Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• An influenza outbreak occurs in Lungmen, with symptoms including chest tightness, shortness of breath, weakness, and mental fog.
• The outbreak is linked to visiting the shrine, but the cause remains unknown.
• The Lungmen Hospital concludes it's an allergic reaction to an unknown ubiquitous substance.
• Ch'en receives the official report and suspects a connection to the shrine.
• Ch'en visits the shrine and finds a massive crowd seeking relief from their symptoms.
• Hoshino reveals she's created a 'Dustless Land' using a cross in the shrine's basement.

Character Developments

• Ch'en becomes more determined to investigate the shrine's connection to the outbreak.
• Hoshino shows off her creation, expecting Ch'en to be impressed, but Ch'en remains relatively unfazed.

Significant Themes

• The power and influence of religion.
• The consequences of reckless use of power.
• The impact of technology on society.

Character Interactions

• Ch'en and Swire discuss the outbreak and its connection to the shrine.
• Ch'en and Hoshino interact, with Ch'en expressing concern about the long-term effects of Hoshino's creation, and Hoshino revealing her motivations.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hoshino, acting as an examiner, arrives at Rhine Lab to assess their research progress.
• Rhine Lab's research facility is highly secure and advanced, unlike the shrine's open environment.
• Rhine Lab expresses concern about Rhodes Island's possible involvement in a phenomenon occurring in Lungmen.
• Silence at Rhodes Island receives a request for information about the Lungmen phenomenon.
• An observer from Rhine Lab is dispatched to investigate the incident.

Character Developments

• Hoshino: Shows strictness and confidence in her abilities, stating she can handle the Rhine Lab delegation.
• Ch'en: Feels uneasy about Rhine Lab's potential commercialization of research results and expresses concern for Lungmen's well-being.
• Silence: Demonstrates professionalism and thoroughness in her response to Rhine Lab's inquiry.
• Muelsyse: Shows regret for Silence's perceived change due to Rhodes Island's influence and decides to investigate the Lungmen phenomenon.

Significant Themes

• Competition and cooperation among research organizations (Rhine Lab vs. Rhodes Island).
• The potential commercialization of research results and its ethical implications.
• The impact of research breakthroughs on society (Lungmen's allergic reaction phenomenon).

Character Interactions

• Hoshino and Ch'en: Hoshino reassures Ch'en about handling the Rhine Lab delegation, while Ch'en expresses her worries about Lungmen.
• Silence and Ptilopsis: Silence seeks information from Ptilopsis about the Lungmen phenomenon, while Ptilopsis is distracted by a recipe.
• Muelsyse and Silence: Muelsyse expresses regret for Silence's perceived change and decides to investigate the Lungmen phenomenon.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Muelsyse, a director from Rhine Lab, visits Lungmen on a field research mission, curious about a shrine and its ideology.
• She encounters a dreamscape upon reaching the shrine, with a mysterious figure on a throne.
• The figure, later revealed to be Hoshino, challenges Muelsyse to entertain her.

Character Developments

• Muelsyse: Initially confident and curious, she becomes cautious and intrigued upon encountering the dreamscape and Hoshino.
• Hoshino: Introduced as a mysterious figure, she reveals her true form and challenges Muelsyse, showing her playful and dominant nature.

Significant Themes

• Curiosity and exploration vs. caution and danger.
• The power of emotions and reason, and the balance between them.
• The unknown and its allure.

Character Interactions

• Muelsyse and Hoshino: Their interaction is minimal, but tense and intriguing, with Hoshino challenging Muelsyse to entertain her, hinting at a potential confrontation or game.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Muelsyse, a character struggling to portray complexity despite her intelligence, encounters Hoshino, who summons her into an unknown space to play a game with predetermined rules.
• The game involves Muelsyse running and setting obstacles, while Hoshino appears, destroys everything, and tells Muelsyse her efforts are meaningless.
• Muelsyse is transported to a deserted Lungmen city, where she tests her hypothesis about the nature of the space and her abilities.
• She repeatedly kills herself using her Originium Arts, returning to the game's starting point each time, much to Hoshino's surprise.

Character Developments

• Muelsyse: Shows resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to endure pain to understand her situation. She demonstrates decisiveness and a lack of fear in the face of Hoshino's power.
• Hoshino: Initially appears arrogant and fickle, but shows surprise and a hint of respect for Muelsyse's actions.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics: The game highlights the power imbalance between Hoshino and Muelsyse, with Hoshino having control over the rules and Muelsyse seemingly powerless.
• Endurance and resilience: Muelsyse's repeated self-inflicted deaths and returns emphasize her determination to understand her circumstances and find a way to change them.
• The nature of reality and dreams: The unknown space and Muelsyse's ability to manipulate it raise questions about the boundaries between reality and dreams or illusions.

Character Interactions

• Muelsyse and Hoshino: Their interaction is initially antagonistic, with Hoshino mocking Muelsyse and Muelsyse trying to understand Hoshino's motives. However, Muelsyse's actions seem to earn her some respect from Hoshino.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hoshino, acting arrogantly, dismisses Muelsyse's actions as meaningless and under her control.
• Hoshino removes Muelsyse's pain and death, leaving her bewildered and confused.
• Hoshino enhances Muelsyse's abilities and challenges her to a duel within a dream.
• Muelsyse sends three letters to Rhodes Island, with the third containing only an ellipsis, hinting at her distress.

Character Developments

• Muelsyse experiences unfamiliar emotions, particularly confusion and bewilderment, due to Hoshino's interference.
• Hoshino reveals her enjoyment in acquiring new "toys" and controlling others, showing her manipulative and arrogant nature.

Significant Themes

• Control vs. Freedom: Hoshino asserts control over Muelsyse's actions and emotions, while Muelsyse struggles to maintain her independence and understanding.
• Emotions vs. Logic: Muelsyse's confusion and bewilderment contrast with her usual logical and purposeful demeanor, highlighting the impact of emotions on her decision-making.

Character Interactions

• Hoshino vs. Muelsyse: Hoshino's arrogant and manipulative behavior clashes with Muelsyse's logical and independent nature, leading to a power struggle and a duel within a dream.
• Muelsyse vs. Rhodes Island: Muelsyse's letters to Rhodes Island reveal her distress and need for help, despite her initial suspicions about the organization's involvement in the Lungmen plague.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Saria receives orders from Dr. Kal'tsit to investigate an 'incomprehensible symbol' sent by Muelsyse, the head of Ecology Department at Rhine Lab.
• Saria arrives at Yae Shrine without incident but finds Muelsyse frozen on the steps, seemingly under an illusion.
• Saria attempts to destroy the steps to free Muelsyse but is pulled into Hoshino's consciousness domain.
• Hoshino, an immortal, challenges Saria to a fight, aiming to provoke her into combat.

Character Developments

• Saria shows concern for Muelsyse's safety and responsibility in her role as the head of security.
• Hoshino demonstrates her power and manipulation, aiming to crush Saria's confidence and provoke her into a fight.
• Saria maintains her composure and rational thinking, refusing to engage in Hoshino's provocation.

Significant Themes

• The power of illusions and their ability to manipulate emotions and perceptions.
• The importance of maintaining composure and rational thought in the face of provocation.
• The role of responsibility and duty in driving character actions.

Character Interactions

• Saria and Dr. Kal'tsit: Saria receives orders from Kal'tsit and discusses the situation with her, showing respect for her judgment.
• Saria and Hoshino: Saria is pulled into Hoshino's illusion, and Hoshino provokes her into a fight, but Saria remains calm and unprovoked.
• Saria and Muelsyse: Saria shows concern for Muelsyse's safety and aims to rescue her from the illusion.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hoshino, the Herrscher of Sentience, controls an independent space and toys with Saria and Muelsyse, throwing Saria like a meteor towards Muelsyse.
• Saria and Muelsyse meet and decide to stall Hoshino until the shrine maiden notices their situation.
• Hoshino attacks Saria and Muelsyse, using various weapons and martial arts, but holds back her full strength.

Character Developments

• Hoshino: Shows her arrogant and playful nature, enjoying the power she holds over Saria and Muelsyse. She also reveals her disinterest in the reward for defeating them.
• Saria: Demonstrates her strategic thinking and resilience, focusing on survival rather than immediate victory. She accepts her role as a staller to buy time.
• Muelsyse: Shows relief at Saria's arrival and accepts the plan to stall Hoshino. She has experienced Hoshino's power and understands the need for a strategy.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics: Hoshino's power over Saria and Muelsyse is emphasized, highlighting the theme of power and its abuse.
• Strategy and resilience: Saria and Muelsyse focus on stalling Hoshino rather than direct confrontation, showcasing their strategic thinking and resilience in the face of overwhelming power.
• The absurd: The chapter contains elements of the absurd, such as Hoshino's behavior and the weapons she uses, contrasting with the seriousness of the situation.

Character Interactions

• Hoshino and Saria/Muelsyse: Hoshino toys with Saria and Muelsyse, enjoying her power over them. Saria and Muelsyse interact briefly, deciding to stall Hoshino together.
• Saria and Muelsyse: They exchange information and agree on a plan to stall Hoshino, showing unity and mutual understanding in the face of adversity.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hoshino, an overpowered being, battles Saria and Muelsyse, demanding their devotion.
• Saria and Muelsyse refuse to submit, arguing that strength doesn't equate to absolute reason.
• Hoshino reveals she's not the true Immortal but wants to prove herself by shattering illusions and breaking through their defenses.
• Hoshino ends the battle abruptly and decides to summon new players, including Nian.

Character Developments

• Hoshino: Shows immense power, arrogance, and a desire to prove herself as the Immortal.
• Saria: Demonstrates courage, resilience, and a clear understanding of the world's dynamics.
• Muelsyse: Initially helpless, she later shows understanding of Hoshino's true nature.
• Nian: Lazy, carefree, and enjoys watching the world change; she's summoned as a new player.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and its limits.
• The struggle between submission and defiance.
• The true nature of the Immortal and Hoshino's desire to prove herself.

Character Interactions

• Hoshino vs. Saria & Muelsyse: A power struggle where Hoshino demands submission, while Saria and Muelsyse refuse.
• Hoshino's internal struggle: She wants to prove herself as the Immortal but lacks experience in creating realistic scenarios.
• Nian's introduction: She's summoned as a new player, potentially bringing a different dynamic to the story.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Nian meets her sister, Hoshino, atop a cliff.
• Hoshino challenges Nian to a fight, but Nian refuses, wanting to talk instead.
• Hoshino reveals she has set up trials in Lungmen to help humans escape the illusion.
• Nian offers to guide Saria and Muelsyse through the trials.
• Nian and Hoshino have a hot pot meal while Nian explains the trials to Saria and Muelsyse.

Character Developments

• Nian: Shows laziness, shamelessness, and a desire to help others. She also reveals she's a nihilist.
• Hoshino: Shows impatience, anger, and a desire to help humans, albeit in a manipulative way.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between fate and free will (Hoshino's trials vs. Nian's guidance).
• The power of belief and faith (Nian's nihilism vs. Hoshino's desire for worship).
• The consequences of one's actions (Hoshino's anger at humans' inaction).

Character Interactions

• Nian and Hoshino: Sisters with a complex relationship, shown through their banter and mutual understanding.
• Nian and Saria/Muelsyse: Nian acts as a guide and mentor to the struggling women, showing empathy and understanding.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Nian and the others are in an illusory Lungmen, created by Hoshino.
• Nian, Muelsyse, and Saria have a meal at a hotpot restaurant.
• Hoshino appears and challenges Nian, who responds with a display of power.
• Nian reveals that there are three formation cores that need to be destroyed to break the illusion.

Character Developments

• Nian: Shows her strength and knowledge about formations, proving herself as a reliable guide. She also displays her mischievous and carefree nature.
• Hoshino: Reveals her desire for entertainment and confirmation of Nian's power.
• Muelsyse and Saria: Witness Nian's strength and begin to trust her guidance.

Significant Themes

• The blurring line between reality and illusion.
• The power of knowledge and experience (Nian's understanding of formations).
• The importance of trust and guidance in overcoming challenges.

Character Interactions

• Nian and Hoshino: Engage in a brief combat display, with Nian showing her strength and Hoshino seeking entertainment and confirmation.
• Nian, Muelsyse, and Saria: Share a meal, with Nian showing her carefree nature and Muelsyse and Saria witnessing Nian's strength, leading to trust in her guidance.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group enters an illusionary space controlled by Hoshino, where time flows differently.
• They encounter a Lightning Empress, a powerful boss with three attack patterns, guarding the first array node.
• Nian, recognizing the Lightning Empress as Raiden Mei, engages in battle.

Character Developments

• Nian shows her serious side and reveals her true strength when fighting the Lightning Empress.
• Muelsyse demonstrates her ability to control water on a massive scale.
• Saria remains calm and strategic, using her knowledge of Yan Kingdom expressions and calculating the enemy's power.

Significant Themes

• The power of observation and understanding one's surroundings (mountains and qi).
• The concept of time and its fluidity within the illusionary space.
• The use of science and strategy in combat, as shown by Muelsyse and Saria.

Character Interactions

• Nian and Muelsyse work together, with Nian providing physical combat and Muelsyse using her water manipulation abilities.
• Saria offers strategic advice and supports her teammates.
• Hoshino observes the battle, showing a rare moment of vulnerability and self-reflection on her influence by Haifu.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Nian Beast fears explosives, despite being a god capable of high temperatures.
• Saria and Muelsyse face Nian in a battle, but Nian uses explosives to create a distraction and escape.
• Nian, Saria, and Muelsyse gather at a hotpot restaurant, where Nian relaxes and complains about her 'hard work.'
• Hoshino considers reprimanding Nian for slacking off, but Ch'en's arrival distracts her.
• The second boss battle is set up: three mechs (Father, Hephaestus, and Heimdall) descend.

Character Developments

• Nian's fear of explosives is revealed, despite her divine abilities.
• Nian's tendency to slack off and complain about her duties is emphasized.
• Hoshino's frustration with Nian's unreliability grows.
• Saria and Muelsyse are shown to be under some form of influence or bewitchment.

Significant Themes

• Nian's contradiction: fearing explosives despite her divine powers.
• Nian's laziness and tendency to slack off.
• The struggle between duty and relaxation.

Character Interactions

• Nian, Saria, and Muelsyse interact, with Nian complaining and the others observing.
• Hoshino considers intervening in Nian's behavior but is distracted by Ch'en's arrival.
• The three mechs (Father, Hephaestus, and Heimdall) descend, setting up the next challenge for Nian and her companions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Nian and her team are ambushed by three mechs while having a meal.
• Nian assigns each of them a mech to fight: she takes the largest one (Father), Saria takes Heimdall, and Muelsyse takes Hephaestus.
• Nian creates a giant lava mech to fight Father, while Saria and Muelsyse struggle against their respective mechs.
• Heimdall suddenly goes into berserk mode, overpowering Saria.

Character Developments

• Nian demonstrates her ability to create powerful mechs and her strategic thinking in assigning mechs to her team.
• Saria shows her strength and resilience in holding her ground against Heimdall, even after it goes into berserk mode.
• Muelsyse, despite her water-based abilities, struggles against Hephaestus, highlighting her vulnerability in certain situations.

Significant Themes

• The theme of teamwork and strategic planning is emphasized as Nian assigns mechs based on each team member's strengths.
• The contrast between advanced technology and ancient tactics is shown through the mechs' designs and fighting styles.

Character Interactions

• Nian takes charge and makes strategic decisions, showing her leadership.
• Saria and Muelsyse accept their assignments without complaint, demonstrating their trust in Nian's judgment.
• Hoshino, the enemy, watches the battle with interest, showing her respect for Nian's team despite being their adversary.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Heimdall enters Overload Mode, becoming a formidable opponent.
• Saria's Calcification spreads across her entire body, enhancing her strength and durability.
• Nian reinforces the lava giant, causing it to self-destruct and defeat Father.
• Nian saves Saria from Heimdall, defeating it with her greatsword.
• Muelsyse attempts a counterattack but is stopped by Nian and Saria.

Character Developments

• Saria struggles against Heimdall in Overload Mode, highlighting her strength and durability but also her need for help.
• Nian demonstrates her combat experience and understanding of artificial creations, easily defeating Heimdall.
• Muelsyse shows frustration and a desire for revenge after being bedraggled for so long.

Significant Themes

• Strength and Vulnerability: Saria's immense strength is juxtaposed with her vulnerability against Heimdall, emphasizing that even powerful characters can face challenges they can't overcome alone.
• Teamwork and Support: Nian's intervention saves Saria and turns the tide of the battle, highlighting the importance of teamwork and support.

Character Interactions

• Saria and Heimdall: Saria struggles against Heimdall, showcasing her strength but also her need for help.
• Nian and Saria: Nian rescues Saria, demonstrating her combat prowess and saving Saria from further struggle.
• Muelsyse and Hephaestus: Muelsyse attempts a counterattack but is thwarted by Nian and Saria, showing her frustration and desire for revenge.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Nian faces off against Hephaestus, a weak mech, and defeats it with ease, even forging it with her hammer.
• Saria and Muelsyse watch the battle, with Saria fighting briefly and Muelsyse fleeing.
• Nian realizes she forgot to retrieve the formation core and stalls for time.

Character Developments

• Nian demonstrates her strength and skill, but also her lack of seriousness in battle.
• Saria shows her combat capabilities and Calcification's heat resistance.
• Muelsyse shows cowardice and lack of contribution in the battle.
• Hoshino reveals herself, expressing interest in Nian's acting and stating she's the final challenge.

Significant Themes

• Nian's nonchalance and lack of seriousness in battle, contrasting with her immense power.
• The importance of focus and commitment in tasks, as shown by Nian's forgetfulness.
• The theme of acting and deception, with Nian trying to bluff her way out of a situation.

Character Interactions

• Nian interacts with Hephaestus, showing her strength and playful nature.
• Saria and Muelsyse interact with Nian, with Saria showing respect for Nian's power and Muelsyse showing cowardice.
• Hoshino interacts with all three, expressing interest in their performance and revealing herself as the final challenge.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group encounters Hoshino (the final boss) at the exit of the beginner village.
• Hoshino reveals her flawless formation and demands they entertain her to gain permission to leave.
• She demonstrates her immense power using the Taixu Divine Sword, which can erase one's consciousness.
• Yun Mo, an immortal, appears as a deus ex machina, offering shelter under her umbrella.

Character Developments

• Hoshino shows off her power and confidence, enjoying the thrill of intimidating the group.
• Nian, initially fearless, becomes frightened when reminded of her past trauma with the Taixu Divine Sword.
• Yun Mo maintains her calm and detached demeanor, offering help without further explanation.

Significant Themes

• Power and its use: Hoshino flaunts her power, while Yun Mo's power is more subtle and protective.
• Trauma and fear: Nian's past experience with the Taixu Divine Sword causes her to fear it again.
• Deus ex machina: Yun Mo's sudden appearance serves as a plot device to resolve the group's predicament.

Character Interactions

• Hoshino taunts the group, enjoying their discomfort, while also hinting at her desire for entertainment.
• Nian shows fear and vulnerability, seeking refuge under Yun Mo's umbrella.
• Yun Mo remains aloof, offering help without engaging in the conflict or taunting.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yun Mo, the Exalted Immortal, uses an oil-paper umbrella to protect Nian, Saria, and Muelsyse from the hostile Herrscher of Sentience, Hoshino.
• They enter an ink-wash painting world, where Yun Mo reflects on her past actions and the nature of strength.
• Yun Mo dismisses Hoshino, and they leave the painting world. The group returns to reality, with each member considering their next moves.

Character Developments

• Yun Mo: Shows compassion and wisdom, using the painting world to reflect on her past actions and the nature of power. She demonstrates her strength and calm demeanor.
• Nian: Maintains her arrogance but shows some respect for Yun Mo's power. She's eager to see Yun Mo and Hoshino fight but is disappointed when it doesn't happen.
• Saria: Shows respect for Yun Mo and is grateful for her help. She's more subdued after the experience.
• Muelsyse: Transforms into an ink slime in the painting world, showing adaptability. She's more cautious after the experience.
• Hoshino: Struggles with her identity and the nature of her power. She's hostile towards Yun Mo and the others but is dismissed without a fight.

Significant Themes

• Power and Responsibility: Yun Mo reflects on her past actions and the consequences of her power, suggesting that power comes with responsibility.
• Identity and Self-Reflection: Hoshino struggles with her identity and the nature of her power, leading to introspection.
• Adaptability: Saria and Muelsyse adapt to the painting world, showing their ability to change and grow.

Character Interactions

• Yun Mo and Hoshino: There's a tense standoff between them, with Yun Mo dismissing Hoshino without a fight. This interaction highlights their differing views on power and responsibility.
• Yun Mo and the others: Yun Mo protects the others and offers guidance, showing a caring and wise mentor figure. The others show respect and gratitude towards her.
• Nian and the others: Nian maintains her arrogance but shows some respect for Yun Mo. She's eager to see conflict but is disappointed when it doesn't happen. The others are more subdued and cautious after the experience.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hoshino watches as Saria attacks Muelsyse, who is in a vulnerable state.
• Hoshino decides to show Muelsyse a magical duel to awaken her survival instincts.
• Muelsyse witnesses a fierce battle between two Fu Huas, which terrifies her.
• Muelsyse runs away desperately to survive, completing Hoshino's mission.

Character Developments

• Muelsyse, initially composed and calculating, panics and prioritizes survival when faced with life-threatening danger.
• Hoshino, the mission-giver, enjoys watching Muelsyse's predicament and completes her mission without directly engaging.

Significant Themes

• The fragility of composure under extreme pressure.
• The importance of personal survival instincts.
• The contrast between reality and illusion.

Character Interactions

• Hoshino manipulates events to put Muelsyse in danger, enjoying her panic.
• Muelsyse and Saria have minimal interaction; Saria watches Muelsyse run away without interfering.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Nian wakes from a dream, attempts to make a chili oil ice cream cone, and decides to create spicy stocking milk tea instead.
• Hoshino tests her new weapon, The Mortal Realm Is Hard to Cross, but finds no suitable target.
• Hoshino receives a package containing Shang Boliang's scholar's robe, and Shang Boliang himself arrives at the Tenshukaku.

Character Developments

• Nian: Starts with a dream, creates a failed ice cream cone, and decides to make spicy stocking milk tea, showing her creative and experimental nature.
• Hoshino: Feels bored after the big event, considers assassinating the Emperor of Ursus, and contemplates using Shang Boliang as a test target for her weapon.

Significant Themes

• Food and creativity: Nian's experiments with food and her disregard for others' opinions on her creations.
• Boredom and restlessness: Hoshino's feelings after the big event and her consideration of assassinating the Emperor of Ursus.
• Déjà vu and suspicion: Hoshino's strange sense of déjà vu and her suspicion of Shang Boliang.

Character Interactions

• Nian: Interacts with herself, considering others' opinions on her food creations but ultimately disregarding them.
• Hoshino: Interacts with herself, contemplating her next move and considering using Shang Boliang as a test target.
• Shang Boliang: Arrives at the Tenshukaku, asking for his clothes and expressing his cooperation intentions to Hoshino.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hoshino meets Shang Boliang, the Emperor of Ursus, who reveals he's dying after discovering a truth about the world's energy sources.
• Shang Boliang shares his theory about the world's past civilization and their use of energy sources before Originium.
• He believes that discovering this truth is a curse that leads to death, and he wants to find Durandal to avoid this fate.
• Shang Boliang plans to usurp the position of the immortal Black Snake by exploiting Ursus' disintegration.

Character Developments

• Hoshino: She remains calm and collected throughout the conversation, showing she's aware of the world's secrets and is not easily surprised.
• Shang Boliang: He reveals his strategic and ambitious nature, showing he's more than just a scholar. He's willing to take extreme measures to avoid death and gain power.

Significant Themes

• Truth and Consequences: The truth about the world's past energy sources and the curse of discovering it leads to death.
• Ambition and Power: Shang Boliang's desire to usurp the Black Snake's position highlights the theme of ambition and the pursuit of power.
• Legacy and Attachment: The attachment to one's homeland and the desire to leave a legacy, as seen in Shang Boliang's plan to exploit Ursus' disintegration.

Character Interactions

• Hoshino and Shang Boliang: Their interaction is tense yet informative. Hoshino remains composed, while Shang Boliang reveals his plans and theories openly, treating Hoshino as an ancient immortal who knows the world's secrets.