Chapter Summaries

He Shenyan studied the voices inside Harley Quinn’s heart and heard a prophecy about the fading fire and the Lords of Cinder. He used a modified Voice of the Realms spell to travel to the ruined world of Dark Souls, where he arrived at Firelink Shrine and met Ludleth and the Fire Keeper.

• He Shenyan used an illusion to distract Harley Quinn while he examined the voices in her heart.
• He Shenyan heard an aged voice recite a prophecy about the fading fire, the Lords of Cinder, and the Unkindled.
• He Shenyan thought about Cirilla’s Elder Blood and decided to act before she reached adulthood.
• He Shenyan used a modified Voice of the Realms spell and arrived in a ruined world beneath a dim yellow sky.
• He Shenyan entered Firelink Shrine, spoke with the seated Ludleth, and met the Fire Keeper.

He Shenyan learned about the Unkindled and Lords of Cinder at Firelink Shrine, then explored a ruined kingdom and found its streets crawling with undead. He left the chapter among the corpses of knights, convinced the world held little hope.

• The Fire Keeper warned He Shenyan that his power might make the Unkindled mistake him for a Lord of Cinder and explained that the Unkindled had risen to find the lords who refused to link the fire.
• Ludleth remarked that even Gwyn would not match He Shenyan’s power, while the Fire Keeper refused to consider sending the traveler to link the fire.
• He Shenyan left Firelink Shrine and used Far Sight to locate a ruined royal city nearby.
• He Shenyan encountered a withered undead commoner, concealed his presence, and continued through the silent city.
• He Shenyan reached a plaza strewn with the corpses of red- and blue-clad knights and found their crests and weapons suggestive of conflict.
• A blue, bloated knight carrying a halberd searched the plaza as He Shenyan lifted its visor and saw a charred, withered face; he called the place hopeless.

He Shenyan questioned Emma, High Priestess of Lothric, about the kingdom and its fading flame before revealing his power and offering to deal with the knight watching her. The Lion Knight Albert mistook him for a god and began pleading about the prince’s refusal to link the fire.

• He Shenyan entered a chapel and asked Emma about Lothric, its knights, and the prince who refused to link the fire.
• Emma warned He Shenyan that the royal city was dangerous, but he chose to continue his search for knowledge.
• He Shenyan revealed his immense power, and Emma mistook him for a god and nearly killed herself before he stopped her.
• Emma identified the watcher outside as the Lion Knight Albert, a prince’s knight assigned to monitor her.
• He Shenyan went outside to confront Albert, who knelt and began pleading that the prince did not truly wish to refuse the linking of the fire.

He Shenyan discovered Bordeaux’s tragic connection to the Dancer of the Cold Valley and learned that Sulyvahn had unleashed a man-eating monster in Irithyll. After Bordeaux died, He Shenyan restored the Dancer’s reason, leaving her reunited with Bordeaux’s soul but without the knight who had loved her.

• Albert tried to defend the prince, but He Shenyan sent him back without hearing his explanation.
• He Shenyan restored the monstrous knight’s soul, and the knight identified himself as Bordeaux of the Cold Valley.
• Bordeaux told He Shenyan that Sulyvahn had transformed the Dancer and released a man-eating monster in Irithyll, then died before finishing his plea.
• He Shenyan read Bordeaux’s memories, learned of his love for the Dancer, and summoned her by raising Bordeaux’s soul.
• The Dancer took Bordeaux’s soul, and He Shenyan removed Sulyvahn’s corruption and restored her reason.

He Shenyan freed the dancer from madness, but she left with Bordeaux’s soul rather than ask him to risk himself further. He then saved Gwyndolin from Aldrich and turned down a reward, ending with Aldrich’s soul in hand and questions about linking the fire.

• The dancer thanked He Shenyan for freeing her, refused to ask him to take further risks, and departed with Bordeaux’s soul, leaving two swords behind.
• Aldrich’s black sludge attacked Gwyndolin in the gods’ dwelling, but Gwyndolin’s spells failed to stop it.
• He Shenyan arrived and melted the sludge with illusory flames, leaving Aldrich’s soul on the floor.
• Gwyndolin thanked He Shenyan and offered him a reward, but He Shenyan declined and said he only wanted answers, including the truth about linking the fire.
• He Shenyan picked up Aldrich’s soul.

He Shenyan gave Aldrich’s soul to Gwyndolin and stopped Sulyvahn’s ambush, learning that the pontiff had poisoned Gwyndolin’s staff and claimed the gods’ account of linking the fire was a lie. After Sulyvahn was crushed by the lava giant, a knight rose from a stone coffin as the bell tolled.

• He Shenyan handed Aldrich’s soul to Gwyndolin to give to the fireless Unkindled when they arrived.
• Gwyndolin invited He Shenyan to join the Darkmoon Knights, but He Shenyan sensed Sulyvahn outside the cathedral.
• He Shenyan extinguished Sulyvahn’s flames, transformed the cathedral doors into a lava giant, and had it seize the pontiff.
• Sulyvahn revealed that his gift of a staff had poisoned Gwyndolin and argued that linking the fire was a lie meant to preserve the gods’ rule.
• He Shenyan remained silent after Sulyvahn defended his quest for freedom, and the lava giant smashed him with its fists.
• As a bell tolled, a knight emerged from a stone coffin, took up a shield and longsword, and walked forward.

The Ashen One fought through Lothric’s Hollows and knights before meeting High Priestess Emma, who gave him a Small Lothric Banner. He refused her Blue Sentinels insignia, identified himself as a Blade of the Darkmoon, and warned Emma to keep a dagger safe because the being who left its aura was no god.

• The Ashen One killed the Hollows and Winged Knight, then defeated the Lothric Knights patrolling the plaza.
• The Ashen One entered the church, where Emma gave him a Small Lothric Banner and offered him an Ancient Covenant Insignia.
• The Ashen One refused the insignia and showed Emma the Blade of the Darkmoon mark on his hand.
• The Ashen One sensed a powerful presence on Emma’s dagger and asked who had left it with her.
• Emma said a god had returned the dagger after saving her, and the Ashen One told her to keep it safe because that being was no god before leaving.

Ash spared the Dancer after she revealed Sulyvahn’s plans and gave her Bordeaux’s soul and a way to return to Firelink Shrine. Meanwhile, He Shenyan rejected Gwyndolin’s offer to become the new pontiff and questioned whether prolonging the flame was worth the cost.

• Ash met the Dancer at the city gate, and she gave him the soul of Bordeaux of the Cold Valley.
• The Dancer revealed that she and Bordeaux had guarded the passage for Sulyvahn, who sought to let the flame die and had allied with Aldrich.
• Ash refused to kill the Dancer, gave her Bordeaux’s soul and a Homeward Bone, and raised the Small Lothric Banner.
• He Shenyan studied a painting in Anor Londo while Gwyndolin returned and tried to offer him a reward and the position of new pontiff.
• Gwyndolin showed He Shenyan the empty but beautiful city, and He Shenyan refused the pontiff’s role and questioned the value of prolonging the flame.

He Shenyan sought information about magic and learned that Lothric Castle’s Grand Archives might hold useful knowledge, then explored the castle. Albert told him that Lothric’s Holy King wished to meet him, but He Shenyan said he had no intention of meeting the king.

• He Shenyan asked the Dancer whether the Ashen One knew magic, and the Fire Keeper suggested the Dragon School of Vinheim and Lothric Castle’s Grand Archives as sources of knowledge.
• He Shenyan returned to Lothric, inspected the corpses left behind, and remarked on the dangerous darkness within humanity.
• He Shenyan asked High Priestess Emma how to reach the castle and Grand Archives, and she pointed him upstairs while explaining that the Archives were sealed.
• He Shenyan explored the castle and used a recording spell to capture an oil painting.
• Albert, the Lion Knight, told He Shenyan that the Holy King of Lothric wanted to meet him, and He Shenyan refused to go.

He Shenyan met Prince Lothric, who revealed that he had refused to link the fire and that his elder brother, Prince Lorian, shared his curse and illness. He Shenyan rejected the idea that Lothric must fulfill his duty, leaving the prince unsettled by his insistence that he was not a god.

• Albert followed the Lion Knight through secret passages to an audience hall, where He Shenyan exposed Prince Lothric’s illusion and saw his frail condition.
• Lothric explained that he had been raised as a tool to link the fire and had been cursed after refusing, while his elder brother Lorian shared his suffering.
• Lothric said he and Lorian had bound their fates together, and Lorian carried him while wielding a flaming greatsword.
• He Shenyan told Lothric he could refuse to link the fire and repeatedly insisted that he was not a god.
• He Shenyan’s eyes flashed crimson, and Lorian briefly stiffened before patting Lothric’s back.

He Shenyan confronted the angelic being behind Lothric's teacher and discovered that it had manipulated the prince and the people of the world to keep the flame from burning. He defeated the angel and dragged it into the shadows, leaving Lothric and Lorian protected but shaken.

• He Shenyan questioned Lothric about his magic, then drew the angelic power out of him and eased the pain afflicting both brothers.
• He Shenyan warned Lothric and Lorian to hide, but when they stayed, he shielded them as the Audience Hall crumbled and an angel descended.
• The angel revealed that it had been Lothric's teacher all along and had taught him to reject linking the fire so Heaven could claim the world.
• He Shenyan recognized the flame as a defense against the angels and attacked the being, using hidden tentacles to tear away part of its body.
• The angel tried to escape through a portal, but He Shenyan blocked its teleportation and dragged it into the shadows.

Ashen One returned to Firelink Shrine, repaired his sword, and gave the masked man news of a woman's death. He questioned whether the endless cycle of linking the fire still had meaning, then left after admitting he had forgotten his own name.

• Ashen One returned to Firelink Shrine and gave Andre his damaged, bloodstained sword to repair.
• Ashen One handed a cloth pouch to the masked man, who learned that the woman was dead and gave Ashen One a ring in thanks.
• The Fire Keeper warned Ashen One not to speak with a strange traveler who might stop him from linking the fire.
• Ashen One questioned whether linking the fire was worthwhile, and Ludleth and the disheartened man responded with their thoughts on letting the flame go out.
• Andre returned Ashen One's repaired sword and asked his name, and Ashen One said he had forgotten it.

He Shenyan learned from the angel’s memories how Lothric’s fire-linking traditions had allowed the angels to manipulate the royal family and Prince Lothric. After Lothric and Lorian brought him scrolls of magic and history, He Shenyan memorized them and turned his attention to Gwyndolin’s staff.

• He Shenyan learned that Lothric’s royal family had long raised one twin prince to become king and the other to sacrifice himself as a Lord of Cinder.
• He discovered that an angel had bewitched Consumed King Oceiros, encouraged angel worship, and planned to use Prince Lothric to stop the fire-linking and kill the Ashen One.
• He Shenyan realized the angel’s plan had failed because he arrived and ate the angel before it could summon its kin.
• Lothric and Lorian brought He Shenyan scrolls recording magic and history, and Lorian thanked him and offered him a place to stay.
• He Shenyan used a reading spell to memorize the scrolls, then looked toward the staff Gwyndolin had given him.

He Shenyan questioned Gwyndolin about the Darksign and whether Gwyn had created the Undead curse to preserve the gods’ rule. After Gwyndolin defended her father and described the decline of Anor Londo, He Shenyan revealed his purpose as a traveler from another world and said he would decide whether this world was worth saving; Gwyndolin began to answer him but left her thought unfinished.

• He Shenyan asked Gwyndolin whether Gwyn had deliberately spread the Darksign to create Undead who would link the fire and sustain the gods’ rule.
• Gwyndolin rejected the claim, argued that Gwyn had prolonged the world, and described how the gods’ rule had faded until she alone remained in Anor Londo, now called Irithyll.
• He Shenyan told Gwyndolin that he liked her and explained that he came from another world and was searching for his way home.
• He Shenyan said he would travel through her world and see whether it was worth saving, while warning Gwyndolin not to expect a hero.
• Gwyndolin insisted He Shenyan was not like the betrayer he compared himself to, then asked why he had saved her and intended to help them.

Ashen One freed Irina of Carim from the underground prison, and Igor of Carim agreed to accompany and protect her. Gwyndolin appointed Yorshka acting captain of the Darkmoon Knights before leaving with He Shenyan to search for a reason.

• Ashen One questioned Igor of Carim about the imprisoned woman, then returned with Irina of Carim freed.
• Igor of Carim admitted he had failed his oath to Irina, and Ashen One rebuked him for abandoning her in the dark prison.
• Ashen One gave Igor and Irina Homeward Bones to travel to Firelink Shrine, and Igor accepted while identifying them both as Carim.
• Gwyndolin introduced his younger sister, Yorshka, to He Shenyan and appointed her acting captain of the Darkmoon Knights.
• Gwyndolin embraced Yorshka and told her he was leaving with He Shenyan to search for a reason.

He Shenyan and Gwyndolin left the palace to walk through deserted Irithyll, where He Shenyan invited Gwyndolin to see other worlds with him. Elsewhere, the Ashen One met the imprisoned pyromancer Cornyx and began making a way to free him after agreeing to learn pyromancy.

• He Shenyan and Gwyndolin walked through Irithyll, and Gwyndolin asked what other worlds were like.
• He Shenyan told Gwyndolin that other worlds were less hopeless and invited him to see them for himself.
• The Ashen One encountered Cornyx in a cage surrounded by imprisoned Undead, and Cornyx offered to teach him pyromancy.
• The Ashen One left, returned with a ruined tree trunk, and began preparing a way to reach Cornyx's cage.
• The Ashen One told Cornyx he wanted to learn pyromancy and was first going to get him down.

Cornyx taught Ashen One the essence of pyromancy, gave him a Pyromancy Flame, and returned to Firelink Shrine. Meanwhile, He Shenyan challenged Gwyndolin’s belief in fate and declared that he had chosen neither of the options imposed on him.

• Cornyx introduced himself as Ashen One’s pyromancy teacher and explained that pyromancy was yearning for flame.
• Cornyx accompanied Ashen One on the road, helping him fight enemies, and learned that Ashen One intended to hunt the Lords of Cinder.
• Ashen One gave Cornyx a Homeward Bone, and Cornyx passed a Pyromancy Flame to him before returning to Firelink Shrine.
• He Shenyan and Gwyndolin surveyed the ruined High Wall of Lothric and argued over whether linking the fire was necessary.
• He Shenyan told Gwyndolin that his former teacher had called the sacrifice of an innocent girl fate, but he had refused both choices she offered.

He Shenyan returned to a transformed Gotham with Gwyndolin and met Jason Todd, who told him about the city’s changes and the people he had left behind. He departed without seeing Bruce Wayne, leaving Bruce a magical message challenging him to improve his skills.

• He Shenyan showed Gwyndolin Gotham’s bright, modern streets and explained that gangs had once ruled the city.
• Jason Todd met He Shenyan and Gwyndolin, revealed that eight years had passed, and told them Alfred was well and Harleen Quinzel was working as a psychologist.
• Jason told He Shenyan that Bruce had researched ways to deal with him and had argued with Superman over it.
• He Shenyan and Gwyndolin left through a portal without visiting Bruce.
• Bruce tracked Jason, appeared after He Shenyan left, and found a message challenging him to become strong enough to beat one of He Shenyan’s fingers.

He Shenyan brought Gwyndolin to Kaer Morhen, where they found the castle empty and shared a quiet moment. Kratos then reported that war was brewing in Swallow’s country and agreed to stop it, while teasing He Shenyan about his feelings for the girl.

• He Shenyan explained that Gotham was unusual rather than representative of the worlds he visited, then brought Gwyndolin to Kaer Morhen.
• He Shenyan and Gwyndolin entered the overgrown, empty castle, and Gwyndolin smiled as she went into the hall.
• Kratos arrived and told He Shenyan that Swallow was well but that war was approaching in her country.
• Kratos said he wanted to stop the war because many people would die, and He Shenyan agreed while refusing to let him act in his name.
• Kratos insisted he was following the goddess’s command, then teased He Shenyan for being afraid of Swallow before leaving through a portal.

Mark reflected on how he had rebuilt his life after surviving the New York disaster, overcoming addiction and becoming a successful musician and advertiser. As he drove through Queens, he heard news of Tony Stark’s new daughter and briefly noticed a strangely dressed man and woman crossing the street.

• Mark remembered how Dave Elbins had rescued him from the rubble and how the two had bonded over jokes during the upheaval after America split apart.
• Mark recalled enduring drug withdrawal while continuing to perform, then gaining online fame after a blogger posted a photo of his miserable expression.
• Mark overcame his addiction, began exercising, and gradually lost his beer belly while building a new life in Queens.
• Mark heard a radio bulletin announcing Tony Stark’s daughter and plans to build thirty public schools in her honor.
• Mark noticed a handsome man in a black-and-gold robe and a mysterious woman in a black robe crossing the street, then continued on without thinking much of them.