Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Ye, after transmigrating, encounters riddles and mysteries about the Reapers, Fiends, and Catastrophes, which might be connected to the world's destruction.
• He decides to promote "dimensional fusion" to save his hometown and deal with the Reapers for his Skadi and Specter.
• Bai Ye and Specter return to Chernobog Core City after a mission. The city has changed with the addition of windmills for the "Hanging Return Circuit" network.
• Skadi is expected to return soon, causing Bai Ye and Laurentina to feel nervous about facing her.
• The Ghost Squad successfully completes its assassination mission, and Bai Ye receives a report from them.

Character Developments

• Bai Ye becomes more aware of the world's impending crisis and his role in preventing it.
• Laurentina shows signs of growth and bravery but also exhibits vulnerability and fear.
• Skadi's mood seems to have changed, as indicated by Swire's messages.

Significant Themes

• The looming world crisis and Bai Ye's responsibility in preventing it.
• The growth and change of characters as they face new challenges and situations.
• The tension and anticipation of facing Skadi after Bai Ye and Laurentina's relationship development.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ye and Laurentina's relationship has become closer, with Specter showing affection towards Bai Ye.
• Bai Ye and Skadi's interaction is anticipated, with both Bai Ye and Laurentina feeling nervous about it.
• Bai Ye and the Ghost Squad maintain a professional relationship, with Bai Ye receiving a report from the squad's leader, Kingslayer.

Key Plot Points & Events

• Skadi arrives at Bai Ye's residence, accusing Specter of lying about her relationship with Bai Ye.
• Bai Ye confirms his relationship with Specter, and Skadi surprisingly accepts it, stating she wants them to be together.
• Skadi punishes Bai Ye for his infidelity by engaging in a physical fight with Specter against him.
• Bai Ye reflects on his relationships with other girls and decides to maintain his current dynamics with them.
• Bai Ye returns to his dream/illusion, where he converses with Ishar-mla about the starry sky.

Character Developments

• Skadi: Initially aggressive and suspicious, she accepts Bai Ye and Specter's relationship, displaying unexpected maturity and understanding. She also shows a unique way of expressing her displeasure.
• Bai Ye: Realizes the depth of his relationships with other girls and chooses to maintain a certain distance to avoid complications. He also shows growth in his mental resilience against the influence of the Firstborn.
• Specter: Initially worried about Skadi's reaction, she joins Skadi in punishing Bai Ye and later shows remorse for betraying him.

Significant Themes

• Relationship dynamics and communication among the characters.
• The acceptance and expression of emotions, particularly anger and displeasure.
• Bai Ye's personal growth and resilience against external influences.

Character Interactions

• Skadi and Bai Ye: Their relationship evolves as Skadi accepts their shared past and Specter's involvement, leading to a unique form of punishment for Bai Ye.
• Bai Ye and Specter: Their relationship is confirmed, and they face Skadi's punishment together.
• Bai Ye and Ishar-mla: They have a conversation about the starry sky, reflecting Bai Ye's personal growth and acceptance of his experiences.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Ye and Ishar-mla (The Firstborn) have a conversation while watching the sea, reflecting on their past enmity and the true enemy, the Abyssal Church.
• Bai Ye understands that the Great Abyssal Swarm and humans can coexist, with the land belonging to humans and the ocean to the Swarm.
• Bai Ye wakes up in his room, with Skadi and Specter still asleep. He leaves for his day, unaware of their wakefulness.

Character Developments

• Bai Ye: He has grown from initial hostility towards The Firstborn to being able to converse with it frankly. He understands the Great Abyssal Swarm better and is open to cooperation.
• Skadi and Specter: They pretend to be asleep after Bai Ye leaves, then discuss their concerns about Bai Ye's actions the previous night. They seem to have grown closer.

Significant Themes

• Understanding and Acceptance: Bai Ye's understanding of the Great Abyssal Swarm leads to acceptance and a willingness to cooperate.
• Coexistence: The idea that humans and the Great Abyssal Swarm can coexist peacefully is introduced.
• Trust and Betrayal: Skadi and Specter's conversation hints at their concerns about Bai Ye's actions, suggesting a level of mistrust.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ye and Ishar-mla: They have a philosophical conversation about their past, the true enemy, and the possibility of cooperation.
• Skadi and Specter: They discuss Bai Ye's actions, showing a level of unity and shared concerns. Their conversation is filled with subtext and unspoken words, hinting at a deeper bond.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Representatives from various forces, invited by Bai Ye, arrive at Chernobog Core City.
• Councilman Vitte of the Ursus Empire arrives with Ursus Imperial Guards, hinting at the Empire's amiable stance towards Marquis Talulah's territory.
• SilverAsh Corporation's president and Sierakow's Holy Maiden's attendant arrive.
• Penguin Logistics' boss and Aak from Columbia arrive together.
• Lungmen sends Chen, Lin Yuxia, and Lady Wen-yue as representatives.
• A messenger from Laterano, Mostima, arrives with her companion, a red-haired Liberi girl.

Character Developments

• Bai Ye demonstrates his intelligence and strategic thinking by inviting these representatives, showcasing his influence and control over Core City.
• Bai Ye's past as a player is hinted at when he recognizes the gunner's development path and Laterano's significance.
• Mostima and the red-haired Liberi girl's dynamic suggests a friendly rivalry or teasing relationship.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and alliances among different factions.
• Bai Ye's influence and control over Core City and its visitors.
• The past lives of Bai Ye and other characters as players, hinted at through their knowledge and experiences.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ye greets and interacts with the arriving representatives, showcasing his diplomatic skills and influence.
• Mostima and the red-haired Liberi girl's interaction hints at their friendly rivalry or teasing relationship.
• Bai Ye's interaction with the red-haired Liberi girl suggests she might have an embarrassing codename or title.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Ye, now known as "Sticky Superman," meets two messengers from Laterano, Mostima and Talulah, who represent the Pope's attitude towards his "small political group."
• Bai Ye leads them to the guesthouse, showing them the windmills and explaining their purpose.
• Bai Ye invites various influential figures to Core City for a meeting, proposing the establishment of the "Adventurers' Association" to manage and support player affairs.

Character Developments

• Bai Ye demonstrates his ambition and strategic thinking by proposing the Adventurers' Association, aiming to control and unite the players and reduce conflicts between them and the natives.
• The players are curious about the sudden gathering of big shots in Core City and suspect Bai Ye's involvement.

Significant Themes

• Unity and cooperation among different factions and forces to face common threats.
• The potential and practicality of the players (Undying) in the eyes of the Terra natives.
• Bai Ye's ambition and long-term planning.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ye interacts with the Laterano messengers, showing them around Core City and discussing the Pope's attitude towards him.
• Bai Ye meets with various influential figures to propose the Adventurers' Association, aiming to gain their support and cooperation.
• The players discuss the sudden gathering of big shots in Core City and speculate on Bai Ye's involvement.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Luna reveals that the final two worlds will eventually merge, suggesting a fusion process.
• Bai Ye proposes the Adventurers' Association to unite civilizations against the Fiends.
• Special envoys and guests from various factions attend a meeting in Core City to discuss Bai Ye's proposal.
• Bai Ye decides to inform Kal'tsit about the meeting records and seeks her help.

Character Developments

• Bai Ye kicks away the shackles of his past experience and takes a more proactive role in shaping the future.
• Specter's attitude towards land-dwellers changes after seeing their willingness to help Sargosians.
• Lady Wen-yue's attitude towards Bai Ye cools down after realizing his relationship with Specter and Skadi.

Significant Themes

• The merging of worlds and the need for unity against common threats.
• The changing attitudes of characters towards each other, such as Specter's view of land-dwellers and Lady Wen-yue's view of Bai Ye.
• Bai Ye's growing influence and responsibility in shaping the future of Terra.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ye, Skadi, and Specter's bond strengthens as they work together to address the deep sea problem.
• Lady Wen-yue's relationship with Bai Ye cools down, focusing more on her visit to Talulah.
• Bai Ye and Luna's dynamic changes as Luna grants him more authority within the game world.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Players have temporarily disappeared due to a server maintenance update.
• Bai Ye sees a statue of himself in Core City, erected by grateful Infected.
• Bai Ye meets the Laterano Messengers, Mostima and her companion, who reveal they're looking for Bai Ye's assistant, Typing Girl (Leifang), on a personal matter.

Character Developments

• Bai Ye: Shows embarrassment and humility upon seeing his statue, but also demonstrates care for his assistant, Typing Girl.
• Specter (Laurentina): Reveals her artistic side by being involved in creating Bai Ye's statue, and shows a mischievous streak.
• Mostima: Shows understanding and flexibility in her role as a Laterano Messenger, revealing personal connections with Typing Girl.

Significant Themes

• Gratitude and recognition (Infected's statue for Bai Ye)
• Personal connections and relationships (Typing Girl's family, Mostima's personal involvement)
• Bai Ye's growth as a leader and his care for his subordinates

Character Interactions

• Bai Ye, Specter, and Skadi: Show camaraderie and banter, with Bai Ye and Specter playing off each other's personalities.
• Bai Ye and Mostima: Show mutual respect and understanding, with Bai Ye showing interest in Mostima's connection to Typing Girl.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Ye discovers that a statue of him has been erected in Core City, causing him embarrassment.
• Bai Ye buys Typing Girl a set of clothes and stockings as a gift, feeling unsure about his choice.
• Bai Ye visits Typing Girl at Rhodes Island and decides to learn more about her.

Character Developments

• Bai Ye feels embarrassed and awkward about the statue, showing a more human side.
• Typing Girl shows a tsundere reaction to the gift, hinting at her feelings for Bai Ye.
• Bai Ye decides to take a more active interest in Typing Girl's life.

Significant Themes

• The theme of giving and receiving gifts, and the thoughtfulness behind them.
• The theme of getting to know someone better and showing genuine interest in their life.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ye and Typing Girl have a more personal interaction, with Bai Ye trying to understand her better.
• Specter and Skadi discuss Bai Ye's character and Skadi's protective feelings towards him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Typing Girl reveals she lost her ability to empathize, making her an anomaly in Laterano, leading her to leave and never return.
• Bai Ye decides to visit Laterano to find answers and meets with Skadi and Specter to return to Rhodes Island headquarters.
• Bai Ye discovers a post on Rhodes Island's internal network about a strange visitor, prompting him to return immediately.

Character Developments

• Typing Girl: Reveals her past and the reason for leaving Laterano, showing vulnerability and emotional depth.
• Bai Ye: Shows understanding and empathy towards Typing Girl's situation, decides to help her by visiting Laterano.

Significant Themes

• Empathy and emotional understanding: Typing Girl's loss of empathy and Bai Ye's understanding of her situation highlight the importance of emotional connection and understanding.
• The burden of secrets: Typing Girl's struggle with her past secret and Bai Ye's decision to help her emphasize the weight of carrying secrets and the need to confront them.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ye and Typing Girl: Their conversation reveals Typing Girl's past and her feelings, with Bai Ye showing understanding and support.
• Bai Ye, Skadi, and Specter: They decide to return to Rhodes Island headquarters together, showing teamwork and camaraderie.
• Bai Ye and the Rhodes Island internal network: Bai Ye's discovery of a post about a strange visitor prompts him to return to Rhodes Island, showing his responsibility and curiosity.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Ye learns about Terra's common sense from the Rhodes Island forum.
• He discovers that an incarnation of a Great Beast from Yan, whom he's been looking for, is at Rhodes Island.
• Bai Ye returns to Rhodes Island, intending to find this Great Beast, Nian, who is skilled in forging weapons.
• On the Rhodes Island main ship, Bai Ye encounters Nian, who is intrigued by his unusual aura.

Character Developments

• Bai Ye: He's still adapting to his new life and learning about Terra's common sense. He's eager to find Nian to obtain a better weapon.
• Nian: She's an incarnation of a Great Beast from Yan, skilled in forging weapons. She's curious about Bai Ye's unusual aura.

Significant Themes

• Adaptation: Bai Ye is still adjusting to his new life in Terra, learning its common sense and culture.
• Pursuit of Power: Bai Ye is seeking a better weapon to increase his strength, reflecting his desire for power and improvement.
• Intrigue: Nian's curiosity about Bai Ye's aura hints at the mysterious nature of their encounter and the potential revelations to come.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ye and Nian: They meet for the first time, with Nian intrigued by Bai Ye's unusual aura, and Bai Ye recognizing her as an incarnation of a Great Beast he's been looking for.
• Bai Ye and Skadi/Laurentina: They accompany Bai Ye back to Rhodes Island. Skadi expresses jealousy when she thinks Bai Ye cares too much about Nian, while Laurentina finds the situation amusing.
• Operators and Warfarin: They discuss Bai Ye's return and Nian's refusal to undergo a medical examination, with Gravel expressing frustration at losing a bet to Nian and Warfarin's reluctance to intervene.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Ye returns to Rhodes Island, causing excitement among the staff, particularly Warfarin and Kal'tsit.
• Bai Ye meets Nian, a Great Beast incarnation, in the medical department.
• They have a private conversation in the cafeteria over a hot pot meal, where Nian reveals she can forge a sword for Bai Ye.

Character Developments

• Bai Ye: Returns to Rhodes Island, showing his leadership and strategic mind by inviting Nian to discuss matters over a meal.
• Nian: Initially casual and mysterious, she reveals her true intentions and desperation, showing a more vulnerable side.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: Nian's power and status are acknowledged, but she seeks Bai Ye's help, showing that even powerful beings have limitations.
• Alliances: Bai Ye's return strengthens Rhodes Island, and Nian's request for assistance hints at potential alliances.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ye and Nian: They establish a rapport, with Nian initially testing Bai Ye and later revealing her true intentions. Bai Ye remains calm and collected, showing his maturity and wisdom.
• Nian and Skadi: Nian is amused by Skadi's enjoyment of the spicy food, showing a friendly side to her character.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Ye agrees to help Nian forge a sword, showing his eagerness to face the challenges she's up against.
• Bai Ye and Kal'tsit discuss the Deepsea Hunters and the Undying's disappearance.
• Bai Ye expresses gratitude to Kal'tsit for introducing him to Skadi.

Character Developments

• Bai Ye: Shows his excitement and determination in facing challenges alongside Nian. He also demonstrates his strategic thinking and resourcefulness in handling the Deepsea Hunter matter.
• Nian: Shows a more serious and expectant side as she prepares to forge a weapon for Bai Ye, hinting at a potential change in her essence.
• Kal'tsit: Reveals her weariness and concern about Rhodes Island's affairs, particularly the Undying's disappearance. She also shows a more candid side when discussing sensitive information with Bai Ye.

Significant Themes

• Challenges and Determination: Both Bai Ye and Nian show determination in facing their respective challenges, with Bai Ye eagerly accepting Nian's problems and Nian taking her task seriously.
• Trust and Candor: Bai Ye and Kal'tsit's conversation hints at a growing trust between them, with Bai Ye encouraging candid communication and Kal'tsit not refusing to share sensitive information.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ye and Nian: Their interaction shows a growing understanding and cooperation, with Nian agreeing to forge a sword for Bai Ye and Bai Ye showing enthusiasm in helping Nian.
• Bai Ye and Kal'tsit: Their interaction shows a growing trust and mutual understanding, with Bai Ye expressing gratitude to Kal'tsit and Kal'tsit not refusing to discuss sensitive information with Bai Ye.
• Amiya and Bai Ye: Amiya's brief appearance brings a soft and warm atmosphere, contrasting with the more serious tone of Bai Ye and Kal'tsit's conversation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Ye reveals to Kal'tsit that he has a Firstborn, Ishar-mla, living inside his arm.
• Kal'tsit decides to keep a close eye on the Iberia coast to find other Sargos Reapers and gather more information.
• Nian reappears after 20 days and offers to forge a weapon for Bai Ye, stating it will be a weapon worthy of him and capable of slaying Great Beasts.

Character Developments

• Bai Ye: Shows willingness to be studied by Kal'tsit for the sake of controlling Reapers. He also prioritizes learning Yan's secret martial arts and Taoist magic over medical skills.
• Kal'tsit: Acknowledges Bai Ye's cooperation with Ishar-mla as a significant achievement. She decides to study Bai Ye's body to find a way to create pheromones that can control Reapers.
• Nian: Reveals her ability to forge weapons without needing a blacksmith's workshop. She expresses her intention to create a powerful weapon for Bai Ye.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between Bai Ye, Kal'tsit, and the Abyssal Church. Bai Ye's cooperation with Ishar-mla gives him an advantage, but the Abyssal Church's high-level members remain elusive.
• The search for information and understanding about the Abyssal Church and its Reapers. Kal'tsit and Bai Ye both seek to learn more about their enemies to gain an advantage.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ye and Kal'tsit: They share information and work together to find a way to control Reapers. Kal'tsit provides Bai Ye with valuable medical data, and Bai Ye asks Kal'tsit for information on Laterano's Originium Arts.
• Bai Ye and Nian: Nian offers to forge a weapon for Bai Ye, expressing her desire to create a powerful weapon that can bear his power. Skadi's interruption lightens the serious atmosphere between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Nian and Bai Ye leave Rhodes Island to test Nian's power and create a weapon for Bai Ye.
• Nian summons a Great Beast phantom and heats a metal ball to an extremely high temperature.
• Bai Ye immerses his hand in the molten metal, and his past combat experiences flash through his mind.
• A storm centered on Bai Ye begins to form, and a Catastrophe-like event occurs in Lungmen.
• Bai Ye awakens, stops the storm, and slices open the dark clouds with his new weapon.

Character Developments

• Nian shows her serious and focused side while summoning the Great Beast and creating the weapon.
• Bai Ye demonstrates his exceptional martial arts skills and ability to wield his new weapon harmoniously.

Significant Themes

• The power of creation and the responsibility that comes with it.
• The harmony between a warrior and their weapon.
• The potential danger of unleashing one's full power without control.

Character Interactions

• Nian and Bai Ye work together to create Bai Ye's new weapon.
• Nian guides Bai Ye through the process, showing faith in his abilities.
• Bai Ye and Nian share a moment of satisfaction and understanding after the weapon is created.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Ye and Nian cause a massive storm in Lungmen, which is mistaken for a Catastrophe.
• Lungmen goes on high alert, and Wei Yenwu suspects an expert's involvement.
• Doctor Kal'tsit suspects Bai Ye and Nian's involvement in the storm.
• Bai Ye returns to Rhodes Island, injured from the storm's aftermath.

Character Developments

• Bai Ye: Shows immense power, but suffers mental and physical trauma afterward.
• Nian: Displays confidence in Bai Ye's potential.
• Skadi and Specter: Support Bai Ye after his injury, showing loyalty and concern.

Significant Themes

• The power of Bai Ye's authority and its consequences.
• The impact of Catastrophes on society and infrastructure.
• The suspicion and alertness of political entities towards unusual events.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ye and Nian: Work together to create the storm, then part ways.
• Bai Ye, Skadi, and Specter: Return to Rhodes Island together, with Skadi and Specter supporting injured Bai Ye.
• Skadi and Specter: Compete for the chance to care for Bai Ye, showcasing their affection and protectiveness towards him.

• Bai Ye recovers from his mental strain and wakes up to find Specter and Skadi caring for him.
• Skadi and Specter discuss their past and Bai Ye's potential to help them return home.
• Bai Ye examines his new legendary sword, "Wind Chime," and decides not to reforge his old weapon, "Arc Light."
• Bai Ye decides to help Nian and looks up information about the Great Beast behind her.
• Bai Ye plans to ask Nian what specific help she needs from him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Ye learns about the Great Beasts of Yan from Doctor Kal'tsit, including Nian's true identity as a fragment of the Great Beast 'Sui'.
• He discovers that the Yan government has a specialized agency, the Si Sui Tai, dedicated to handling matters related to Sui and other Great Beasts.
• Bai Ye is warned by Kal'tsit about potential scrutiny from the Yan government due to the recent commotion in Lungmen.

Character Developments

• Bai Ye: Shows curiosity and acceptance of the Great Beasts' history, decides to honor his promise to Nian despite potential risks.
• Doctor Kal'tsit: Reveals her knowledge of the Great Beasts and their history, expresses concern for Bai Ye's safety.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between humans and mythical beings (Great Beasts).
• The consequences of Bai Ye's actions and his responsibility towards his promises.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ye and Doctor Kal'tsit: They share information and express concern for each other's safety, showing a level of mutual respect and understanding.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Ye and Kal'tsit discuss the Great Beast of Yan and the fabricated starry sky.
• Kal'tsit invites Bai Ye to the deck to stargaze and reveals that the starry sky is fictional.
• Bai Ye watches a TV show featuring Jeston, a familiar character from his gaming past.

Character Developments

• Bai Ye: Exhibits curiosity and courage in the face of the unknown, expressing his desire to explore the universe and find out who covered the sky. He also demonstrates his commitment to completing his friend's unfinished business alongside his own goals.
• Kal'tsit: Reveals more about her mission and her age, showing a softer side under the starlit sky. She begins to see Bai Ye in a new light due to his remarkable thoughts and vision.

Significant Themes

• The unknown and the courage to explore it.
• The pursuit of a happy ending where everyone can go home smiling.
• The importance of completing one's own goals alongside those of a friend.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ye and Kal'tsit: They have a deeper conversation about the starry sky, Bai Ye's goals, and Kal'tsit's mission. Their relationship becomes more complex as they learn more about each other.
• Bai Ye, Skadi, and Specter: They watch TV together, with Bai Ye discovering a familiar character from his past gaming life on the show. This shared activity strengthens their bond.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Ye learns about a man who might be an NPC from a game, now suffering in a real-life version of "The Truman Show."
• Bai Ye realizes he has unfinished business in Columbia and adds it to his to-do list.
• He's reminded of Melantha, his disciple, and an invitation to Rhodes Island's Mid-Autumn Festival gathering.
• Bai Ye finds a familiar place name in an External Operations mission record, recalling a past mission involving a Rhodes Island doctor in Wulumende.

Character Developments

• Bai Ye shows concern for his colleagues' safety, particularly Rhodes Island doctors, and plans to improve their protection.
• He demonstrates his dedication to his work, despite feeling overwhelmed by the number of tasks.

Significant Themes

• The blurring line between games and reality, as Bai Ye encounters someone who might be an NPC from his past gaming experience.
• The responsibility Bai Ye feels towards his colleagues and the company he works for, shown in his efforts to improve their safety and well-being.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ye interacts with Specter and Skadi, discussing various topics and sharing information.
• He receives news about Melantha and an invitation to a festival gathering from Specter and Skadi.
• Bai Ye's concern for his colleagues is shown through his interactions with the External Operations mission records and his plans to improve their safety.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Ye receives a distress message from Mudrock, who is in danger at the border between Laterano and Kazdel.
• Bai Ye travels to the location using his sword "Wind Chime" and discovers a group of casters hunting Infected for sport.
• Mudrock and her group of Infected are revealed to be the targets, and they are being toyed with by the casters.

Character Developments

• Bai Ye demonstrates his speed and power, easily locating Mudrock and the casters.
• Mudrock is shown to be caring and responsible, trying to save the Infected despite the danger.
• The Infected show fear and desperation, having been tormented by the casters for days.

Significant Themes

• The power of Bai Ye's sword "Wind Chime" is further emphasized, allowing him to move swiftly and sense his surroundings.
• The cruelty of the casters is highlighted, as they toy with their prey for entertainment.
• Mudrock's compassion and responsibility towards the Infected is a contrast to the casters' malice.

Character Interactions

• Bai Ye and Mudrock reunite, with Bai Ye showing concern for Mudrock's well-being.
• Mudrock interacts with the Infected, showing empathy and trying to boost their morale.
• The casters interact with their Infected slaves, using them as staffs to cast spells.
• Bai Ye confronts the casters, showing no mercy towards them.