Chapter Summaries

On the lunar spacecraft, Traveler and Paimon questioned the black Moon Spirit and discovered Columbina had rescued it and sent it to Silvermoon Hall to heal. The Moon Spirit explained that it had a forgotten mission on The Moon, where it belonged, and the spacecraft was Dragon Sovereign Clan technology.

• On The Moon, Sonnet teased Apep about being Zhongli’s belt, and Zibai said Zhongli was far more formidable than Apep.
• Traveler and Paimon questioned the black Moon Spirit aboard the spacecraft, but it initially could not speak directly.
• The black Moon Spirit retrieved an Ancient Moon Spectrum Analyzer from a broken escape pod and used it to communicate.
• The black Moon Spirit revealed that Columbina had saved it and sent it to Silvermoon Hall to recover, rather than asking Traveler and Paimon to rescue her.
• The black Moon Spirit said it had to return to The Moon for a mission it had forgotten and confirmed that it belonged there.

Paimon and the Traveler learned that Columbina was on the moon and decided to find her with Black Egg. Their spacecraft began a dangerous landing at Ujien Circle, forcing them to escape in separate pods as the ship plunged toward the lunar surface.

• Paimon named the black Moon Spirit Black Egg, then became flustered when he started crying for real.
• Paimon proposed an eight-to-two split of their future snack earnings, while the Traveler said they would return once they found Columbina.
• The spacecraft reached lunar orbit, and the Traveler, Paimon, and Black Egg selected Ujien Circle as their landing site.
• The spacecraft accelerated toward the moon as error indicators appeared, so the Traveler placed Paimon and Black Egg in escape pods and entered the last one himself.
• The three escape pods separated from the spacecraft as it plunged toward the lunar surface, leaving everyone worried about their safety.

The Traveler and Paimon survived their escape pod landings on the moon and explored the Dragon Sovereign Clan ruins while searching for Black Egg. They found her trapped in a device that had mistaken her for an Ancient Moon Origin Orb.

• The Traveler used Ancient Moon Power to lift the boulder that buried the escape pod and reunited with Paimon on the lunar surface.
• The Traveler and Paimon admired the lunar towers and discussed the Dragon Sovereign Clan technology with Apep, Rosalyne, Columbina, and Zibai.
• The Traveler and Paimon searched for Black Egg, found her escape pod in an underground ruin, and unlocked the area's map.
• The Traveler used an Ancient Moon Origin Orb to open a door after hearing Black Egg call for help.
• The Traveler and Paimon found Black Egg caught in a device that had identified her Ancient Moon Power as an Ancient Moon Origin Orb.

The Traveler and Paimon freed Black Egg from a ruin device, but the Sky Screen cut away before she could access the terminal. It then began showing Snezhnaya’s harsh landscape and its people, including Odette’s dancing and Arosha’s hunting, leaving Focalors asking why the Fatui Harbingers had not commented on Arosha.

• The Traveler and Paimon lowered Black Egg from the device, freed her from the cube, and took her to the terminal at the ruin’s entrance.
• The Sky Screen cut to a Snezhnaya theater segment, where Sandrone, Rosalyne, Arlecchino, and Columbina wondered about the nation’s changes and the Traveler’s search for Paimon.
• Pierro described Snezhnaya’s people uniting around the Tsaritsa as the Sky Screen showed its icy wilderness, cities, railways, and palaces.
• Odette performed at the Korolevsky Troupe, prompting Sandrone and Columbina to ask Rosalyne about her apprentice and her dancing by Rosalyne’s frozen coffin.
• The Sky Screen showed Odette fighting through dance and Arosha hunting with weapons and hounds, after which Focalors asked why the Harbingers had not discussed him.

The Sky Screen revealed the Traveler's Snezhnaya adventures, including his battle in the Shadow Realm, Paimon's mysterious collapse, and a dispute over the Winter Project. It ended with Rhonavar, the Archon of Death, confronting the Traveler and warning him against interfering in Snezhnaya's affairs.

• Arlecchino and Sandrone explained that hunters in Snezhnaya struggled to survive far from the warmth of the Torch of Keshnik.
• The Sky Screen showed the Traveler fighting Snezhnayan machines in the Shadow Realm with a modified elemental firearm, encountering strange creatures, and being caught by a passing train.
• The Traveler worried over Paimon, who lay unconscious beneath a blanket.
• Pantalone and Tartaglia argued over an unresolved problem, and Pulcinella announced that the Winter Project would continue until the next Council session.
• Pierro and the Tsaritsa spoke of civilization's possible destruction as the Sky Screen showed Snezhnaya's frozen landscapes and Rosalyne's graveyard.
• Rhonavar, the Archon of Death, appeared and accused the Traveler of deliberately interfering in Snezhnaya's affairs.

The Sky Screen showed the Traveler attacking Rhonavar after she threatened Paimon, then revealed the Tsaritsa declaring war on the Heavenly Principles. Back at the terminal, Black Egg discovered her name was Ningning and helped the Traveler and Paimon learn that the Energy Generation Stations powered a lunar monitoring tower that might help them find Columbina.

• The Traveler charged Rhonavar after she attacked Paimon, but the Sky Screen cut away before showing what happened to Paimon.
• The Tsaritsa took her throne with Danika and Visna beside her and declared the Heavenly Principles as her target.
• Citlali worried about the Traveler and Paimon, while Apep predicted Rhonavar would eventually suffer for opposing the Traveler.
• Black Egg read the terminal and discovered that her name was Ningning and that the site was an Energy Generation Station powering the Eye of Ibinibolong.
• Ningning explained that the Eye monitored the whole lunar surface, so the Traveler and Paimon planned to activate the other two Energy Generation Stations and use it to search for Columbina.
• Paimon persuaded Ningning to accept the name Ningning · Black Egg with the promise of snacks, while Zhuqing worried that Ningning’s mission might require her sacrifice.

The Traveler, Paimon, and Black Egg activated the second Energy Generation Station, repaired its signal locator, and connected the Eye of Ibinibolong. The Eye revealed an unidentified individual at the Ujien Circle, giving them a destination to investigate as they searched for Columbina.

• The Traveler, Paimon, and Black Egg activated the second Energy Generation Station, then used launchers and Ancient Moon Power to reach and repair its signal locator.
• The Traveler and Paimon suspected Columbina had activated the third Energy Generation Station, while Black Egg denied having a mission to increase anyone’s affection.
• The group rode the elevator to the Eye of Ibinibolong and Black Egg activated its terminal, lighting buildings elsewhere on the Moon.
• Black Egg reported that an unidentified individual had appeared at the Ujien Circle, though the system could not confirm whether it was Columbina.
• Black Egg opened an Ancient Moon Power transit passage, and the group set off for the Ujien Circle.

Ningning uncovered records about the Moonwatcher Project and learned that the Eye of Ibinibolong had once relayed a possible signal from the Dragon King Nibelung. The Traveler, Paimon, and Ningning set off for Ujien Circle, but the Sky Screen cut away just as they reached it.

• Ningning found records identifying Ibinibelung as the pioneer behind the Eye of Ibinibolong and its original purpose as a deep-space signal relay station.
• Ningning explained that the Moonwatcher Project remained encrypted because she lacked enough information, and Paimon agreed to help her find more terminals.
• The Traveler, Paimon, and Ningning headed toward Ujien Circle while Paimon and Ningning bickered over its name.
• The Traveler, Paimon, and Ningning spotted an enormous being and a towering antenna near Ujien Circle, which Ningning identified as the home of living beings.
• The Sky Screen cut away as the group arrived at Ujien Circle.

The Sky Screen showed the Four Shades joking in a chat, then revisited Columbina’s past speculations and memories with her friends. Traveler, Paimon, and Ningning followed a Moon Spirit into Ujien Circle after learning Columbina had been seen there days earlier.

• Istaroth and the other Shades joked about Celestia and Asmoday, leaving Apep to doubt what she had seen.
• The Sky Screen showed eerie past speculations about Columbina, which she found entertaining rather than upsetting.
• The Sky Screen showed Columbina’s fond memories with Sandrone and the others, and Columbina said her friends had shaped who she was.
• Traveler, Paimon, and Ningning reached Ujien Circle Station and defeated a Pioneer Secret Source Command Array to help a black Moon Spirit.
• The black Moon Spirit told Ningning that Columbina had passed through with a giant creature several days earlier, so Traveler and the others followed it into Ujien Circle.

The Traveler and the others explored the Ujien Circle, found a damaged terminal, and followed signs of Columbina toward the space elevator. After the Sky-Climbing Skiff failed for lack of power, they discovered a complete blueprint identifying the elevator’s destination as the Stellar Creature Capture Station and the facility’s power center underground.

• The Traveler and the others entered the Ujien Circle and followed the black Moon Spirits to its terminal.
• The Traveler learned to use Moonlight Charge to clear the Congealed Moonlight Vines, and Ningning found damaged information saying a Damselette had entered with a huge flying creature.
• The Traveler and the others followed the Moon Spirit King to the space elevator’s base, entered through a back door, and found the Sky-Climbing Skiff could not operate because of insufficient energy.
• The Traveler and the others found a second terminal, where Ningning retrieved a complete engineering blueprint locating the facility’s underground power center and naming the skiff’s destination as the Stellar Creature Capture Station.

Ningning explained the origins of the Stellar Creature Capture Station as the Traveler, Paimon, and Ningning reached its underground power facility. After repairing and restarting the turbines, they uncovered a brief reference to the Moonwatcher Project and escaped the spinning machinery.

• Ningning said Ujien built the Stellar Creature Capture Station to capture unknown creatures and test his theory about the Dragon Sovereign Clan's deep-space signals.
• Sandrone asked Apep whether the Dragon Sovereign Clan had searched deep space for Dragon King Nibelung, and Apep said its scholars had likely tried without success.
• The Traveler, Paimon, and Ningning descended through an underground forest to the power facility, where they repaired faults in its turbines while avoiding the machinery.
• Paimon found a terminal recording that mentioned the Moonwatcher Project and thanked Ujien and Magejiedi, but Ningning could find no further details.
• Ningning restarted the power system, and the Traveler raced across the spinning turbines to escape.

The Traveler, Paimon, and Ningning reached the Stellar Lifeform Capture Station in space and found Columbina speaking with the Moon Spirit King before the Sky Screen cut away. A New Year skit showed Istaroth reversing Rhonavar's lucky gacha pull, and it ended with Rhonavar confronting Istaroth after she returned.

• The Traveler, Paimon, and Ningning rode the Sky-Climbing Skiff to the Stellar Lifeform Capture Station and entered its core compartment.
• The Traveler and the others found Columbina communicating with the Moon Spirit King, but the Sky Screen abruptly cut away.
• Rhonavar celebrated surviving another year and hoped to pull a Geo DPS, but Istaroth reversed time and changed her golden pull into Qiqi again.
• Apep laughed at Rhonavar's misfortune while Istaroth mistook Rhonavar's curses for a summons and left Enkanomiya.
• Istaroth returned to Rhonavar, who asked whether she had set her up.

Columbina welcomed the Traveler and Paimon to the moon and explained how she had discovered Ningning Black Egg. She revealed that Ningning had begun devouring other Moon Spirits after Columbina brought her to the surface, leaving the onlookers unsure what the behavior meant.

• Istaroth teased Rhonavar with a Liyue Sky Lantern, while Zibai and Zhongli charged their purchases to other people’s accounts.
• Istaroth explained that she had bought the lantern to make a wish, and Rhonavar accused her of learning about her card pulls by setting her up.
• The Traveler and Paimon arrived at the Stellar Creature Capture Station and reunited with Columbina.
• Columbina said she had inspected the moon after returning and found Ningning Black Egg, whose origins and powers differed from those of other Moon Spirits.
• Columbina explained that Ningning had been weak and unconscious underground, then began unconsciously devouring her own kind after Columbina brought her to the surface.
• Layla cautioned the onlookers not to judge Ningning’s behavior by human assumptions and urged them to keep watching.

Columbina explained that Ningning had fused with her own kind while awakening and that an Ancient Moon Storm was disturbing the Moon Sea. The group set out to calm the storm and investigate Margo, Uji, and their connection to two Dragon Sovereign Clan scholars, while Canon learned that the Source of the Ancient Moon had been removed so Frost Moon could no longer be used as a weapon.

• Columbina explained Ningning’s fusion with other Black Eggs and said the Ancient Moon Storm was harming creatures other than Moon Spirits.
• Columbina said Margo and Uji had fought, stirring the Moon Sea, and planned to retrieve the Source of the Ancient Moon before seeking to reconcile them.
• Ningning recognized Margo’s name as Magejiedi, and the Traveler told Columbina that the terminal linked Margo and Uji to two Dragon Sovereign Clan scholars and the Moonwatcher Project.
• Columbina led the group toward the Moon Sea, hoping to resolve the storm and find a way to communicate with Uji.
• Canon said removing the Source of the Ancient Moon meant Frost Moon would no longer be used as a weapon, and Columbina promised the Moon would never be weaponized again.

The Traveler and the others descended into the Moon Sea with Columbina and Margo, but Uji attacked and injured Margo. While Columbina stayed behind to heal Margo, the Traveler and Paimon followed the Schooling Moon Spirits through the Moon Sea and spotted Uji near a stone pillar.

• The Traveler, Paimon, Ningning, and Columbina followed Margo down the space elevator toward the Moon Sea as an Ancient Moon Storm approached.
• Uji attacked Margo with a beam of light, and Columbina confirmed that Margo was injured but would survive.
• Columbina asked the Traveler and Paimon to draw Uji's attention and retrieve the Source of the Ancient Moon while she healed Margo.
• The Traveler rescued Schooling Moon Spirits trapped along the route, and the spirits mimicked jellyfish to carry the group across the Moon Sea.
• After the Traveler's group defeated monsters attacking Moon Spirits, the spirits mimicked Glowfin Whales, leading the group to spot Uji coiled on a distant stone pillar.

The Traveler's group reached the Source of the Ancient Moon, where Ningning uncovered the history of Lusharim's Moon Screen Laboratory and the Moonwatcher Project before Uji interrupted them. In a bonus scene, Apep argued with Canon about the Moon Screen Project, while the Sky Screen showed Columbina and Dottore in a comic contrast.

• The Traveler dodged Uji, and the group used the Swarming Moon Spirits to approach while Columbina and Margo distracted it.
• The Traveler obtained the Source of the Ancient Moon, and Ningning identified it as an energy entity created by Lusharim, Ujien and Margo's student.
• Ningning explained that Lusharim's Moon Screen Project was meant to conceal the Moon but was destroyed when the ruler of Celestia pierced the device, ending its role in the Moonwatcher Project.
• Columbina warned the group as Uji emerged below them, and the Sky Screen cut off before Ningning could explain the Moonwatcher Project.
• Apep accused Phanes of stealing the Dragon Sovereign Clan's technology, and Canon argued that the False Sky surpassed the Moon Screen Project.
• The Sky Screen showed Columbina meeting Dottore, while the Three Moon Sisters and the audience reacted to their contrasting welcomes to Columbina and the Traveler.

A comedy skit showed the Traveler trading insults with Dottore while Columbina and others misunderstood the Moon Cage as a resort, prison, and birdcage. It ended with the Traveler asking for Moon Marrows so he could smash Dottore’s windows, leaving the observers laughing.

• Sandrone recalled that Dottore had killed her, then enjoyed watching the Traveler curse him out in the skit.
• Columbina asked for a refund from the Moon God Resort, and Apep laughed at the joke about the Moon Cage.
• Canon introduced the sisters as finches, and Columbina realized the birdcage was a prison; Xianyun panicked when Nibelung was mentioned.
• The Traveler accused Dottore of capturing Columbina and using Moon Marrow to play house, while Dottore explained how he controlled people’s actions.
• Columbina said she wanted to sing on Sandrone’s windowsill, confusing Canon, Aria, and Sonnet.
• The Traveler demanded Columbina or the Moon Marrows from Dottore, then said he would use the artificial Moon Marrow to smash Dottore’s windows.

The Sky Screen showed comic skits about the Traveler and Dottore, then a game of Who Is the Undercover that embarrassed Citlali. The story returned to the Moon, where the Traveler and the others tried to remove the Congealed Moonlight Vines driving Uji mad, and the Traveler charged toward Uji as it prepared a powerful attack.

• Dottore offered the Traveler information about Nod-Krai's Primogem mine, but the Traveler attacked him after Xianyun appeared and was struck by a weapon.
• The Sky Screen showed the Traveler mistakenly describing a body pillow in a way that made Furina, Kamisato Ayaka, and Citlali misunderstand him, while Raiden Ei and Yae Miko watched.
• Citlali denied the Sky Screen's insinuation that she was involved with the Traveler and hid her face behind her Star Demons.
• With Margo's help, the Traveler and the others flew into the air, and the Traveler used the power of the Ancient Moon to clear pollution caused by Uji's attacks.
• Ningning suspected Congealed Moonlight Vines were driving Uji mad, and Columbina asked the Traveler to remove them.
• As Uji gathered Ancient Moon energy for a powerful attack, the Traveler charged toward it with help from the Schooling Moon Spirits.

The Traveler and their companions defeated Uji by clearing the Congealed Moonlight Vines covering his body, allowing Ningning to read the information stored inside him. Ningning learned that Ujien had flown the Moonwatcher toward a mysterious deep-space signal and that the spacecraft later returned cloaked, carrying a strange black creature.

• The Traveler cleared Uji’s Congealed Moonlight Vines with help from Margo, Columbina, and the Schooling Moon Spirits, causing Uji to crash into the Moon Sea.
• Paimon worried that Ningning would be harmed, but Columbina trusted her choice and gave her a hat made of Moon Prayer Flowers.
• Ningning read the vast information inside Uji and learned what had happened at the Ujien Circle and the Stellar Creature Capture Station.
• Ningning revealed that Ujien piloted the Moonwatcher toward coordinates captured from a mysterious deep-space signal and disappeared without sending news back.
• Years later, the Stellar Creature Capture Station was struck by a cloaked spacecraft, which proved to be the Moonwatcher; Margo entered it and found only a black, spherical, spiky creature.

Ningning recounted how Ujien merged with a stellar creature to deliver a message, then died after Margo’s attempt to preserve him created the first artificially born Moon Spirit. The Traveler and Columbina suspected Lusharim had taken the Moonwatcher Project research with him, and the group prepared to investigate a powerful energy source on the Moon’s far side before the Sky Screen cut off.

• Ningning explained that Ujien willingly merged with the stellar creature to communicate its message to the Dragon Sovereign Clan, then died after Margo’s transformation technique preserved his body but erased his consciousness.
• Ningning said Margo later used the same technique on herself, and her consciousness also vanished.
• The Traveler told Columbina that Lusharim’s research facility had been destroyed, and they suspected he had preserved his research and followed the ruler of Celestia.
• Apep called Lusharim a traitor, while Sonnet argued that he had preserved the Dragon Sovereign Clan’s research when the Dragon Kings failed to protect the scholars.
• Paimon asked Ningning about her search for a mission, and Ningning promised she had hidden nothing from them.
• The Traveler led the group toward a base on the Moon’s far side where an enormous energy source might answer their remaining questions, but the Sky Screen abruptly cut off.