Chapter Summaries

After Charlotte Mecklen’s allies and acquaintances quietly left the conference room, the New Continent Council discussed its hopes of claiming lands freed from evil gods. Charlotte remained alone with the gathering and found that the Serpent of Destiny would not help him face it.

• Sylvie Martin and Vinnie Arsenault left, and Sylvie reflected that Charlotte had become a stranger while affirming her own ambitions.
• Dorothy, Belisa, Aurora, and Anastasia departed together, followed by Charlotte’s subordinates and the New Continent Council delegation.
• Idhæra criticized the council for acting like Charlotte’s subordinates, while Red Eagle defended Charlotte’s treatment of them.
• Romios explained that the council hoped to occupy the lands of three countries after the evil gods were driven out and establish a nation for New Continent people.
• Red Eagle warned that the council lacked enough people to populate a new nation, leaving Romios and the others silent.
• Charlotte prayed for help from the Serpent of Destiny, but it refused to provide a loan, leaving him to face the gathering alone.

Adora, Sophia Garland, and their allies stayed in the conference room as tensions rose around Anne and Charlotte. Sophia challenged Anne to a duel over who would give birth to a child surnamed Mecklen first, while Emilia sent Charlotte to another dimension so he could not intervene.

• Adora decided to stay and face Menilman, and Kreil and Antonio chose to support Anne.
• Abner Sumay and Nanny Karen moved closer to Anne, while Sabastine and Domitian stood behind Menilman.
• Sophia Garland challenged Anne to a duel, saying they would compete to see who could give birth to a child surnamed Mecklen first.
• Anne rejected the idea of Charlotte fighting in her place and angrily confronted Sophia, while Charlotte tried to explain himself.
• As Charlotte moved to intervene, the River of Destiny appeared before him and he could no longer move.
• Emilia had the Little Silver Serpent send Charlotte to another dimension so he would not disrupt the spectacle.

Anne challenged the other women to a duel over Charlotte, but Princess May Guillaume, Sophia Garland, and Menilman each kissed him before leaving. Charlotte returned from his spiritual struggle having reached the Twentieth Order and gained new Mirror Spirit abilities, then shared a passionate moment with Anne while Emilia and the Little Silver Serpent watched.

• Anne challenged Sophia Garland, Menilman Su Mei, Princess May Guillaume, and Adora Mesu to join a duel over Charlotte.
• Princess May Guillaume, Sophia Garland, and Menilman each kissed Charlotte and left, while Adora fled after realizing the room was already a powder keg.
• Charlotte's spirituality nearly exploded amid the evil gods, but he returned to reality and advanced to the Twentieth Order.
• Charlotte formed the Mirror Spirit's third and fourth runes, gaining the Spirit Realm Fear Serpent and Spirit Realm Desire Serpent, then condensed two more Blood Flame Qi runes.
• Charlotte found Anne alone in the conference room and kissed her passionately, unaware that Emilia and the Little Silver Serpent were hiding nearby.

Charlotte took Anne on a tour of Mecklenburg, explaining how he had rebuilt the city and organized its markets to support ordinary residents. After showing her the city’s prosperity and orderly design, he invited her to lunch.

• Charlotte suggested spending the day showing Anne around Mecklenburg before he left again, and Anne accepted.
• Charlotte showed Anne Mecklen University, which had few students and was preparing to open alongside Brittany University.
• Charlotte and Anne toured Mecklenburg’s busy markets, where he explained his policies and the West Wind Knight Regiment’s shops selling affordable food.
• Anne realized that Charlotte had preserved the city’s cultural character while rebuilding it, and recalled how orderly it had remained during the siege.
• Charlotte invited Anne to lunch at a nearby restaurant, and Anne took his hand and agreed.

Charlotte met a black-haired young man who claimed his invention could give ordinary people power equal to Transcendents and Saint Ranks. After hearing his idea, Charlotte had him brought to Duke Mecklen’s residence, leaving the young man anxious about why he had been taken there.

• Charlotte and Anne entered a restaurant and heard a black-haired young man argue that ordinary people would decide the wars of the future.
• After the other diners drove the young man away, Charlotte followed him outside and asked why he believed ordinary people could change warfare.
• The young man said his invention could give ordinary people strength comparable to Transcendents and Saint Ranks.
• Charlotte asked the young man to wait in his carriage, then returned to enjoy lunch with Anne.
• Charlotte took Anne home, and the young man was guarded in the carriage until it brought him to Duke Mecklen’s residence.

William Triton presented Charlotte with designs for a corpse-powered armored vehicle called the Land Dreadnought and an alchemical warhorse suit called the Centurion. Charlotte decided to keep William in Mecklenburg and funded the prototypes, inviting him to join the West Wind Knight Regiment and Mecklen University.

• A Great Ling Demon clerk led William Triton to Charlotte, who introduced himself and invited William to discuss his inventions.
• William showed Charlotte the Land Dreadnought, a boxy armored vehicle powered by converting the life force of battlefield corpses into blood energy.
• Charlotte decided the Land Dreadnought’s technology was too sinister to release and resolved to keep William in Mecklenburg.
• William presented the Centurion, an armored alchemical warhorse that could channel the strength of ordinary soldiers and help them match Low-Order Transcendents.
• Charlotte offered William a place in the West Wind Knight Regiment, a lifetime professorship, two hundred Écu, and a testing ground to build prototypes of both inventions.

Charlotte prepared an expedition to fight the evil gods, leaving trusted allies to guard Mecklenburg and sending Anne and others back to Strasbourg. Sophia Garland, May Guillaume, Menilman, and Adora then joined his force, while their romantic rivalry left Charlotte eager to depart for the Mason Kingdom.

• Charlotte arranged William Triton's research support, chose his expedition forces, and left the Black Dragon and Regulus to oversee Mecklenburg.
• Charlotte sent Anne, Kreil, Abner, Antonio, and others back to Strasbourg before Sophia Garland visited him.
• May Guillaume arrived to join the campaign, and she and Sophia Garland clashed over their connections to Charlotte.
• Menilman and Adora arrived, and Sophia, Menilman, and Adora formed an alliance before Menilman offered their help to Charlotte.
• Charlotte distributed Divinity Crystals and decided to leave for the Mason Kingdom, where forests had suddenly spread across the land.

Charlotte set out aboard the Holy Light Divine Kingdom and entered its other space to learn which evil god controlled plants. After narrowly surviving Huang Damisir’s power, he learned from Omibella that Dapochilodo had lost her plant authority when her true body was stolen, and Dapochilodo told him how its return could restore her strength.

• Charlotte gathered his companions and subordinates aboard the Holy Light Divine Kingdom, then sailed with the Emilia without mobilizing an army or fleet.
• Charlotte entered the other space and nearly died when he looked at Huang Damisir, but Amon took the evil god’s power in his place and later consumed its shattered bones.
• Charlotte asked Omibella which evil god controlled plants, and she identified Dapochilodo while explaining that Dapochilodo’s true body had been stolen.
• Charlotte visited Dapochilodo, who said she alone held plant authority and that thieves had taken apart her true body, leaving her weakened.
• Dapochilodo told Charlotte that bringing her stolen true body aboard the Holy Light Divine Kingdom would restore her power and let her suppress Omibella.

After returning from another space, Charlotte restricted where Dapochilodo’s increasingly numerous Great Ling Demons could provide services. During the voyage toward the Mason Kingdom, Sophia Garland gradually drew closer to him while Menilman, Adora, and Princess Mei competed over who would approach him next.

• Charlotte summoned a Great Ling Demon for food, then decided to limit the places where the demons could operate because Dapochilodo was creating more of them.
• Sophia Garland brought lunch to Charlotte, and they ate together on the terrace while discussing university and their pasts.
• As they chatted, Sophia Garland subtly moved closer and worked to lower Charlotte’s guard.
• On another deck, Menilman, Adora, and Princess Mei confronted one another over Sophia Garland, whom Menilman said was no one to yield.
• Princess Mei summoned the Queen Bee from a Crystal Bottle and declared that the next round should be hers.
• During the voyage toward the Mason Kingdom, Charlotte repeatedly found himself alone with one of the girls, though he could not understand their intentions.

Charlotte and Adora talked over grilled fish about Charlotte’s complicated relationships and his refusal to have illegitimate children. Charlotte then returned to the Holy Light Divine Kingdom, where he fought a Tree God Emissary linked to the long-dead evil god Dapochilodo.

• Charlotte grilled fish while Adora recounted the details of the day he had kissed Anne and revealed that there was more to the story than he had realized.
• Adora suggested that Charlotte could marry Anne and still take lovers, but Charlotte insisted he had never agreed to have children with Menilman, Princess Mei, or Sophia Garland.
• Charlotte and Adora finished their meal, and Charlotte flew toward the Holy Light Divine Kingdom while Adora waited before following him.
• Charlotte fought a vine-covered enemy who instantly recovered from his wounds as the others watched from the three Legendary Warships.
• Abelia identified the enemy as a Tree God Emissary and said Charlotte suspected it was connected to the remains of the dead evil god Dapochilodo.

Charlotte fought the Tree God Emissary, who revealed that the Ancient Modoro Cult used Human Alchemy to refine evil-god remains into their bodies. Charlotte trapped him in the Mirror World, where the Spirit Realm Fear Serpent quickly destroyed him, and the gathered Saint Ranks wondered whether the Holy Light Divine Kingdom could eat him.

• The Tree God Emissary offered to reveal the Ancient Modoro Cult's Human Alchemy secret if Charlotte joined him, while secretly planning to seize Charlotte's warships.
• Charlotte decided to keep the Tree God Emissary alive and used a Blazing Roaring Bullet to drive him into the Mirror World.
• The Tree God Emissary landed on a passage in the Mirror World, where a serpent emerged and blasted him apart with green energy.
• Charlotte retrieved the Tree God Emissary and was surprised that the Spirit Realm Fear Serpent had defeated him so quickly.
• Idhæra and the other Saint Ranks recalled how hard Tree God Emissaries were to fight, while Andreus suggested feeding this one to the Holy Light Divine Kingdom.

Charlotte gave the Tree God Emissary to Amon, who consumed it and celebrated his bond with his father. As wars spread across the continent, Charlotte’s council chose a small team to investigate the Mason Kingdom, while Red Eagle and Agon volunteered to join.

• Charlotte gave the Tree God Emissary to Amon, who drew out a vine that became a rapier as the creature crumbled to dust.
• A Great Ling Demon reported that the Mason Kingdom had attacked three neighboring countries, and another reported that Gotlandsburg had occupied seven cities in Byron.
• More reports revealed wars across several Old Continent nations, while Parmas asked Duke Mecklen’s Territory for aid and offered the Gandis Mountains in return.
• Romios advised Charlotte to gather intelligence and send a five-person team into the Mason Kingdom before committing a large force.
• Charlotte urged caution with the Dawn of Destiny, and Red Eagle and Agon volunteered for the investigation team.

Charlotte led a small group toward the vegetation-covered Mason Kingdom to gather intelligence, but an aerial barrier and Saint Rank detection blocked their way. He taught his companions the Beast God Transformation Technique so they could enter under disguised identities, then transformed himself into a Silverback Ape Person.

• Charlotte chose Romios and Cresto for the mission while ordering Red Eagle and Agon to stay behind, and Menilman and Princess Mei intervened when Red Eagle tried to join.
• Charlotte arranged for Sophia Garland to command the Holy Light Divine Kingdom while the group approached Mason Kingdom by land.
• Romios detected an aerial restriction barrier and Saint Rank detection covering Mason Kingdom, and Charlotte realized they could not enter openly.
• Charlotte taught Romios the Beast God Transformation Technique, and Romios, Menilman, Princess Mei, Cresto, and Charlotte transformed into beastfolk.
• Charlotte became a Silverback Ape Person and gained Berserk and Throwing runes by reversing his Bloodthirsty Battle Qi.

Charlot and his companions traveled through the plant-choked Mason Kingdom, where they found villagers transformed and bound by vegetation. They reached Manise and discovered its residents were likely Evil Spirits; after entering the city alone, Charlot withdrew when its plants proved too dangerous for the others.

• Charlot, Menilman, Princess Mei, Romios, and Cresto cultivated their Bloodthirsty Battle Qi as they traveled, and several advanced through the orders of Transcendence.
• Charlot awakened Muscle Extension, which lengthened his limbs and improved his strength, speed, and jumping ability.
• The group found Mason Kingdom villagers alive but overtaken from within by plants, and Charlot decided they needed to reach Manise to understand what had happened.
• The five arrived at Manise and suspected its people were Evil Spirits after observing the same person repeatedly entering and leaving the city.
• Charlot entered Manise alone, found plants attacking him in the streets, and retreated when he realized the others could not safely follow.

Charlotte and his companions advanced their Bloodthirsty Battle Qi before entering Manise, where they discovered the city’s residents were being sustained by plant tendrils and New Continent immigrants had occupied the municipal government. The immigrants revealed their intention to conquer the Old Continent and exterminate its people, leaving Charlotte and the others facing the perpetrators behind the kingdom’s destruction.

• Charlotte gathered Romios, Cresto, Menilman, and Princess Mei, then stood watch while they trained to reach the fifth rank of Bloodthirsty Battle Qi.
• Romios advanced first after four and a half days, followed by Menilman, Cresto, and Princess Mei, while Charlotte kept his sixth-rank advancement secret.
• The five entered Manise and found residents repeating fixed routines, with plant tendrils growing from their feet and legs to sustain them.
• Menilman identified the municipal government as a likely base, and Charlotte realized the New Continent immigrants still controlled their evil gods rather than having been corrupted by them.
• More than a dozen immigrants emerged and declared they would conquer nations and exterminate the people of the Old Continent, while Charlotte and his companions listened.

Charlotte and his companions infiltrated Manise City, where New Continent immigrants harvested food from the bodies of its surviving residents. Menilman attacked the young Zimmerman outside the royal palace, but Charlotte blocked a sword that emerged from the slain man and revealed the real Zimmerman Axel Robin.

• Charlotte and his companions watched New Continent immigrants harvest food from the bodies of Manise City's residents, then continued toward the city center.
• Charlotte's group reached the royal palace, where they spotted the young Zimmerman emerging.
• Menilman charged the young Zimmerman with her sword, and Charlotte rushed after her.
• Menilman cleaved the young Zimmerman in two, and Charlotte blocked the sword that flew from his body before it could strike her.
• Zimmerman Axel Robin emerged from the void, and he and Charlotte exchanged formal greetings.

Charlotte and Menilman fought Zimmerman, who had returned at only Nineteenth Order but remained a formidable swordsman. When Zimmerman offered to spare Menilman if Charlotte explained how he had passed the Four Heavenly Gates of God Rank, Charlotte began describing his theory of what the universe was made of.

• Zimmerman confronted Charlotte over the ways Charlotte had disrupted his plans and hidden memories, while Menilman said she had instructed Charlotte and challenged Zimmerman to settle things.
• Menilman attacked Zimmerman with her rapier, and Charlotte joined her, using rapid strikes to keep Zimmerman from counterattacking.
• Charlotte realized Zimmerman had only recovered to Nineteenth Order, but Zimmerman explained that abilities, experience, and fundamentals mattered more than rank above Saint Rank.
• Zimmerman asked Charlotte how he had guessed the method he used to pass the Four Heavenly Gates of God Rank and offered to spare Menilman if Charlotte answered.
• Charlotte said the secret mattered less than Menilman and began explaining that he had wondered what the universe was made of, ruling out the gods.

Charlotte pieced together Zimmerman's plan to overcome the obstacles to godhood and learned that Zimmerman had gained the authority of war and chaos. Zimmerman said he needed a continent-wide war to ascend to the Divine Rank, then prepared to kill Charlotte.

• Charlotte inferred that divine ascension required a body and soul capable of resisting immense energies and wills, and proposed ascending first before overcoming those obstacles.
• Zimmerman explained that he had hidden his memories in the souls of illegitimate children and used Wood Brandon's help before the Book of Emerald erased his remaining memories.
• Zimmerman revealed that he had obtained the authority of war and chaos, but Charlotte pointed out that he had not yet reached the Divine Rank.
• Zimmerman said he needed another devastating war on the Old Continent to become a god and blamed Charlotte for ending the previous war early.
• Zimmerman vowed to kill Charlotte while sparing Menilman, and Charlotte reflected on their history as enemies.

Charlotte exposed Zimmerman as the God of War and Betrayal and linked his fractured state to Menilman’s impending death and Wood Brandon’s betrayal. As Charlotte, Menilman, Romios, Cresto, and Princess Mei fought Zimmerman, he regained his composure and vowed to kill them all.

• Charlotte accused Zimmerman of needing an anchor to become a god, betraying Menilman, and being the God of War and Betrayal.
• Menilman blocked Zimmerman’s attack, and she and Charlotte continued fighting him as May Guillaume decided to join the battle.
• Romios and Cresto attacked Zimmerman together, severing both his arms, while Princess Mei trapped one arm and shattered it.
• Zimmerman reattached one arm and grew another, but both arms emerged from the same shoulder, prompting Charlotte to mock his betrayal-ridden nature.
• Zimmerman closed his eyes, returned to his elegant demeanor, thanked Charlotte for revealing the truth, and threatened to kill everyone present.

Charlot advanced to the Twenty-first Order and transformed Insight into All-Knowing, gaining a huge boost to his mental abilities as he fought Zimmerman. The battle continued with Charlot using Magic Mirrors to block and redirect Zimmerman's attacks, but Zimmerman remained a formidable opponent.

• Zimmerman struck Princess Mei, but Dawn of Destiny sent May Guillaume away before the blow could kill her.
• Charlot advanced to the Twenty-first Order and evolved Insight into All-Knowing, condensing a second All-Knowing Rune.
• Charlot used his remaining advancement energy to raise Blood Flame Qi to ×5, surprising Zimmerman and the battlefield.
• Zimmerman attacked Romios, Cresto, Menilman, and Charlot, while Charlot realized his new strength chiefly improved how he used his power.
• Charlot began using Magic Mirrors as shields to block and redirect Zimmerman's attacks, frustrating Zimmerman and nearly drawing him into the Mirror World.