Chapter Summaries

Michael and Aozaki Aoko woke at the hunting cabin and shared breakfast with Aozaki Bell. A shy, gray-hooded girl arrived as their guide to Blackmore Cemetery, and the chapter left them preparing for the visit.

• Michael cleaned the cabin with magic while Aozaki Aoko got ready for the morning.
• Michael served breakfast, and Aozaki Bell praised the food and teased Aozaki Aoko about their plans.
• A gray-hooded young girl hesitantly came to the door and said Mr. Sack Aoko had sent her to guide them to Blackmore Cemetery.
• Aozaki Bell offered the nervous girl a pastry, but the girl fled after being startled by Bell.
• Michael and Aozaki Aoko continued their breakfast before setting out for Blackmore Cemetery.

King Arthur and Aozaki Aoko met Gray, a timid girl revered by the villagers, and joined her on a tour of the village. Gray’s striking resemblance to Michael left them wondering about her connection to the Church and the village’s mysteries.

• Michael apologized to Gray for Aozaki Aoko’s teasing and asked her name.
• Gray introduced herself, and the villagers bowed to her with unusual reverence.
• King Arthur recognized Gray’s resemblance to the Michael he remembered from the Fourth Holy Grail War.
• Aozaki Aoko remembered seeing Gray before and apologized to her.
• Gray led King Arthur and Aozaki Aoko through the village and told them its myths and history.

Michael, Aozaki Gray, and Aoko visited Blackmore Cemetery and held a picnic there. Aoko revealed she had never left the village and was forbidden by her strict mother to eat sweets, but she eventually tried a dessert.

• Michael and Aozaki Gray arrived at Blackmore Cemetery with Aoko and explored its gravestones and raven-carved gates.
• Aoko told Michael she had never left the village and enjoyed detective novels, especially Sherlock Holmes, Edgar Allan Poe, and Agatha Christie.
• Aozaki Gray offered Aoko tea and desserts, but Aoko hesitated because her mother forbade her from eating anything without permission.
• Michael encouraged Aoko to secretly try a dessert, and Aoko tasted it as the group began their picnic.

After leaving Tsibiah’s cottage, Michael gave Aozaki Aoko Trismegistus’s core, and she tried using it to create a pastry before the attempt failed. They then encountered Bersac Blackmore, the Graveyard Keeper of Blackmore Cemetery, who asked what had brought them there.

• Michael gave Aozaki Aoko Trismegistus’s core, and she used it to form a pastry that collapsed when she touched it.
• Aozaki Aoko noticed a group of powerful crow Familiars and readied herself for a possible attack.
• Bersac Blackmore emerged from the bushes, said he was not their enemy, and identified Michael and Aozaki Aoko.
• Michael recognized Bersac as the Graveyard Keeper, and Bersac introduced himself and asked why they had come.

Gray’s mother arrived at the cemetery in anguish, and Gray went after her while Michael and Aozaki Aoko headed into the swamp. Michael broke through the ancient barrier, triggering its defenses, and followed the magical energy toward the swamp’s center.

• Gray’s mother came to the cemetery, and Gray realized something was wrong when she saw her mother’s distress.
• Gray’s mother left without explaining, and Gray hurried after her while Bell apologized to Michael and Aozaki Aoko.
• Michael and Aozaki Aoko entered the forest toward the swamp, where Michael sensed the region’s magical energy flowing to a central point.
• Michael breached the ancient barrier with a Fire Dragon, and the barrier’s Autonomous Interception Defense Magecraft activated.
• Michael and Aozaki Aoko deflected the defense’s attacks and continued toward the swamp’s center as Tsibiah appeared in a Spiritron projection.

Michael and Aozaki Aoko explored Hamikell’s hidden cabin and examined his complex magecraft research and investigation materials. Tress identified Hamikell as the researcher and found that he had been studying the body, mind, and soul, though the chapter left the purpose of his investigation unresolved.

• Michael and Aozaki Aoko reached the cabin after Michael destroyed the barrier concealing it.
• Michael and Aozaki Aoko entered the decaying cabin and found notes, photographs, and magecraft patterns covering its walls.
• Tress analyzed Hamikell’s intricate magecraft formula and recognized his exceptional skill.
• Aozaki Aoko and Tress identified Hamikell as the person who had left the research materials behind.
• Tress concluded that Hamikell had been investigating the body, mind, and soul.

Aozaki Aoko and King Arthur deduced that the village’s ritual aimed to resurrect Tress using her body, mind, and soul, with Gray destined to become the vessel. Gray’s mother came to the hunting lodge to beg them to take Gray away before the ritual the following night.

• King Arthur explained that the black Madonna statue depicted Morgan and that the village’s magecraft was designed to gather the body, mind, and soul needed to resurrect King Arthur.
• Aozaki Aoko realized Gray’s body and soul were intended for Tress’s resurrection, and King Arthur confirmed her suspicion.
• King Arthur and Aozaki Aoko discussed how the Holy Grail War could provide Tress’s soul and how Logos React could reproduce her mind.
• Gray’s mother arrived at the lodge and pleaded with King Arthur and Aozaki Aoko to take Gray away before the ritual made her Tress’s vessel.
• King Arthur promised they would protect Gray, and Gray’s mother revealed that the ritual was scheduled for the following night.

Michael, Aozaki Aoko, and Gray prepared to flee the village with Bersac, while Michaelena and Sakgray helped them despite their worries about the dangers. Sakgray stayed behind to find a way to destroy the ritual, leaving the others to take a mountain road toward Cardiff and the Clock Tower.

• Bersac was put to sleep with a herb her mother, Michaelena, had added to her dinner.
• Bersac’s mother kissed her goodbye and reluctantly let Michael carry her away, while Sakgray agreed to help them escape.
• Bersac was carried to a stone house on the village outskirts, where Sakgray revealed a jeep and gave Aozaki Aoko the key.
• Sakgray told them to take the rough mountain road to Cardiff and catch the earliest train back to the Clock Tower.
• Sakgray stayed behind to look for a chance to destroy the ritual, since Bersac’s escape would not free her while it remained intact.

The village’s Great Grandmother prepared to resurrect King Arthur, revealing a powerful hidden Mage’s Garment called Erosion to Magdalena and assigning her to use it on Gray during the ritual. The villagers readied themselves for that night while the Great Grandmother planned to complete the resurrection before the Holy Church could interfere.

• The Great Grandmother said Gray would serve as the sacrifice and told Magdalena that King Arthur’s body was ready for the ritual.
• The village chief asked about the Holy Church, and the Great Grandmother said the villagers would act before the Church could stop them.
• The Great Grandmother dismissed concerns about Michael and Aozaki Aoko after hearing they were no longer in the village.
• The Great Grandmother gave Magdalena Erosion, a hidden Mage’s Garment said to separate spirit and soul from the body.
• The Great Grandmother ordered Magdalena to restrain Gray and stab her with Erosion during the night’s ritual, then urged the villagers to prepare for King Arthur’s return.

The villagers’ ritual raised Avalon, a temple containing a white-armored figure, from the swamp as they prepared to welcome the Eternal King. Graymia and Avalon de l'Erl followed them, with Graymia considering whether to kill Shiki while Avalon hoped to avoid a fight.

• The villagers’ ritual caused the Black Madonna statue and the temple of Avalon to emerge from the swamp.
• Graymia discussed killing Shiki to prevent a possible threat, while Avalon de l'Erl argued that they should avoid harming people if possible.
• Graymia and Avalon de l'Erl decided to follow the villagers and investigate their ritual.
• The villagers dressed in their finest clothes, carried torches to the swamp, and gathered to welcome the Eternal King.
• Inside Avalon, a petite figure in solid white armor sat upon a stone throne.

Magdalena tried to kill the King of Spirit before the ritual could claim Gray, but the King of Spirit stopped her and the villagers captured her. The King of Spirit ordered the search for Gray and Bersac, while Magdalena was left gravely wounded.

• Magdalena approached the sleeping King of Spirit with Erosion, hoping to kill him and protect Gray before the ritual.
• The King of Spirit awakened and used an invisible force to block Magdalena's strike.
• Great-Grandmother and the villagers arrived, accused Magdalena of betraying them and helping Gray escape, and ordered a search for Gray and Bersac.
• The King of Spirit's Skeleton Soldiers speared Magdalena and lifted her into the air.
• Great-Grandmother gave Magdalena medicinal pills and declared that her crimes deserved more than death.

Add awoke on a train bound for London after remembering her lonely past and her wish to die rather than serve as the villagers’ vessel for the Eternal King. She found Gray still with her and learned that Aozaki Aoko and Michael had taken her away from the village.

• Add dreamed of her childhood, recalling her father’s cooking and how her mother changed after his death.
• Add remembered enduring life as the villagers’ revered vessel and wishing to die, even as Gray remained her only friend.
• Add woke in a moving carriage beside Aozaki Aoko and realized she was traveling toward London.
• Add panicked when she could not find Gray, then picked up the cage and hugged her after spotting her nearby.
• Michael told Add that he and Aozaki Aoko had taken her away from the village, while Aozaki Aoko offered her dessert.

The villagers used a ritual to raise the ancient temple of Avalon from the swamp and gathered there at night to welcome the Eternal King's return. Avalon de l'Erl and Graymia followed them, while Graymia argued that they should kill Shiki, leaving their response to the ritual unresolved.

• The villagers raised the Black Madonna statue and the temple of Avalon from the swamp through a magical ritual.
• Avalon de l'Erl and Graymia discussed their differing views, with Graymia urging him to kill Shiki and the Priestess while he favored a peaceful resolution.
• The villagers dressed in their finest clothes, carried torches, and headed to the swamp to welcome the Eternal King's return.
• Graymia and Avalon de l'Erl followed the villagers to discover what they were doing.

Gray learned that her mother had gone to confront the King of Spirit and decided to return and save her, while Michael and Aozaki Aoko promised to help her gain freedom. Nearby, Fernand the Priest and Sister Illyia captured Bartel to question him about the summoned temple and the villagers’ search.

• Gray decided she would save her mother after learning she might die confronting the King of Spirit.
• Aozaki Aoko promised to help Gray save her mother and gain freedom, while Michael said he would handle the matter with wisdom.
• Fernand the Priest and Sister Illyia watched the temple rise from the swamp and chose to capture a villager for information.
• Bartel heard movement in the brush, mistook it for Gray, and rushed toward it.
• Fernand the Priest and Sister Illyia subdued Bartel and demanded to know why the villagers had summoned the temple and what they were searching for.

Sister Illyia and Fernand the Priest set out to stop the village from completing its ritual to revive King Arthur, with Fernand persuading her not to kill the villagers. Sister Illyia confronted Great-Grandmother and the guards at the swamp temple, ready to fight them with Ash Lock.

• Bartel revealed what he knew about the villagers’ ritual before Sister Illyia knocked him unconscious.
• Sister Illyia proposed eliminating the villagers, but Fernand the Priest urged her to spare their lives and she agreed to try resolving things without killing them.
• Sister Illyia equipped her Ash Lock and raced toward the temple while Fernand struggled to keep up.
• At the temple, Sister Illyia found six or seven villagers guarding the entrance and faced Great-Grandmother as the villagers surrounded her.
• Sister Illyia challenged the villagers to attack together, purple lightning coiling around her arms and fists.

Sister Illyia fought the Bone Soldiers while Fernand the Priest arrived and used a prayer to destroy them. The King of Spirit remained on her throne, and Sister Illyia and Fernand faced her.

• Fernand the Priest arrived at the shrine after the battle with the villagers had ended.
• Sister Illyia fought the Bone Soldiers, smashing and lightning-striking them as they rapidly repaired themselves.
• The Bone Soldiers formed a wall and parted to reveal the King of Spirit seated on her throne.
• Fernand the Priest prayed, and the Bone Soldiers stopped attacking and crumbled into dust.
• The King of Spirit raised one hand as Sister Illyia and Fernand confronted her.

King of Spirit battled Sister Illyia and Fernand the Priest at the temple, unleashing a devastating mystery that they survived with the help of a Wooden Cross. As the villagers arrived and a Rainbow Light appeared in the sky, someone drove a jeep into the temple.

• Fernand the Priest defeated most of the Bone Soldiers while Sister Illyia charged King of Spirit and traded blows with her.
• King of Spirit transformed her great scythe into a pale-black spear and unleashed a torrent of magic power.
• Sister Illyia used a Wooden Cross to shield herself and Fernand the Priest, and the cross crumbled after blocking the attack.
• The villagers returned to the temple, and Sister Illyia realized King of Spirit had used their life force to fuel her mystery.
• Bersac grabbed his giant axe and rushed toward the temple as a Rainbow Light appeared in the sky.
• A jeep raced across the Rainbow Light, landed in the temple, and spun to a stop.

Michael and Gray returned to the village with Bell, where the ritual for the Eternal King was poised to resume and Bell discovered her mother Michaelena had been tortured. The temple’s opposing forces gathered around Bell’s choice as the King of Spirit watched from his throne.

• Michael and Gray arrived at the temple, and the villagers recognized that Bell had returned for the ritual.
• Bell spotted Michaelena nailed to a cross, and Magda rescued her and healed her injuries.
• Aozaki Aoko warned the villagers not to cross her line, then blasted those who advanced and knocked the old woman aside.
• Bell pleaded with the old woman and said returning had been her own choice, while the old woman urged her to complete the ritual for the Eternal King.
• Lord Liu Mosak entered the temple carrying an axe and stood apart from the villagers as the five opposing forces faced one another.

A miraculous appearance at the Black Madonna statue revealed King Arthur and the Holy Sword Excalibur to Illyia. King Arthur merged into Illyia and urged her to draw the sword, leaving the church gathered around the revealed relic.

• The Black Madonna statue began glowing, then dissolved as stars gathered above the church and illuminated an ancient stone platform.
• A figure resembling Illyia appeared beside the sword and revealed herself as King Arthur, who told Illyia that Britain faced a tremendous crisis.
• King Arthur urged Illyia to draw Excalibur, saying it could resolve her troubles and free her from being merely King Arthur's body.
• King Arthur stroked Illyia's head, then broke apart into light and merged into her body.
• Fernand the Priest subdued the unconscious Sister Gremia while the others reacted to the Holy Sword embedded in the platform.

Gray drew Michael’s holy sword, Excalibur, and was recognized as the new King by the villagers. With King Arthur’s help, she left the village after Sakgray urged her to seek a life beyond it, while the King of Spirit offered the Clock Tower as her first destination.

• Gray pulled Excalibur from the stone platform, and the villagers knelt before her while Bersac swore fealty.
• Gray learned that the King of Spirit had no name and was bound to the King as Gray had been.
• Sakgray explained that his interests aligned with the government’s and that he wanted to delay Michael’s resurrection.
• Sakgray told Gray not to return to the village and urged her to see the wider world.
• King Arthur reassured Gray that she was Gray, not the King’s body, and offered to take her back for Aoko’s dinner.
• The King of Spirit suggested that Gray visit the Clock Tower, where she could also study magecraft.