.
• Lei Qi summoned the Thunder God Pearl and filled the field with Electric-Type elements.
• Lei Qi used the Thunder God Pearl to summon Thunder Dragons from his hand, including the Myriad Thunder Child Dragon, which could create Thunder Child Dragon clones.

Professor Kazel stole Lei Qi Huojiya’s Demonic Flood Dragon Thunder Dragon and escaped Mecha-Horn Thunder Dragon’s self-destruction, while Lei Qi prepared a Thunder God Dragon summon. When his graveyard sacrifice was disrupted, Lei Qi summoned the Thunder God Dragon without its enhancement, then fed it the Thunder God Pearl, transforming it into a fifteen-star dragon.

• Professor Kazel used the Eye of Alchemy to immobilize Lei Qi Huojiya’s two Thunder Dragons, then used the Golden Heart to take control of Demonic Flood Dragon Thunder Dragon.
• Professor Kazel flew skyward on the stolen dragon as Lei Qi made Mecha-Horn Thunder Dragon self-destruct, destroying its tail and sending Mecha-Horn Thunder Dragon to the graveyard.
• Lei Qi used Thunder Dragon Replication and the Thunder God Pearl to create a Demonic Flood Dragon Thunder Dragon replica, then began summoning Thunder God Dragon.
• Lei Qi discovered that his connection to Mecha-Horn Thunder Dragon in the graveyard had been severed, so he completed the summon without the Blood Sacrifice enhancement.
• Thunder God Dragon asked Lei Qi for the Dragon Ball, swallowed the Thunder God Pearl, and transformed into a fifteen-star Thunder Dragon as Dark watched.

Professor Kazel used the Golden Heart and an alchemical transmutation to raise his Demonic Flood Dragon Thunder Dragon into the Golden Thunder Dragon, then deployed the Golden Cube Man against Lei Qi Hokia’s Thunder God Dragon. The Thunder God Dragon lost its claws, tail, and tongue to Equivalent Exchange as the duel spiraled out of control.

• Professor Kazel transmuted the Demonic Flood Dragon Thunder Dragon into the Fourth Tier Golden Thunder Dragon, whose Electric Type immunity let it withstand the Thunder God Dragon’s attacks.
• The Thunder God Dragon’s boosted attributes overwhelmed the Golden Thunder Dragon in close combat, so Professor Kazel rode it into the night sky to evade its opponent.
• Lei Qi Hokia summoned another thunder dragon and flew after the duel, where he saw Professor Kazel’s Golden Cube Man join the battle.
• The Golden Cube Man used its Eye of Truth and Equivalent Exchange to turn the Thunder God Dragon’s claws into golden cubes and claim one as its own arm.
• The Thunder God, who introduced himself to Professor Kazel as Ramon, tried to reason with him, but Professor Kazel continued attacking.
• The Thunder God Dragon struck the Golden Thunder Dragon with its tail, but the Golden Cube Man cubified its tail and then its tongue, leaving it without several weapons.

Professor Kazel defeated Leiqi Huojiya by turning the Thunder God Dragon and Leiqi into golden cubes, then heard a request from the dragon. The next draw paired Pandora Dragon against Eva Hurst, whom Dark suspected had obtained a God Card.

• Leiqi summoned the Heavenly Tribulation Thunder Dragon and armored himself, but Kazel froze him with the Eye of Alchemy, causing him to fall and lose the duel.
• The Goblin Princess and Queen discussed Kazel’s mixed heritage and considered finding his birthplace, while King Austin remained confident in the Thunder God Dragon’s value.
• Kazel released the Thunder God Dragon from his control, corrected it about his name and species, and heard its request after the duel.
• Marilyn drew Pandora Dragon as the contestant for the fiftieth duel and selected Eva Hurst as her opponent.
• Dark told Pandora that Eva likely obtained something from a mysterious place beyond a hurricane in an Orc Kingdom canyon, possibly a God Card.

Dark met Ramon, the thunder god whose dragon-transformed fragment was contracted to Lei Qi, and agreed to help Ramon pursue its transformation into a true dragon. Ramon sought to possess Dark, but Dark refused and instead focused on turning Ramon's divine soul into a God Card, learning that it could be made through direct conversion or magitech synthesis.

• Professor Kazel brought Dark to meet Ramon, who explained that its dragon fragment had contracted with Lei Qi and that it wanted to contract with Dark using its thunder-god self.
• Ramon said it had seen a future in which Dark could help it become a true dragon, and Dark signed a contract allowing either party to terminate it while granting Dark control during duels.
• Ramon tried to enter Dark's glabella, but Dark stopped it and refused possession, asking Ramon to use a Magitech Card instead.
• Ramon explained that possession would grant Dark a physical and magical baptism, but Dark declined because he was satisfied with his abilities and wanted to create a God Card.
• Ramon described two ways to create a God Card: direct conversion, which consumed divine power and could cause slumber, or magitech synthesis, which required human expertise and the god's actual body.

Dark formed a contract with Ramon and planned to create a God Card after the matches. At the tournament, Joliette defeated Hanna, and Lily Laplace faced Alva Artemis beneath the moonlight.

• Dark agreed to use materials from Ramon's body to make a God Card and planned to begin alchemy after the night's matches.
• Pandora defeated Eva Hurst, who summoned a twelve-star Magic Spirit but did not use a God Card.
• Joliette defeated Hanna after using the Star Battle Armor.
• Tiffany Innem was drawn against the God Card holder, the Lich Sloane.
• Lily Laplace faced Alva Artemis and joked that he would be a better match for a pig.