Chapter Summaries

Aaron was imprisoned beyond the Gate of Hell but used his Spirit of Void form to explore the cells and find Lily and Jesita among the captives. At the prison’s deepest point, he discovered a refined chamber and a woman who foretold the Pope’s arrival and the Investigation Bureau headquarters’ inevitable fall.

• A guard locked Aaron in a single cell beyond the Gate of Hell, where the Sun King's Spear suppressed extraordinary abilities.
• Aaron heard captives identify themselves as members of the Witch Sisterhood and recognized Lily and Jesita from Halsey's Moving Castle.
• A prisoner called Black Dog tried to spread despair with his Dark ability, but the prison’s suppression weakened it.
• Aaron left his cell as the Spirit of Void, saw Jesita and Lily, and explored deeper into the prison.
• Aaron entered a refined chamber at the prison’s deepest point and heard its occupant predict the Pope’s arrival and the Investigation Bureau headquarters’ fall.

Aaron watched Lady Fireworks divine and then secretly observed Pope Ferret’s public test at Investigation Bureau headquarters. Ferret passed the Sun King’s Spear as an ordinary man and announced that the Church of the Holy Spirit would take over the Bureau’s duties.

• Aaron recognized Lady Fireworks as the Bureau’s imprisoned master diviner, and her notebook opened to a blank page when she sensed him.
• Aaron passed unseen through the Gate of Hell and reached the square where Ferret was preparing to undergo an investigation.
• Xisthos explained that Ferret had to touch the Sun King’s Spear without carrying extraordinary items or spirituality, while royal and noble witnesses observed.
• Ferret touched the spear unharmed and called it the Oathbreaker Spear, prompting Xisthos to declare him an ordinary person without spirituality.
• Ferret announced that the Church of the Holy Spirit would take over the Investigation Bureau’s duties and that he would address believers on the 29th.

After Ferret passed the review by secretly activating Mother of Night’s influence over the Sun King’s Spear, Aaron realized the Investigation Bureau’s weapon had been compromised. Back in the Investigation General Bureau’s prison, he offered to help Lily and Jesita escape, leaving them to consider his terms.

• Jacob and the investigators blamed the failed review on possible interference, while Xisthos insisted Ferret might truly be ordinary.
• Aaron watched Ferret’s contact with the Sun King’s Spear awaken a hidden power planted by Mother of Night and suspected the Desire Spirit Sect had exploited it.
• Aaron returned to the holding cell, where Solomon opened his eyes and Aaron called out to Lily and Jesita in the neighboring cell.
• Aaron offered to rescue Lily and Jesita and let them pay after they escaped, drawing offers and pleas from other prisoners.
• Lily agreed to consider any price Aaron named except for Jesita, while Jesita urged her not to agree; Aaron insisted he needed both of them and waited confidently.

Aaron used his Spirit of Void form to explore the Investigation Bureau and learned that Age Controllers were making dangerous moves across the world. In Claude Knight’s office, he overheard a dispute over the kingdom’s religious reforms and discovered a report about the Underworld Lord’s plan to create a River of Death.

• Aaron spent three days wandering through the Investigation Bureau, gathering fragments of information from its restricted sections and offices.
• Aaron visited Claude Knight’s office and observed the director reviewing documents and reports.
• Haixinge confronted Claude over a proposed plan to place the Investigation Bureau under the Church of the Holy Spirit, then left in anger.
• Claude reflected on the kingdom’s reforms and studied reports about the River of Death and the Cocoon-Man tribe.
• Aaron read that the Underworld Lord intended to create a River of Death for the dead and considered which ancient Fate-Ruling God the Underworld Lord might be.

Madam Fireworks used the Book of Prophecy to divine the Blood Robe Club’s assault on the Investigation Bureau, at the cost of her remaining vitality. She revealed that the attack would come tonight, and the Bureau’s defenders hurried to prepare for battle.

• Xisthos and Jacob asked Madam Fireworks to perform a highest-level divination, while Fiona worried the ritual might kill her.
• With the Sun King's Spear protecting the ritual, Madam Fireworks invoked the Faceless One and saw the Blood Robe Club attack a subway platform in Plymouth with support from the Gourmet Association.
• The Book of Prophecy showed Xisthos's corpse and the Investigation Bureau headquarters burning, then began to reveal Pope Ferret before snapping shut.
• The divination's backlash aged Madam Fireworks and left her near death, but she told Xisthos the Blood Robe Club would attack the Investigation Bureau headquarters tonight.
• Xisthos left with the others as the alarm rang, and Fiona departed to join the battle.

Aaron purified Fireworks through her ritual, restoring her to youth and allowing her to leave the Investigation Bureau under the name Yefuna Tifa. Guided by Aaron, Yefuna freed Solomon from his cell, where Lily and Jesita were waiting.

• Fireworks prayed for a dignified death, and Aaron answered by purifying her contamination and restoring her body to youth.
• Fireworks named herself Yefuna Tifa, renounced the Investigation Bureau, and received an image from Aaron showing Solomon in his cell.
• Aaron returned to Solomon’s body, and Solomon asked Lily and Jesita whether they had decided to escape with him.
• Yefuna entered the prison corridor and used her shadows to wrench open Solomon’s iron door.
• Solomon emerged and told Yefuna he had received his Lord’s revelation, while the prisoners watched with vacant eyes.

Aaron freed Ye Funai, Lily, and Jesita from the prison and sought to recruit them into the Invisible Cult as an assault on Investigation Bureau headquarters began. At headquarters, the attack overwhelmed the defenders until Xisthos proclaimed that ordinary people infected by Ghouls would not become Ghoul thralls, but Lifton died from his wounds.

• Aaron had Ye Funai kill the prisoners in their section except Lily and Jesita, then asked the three women to join the Invisible Cult.
• Ye Funai said she could not teleport them out while the Sun King's Spear blockade remained, and Aaron suggested they wait for it to disappear.
• The Desire Spirit Sect's plan began, and an alliance of evil organizations attacked the Investigation Bureau headquarters with Ghouls made from subway passengers.
• Lifton and his team fought the Ghoul horde, but the defense line fell and Lifton was pierced by bone spikes.
• Xisthos proclaimed that people infected by Ghouls would not become thralls, causing the Ghoul servants to collapse into corpses as Lifton died.

The Gourmet Association breached the Investigation Bureau, and Xisthos wielded the Sun King's Spear to fight back. When the God of Suffering descended, Xisthos threw the spear, breaking the Bureau’s seal and triggering a riot among the imprisoned Non-Human Existences as Ye Funai prepared to take Lily and Jesita from the Spirit Realm.

• The Gourmet Association attacked the Investigation Bureau headquarters, and Fiona used her Night Witch power against the invaders.
• Xisthos took up the Sun King's Spear and used its power to suppress and burn the Gourmets while Jacob fought them with a firearm.
• A Gourmet cultist sacrificed himself, and the surviving cultists summoned the God of Suffering.
• Xisthos hurled the Sun King's Spear at the God of Suffering, causing the Investigation Bureau's seals to crack.
• The imprisoned Non-Human Existences began rioting, and Ye Funai told Lily and Jesita she could now take them out of the Spirit Realm.

The God of Suffering annihilated Xisthos and the Investigation Bureau’s defenders, then began consuming the headquarters. Mechanical reinforcements arrived and forced the God of Suffering to retreat, while Aaron and his companions escaped through the Spirit Realm.

• Claude learned that reinforcements were delayed because Queen District had been attacked and watched Xisthos hurl the Sun King's Spear at the God of Suffering.
• The God of Suffering turned the Sun King's Spear against Xisthos, Fiona, Jacob, and other defenders, killing them and spreading a black tide through the Investigation Bureau.
• The black tide consumed the old gatekeeper and overwhelmed Claude’s guards until mechanical legions emerged from a Spirit Realm gate and held it back.
• The royal family, military, and council sent reinforcements, and the God of Suffering withdrew into the black tide rather than fight them.
• Aaron decided to leave before the seal was rebuilt, and he, Ye Funai, Lily, and Jesita vanished into the Spirit Realm.

Aaron rescued Lily and Jesita from the Investigation Bureau, recruited them into the Invisible Cult, and assigned them to protect Metana Jacques. Back in Plymouth, he reviewed the requirements for his Furnace advancement and learned that the Pope of the Church of the Holy Spirit would give a major speech on March 29.

• Aaron had Lily and Jesita recite the Spirit of Void’s honorific name to join the Invisible Cult.
• Aaron sent Lily and Jesita to contact and protect Metana Jacques, with Ye Funai assisting them.
• Aaron burned away Solomon’s human skin and used anti-divination interference before leaving as Auclair.
• Aaron returned to William, collected Roberts’s Magic Insect Box, and considered his advancement requirements.
• William told Aaron that the Pope of the Church of the Holy Spirit would deliver a major speech on March 29.

Lilliat exchanged the Truth Balance for Roberts's Magic Insect Box through the Exchange Drawer, which shattered after the transfer. Aaron received the Truth Balance and prepared to melt it and the Mourning Bell down to recover the materials needed for his advancement.

• Lilliat read Aaron's letter and sent the Truth Balance through the Exchange Drawer in exchange for Roberts's Magic Insect Box.
• The Exchange Drawer shattered, and Lilliat called for Julianne to fetch her father because she feared getting lost in the passageway.
• Aaron received the Truth Balance and noted that he could send Lilliat a replacement drawer through the Spirit Realm.
• Aaron confirmed that he had gathered the materials for advancement and planned to destroy the Truth Balance and Mourning Bell to recover their primary materials.
• Aaron went to the alchemy room, arranged a ritual, and began summoning in preparation to melt down and reforge the two mystical items.

Sander exposed Metana’s resistance to the Blood Pact Law and tried to have her restrained before the High Patriarch’s speech. Lily and Jesita intervened, rescuing Metana and the Baroness from him.

• Sander grew suspicious of Metana when he sensed her heartbeat and blood flow quickening, then threatened her with a revolver.
• Sander ordered the Baroness to tie up Metana, and the Baroness reluctantly accepted rope from a maid.
• The maid revealed herself as Lily and struck Sander’s gun hand with a whip made of shadows.
• Jesita entered and used a Spirit Language word and a talisman against Sander, then checked on Metana while stopping the Baroness from screaming.

Metana, Lily, and Jesita fought Sander until Ye Funai stopped him from summoning the God of Suffering and killed him. The women escaped with Metana’s mother, while King Arthur VI and a crowd of believers headed to Speech Square for an event that seemed poised to change the Kingdom.

• Jesita slowed Sander with a talisman, and Lily and Metana attacked him, but he overpowered Lily and began transforming.
• Metana used her Crimson power and a revolver while Jesita weakened and restrained Sander with talismans and frost.
• Sander began praying to the God of Suffering, but Ye Funai appeared, silenced him with a shadow, and twisted his head until he died.
• Ye Funai said they had to flee, so Lily knocked out Metana’s mother and the group escaped through the Spirit Realm to a hidden place.
• King Arthur VI and the Queen left Mitra Palace for Speech Square as nobles and believers gathered beneath a grave atmosphere.

Pope Ferret used his speech to reveal that thousands of believers in the square worshipped the God of Suffering, prompting King Arthur VI to have him arrested. The old butler then appeared with the Sun King's Spear and exposed the Spirit Realm Wraith’s impaled body, leaving the attempted crackdown in danger.

• King Arthur VI and Queen arrived at the square, where nobles and dignitaries awaited Ferret’s speech.
• Ferret delivered an unscripted speech about leaving the island and announced that believers would welcome the Savior’s descent.
• More than ten thousand believers knelt and prayed to the God of Suffering as black liquid and ominous spirituality spread through the square.
• Duke Aergai and the Queen urged Arthur VI to act, and royal guards subdued Ferret and dragged him from the rostrum.
• Ferret warned Arthur VI to be careful before spitting black blood and collapsing.
• Ferret’s old butler appeared on the rostrum holding the Sun King’s Spear, with the Spirit Realm Wraith impaled upon it.

The Desire Spirit Sect’s leader revealed himself as the God of Suffering and began a Historical Retrospection ritual using the Iron Crown, Sun King’s Spear, and Eye of Ancient Meng. As Arthur VI and the royal forces realized the ritual was retracing the Sun King’s War of Broken Oaths, the Mother of Night descended over Plymouth.

• The old butler transformed into the God of Suffering, while heretical believers attacked the crowd and threw the stands into chaos.
• Duke Alger deployed a mechanical fortress to protect Arthur VI, and Royal Guard forces surrounded the square as Arthur VI objected to killing innocent subjects.
• The God of Suffering produced the Iron Crown and Eye of Ancient Meng, spreading the Mist of History across the rostrum and square.
• Arthur VI and the royal Alchemist recognized the ritual as Historical Retrospection, and Duke Alger realized it was retracing the Sun King’s War of Broken Oaths.
• The royal Alchemist explained that the ritual required the tacit permission of powerful beings, and Duke Alger saw the Mother of Night descend over Plymouth.

As Plymouth fell into chaos and the God of Suffering entered the Spirit Realm to pursue eternal life, Aaron prepared to follow and advance to Furnace. The chapter left the God of Suffering vanished from Speech Square and Aaron waiting to enter the Spirit Realm.

• William admitted he wanted revenge on Blood of Decay, but Aaron told him to leave Plymouth and live his own life.
• Aaron revealed his name and affiliation to William, who left without looking back.
• Aaron reflected on the Mother of Night’s plans and gathered seven Non-Human remnants needed for his advancement to Furnace.
• Aaron used Auclair and the Spirit of Void to prepare his physical body to enter the Spirit Realm.
• The ritual at Speech Square accelerated, showing the Sun King’s historical phantom as the God of Suffering vanished into the Spirit Realm.

The God of Suffering began his bid for immortality in the Spirit Realm, but Aaron realized the Sun King's Spear was meant to betray the Mother of Night rather than strike the Child of Dawnbreak. As Dawnbreak and the Lord of Corpse Collection clashed, a black Solar Corona appeared, leaving the outcome uncertain.

• The God of Suffering activated the Miracle Pyramid ritual and prepared to use the Sun King's Spear against the Child of Dawnbreak.
• The Mother of Night cast her gaze upon the Spirit Realm, and Dawnbreak descended as the Lord of Corpse Collection moved to block it.
• The God of Suffering hurled the Sun King's Spear, but its golden streak curved toward the Mother of Night instead of the Child of Dawnbreak.
• Arthur VI and Duke Alger watched the spear change course from Speech Square, while Aaron observed the attack from the Spirit Realm.
• Aaron realized the God of Suffering intended to switch from Crimson to Yao with Dawnbreak's help, and a black Solar Corona appeared above the battling Age Controllers.

Aaron realized the Age Controllers’ alliances and rivalries were shaped by their shared origins and the threat of primordial beings reviving. The God of Suffering began climbing the transformed pyramid, believing he could become a Longevity One by serving both Dawnbreak and Fallen Corona, while the chapter left his plan poised to fail.

• Aaron concluded that Dawnbreak and Fallen Corona could ally because both split from [Black Sun], and that Age Controllers avoided consuming too much of one another to prevent [Crimson Creator] from reviving.
• The God of Suffering planned to betray Mother of Night, reverse his Crimson aspect into Yao, and seek blessings from Dawnbreak and Fallen Corona so he could become a Longevity One.
• The Sun King's Spear transformed the pyramid's Crimson into Yao and damaged the spear, as pure-white radiance descended upon the structure.
• The God of Suffering grabbed the spearhead and climbed the pyramid, feeling his Crimson spirituality rapidly transform into Yao.

The God of Suffering used the broken Sun King's Spear and the pyramid’s blessings to begin advancing to Longevity One, but Aaron intervened and caused his advancement to fail, killing him. Aaron then reflected on the Power of Secret Source and the possibility that it had awakened an ancient mystery.

• The God of Suffering reached the pyramid’s summit and gathered the blood of Dawnbreak and Mother of Night to form an immortal characteristic matching his nature.
• The God of Suffering began his advancement to Longevity One, but Aaron appeared on Dawnbreak’s throne and opposed him.
• Aaron used the Power of Secret Source to magnify the chance of failure in the God of Suffering’s advancement, causing him to die from the backlash.
• Aaron took the broken Sun King's Spear and considered how the Power of Secret Source might have released an ancient mystery that transformed the Crimson Sun.

Arthur VI and Duke Aergai realized that Auclair Sothos had stopped the God of Suffering’s ascension, while Aaron escaped the collapsing pyramid and began a dangerous Furnace ritual in Speech Square. The chapter left Aaron engulfed in the ritual’s flames as seven powerful spiritual remnants began to transform him.

• Arthur VI and Duke Aergai identified the evil spirit as Auclair Sothos and speculated that an Age Controller had backed Aaron Sothoth.
• The cultists in Speech Square surrendered after the God of Suffering’s death broke the Blood Pact Law.
• Auclair seized the God of Suffering’s remains and the broken Sun King’s Spear, then fled the Spirit Realm as two vast wills watched him.
• Aaron returned to the safehouse, swallowed seven Non-Human Existences’ remnants, and opened a building to draw tens of thousands of witnesses to his Furnace ritual.
• Aaron ignited pure white flames to melt the remnants, and the violent spiritual changes caused him agony as nearby small creatures began dying.