Chapter Summaries

Evan defeated Pierson, learned about the Red King Laboratory’s Y Virus Parasites and Pierson’s work on Poke Street, then spared him and proposed an alliance. Pierson agreed to hear what Evan wanted next, and Evan offered him survival and a steady supply of the virus in exchange for more Y Virus Parasites.

• Evan forced Pierson to reveal that the Laboratory was mass-producing about a hundred Y Virus Parasites and that his team cultivated them using Poison Blade Gang members’ bodies.
• Pierson tried to use a hidden vial of concentrated Monster bodily fluid, but Evan crushed his spine and stopped him before he could take it.
• Evan admired Pierson’s unusual method of administering the enhancement serum, then used his virus ability to cure Pierson’s plague symptoms.
• Evan proposed working together, offering to help Pierson kill his abusive teacher in exchange for access to more Y Virus Parasites.
• Pierson asked what he had to do, and Evan said he needed more parasites while promising Pierson his life and a steady supply of the virus.

Evan made Pierson cooperate, took a drop of his Spiritual Blood, and extracted his memories about the Y Virus Parasite. The memories revealed the Red King Laboratory’s parasite experiments and ended with Pierson seeing a human face on the Primordial Sage tree.

• Evan demanded a drop of Pierson’s Spiritual Blood as a precaution, then learned that the orange-yellow medicine was purified Black Dryad extract.
• Pierson healed his injuries and explained the powers of his Antler Crown and Withered Wood Sword, which Evan returned to him.
• Evan used the Silver Key to extract Pierson’s memories about the Y Virus Parasite and implanted a mental suggestion that Pierson keep quiet about him.
• Pierson left after promising to find suitable candidates for the parasite, and Evan reviewed the memories in his apartment.
• Evan saw that Pierson’s teacher had used the parasite’s spores to torture him and that the Red King Laboratory grew viruses at a secret Sanatorium to feed the parasite.
• Evan watched memories of Pierson’s parasite implantation, which damaged his Spirituality and showed him that the cultivated Primordial Sage tree had grown a human face.

Evan survived an encounter with the Primordial Sage’s influence when his great-grandmother’s Familiar rescued him and explained that he was safe from the Master until he became a Master. The chapter ended with Evan back in his apartment, followed by an author’s note about schedule changes.

• Evan’s Mist Brain Plague devoured the Formless Mind Seed’s tendrils, but he was then confronted by another vision of a vast tree and its descending hand.
• Evan called on his great-grandmother, who transported him from the tree’s domain to Ancestor Mason’s farm.
• A Familiar told Evan that the Master had saved him, was pleased with his potential, and would not threaten him until he became a Master.
• The Familiar identified the being Evan had glimpsed as the Primordial Sage and warned him against investigating powerful Gods and their memories.
• Evan asked for the Demon Hunters’ God’s name, and the Familiar sent him back to his apartment on Gooding Street.

After suffering severe magical debuffs from glimpsing the Old Tree Man, Evan learned that Wilens Sapp and Kaini planned to exploit his vulnerable week. Evan then began his hospital internship, where Doctor Furim assigned him to investigate strange supernatural incidents at Sage General Hospital; Evan set out to handle them that night.

• Evan woke soaked and discovered that Sin of Peering at the Gods had reduced his success rate for magical activities by 1,000% for sixteen hours.
• Kaini told Wilens Sapp that Evan would be at his weakest for seven days, and Wilens planned to make him desperate and indebted.
• Evan went to Sage General Hospital with Doctor Furim, who explained that patients and laboratory staff were suffering from mysterious supernatural effects.
• Doctor Banner showed Evan the staircase where strange cries were heard and the balcony where patients had fought, fallen, and left chalk marks associated with people inexplicably losing money.
• Evan received his hospital ID and access pass, then declared that he would investigate both troubled areas that night.

Evan discovered that Willens Sapp had imprisoned two plague-tainted spirits in the hospital stairwell and agreed to help him perform a ritual after sensing a hidden danger in the money Willens offered. The chapter ended with Evan planning to use the Sin of Peering at the Gods against Willens during the ritual.

• Evan reversed the Potion Chain’s side effect, ate a huge dinner, and frightened the hospital staff by pretending to flee from the stairwell ghosts.
• Evan inspected the stairwell and found two bound Evil Spirits and a Magic Array made from One-Dollar Bills.
• Willens Sapp revealed that he had contracted with the spirits to guard the hospital entrance, then used money to contain one while the other began undergoing Beastification.
• Willens discussed his charitable work and warned Evan about Eldin, while Evan questioned his motives and probed for information about her.
• Willens offered Evan a hundred-dollar bill to help turn the unstable spirit into his debtor, and Evan sensed the Money Corrosion and Money Curse in his body resonate with it.
• Evan agreed to assist with the Spirit-Driving Ritual and resolved to use the Sin of Peering at the Gods against Willens.

Wilens attempted to bind Evan with a modified Spirit-Driving Ritual, but the ritual failed and summoned the Primordial Sage’s influence. Wilens died from the encounter, while Evan secretly harvested the Root Tendrils and stole Wilens’s wallet.

• Wilens linked his Spirituality with Evan’s and began a modified Spirit-Driving Ritual designed to make Evan his debtor.
• The ritual failed when strange whispers and Root Tendrils disrupted Wilens’s chanting, and the Primordial Sage’s power struck him through an enormous Tree Root.
• Wilens used a torrent of bills to sever the Root Tendrils, but the Primordial Sage’s domain overwhelmed him and he died after eating Black Quicksand.
• Evan called for help and secretly used the Mist Brain Plague to devour the remaining Root Tendrils inside Wilens.
• Evan stole Wilens’s black wallet while pretending to mourn him.

Evan appeared innocent after Wilens died from a mysterious attack, while the Primordial Sage’s roots traced the incident back to Sapp. An investigation cleared Evan of suspicion, but Sapp confronted him about the Silver Key.

• Doctor Furim took charge after Wilens collapsed, and Evan said he had only spoken with him while the bodyguards confirmed they saw no attack.
• At Sapp Manor, Formless Mind Seeds followed Wilens’s connection to Sapp, and Sapp’s Dryad employees performed a ritual that made the roots disappear.
• Doctor Furim questioned Evan, who suggested the two souls might have carried contamination, and reassured him that Sapp would not dare attack Doctor Armitage’s Disciple.
• Sapp, Vic, Doctor Furim, and Evan met after their investigations found that Wilens had set Evan up and produced no evidence that Evan was involved in his death.
• Sapp asked Evan whether he had the Silver Key, and Evan pretended not to know what it was.

Evan convinced Sapp that he had lost the Silver Key and shared evidence linking the plagues to the Red King Laboratory and possibly Ghouls from the Dreamlands. After a day of hospital work, he returned home eager to investigate the Mist Brain Plague, only to find Professor Byron waiting in his living room.

• Evan told Sapp that the Silver Key had fled into a marmot burrow, and Sapp agreed to stop pursuing him and treat the stolen wallet as compensation.
• Vic checked the wallet, confirmed it was a Fourth-Level Magic Artifact without tracking spells or curses, and returned it to Evan.
• Evan told Vic that plague samples were linked to the Red King Laboratory and proposed that Ghouls from the Dreamlands were spreading the viruses using Corpse Poison and Bone Marrow Parasites.
• Vic praised Evan's theory and asked him to continue investigating the Ghouls while he pursued the matter from another angle.
• Evan worked in the hospital laboratory until late, then returned home and found Professor Byron standing in his living room.

Evan unlocked the first stage of Mist Brain Plague, gaining a protective mist around his brain while suffering reduced Self-Awareness and Physique. As he prepared to meet Morales and Hill, Gust secretly shielded his apartment, and two plague-afflicted young men searched for a victim as they awaited the Bone Saint Child.

• Professor Byron visited Evan, collected his potion side-effect report, gave him two more potions, and paid him twenty-five U.S. dollars before leaving through a wall.
• Evan unlocked the first stage of Mist Brain Plague and gained brain-enveloping mist that greatly increased his mental resistance, though his Self-Awareness and Physique decreased.
• Evan reviewed his updated stats, failed to cleanse his lingering debuffs, and planned to collect a White Bone Plate from Morales and meet Hill.
• Gust sensed Evan taking potions without protection, placed an earthen dome around his apartment, and slipped away.
• Two young men discussed using Demon Hunter blood to contain more Virus and searched for a victim while anticipating the White Bone Saint Child's arrival.
• Evan bought a black three-piece suit for fifty-two U.S. dollars, then realized he had dressed up just to ask Morales about a Magic Artifact.

Evan collected the White Bone Disc from Morales and learned that a canning factory might be linked to the plague. He met Hill at McRae's Detective Agency, and she identified his two magic artifacts, revealing their abilities and dangers.

• Evan collected the White Bone Disc from Morales, whose father told him that plague patients had all eaten canned food from the Puke Canning Factory.
• Evan went to McRae's Detective Agency, where Hill joined him for a small detective job in the Dock District.
• On their way, Evan asked Hill about Gust and gave her the Delicate Wallet and White Bone Disc to identify.
• Hill performed an Identification Ritual and explained that the Delicate Wallet held cash and soft goods but required five dollars' worth of care each week or it would consume its owner's possessions or flesh.
• Hill identified the White Bone Disc as the Ghoul Amulet, which detected Ghouls within a kilometer but attracted them and could expose Evan to attacks through the Dreamlands.

Evan bought Self-Importance Potions and spent a week avoiding trouble while strengthening his attributes through regular potions and reversals. As Bolton City’s plague crisis worsened, he reached positive Silver and Electrical Resistance, raised his Self-Awareness to 60%, and discovered that sunlight could slightly ease his hunger.

• Evan and Hill investigated repeated green flags on chimneys, then Hill told him about the Self-Importance Potion and its permanent Self-Awareness increase.
• Evan bought three Self-Importance Potions from Bill, reversed the side effects of several substances, and gained permanent Self-Awareness and Endurance.
• Evan kept to a quiet routine for a week, while Pierson reported finding an enemy connected to the missing Y Virus Parasite and promised Evan a complete parasite.
• Bolton City quarantined Poke Street as the skin-ulcerating plague spread, while the Healing Church distributed Copper Pills and the city grew tense.
• Evan reviewed his improved attributes and found that his Silver and Electrical Resistance had risen above zero and his Self-Awareness had reached 60%.
• Evan discovered that sunlight now supplied a small amount of energy and eased his hunger.

Evan recovered from his three afflictions and returned to his usual work, where he realized that plant pathogens could help him counter Dryads. After consuming infected wood and soil, he refined the Copper Plague into a cluster containing Dutch Elm Disease, Root Rot Phytophthora, and Armillaria.

• Evan discovered that his three afflictions had reached zero, counted his remaining money, and visited Professor Byron, who paid him to take a week off before the final drug trial.
• Evan met Morales at the Medical School and accompanied Mr. Dylan, whose tuberculosis had improved after Evan secretly used the Copper Plague against it.
• Mr. Dylan showed Evan a diseased elm and explained several plant diseases, prompting Evan to consider using plant pathogens against Dryads.
• Evan chewed an infected elm branch and received confirmation that the Copper Plague had devoured Dutch Elm Disease.
• Evan ate soil from the hospital grounds and refined the Plague Cluster by devouring Root Rot Phytophthora and Armillaria.

Evan prepared to ambush Mairon at an abandoned chemical plant, where Mairon planned to capture Bane and steal his potion research. As Evan and Mairon approached from opposite sides, a mysterious woman in a black cloak watched the factory too.

• Evan collected several plant pathogens and planned to use them against the dryads.
• Pierson told Evan that Mairon had stolen his research and arranged for Evan to attack him at the abandoned factory.
• Evan bought potion ingredients, brewed supplies, ate to build up energy, and took a Night Demon Potion before setting out.
• Mairon led Pierson to the factory, intending to capture Bane and seize the Potion Formulas left by Pulis.
• Bane failed another attempt to brew the Black Sun Potion, unaware that danger was closing in.
• Evan watched Mairon and Pierson approach from one hill while a mysterious woman in a black cloak watched from the opposite hill.

Evan infiltrated the factory, where Mairon tortured Bane for Pulis Batrus’s Potion Formulas. Evan resisted Mairon’s spores and killed him with tree-targeting pathogens, then gathered the Mutated Root Spores as Bane watched in shock.

• Mairon entered the factory and ordered Pierson to stand guard while Pierson secretly sensed Evan approaching.
• Evan knocked Pierson unconscious and rushed into the workshop as Mairon trapped Bane with Spikes and demanded Pulis Batrus’s Potion Formulas.
• Evan attacked Mairon, who used ironized wood, Mutated Root Spores, and a Soul-Sleeping Melody against him.
• Mist Brain Plague blocked Mairon’s spores and melody, allowing Evan to strike while Copper Plague Bullet pathogens rotted Mairon’s body from within.
• Evan killed Mairon and collected the remaining Mutated Root Spores, raising Mist Brain Plague’s progress by 6.3%.

After killing Mairon, Evan confronted Eldin, who revealed that she was a powerful member of the Bloodthirsty Species as well as a Knight. Eldin proposed an alliance against the Sapp Group and appealed to Evan for help with her plan to escape her family, leaving them on the verge of a first collaboration.

• Evan took the Beyonder Characteristic from Mairon's corpse and prepared to kill the witness Bane, but Eldin arrived and put Bane to sleep.
• Eldin caught Evan's punch, revealed her identity, and explained that she held both the Knight and Bloodthirsty Species Professions.
• Eldin gave Evan a drop of Bane's blood, revealing an incomplete Black Sun Potion recipe and memories of experiments, and warned him that blood could carry information and serve as a weapon.
• Eldin said the Hurst family opposed the Sapp Group and asked Evan to help her pursue Empress Cain as an escape route; Evan demanded money as proof of her sincerity.
• Evan removed the poison from Bane, collected some Magic Potion waste to take away, and dragged Mairon's body out.

Evan killed Mairon, consumed his complete Y Virus Parasite, and advanced Mist Brain Plague to its Second Stage, gaining a mental influence ability at the cost of Physique and Self-Awareness. After making plans to take the Dryad Beyonder Characteristic to Doctor Armitage, he brought potion residue to school and asked Professor Mons for leave.

• Evan gave Pierson Mairon's corpse and Magic Artifacts, then helped him extract and sedate the complete Y Virus Parasite with his blood.
• Evan ate the parasite, raising Mist Brain Plague by 14% to 70.3%, and hid Mairon's Beyonder Characteristic in his Delicate Wallet.
• At home, Evan activated Mist Brain Plague's Second Stage and discovered he could infuse words with mist to cloud another person's thoughts.
• Evan planned to visit Doctor Armitage in New Haven and sketched out devices for carrying and injecting Magic Potions.
• Evan ate failed Black Sun Potion residue, then woke to find the Night Demon Potion's reversed Side Effect had permanently improved his Blood Quality and Regeneration.
• Evan packed potion residue and his remaining potion, went to school, and asked Professor Mons for leave.

Evan obtained leave to travel to New Haven and brought the Dryad's Beyonder Characteristic to Doctor Armitage, reporting his recent conflict with Red King Laboratory. Armitage explained the Dreamlands, legendary creatures, and how slowly mastering Beyonder Characteristics could limit their side effects, leaving Evan to realize he had advanced far more recklessly than other Beyonders.

• Evan showed the Director of Education his Advanced Detective credentials and Investigation License, securing urgent leave to investigate a case in New Haven.
• Evan took the Train to New Haven and visited Doctor Armitage, giving him the Dryad's Beyonder Characteristic and recounting the dangers he had faced in Bolton City.
• Armitage agreed that Ghouls and Red King Laboratory were likely working together on a Sacrifice, and explained that many legendary creatures had been driven into the Dreamlands while some remained by changing their faith.
• Armitage warned Evan that something major was approaching in Bolton City and advised him to stay safe or seek shelter in New Haven.
• Armitage explained that Beyonders could master Characteristics gradually to reduce their drawbacks, and that Masters could eliminate one Side Effect after fusing three Characteristics.
• Evan realized that his rapid consumption and activation of Beyonder Characteristics made him unusually reckless compared with the other Beyonders he knew.

Armitage taught Evan how potions could be used in rituals and how alchemy could produce useful ointments, while explaining why Evan’s idea of coating a sword with poison had practical difficulties. After Evan left, Miller told Armitage that the Bone Revival Faction was behind the trouble in Bolton City and that the Healing Church had sent the Holy Sword Execution Squad to eliminate them.

• Armitage explained Beyonder Characteristics, Profession limits, and why Evan had to keep pressing forward despite his unusual situation.
• Armitage taught Evan that high-grade pathway potions could improve sacrifices and that alchemy could produce ointments, Monster camouflage, and bait.
• Evan proposed using toxic ointment on a sword, and Armitage warned that Monster toxins faded quickly and ointment would be flung off during a swing.
• Armitage gave Evan detailed instructions on making ointments, then took him to dinner and promised to transfer money after dealing with a Beyonder Characteristic.
• Miller told Armitage that the Bone Revival Faction was causing trouble in Bolton City and that the Healing Church had deployed the Holy Sword Execution Squad to wipe it out.

Evan advanced Black Sun's Wings by consuming residue and brewing an Incomplete Black Sun Potion, while Richard prepared to protect Hill as she deciphered the Ciphertext. Hill became an expert, but Martin and Chariot attacked them in the library, leaving Richard transformed and facing a Giant Ghoul.

• Doctor Armitage and Miller discussed the Ghouls and suspected Sapp had helped them in pursuit of immortality.
• Evan bought Lumen Cores and Blood Potion ingredients at the Tavern, then learned from Richard that Hill was close to becoming an expert.
• Richard invited Evan to celebrate Christmas with him and their friends, and Evan accepted.
• Evan brewed an Incomplete Black Sun Potion, raised Black Sun's Wings to 21%, and used Blood Potions to rebuild his Physique.
• Hill finished deciphering the Ciphertext and became an expert while Richard guarded her during the twelve-hour Spirituality Shock Period.
• Martin and Chariot arrived with brass-skinned puppets, demanded Hill's knowledge and their blood, and attacked after Richard drank a Dragon Blood Potion; Chariot transformed into a Giant Ghoul.

Richard fought Martin’s group in the library, but Chariot froze him and they carried him away after Hill escaped. Meanwhile, Evan unlocked Black Sun’s Wings, discovered his wings were enormous feathered hands, and tested his new ability to fly.

• Richard used his seals to fight Chariot and Martin’s Copper Corpses, but Chariot’s freezing breath exposed his weakness to cold.
• Hill forced Chariot to kneel, and Richard hurled Hill through a window so she could teleport away.
• Chariot froze Richard unconscious, and Martin’s group carried him off before the guards arrived.
• Evan reversed another Black Sun Potion’s side effects, then activated the first stage of Black Sun’s Wings despite its increased energy consumption.
• Evan developed black-feathered hand-wings, flew from Gooding Street to the Western Hills, and reached a top speed of about fifty kilometers per hour.