Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• The little man (Shepherd) considers the rapid evolution of Shepherd (a character he despises) and decides to find Nia God first.
• Shepherd and Soldier visit a witch for information on Nia God but learn she doesn't know his whereabouts.
• They use a Teacup Dog to locate Nia God, learning they need an aura related to him.
• They decide to go to the royal capital, where Nia God once clashed with nobles.
• Upon returning to the city, they're attacked by wannabe heroes and then surrounded by guards led by a prince.

Character Developments

• Shepherd: Becomes more strategic, decides to find Nia God first, uses Teacup Dog to aid in locating him.
• Soldier: Masters the Beast Desire Curse, gains formidable combat abilities, decides to openly return to the city to rescue his people and marry the princess.

Significant Themes

• Power and its sources (Shepherd's evolution, Soldier's beastification curse).
• Morality and its laws (Nia God's influence, Shepherd's desire to understand and manipulate moral laws).
• Identity and status (Soldier's desire to marry the princess openly, the prince's fury at Soldier).

Character Interactions

• Shepherd and Soldier: Work together, share information, and make decisions.
• Shepherd and the Witch: She provides information but doesn't know Nia God's whereabouts.
• Soldier and the Prince: The prince confronts Soldier, demanding the princess's location.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The first wave of princes arrives, driven by lust for power and greed, with little regard for saving people.
• Soldier defeats a prince using his newfound understanding of sorcery and moral domains.
• Soldier proposes a wedding with the princess to lift her curse, but the king rejects the idea.

Character Developments

• Soldier gains a deeper understanding of sorcery and its connection to moral domains, allowing him to cast curses and restrictions.
• The king reveals his unwillingness to accept Soldier as a son-in-law, despite the potential benefits for his daughter.

Significant Themes

• The power of status and influence in society.
• The duality of sorcery and blessings, and their connection to moral domains.
• The consequences of rejecting help or aid, as seen through the king's refusal of Soldier's proposal.

Character Interactions

• Soldier demonstrates his power and willingness to help, but the king remains stubborn and unwilling to accept him.
• The guards show fear and reverence towards Soldier due to his monstrous nature and power, highlighting the duality of their feelings towards him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Soldier and the king discuss the political implications of Soldier marrying a princess, as it could lead to invasion by neighboring countries due to fears of witchcraft influence.
• Shepherd rescues his fellow villagers from imprisonment but cuts off contact with them to avoid implicating them in his future troubles.
• Shepherd uses a blessing to mimic witchcraft, scaring his former villagers and causing one of his three blessings to dissipate.
• Shepherd realizes that blessings gain power through reputation and understands how heroes spread their reputations.
• Shepherd discovers that his blessing of "Puppetization" has a connection to the moral principle of lying and can be used as a form of witchcraft.

Character Developments

• Soldier: Stands firm in his decision to marry the princess and protect her, despite the political risks.
• Shepherd: Becomes more distant from his former life and villagers, embracing his new role and powers. He also gains a deeper understanding of blessings and their connection to morality.

Significant Themes

• The fear and suspicion of witchcraft and its influence on politics and society.
• The power of reputation and its connection to morality and blessings.
• The blurred line between blessings and witchcraft, and the potential for blessings to be used as a form of witchcraft.

Character Interactions

• Soldier and the king discuss the political implications of their marriage.
• Shepherd rescues his fellow villagers but chooses to cut off contact with them for their safety.
• Shepherd interacts with his former villagers, using a blessing to mimic witchcraft and scare them away.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shepherd mediates between Soldier and the King, proposing a deal to lift Soldier's curse and allow him to marry the princess.
• The King agrees to the deal, but sets conditions: the princess must return home, Soldier must maintain moral integrity, and the wedding must be grand.
• Soldier agrees to the conditions but asks the King not to let anyone else interact with the princess during the month.
• A prince arrives, intending to use the princess for his own gain, but Soldier curses him, transforming him into a frog.

Character Developments

• Soldier: Shows determination to marry the princess and willingness to follow rules to lift his curse.
• The King: Initially reluctant but agrees to the deal, showing concern for his daughter's well-being and reputation.
• The Queen: Insists on conditions to protect her daughter's honor and ensure a grand wedding.
• The Prince: Reveals his immoral intentions and is cursed by Soldier for his carnal desires.

Significant Themes

• Morality and law vs. personal desires and power.
• The consequences of immoral actions (Soldier's curse, the prince's transformation).
• The importance of following rules and maintaining integrity.

Character Interactions

• Shepherd acts as a mediator between Soldier and the King, using his wit to navigate the situation.
• Soldier and the King reach an agreement, showing mutual respect despite their differences.
• The Queen asserts her influence, ensuring her daughter's honor is protected.
• The prince's interaction with Soldier highlights the consequences of immoral actions and carnal desires.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Frog Prince is transformed back into a frog due to Soldier's curse.
• Soldier tells the Frog Prince that he can break the curse by finding someone who loves him despite his frog form and gives him a true love's kiss.
• The king and queen agree to the Frog Prince's condition to find Nia God, but secretly plot to hinder their journey.
• The Queen of Hearts, disguised as the queen, sends Hearts Guards to kill the Frog Prince and Soldier.

Character Developments

• The Frog Prince becomes desperate and frantic to break his curse.
• The king and queen prioritize their kingdom's interests over their daughter's safety.
• The Queen of Hearts reveals her true form and intentions, showing her ambition and ruthlessness.

Significant Themes

• The importance of appearance and morality in society.
• The consequences of immoral actions and the struggle to overcome them.
• The manipulation of power and interests by those in authority.

Character Interactions

• The Frog Prince and Soldier have a tense interaction, with Soldier refusing to lift the curse himself.
• The king and queen discuss their plans to hinder the Frog Prince and Soldier's journey.
• The Queen of Hearts interacts with her Hearts Guards, ordering them to kill the Frog Prince and Soldier.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Shepherd and the Soldier rush towards the royal capital but are intercepted by pursuers.
• They decide to split up: the Soldier will stealthily find the most beautiful wedding dress and ring, while the Shepherd will draw attention as a decoy.
• The Soldier's plan involves obtaining the Golden Fleece and gemstones from a prince's statue.
• The Soldier learns that the prince's statue is to be dismantled due to its "ugliness" (lack of golden leaves and gemstones), which he finds ironic as the statue is not truly ugly.

Character Developments

• The Soldier shows resourcefulness and optimism in planning to obtain the wedding dress and ring, despite the challenges ahead.
• The Shepherd expresses concern for the Soldier's plan, highlighting his moral compass.

Significant Themes

• Morality vs. Wealth: The people in the city judge beauty and ugliness by wealth, disregarding the statue's true value, highlighting the theme of moral decay.
• Appearance vs. Reality: The prince's statue is deemed ugly due to the loss of its golden leaves and gemstones, but it is not truly ugly, reflecting the theme of appearance versus reality.

Character Interactions

• The Shepherd and the Soldier encourage each other before parting ways, demonstrating their camaraderie and mutual support.
• The Soldier interacts with the people of the city, observing their priorities and values, which contrast with his own.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Soldier appears in the city, drawing attention and stopping the dismantling of the Happy Prince's statue.
• The swallow reveals the truth behind the Happy Prince's statue and the city's greed for wealth.
• The Happy Prince, while a statue, helps several poor people by giving away his gold leaves, ruby, and eyes.
• The swallow asks Soldier to help carry the Happy Prince's statue away to prevent it from being melted down.

Character Developments

• Soldier: Realizes the importance of morality and helping others, deciding to protect the Happy Prince's statue despite potential personal loss.
• The Happy Prince: Despite being a statue, continues to help the poor, ultimately losing his eyes and becoming just a bare metal statue.
• The Swallow: Stays to protect the Happy Prince's statue, showing compassion and selflessness.

Significant Themes

• Greed and Wealth: The city's obsession with wealth and material possessions leads to exploitation and suffering.
• Morality and Compassion: The Happy Prince's actions highlight the importance of morality and helping those in need.
• Sacrifice: Both the Happy Prince and the swallow make sacrifices to help others.

Character Interactions

• Soldier and the Swallow: They communicate and work together to protect the Happy Prince's statue.
• The Happy Prince and the Poor: The Happy Prince helps several poor individuals, demonstrating his compassion and selflessness.
• The Happy Prince and the Mayor: The mayor sees the statue as a treasure for himself, contrasting with the Happy Prince's selfless actions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A mysterious beast appears in the city, stealing the prince's statue.
• The mayor orders the guards to capture the beast.
• The beast takes the statue to a remote wilderness, where the prince's statue reveals a lead heart and fades away.
• Soldier (the beast) finds the little match girl, but she has been arrested and is about to be executed for stealing the prince's gemstone eye.
• Soldier rescues the girl, but she has already frozen to death. He buries her and decides to challenge the corrupt system.

Character Developments

• Soldier (Beast): He shows compassion and kindness, risking his life to save the little match girl. He becomes determined to change the corrupt system after her death.
• Happy Prince: He reveals his true selfless nature, sacrificing himself to help others. His lead heart represents happiness and selflessness.
• Little Match Girl: Despite her tragic fate, she remains a symbol of innocence and kindness.

Significant Themes

• Kindness and Selflessness: Both Happy Prince and Soldier display these qualities, contrasting with the greed and corruption of the mayor and the little girl's father.
• Corruption and Injustice: The mayor's actions and the little girl's fate highlight the corruption and injustice in the society.
• Identity and Morality: Soldier's struggle to maintain his moral compass while seeking revenge reflects the complex nature of identity and morality.

Character Interactions

• Soldier and Happy Prince: They interact briefly, with Happy Prince recognizing Soldier's goodness and giving him the lead heart.
• Soldier and Little Match Girl: Their interaction is brief but impactful, with Soldier trying to save her and feeling her death deeply.
• Soldier and the Swallow: The swallow accompanies Soldier, serving as a witness to the events but not actively participating in them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shepherd arrives near the royal capital, altering his appearance using the Tall Tale Blessing.
• He enters the capital, finding it prosperous but divided into distinct districts: the upper (for nobles and wealthy) and lower (for commoners).
• Guards mistake Shepherd for a lowborn and throw him into the lower district.
• Shepherd meets Fake Tailor, who explains the capital's divide and the royal palace's divine bestowal.
• Shepherd learns about Fake Tailor's past and his attempt to steal Shepherd's clothes.

Character Developments

• Shepherd: Realizes the kingdom's corruption and decides to change it. Shows empathy and understanding towards Fake Tailor's plight.
• Fake Tailor: Reveals his backstory and lack of moral compass due to life in the lower district. Shows desperation and willingness to do anything to escape poverty.

Significant Themes

• Social Inequality: The stark contrast between the upper and lower districts highlights the wealth gap and social injustice.
• Morality and Law: The disregard for morality and law in the lower district, due to desperation and poverty, is a central theme.
• Desperation and Its Consequences: Fake Tailor's actions illustrate how extreme desperation can lead to immoral behavior.

Character Interactions

• Shepherd and Fake Tailor: Their interaction reveals the harsh realities of life in the lower district and the consequences of desperation.
• Shepherd and the Guards: The guards' treatment of Shepherd highlights the class divide and the power dynamics in the capital.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shepherd meets a false tailor who wants to prove his father and uncle weren't liars about creating a perfect garment.
• Shepherd decides to give the false tailor a chance and offers him a task involving Golden Sheep fleece.
• The false tailor finds a box with a hidden Golden Fleece Garment, which chooses Shepherd as its wearer.
• Shepherd becomes invisible while wearing the Golden Fleece Garment.

Character Developments

• The false tailor's obsession with proving his family's innocence drives him, and he eventually shows remorse and gratitude towards Shepherd.
• Shepherd demonstrates compassion and understanding, giving the false tailor a second chance and helping him find redemption.

Significant Themes

• Redemption: The false tailor's journey from deceit to remorse and gratitude.
• The power of truth: The false tailor's desire to prove his family's innocence.
• The value of a 'heart of gold': The Golden Fleece Garment chooses Shepherd as its wearer, highlighting the importance of a good heart.

Character Interactions

• Shepherd shows empathy and understanding towards the false tailor, offering him a chance to redeem himself.
• The false tailor, initially deceitful, shows genuine remorse and gratitude towards Shepherd, marking a turning point in his character.
• Shepherd and the false tailor work together to find the Golden Fleece Garment, fostering a sense of camaraderie.

Key Plot Points & Events

• Shepherd confirms the existence of the Golden Fleece and asks Fake Tailor to create a wedding dress from it.
• Shepherd decides to infiltrate the royal palace using the Golden Fleece to find the Nia God's aura.
• Shepherd witnesses the dire conditions in the Lower District due to the lack of winter aid and resources, with people starving and turning on each other.
• In the Upper District, people maintain a facade of happiness to differentiate themselves from those in the Lower District.
• In the royal palace, a lavish birthday banquet is held for the youngest princess, while people in the lower districts suffer.

Character Developments

• Shepherd: Becomes more empathetic and determined to change the system after witnessing the suffering in the Lower District.
• Fake Tailor: Regains his "heart of gold" and confidence in his craft after seeing the Golden Fleece.

Significant Themes

• The stark contrast between the opulence of the royal palace and the poverty and suffering of the common people.
• The corrupt and rotten system that oppresses the people and the need for change.
• The power of empathy and understanding to drive action and change.

Character Interactions

• Shepherd and Fake Tailor: Collaborate to create a wedding dress from the Golden Fleece and discuss Shepherd's plan to infiltrate the palace.
• Shepherd and the people of the Lower District: Shepherd witnesses their suffering and tries to help, but realizes the systemic change is needed.
• Shepherd and the people of the Upper District: Observes their facade of happiness and realizes their similarity to those in the Lower District.
• Shepherd and the palace inhabitants: Witnesses their lavish lifestyle and contrast it with the suffering outside.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shepherd learns about the kingdom's wastefulness and the stark contrast between the palace's abundance and the citizens' poverty.
• He discovers that the palace's moral standards differ from those of ordinary people, making the kingdom's corruption deeply rooted.
• Shepherd steals food from the palace and has it distributed to the lower district's people, helping them survive the harsh winter.
• He then uses the Teacup Dog to track the Nia God's scent, leading him to a valley on the outskirts of the royal capital.

Character Developments

• Shepherd's understanding of the kingdom's corruption deepens, leading him to take action to help the common people.
• The eldest princess demonstrates her powerful ice manipulation abilities but is incapacitated by Shepherd.

Significant Themes

• Corruption and Moral Decay: The kingdom's nobles exhibit a distorted sense of morality, prioritizing their own status and comfort over the well-being of common people.
• Social Inequality: The stark contrast between the palace's abundance and the citizens' poverty highlights the vast social inequality in the kingdom.
• Acts of Kindness and Defiance: Shepherd's decision to steal food from the palace and distribute it to the needy shows his compassion and willingness to defy the kingdom's oppressive rules.

Character Interactions

• Shepherd interacts with the palace's inhabitants, observing their wastefulness and lack of awareness regarding the common people's struggles.
• He encounters the eldest princess, who attempts to stop him but is incapacitated, demonstrating his stealth and combat skills.
• Shepherd works with the Teacup Dog and the Waterwheel Big Dog to steal food and track the Nia God, showcasing his ability to utilize his magical companions effectively.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mokania, the creator god, realizes his limitations in governing as the population grows and moral standards change.
• Charles I, the first king, gains divine authority through sorcery but commits adultery, leading to his murder by his queen.
• The queen becomes the first witch, and her younger sister becomes the new queen. Power begins to splinter among nobles.
• Mokania loses his governing power due to a duke's threat, and he retreats to a valley.
• Eighty years pass in Mokania's world, but to him, it feels like only two days.

Character Developments

• Mokania: Realizes his shortcomings in governance, struggles to maintain control as moral standards change, and eventually retreats from the world.
• Charles I: Gains divine authority but commits adultery, leading to his murder and the start of the witchcraft line.
• The Queens: The first queen murders her husband and becomes the first witch, while her younger sister becomes the new queen but lacks her sister's power.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between personal morals and public morality.
• The consequences of power vacuum and the splintering of authority.
• The disparity between subjective and objective time perception.

Character Interactions

• Mokania interacts with the Shepherd, who tracks him down.
• Charles I's interactions with his queens lead to his downfall.
• Nobles and dukes interact, carving up power among themselves.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mokania, the Nia God, realizes the extent of corruption and oppression in his world, leading to despair.
• The Shepherd arrives at the valley where the Nia God resides, seeking an audience.
• Mokania acknowledges his failure to regulate the world and sees the Shepherd as a potential ally for reform.
• The Shepherd learns that breaking 'In the Name of God' could cause catastrophic instability and trigger a chain reaction among the nobles.

Character Developments

• Mokania (Nia God): Realizes his limitations as a god and understands his role in driving reform. Develops appreciation for the Shepherd's actions.
• The Shepherd: Feels a connection with Mokania and initially hopes for a solution to 'In the Name of God.' Disappointed when he learns the risks involved.

Significant Themes

• The limitations of power and the struggle against corruption.
• The consequences of unchecked authority and the need for balance.
• The potential dangers of interfering with deeply rooted systems.

Character Interactions

• Mokania and The Shepherd: They find common ground in their desire for reform and see each other as potential allies.
• Mokania and The Little Man Talent Phenomenon: The latter remains cautious and hidden in Mokania's presence.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Shepherd visits Mokania (Nia God) and expresses his disdain for the world's state under his rule.
• Mokania reflects on his past and the reasons behind his indecisiveness.
• The Shepherd requests Mokania's support to rescue Sleeping Beauty Princess and change the world.

Character Developments

• Mokania (Nia God): Realizes his fear of causing losses and his lack of courage in making tough decisions. Reflects on his past and the origins of his mental issues.
• The Shepherd: Shows determination to change the world and support Mokania's reforms.

Significant Themes

• Fear of responsibility and making mistakes.
• The consequences of indecisiveness and inaction.
• The need for change and reform.

Character Interactions

• The Shepherd confronts Mokania about the world's state, challenging his leadership.
• Mokania and the Shepherd discuss the possibility of reforming the world together.
• Mokania considers the potential consequences of drastic reforms during a time of crisis.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A battle is imminent, but Mokania prefers to maintain stability unless absolutely necessary.
• Mokania, part of the reform faction, wants to defeat Naimus to improve The Church and protect commoners from noble persecution.
• Naimus analyzes Mokania's situation, revealing he's in a 'dual spiritual predicament.'
• The God of Precepts intended for Mokania to deal with Naimus, not reform The Church, making Mokania a puppet with restrictions.
• The world begins to collapse due to Mokania's magnified moral law rule.
• The Littlefolk invasion is fated to occur, temporarily stabilizing Fairy Tale World.

Character Developments

• Mokania: Struggles with his dual spiritual predicaments, which limit his ability to challenge The Church's nobles. He begins to understand his situation and the world's instability.
• Naimus: Gains a deeper understanding of the world's underlying logic through Mokania's situation. He continues to manipulate events, aiming to maximize Mokania's future collapse.

Significant Themes

• The influence of fate and free will.
• The consequences of magnifying a single rule in world-building.
• The struggle between idealism and reality in governance and societal change.

Character Interactions

• Naimus observes and manipulates Mokania's situation, laughing at his predicament.
• Mokania and Naimus are indirectly connected through the God of Precepts' influence and the impending Littlefolk invasion.
• The Shepherd's transformation and appearance influence Mokania and the world, further entangling the two in their fated conflict.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The God of Precepts influences fate indirectly, nudging Mokania and the Shepherd.
• Naimus, the God of Deception, plants hidden obstacles for Mokania.
• The Shepherd receives Mokania's approval and a jade-like puppet limb, boosting his strength and status.
• The Shepherd learns that the royal palace has more Golden Fleece and decides to reunite with Soldier.
• Beast is surrounded by experts in the royal capital due to Shepherd's earlier actions.

Character Developments

• Mokania: Struggles with his mental state but remains focused on supporting the Shepherd.
• The Shepherd: Gains a significant boost in strength and status, becoming more determined to change the world.
• Beast: Quietly investigates the royal palace, getting entangled in the search for Shepherd.

Significant Themes

• Power and Status: The Shepherd gains power and status through Mokania's approval, enabling him to influence the world.
• Time Manipulation: Mokania's time is not synchronized with the world's, affecting the Shepherd's mission timeline.
• Morality and Worthiness: The Golden Fleece examines one's moral state, reflecting the theme of worthiness and purity.

Character Interactions

• Mokania and the Shepherd: Mokania supports the Shepherd, hoping he can reform the world's nobility and, in turn, The Church.
• The Shepherd and Beast: The Shepherd's actions draw experts to the royal capital, putting Beast in danger.
• Beast and the Experts: Beast is surrounded by experts seeking the reward for finding Shepherd.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Beast, a cursed prince, is cornered and attacked by a blond prince and other hunters.
• Beast uses his beast transformation abilities to evade and fight back, waiting for an opportunity to escape.
• The blond prince uses his blessing, Radiance Ten Thousandfold, to prepare a powerful attack.
• Beast uses his fur to disrupt the blond prince's attack and escapes, only to be pursued by the kingdom's eldest princess.
• The eldest princess uses her ice magic to freeze Beast, demanding to know the whereabouts of his companion.

Character Developments

• Beast: Shows resilience and determination to survive and save his companion, the princess, and fulfill Shepherd's dream. His beast transformation abilities grow stronger under pressure.
• Blond Prince: Demonstrates formidable swordsmanship and the use of his blessing, Radiance Ten Thousandfold.
• Eldest Princess: Exhibits powerful ice magic and determination to capture Beast and his companion.

Significant Themes

• Survival and perseverance in the face of adversity.
• The growth and enhancement of abilities under pressure.
• The consequences of curses and the struggle against them.

Character Interactions

• Beast vs. Blond Prince: A tense and dangerous duel, with Beast using his beast transformations to evade the prince's attacks.
• Beast vs. Eldest Princess: A chase and confrontation, ending with Beast frozen by the princess's ice magic.
• The hunters: They mock and attack Beast, contributing to his growing anger and determination to escape.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Eldest Princess, proud and powerful, seeks the Shepherd who disrupted her younger sister's birthday banquet.
• She finds the Beast, the Shepherd's companion, and interrogates him to reveal the Shepherd's whereabouts.
• The Golden-Haired Prince offers to use harsh interrogation methods, but the Eldest Princess refuses.
• Beast reveals his intention to kill the Eldest Princess if given the chance, shocking her.

Character Developments

• The Eldest Princess: Shows naivety, kindness, and a strong sense of duty towards her sister. She's powerful but inexperienced in worldly affairs.
• Beast: Reveals his loyalty to the Shepherd and his class-based resentment towards the nobility, including the Eldest Princess.
• The Golden-Haired Prince: Displays ambition, flattery, and a desire for power, but also fear of the Eldest Princess's strength.

Significant Themes

• Class struggle: Beast highlights the disparity between the nobility's extravagance and the common people's hardships.
• Power dynamics: The Eldest Princess's power is acknowledged by both Beast and the Golden-Haired Prince, shaping their behavior.
• Naivety vs. Experience: The Eldest Princess's inexperience in worldly affairs contrasts with Beast's harsh reality.

Character Interactions

• The Eldest Princess and Beast: Their conversation reveals their different perspectives and concerns, with Beast's words falling on deaf ears.
• The Eldest Princess and the Golden-Haired Prince: The prince's flattery and ambition are met with the Eldest Princess's wariness and disinterest.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Beast tries to open the Eldest Princess's eyes to the harsh reality of the world, but she remains naive and dismissive.
• Shepherd returns, defeats the Eldest Princess, and captures her to force the King and nobles to negotiate.
• The King, nobles, and the Little Princess arrive, and Shepherd demands their attention.

Character Developments

• The Eldest Princess remains stubborn and unwilling to accept the harsh truths about the world.
• Shepherd's power has increased significantly after gaining the Nia God's recognition.
• Beast's faith in Shepherd grows stronger.

Significant Themes

• The harsh reality of the world versus naivety and ignorance.
• The power dynamics between Shepherd and the royal family.
• The consequences of underestimating one's opponent.

Character Interactions

• Shepherd and the Eldest Princess: Shepherd captures and threatens the Eldest Princess, demonstrating his power and resolve.
• Beast and Shepherd: Beast expresses his delight and confidence in Shepherd's growth.
• The King and Shepherd: The King confronts Shepherd, but his power has no effect, highlighting Shepherd's newfound strength.