Chapter Summaries

Sifa invited Chik to join the Explorer, and the former pirate accepted despite warning that the Death Announcer might pursue them. In a shared dream, Sifa learned that Leomaster came from the Aurora Order and confronted a towering black-armored knight he suspected was the Saint of Darkness.

• Chik explained how he had tried to avoid harming civilians aboard the Death Announcer, and Sifa offered him a place on the Explorer.
• Chik accepted Sifa’s invitation after warning that the Death Announcer would come after them.
• Sifa returned to the shared dream and found Leomaster hiding in the storeroom beside the mirror that he said must not be broken.
• Leomaster revealed that his group of pilgrims had come from the Aurora Order, leading Sifa to suspect that the monk was a personality split from an evil primary self.
• A towering black-armored knight broke into the storeroom, and Sifa attacked with Fatal Attack-enhanced fireballs that the knight deflected with his sword.

Chapter Summary: “Heaven and Sea”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sifa attacks the black-armored Saint of Darkness with Fireballs while secretly concealing a more powerful Flame Spear among them using Conspiracy.
• The Flame Spear detonates against the knight’s sword storm, blasting him backward. However, the knight quickly recovers and charges Sifa.
• The knight’s sword destroys a paper effigy after Sifa uses it as a substitute, allowing Sifa to escape.
• Sifa temporarily “steals” the knight’s ability to walk, causing him to collapse. Leomaster, the terrified ascetic, follows Sifa, but Sifa orders him to split up so the knight will have to choose between them.
• The knight rapidly regains control of his legs and pursues Sifa, demonstrating speed far beyond what his massive armor should allow.
• Sifa evades a lethal sword strike and escapes through a mysterious door. Once inside, the door disappears, leaving him stranded.
• Beyond the door, Sifa finds himself standing on a perfectly calm, brilliantly lit sea beneath a clear sky. He cannot sink, and the surrounding environment feels peaceful but unnaturally dangerous.
• Unable to return and unwilling to explore, Sifa waits for the dream to end. He experiments with Traveler’s Gazetteer and discovers that imagined descriptions can manifest within the dream, though they leave no trace in reality.
• Sifa awakens aboard the Future at noon. On deck, he observes Hiss consuming the flesh and blood of a fish to replenish himself.
• Cattleya explains that she did not see Sifa in the dream and advises him to remain still in future dream episodes unless necessary, since waiting safely for night to end is the best strategy.

Character Developments

• Sifa demonstrates tactical creativity and quick thinking, combining Fireball, Flame Spear, Conspiracy, substitution, teleportation, and ability theft to survive the Saint of Darkness.
• His fear and caution become more pronounced after entering the mysterious sea realm. Rather than investigate recklessly, he chooses to wait and avoid provoking unknown dangers.
• Sifa also gains insight into the nature of dreams: within them, belief and imagination can temporarily shape events, but dream actions do not automatically affect waking reality.
• Leomaster remains extremely frightened and self-preserving. Although initially paralyzed by terror, he follows Sifa and quickly accepts the logic of separating so the knight may target someone else.
• The black-armored knight/Saint of Darkness is shown to be terrifyingly resilient and fast despite his heavy appearance. Even after losing the ability to walk, he recovers almost immediately and continues his pursuit.
• Cattleya acts as a knowledgeable guide, providing practical advice about surviving the dream environment.
• Hiss is revealed to require flesh and blood to maintain himself, though feeding on animals rather than humans helps him avoid losing control.

Significant Themes

• Survival through strategy rather than strength: Sifa cannot overpower the Saint of Darkness directly, so he relies on deception, misdirection, stolen abilities, and escape.
• The danger of appearances: The calm sea appears beautiful and peaceful, yet Sifa recognizes that it may be more dangerous than the violent confrontation he escaped.
• Dreams and reality: The chapter explores how belief can shape dream experiences while emphasizing the boundary between imagined events and waking reality.
• Fear and self-preservation: Leomaster’s panic contrasts with Sifa’s controlled caution, while both reveal how characters behave when faced with overwhelming supernatural power.
• The unknown: The vanished door and endless sea reinforce the uncertainty of the dream world, where familiar rules and escape routes may disappear without explanation.

Character Interactions

• Sifa attacks and repeatedly evades the Saint of Darkness, using deception to survive rather than defeating him.
• He tells Leomaster to split up, prioritizing both their chances of escape while indirectly using the ascetic’s fear and self-interest.
• After awakening, Sifa discusses the dream with Cattleya. She does not interrogate him about where he went but offers a warning to remain stationary during future dream episodes.
• Sifa observes Hiss feeding on a fish, and Cattleya clarifies the nature of his condition and why it has not driven him mad.

Chapter Summary: “Admiral of Hell”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cattleya tells Sifa that the Future needs at least two days to leave the dangerous waters, meaning the crew must endure another night in the Sea of Ruins.
• Cattleya proposes establishing long-term contact with Sifa. If she obtains pages from Emperor Roselle’s diary, she will send them to him through a messenger, while Sifa’s mysterious friend can continue answering her questions.
• Sifa agrees to provide the messenger’s summoning incantation.
• Nefi asks whether they should teach Chik about the Acting Method. Sifa decides to withhold the information until Chik has been observed for longer.
• A lookout spots the Black Tulip, the flagship of the Admiral of Hell, Ludwell. The crew immediately prepares the Future for battle.
• Cattleya explains that Ludwell frequently visits the Sea of Ruins, apparently searching for something.
• Sifa realizes that the death-related aura acquired from the underwater ruins may have attracted Ludwell, who is connected to the Numinous Episcopate and the Death Pathway.
• Cattleya equips a mysterious golden brooch, which calms the crew and manifests a strange figure combining deathly stillness with warm, sunlike radiance.
• The Black Tulip continues sailing directly toward the Future. At the end of the chapter, a huge, nearly transparent eye appears above the ship, signaling the beginning of a supernatural confrontation.

Character Developments

• Sifa demonstrates increasing caution and strategic awareness. He recognizes the danger posed by Ludwell and quickly orders the crew to prepare for battle.
• Cattleya shows interest in maintaining a cooperative relationship with Sifa, suggesting a long-term exchange of information. Her powerful and mysterious artifact also reinforces her importance and strength.
• Nefi has matured noticeably. She now understands the need to evaluate Chik’s reliability and has nearly completed digesting her Weapon Master potion through intense daily training.
• Chik remains under observation, with Sifa and Nefi still uncertain whether he can become a trustworthy companion.
• Ludwell is established as a major threat: his enormous bounty, undead crew, connection to the Numinous Episcopate, and possible link to the ancient Death make him one of the most dangerous pirate admirals.

Significant Themes

• Trust and cautious alliances: Sifa accepts Cattleya’s offer of continued cooperation while still withholding sensitive information from Chik.
• Preparation and survival: The crew’s rapid transition from casual conversation to battle readiness highlights the constant danger of their voyage.
• The coexistence of opposing forces: Cattleya’s artifact appears to combine solar holiness with deathly, ghostlike qualities, suggesting that seemingly contradictory powers can coexist.
• Consequences of exploration: The crew’s encounter with Ludwell may have been caused by their earlier expedition into the ruins, showing that supernatural discoveries can leave lasting traces.
• Growth through discipline: Nefi’s rapid potion digestion reflects her dedication, training, and development into a more capable combatant.

Character Interactions

• Sifa and Cattleya establish a potentially valuable long-term partnership based on Roselle’s diary and supernatural knowledge.
• Sifa advises Nefi to remain cautious about Chik, reinforcing their mutual trust and leadership dynamic.
• Nefi’s enthusiastic embrace of Sifa reveals their close, affectionate relationship, while also adding a moment of lightheartedness before the impending battle.
• Cattleya’s presence steadies the entire crew when Ludwell appears, demonstrating her ability to inspire confidence and control a crisis.
• Sifa and Cattleya work together to interpret why Ludwell has targeted the Future, connecting the ship’s recent activities to the coming conflict.

The Future battled Ludwell’s Black Tulip after the Admiral of Hell refused to leave, and Sifa’s opening attack devastated much of the enemy’s undead crew. As the ships closed and a sea of undead rose around them, Sifa and Cattleya’s forces fought back, leaving a vast gap in the enemy horde.

• Cattleya ordered the Future to prepare for battle when Ludwell’s Black Tulip continued approaching.
• Sifa used Potential Burst and fired a Red Lotus Arrow, destroying or scattering many of the Black Tulip’s undead and spirit creatures.
• Cattleya ordered the Future’s cannons to fire, and Sifa used fire crows to intercept the Black Tulip’s shells.
• The Black Tulip advanced through blackened waters as undead creatures emerged and attacked the Future.
• Cattleya’s sacred and sinister figures intercepted the attackers, while Sifa swept a giant flaming scythe across the sea of undead and carved a huge gap through them.

Chapter Summary: “Boarding the Ship”

Key Plot Points and Events

• While defending the Future from Ludwell’s undead, Sifa is warned by Kardashian not to waste his strength on the lesser creatures. She intends to take control of them herself.
• Sifa realizes Kardashian’s identity as a Gatekeeper will force Ludwell, who is likely also a Gatekeeper, to divide his attention between fighting her and defending himself.
• Sifa dismisses his Flame Great Scythe, summons his Marionette Levtor, and uses fire to launch himself toward Ludwell’s ship, the Black Tulip.
• Cattleya protects the Future by casting an Ancient Hermes spell that freezes the sea and immobilizes many undead.
• Kardashian emerges from the water and seizes control of a portion of Ludwell’s undead army, changing the flames in their eyes from crimson to amber before making them disappear beneath the sea.
• Ludwell recognizes Kardashian as another Gatekeeper but is unable to focus on her because Sifa and Levtor board the Black Tulip.
• Levtor lands forcefully on the deck and transforms into a Dawn Knight, surrounded by radiant armor and wielding a purifying greatsword.
• His dawn-light severely weakens or drives back the ghosts, wraiths, and other creatures associated with the Death Domain. He then cuts through the undead with overwhelming efficiency, creating space for Sifa to confront Ludwell directly.
• After Levtor’s devastating Light Storm destroys many of the remaining undead, Ludwell responds by opening a horrifying Bronze Gate.
• The gate contains an abyss filled with eyes, bloody limbs, tooth-covered palms, vines, and other indescribable entities. Its powerful suction begins dragging everything on the deck into the darkness.
• Levtor, the gate’s primary target, is pulled backward despite anchoring his sword in the deck, leaving him in immediate danger.

Character Developments

• Sifa demonstrates tactical judgment by abandoning the mass battle and pursuing Ludwell, trusting Kardashian and Levtor to control the undead. His goal is to isolate the Admiral of Hell and create the conditions for a one-on-one confrontation.
• Kardashian reveals her Gatekeeper abilities by hijacking part of Ludwell’s undead army. Her action confirms her importance as a combatant capable of directly challenging a pirate admiral.
• Ludwell is shown to be a powerful Gatekeeper with command over vast undead forces and the ability to summon terrifying entities through the Bronze Gate. However, Kardashian’s interference forces him to split his attention.
• Levtor displays the full strength of the Dawn Knight pathway. His radiant armor, purifying sword, and Light Storm make him exceptionally effective against Death Domain creatures, though Ludwell’s counterattack places him in peril.
• Cattleya contributes defensive support from the Future, freezing the surrounding sea and slowing the undead assault.

Significant Themes

• Strategy over brute force: Sifa succeeds by dividing the enemy’s attention and assigning specialized allies to different tasks rather than fighting the undead army alone.
• Light versus death and corruption: Levtor’s dawn-light and purifying weaponry serve as a direct counter to Ludwell’s undead forces, emphasizing the symbolic and practical conflict between illumination and death.
• Control and contested authority: Kardashian’s seizure of Ludwell’s undead highlights the struggle between powerful supernatural beings for dominion over armies and resources.
• Escalating supernatural horror: The Bronze Gate introduces a threat far more disturbing than ordinary undead, suggesting that Ludwell’s powers extend into an abyssal realm of unknowable creatures.
• Isolation amid overwhelming forces: Sifa attempts to turn a chaotic battlefield into a personal duel, but Ludwell’s summoning demonstrates how difficult it is to contain a pirate admiral’s full power.

Character Interactions

• Kardashian advises Sifa and coordinates with him by taking responsibility for the undead while he attacks Ludwell.
• Sifa relies on Kardashian’s Gatekeeper abilities and uses Levtor as a shield and clearing force during the boarding assault.
• Cattleya supports Sifa’s advance by freezing the undead and the sea around the Future.
• Kardashian directly disrupts Ludwell’s control, prompting his alarm and recognition of her as a fellow Gatekeeper.
• Sifa and Ludwell face each other on the Black Tulip, but Levtor’s battle with the undead initially dominates the encounter.
• Ludwell retaliates against Levtor specifically, opening the Bronze Gate and using its suction to threaten the Marionette before the promised one-on-one confrontation can fully develop.

Chapter Summary: “Retreat”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ludwell initially targets Levtor instead of Sifa, judging the Dawn Knight to be the greater threat.
• Sifa reveals that he possesses a Sun Pathway item, using Sacred Light Pillars to counter Ludwell’s Bronze Gate and the undead creatures emerging from it.
• The holy light severely weakens the Bronze Gate, destroys several undead monsters, and eventually forces the gate to disappear.
• With the gate neutralized, Levtor attacks Ludwell directly. His Dawn Knight sword purifies and destroys one of Ludwell’s translucent undead arms.
• Ludwell realizes that Sifa can control a Marionette and is far more mysterious and dangerous than expected.
• Ludwell uses his black ring to invoke a terrifying death-related attack. Sifa experiences a vision of Death’s Throne and becomes afflicted, losing control over Levtor.
• Ludwell exploits this opening to injure Levtor with another undead arm and attempts to use Words of Death to separate and enslave Sifa’s spirit body.
• Sifa counters by stealing Ludwell’s ability to speak, preventing him from completing the spell. This shocks Ludwell, who realizes Sifa can also use an ability from the Marauder Pathway.
• Ludwell summons another, larger Bronze Gate and uses it to create overwhelming suction, attempting to drag Sifa and Levtor into it.
• Sifa activates Potential Burst, using flames to propel himself and Levtor away from the gate.
• Recognizing that the battle has turned against him, Ludwell orders the Black Tulip to retreat. The undead stop attacking the Future and instead push the Black Tulip away from the battlefield.

Character Developments

• Sifa demonstrates a much broader range of abilities than Ludwell expected: Pyromancy, Sun Pathway powers, Marionette control, and Marauder-style theft. His versatility allows him to counter Ludwell’s attacks and protect Levtor.
• Levtor proves highly effective against undead and death-related entities. His Dawn Knight powers and purifying sword severely damage Ludwell, though he is vulnerable when Sifa loses control of him.
• Ludwell, despite his experience and powerful artifacts, is repeatedly surprised by Sifa’s abilities. He shifts from an aggressive attack to an emergency retreat after realizing the risks of continuing the fight.

Significant Themes

• Deception and hidden strength: Sifa’s apparent identity as merely a Pyromaniac conceals several unexpected powers, causing Ludwell to miscalculate.
• Light versus death: Sacred light and dawn imagery directly suppress and purify Ludwell’s undead forces and death-based abilities.
• Adaptability and counterplay: The confrontation is decided less by raw strength than by each character responding quickly to the other’s unusual abilities.
• The danger of incomplete knowledge: Ludwell’s lack of information about Sifa leads him to choose the wrong target and eventually abandon the battle.

Character Interactions

• Sifa coordinates with Levtor, using holy light to disable the Bronze Gate while the Marionette attacks Ludwell.
• Levtor’s direct assault forces Ludwell to evade and defend rather than control the battlefield freely.
• Ludwell attempts to exploit Sifa’s dependence on Marionette control, but Sifa disrupts his Words of Death by stealing his voice.
• The battle ends with Ludwell retreating aboard the Black Tulip, while Sifa and Levtor escape the Bronze Gate’s suction and survive the encounter.

Chapter Summary: “Farewell”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the undead assault, the pirates aboard the Future celebrate surviving. Sifa and Levtor return after boarding the Black Tulip and forcing Ludwell, the Hell Admiral, to retreat.
• Levtor is revealed to be dying from severe wounds inflicted by the power of death. Frank Lee determines that the corruption is affecting his muscles, organs, and entire body, and can only delay the inevitable.
• Sifa privately meets with Levtor under the pretense of a final farewell. Since Levtor is actually a Marionette nearing the end of his useful existence, Sifa’s grief is largely performed to maintain appearances.
• Sifa tells the crew that Levtor has died and gives Nefi the Fighter’s Cup, a powerful magical item that grants a temporary physical and mental boost but leaves the user extremely vulnerable afterward.
• He also explains that Levtor wished Nefi to inherit his power. Once she obtains the Dawn Knight potion formula and fully digests her Weapon Master potion, she is to use Levtor’s extracted Beyonder Characteristic as the main ingredient for advancement.
• Sifa arranges for Levtor’s body to be sent off at sea at noon, honoring his supposed final wish. Frank agrees to prepare the ceremony and expresses regret that he could not save him.
• In private, Sifa stores the Dawn Knight Beyonder Characteristic in the Spirit World Treasure Chest for Nefi’s future advancement.
• Later, Sifa notices a strange darkness and mist outside his room, within which he sees an ancient church surrounded by crows. He quickly enters a dream state using meditation and the Book of Mysteries.
• In the dream, he returns to the pure oceanic world he previously visited. Before he can use the Traveler’s Gazetteer, the weather changes dramatically as black clouds gather and a violent storm appears to be forming.

Character Developments

• Sifa: Demonstrates his ability to maintain a convincing emotional façade while strategically handling Levtor’s “death.” He preserves the crew’s morale, safeguards the Dawn Knight characteristic, and begins planning Nefi’s advancement.
• Levtor/Bal: Despite being a Marionette, he is presented as a courageous warrior who sacrificed himself during the assault on the Black Tulip. His final “wish” is to continue fighting through Nefi by passing on his power.
• Nefi: Receives both Levtor’s magical item and the opportunity to inherit his Beyonder power. Her tears and determination show deep respect and emotional attachment to him.
• Frank Lee: Acts as the ship’s doctor and sincerely tries to save Levtor. His comments reveal both compassion and his characteristically dangerous interest in biological experimentation.
• Cattleya: Shows concern for Sifa and Levtor, provides them privacy, and supports the funeral arrangements.
• Ludwell: Although he is not directly shown in the chapter, his retreat establishes Sifa and Levtor’s feat as an extraordinary achievement.

Significant Themes

• Farewell and legacy: Levtor’s death is framed as a transition rather than a complete end, since his strength and purpose may live on through Nefi.
• Sacrifice and honor: The chapter emphasizes the courage required to confront Ludwell and the importance of honoring those who fall in battle.
• Appearance versus reality: Sifa’s public grief contrasts with his private knowledge that Levtor is a Marionette. The chapter explores how emotional performances can still serve meaningful social and strategic purposes.
• Inheritance and succession: Nefi’s future advancement represents the continuation of Levtor’s role and ideals.
• Unresolved supernatural danger: The mysterious church, crows, and approaching storm suggest that Sifa’s return to the dream world will lead to another significant encounter or threat.

Important Character Interactions

• The pirates react with awe to Sifa and Levtor’s successful assault on the Black Tulip, strengthening Sifa’s reputation.
• Frank examines Levtor and informs Cattleya and Sifa that the wounds are caused by death-related supernatural power.
• Cattleya gives Sifa a private room for his farewell with Levtor.
• Sifa presents Nefi with the Fighter’s Cup and communicates Levtor’s final wishes, prompting her to cry and pledge to work hard.
• Frank mourns Levtor and discusses the possibility of developing artificial organs, prompting Sifa to silently worry about the danger of his research.
• Sifa later prepares privately for Nefi’s future advancement before entering the mysterious dream world.

Chapter Summary: “Fragments”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sifa finds himself caught in a rapidly expanding supernatural storm. Lightning falls without rain, spreading across the sky and striking the sea with increasing intensity.
• He opens the Traveler’s Gazetteer to locate the mountain where the Admiral of Stars is staying. The page from his earlier dream is still present, suggesting that dream travel is a genuine and repeatable phenomenon.
• Just as Sifa attempts to teleport, lightning strikes the Gazetteer. The miraculous item he obtained in the dream is destroyed, breaking into fragments that burn away and vanish.
• A relentless barrage of lightning then targets Sifa. He narrowly avoids the strikes using agility, fire-based movement, and Steal Position, while humorously trying to justify his past behavior and insisting he has not done anything deserving of such punishment.
• Sifa discovers a strange church-like structure in the sea and takes shelter inside. Its architecture resembles the ancient Old Elven Capital, Faust, and the building remains untouched by the storm.
• Inside, he sees enormous murals:
  • One depicts an Eastern-featured man standing atop world-drowning waves and wielding a lightning spear.
  • Another shows a blurred, white-robed figure with a halo, a twelve-part time symbol beneath him, and an ominous eye concealed in a shadow behind him.
• A damaged silver-white spear, apparently identical to the weapon in the first mural, is embedded in an altar. Lightning repeatedly strikes it.
• One lightning-marked fragment is propelled toward Sifa. When he catches it, he experiences a terrifying vision of a storm-wreathed figure in black armor holding a trident.
• The vision causes him severe pain, and he drops the fragment. He then abruptly returns to his bed aboard the Future, apparently transported out of the dream or structure.
• A metal fragment bearing the lightning symbol falls from his body, proving that the object—or at least part of it—has crossed from the supernatural location into reality.

Character Development

• Sifa remains irreverent and self-aware, treating the deadly storm as though he is being unfairly targeted by the laws of fiction. His jokes and complaints contrast sharply with the genuine danger he faces.
• Despite his fear, Sifa demonstrates quick thinking and impressive survival instincts. He uses every available ability to evade the lightning and immediately seeks shelter.
• His curiosity repeatedly overcomes his caution. Although he recognizes the danger surrounding the spear and its fragments, he still instinctively catches the fragment when it flies toward him.
• The final appearance of the fragment suggests that Sifa is becoming directly entangled with the mysterious forces and artifacts associated with the dream world.

Significant Themes

• The boundary between dreams and reality: The preserved Gazetteer page and the fragment appearing aboard the Future indicate that objects and information can cross between dream spaces and the physical world.
• The danger of supernatural knowledge: The murals, spear, and vision reveal fragments of powerful and possibly world-ending entities, but even brief contact causes Sifa intense pain.
• Fate and narrative inevitability: Sifa’s opening complaint about protagonists attracting trouble becomes literal as he is repeatedly pursued by lightning and drawn into an ancient mystery.
• Fragments of forgotten history: The damaged spear, incomplete murals, blurred identities, and scattered artifact pieces suggest a lost civilization or a broken supernatural event whose meaning must be reconstructed.
• Power beyond human understanding: The storm, the drowned-world imagery, the time symbolism, and the mysterious eye imply forces operating on a cosmic scale.

Character Interactions

• Sifa has no direct interaction with other living characters in the chapter. His main “interactions” are with:
  • The supernatural storm, which appears almost intentionally hostile toward him.
  • The Traveler’s Gazetteer, whose destruction prevents his planned escape.
  • The ancient church and its murals, which provide clues about powerful historical figures.
  • The damaged lightning spear and its fragment, which trigger the terrifying vision and ultimately follow him back to reality.
• The murals imply a connection between the lightning-wielding figure, the white-robed time-associated figure, and the shadowy eye, though their identities and relationship remain unresolved.

Sifa returned from the Sea of Ruins with a fragment of the Lightning Spear and reached Toscarter Island with Cattleya’s crew. After preparing a report, he reunited with Kardashian, who remarked that something about him had changed and spoke of the prisoners and familiar aura she had encountered.

• Sifa contained the fragment from the shared dream in a bottle and stored it in the Spirit World Treasure Chest.
• The Future returned to the entrance of the Sea of Ruins, and Cattleya told Sifa it would emerge near Toscarter Island.
• Sifa chose Toscarter Island and gave Cattleya the ritual details for summoning Miss Viri to deliver Roselle’s Diary pages.
• Sifa arrived at Toscarter Island with Chik, Caven, and Nefi, booked rooms, and wrote a report about the Fountain of Youth investigation and the Sea of Ruins.
• Kardashian appeared behind Sifa, said something about him had changed, and described her gains and a familiar aura she had sensed.

Sifa gave Kardashian money and suggested she disguise herself before going out, then attended the Tarot Club gathering, where the Sun offered a method for separating mental corruption from Beyonder characteristics. The chapter left Sifa and the Hanged Man accepting the Sun’s knowledge without offering anything in return.

• Sifa gave Kardashian money for her walk and advised her to change her appearance, so she transformed into an ordinary-looking male adventurer and left.
• At the Monday Tarot Club gathering, Sifa noticed that the Hanged Man, the Moon, and the Sun had recently advanced.
• Audrey and Fors apologized to the Fool for not obtaining any pages of Roselle’s Diary, while Sifa offered two pages he had found.
• The Sun told the World that he had obtained a method for separating mental corruption from a Beyonder characteristic.
• The Hanged Man and Sifa asked what they could offer for the method, but the Sun gave it to them as thanks for their past help.

At the Tarot Club, Sifa learned ways to remove mental corruption from Beyonder characteristics and realized his Steal Skill could help with potion preparation. Klein then used the World to offer Groselle's Travels to Audrey, who agreed to consider buying it, while the Psychiatrist characteristic remained unavailable for a few more days.

• The Sun shared two methods for separating mental corruption, and Sifa recognized that his Steal Skill could temporarily steal corruption while a potion was being prepared.
• The Hermit added that an Unshadowed of the Sun pathway could directly purify mental corruption within a Beyonder characteristic.
• The World asked the Sun about Groselle's Travels, and Sifa confirmed that the book had existed for at least three thousand years.
• The World offered the mystical book for eight thousand pounds, and Audrey asked about its properties before saying she would consider the purchase.
• The World told Audrey that progress on the Psychiatrist Beyonder characteristic would take a few more days.

Chapter Summary: “Dangerous Hunter (Happy New Year)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Tarot Club discusses obtaining a powerful offensive mystical item. The World, acting for Klein, asks The Hermit to watch for one, though she has none available.
• Sifa offers an alternative: introducing The World to a powerful Sequence 5 Hunter—secretly promoting his own identity as “Rayleigh.” The World says he will consider hiring him.
• The World commissions Miss Magician to visit Williams Street every few days and report anything unusual. He warns her not to investigate personally, implying the location contains something dangerous and connected to the Hunter Pathway. Fors accepts the task for £100.
• The World announces that the Church of Storms has resolved the crisis at Bansy Harbor. The harbor has effectively been destroyed and will no longer exist, demonstrating the Church’s ruthless response to the threat connected to the King of Angels Medici.
• The Hanged Man reveals that the bounty on the Hunter and adventurer Rayleigh has risen dramatically from £2,500 to £18,000 after Rayleigh severely wounded Vice Admiral Deep Sea and forced him to flee.
• The group discusses Rayleigh’s growing reputation, his possible ties to the Church of Storms, and his former association with Iron-Blooded Brigadier General’s ship, the Wavebreaker. Rayleigh’s fame has also increased the ship’s reputation and attracted many unaffiliated pirates.

Character Developments

• Sifa/Rayleigh: Continues concealing his identity while quietly exploiting his reputation. He is alarmed by the enormous bounty placed on him and amused that his fame is unintentionally helping advertise the Wavebreaker.
• Klein/The World: Demonstrates careful planning by seeking offensive support, investigating Williams Street through Fors, and controlling the flow of information at the Tarot Club.
• Fors/Miss Magician: Accepts a dangerous investigative commission despite her hesitation, showing growing willingness to become involved in higher-level matters.
• Alger/The Hanged Man: Provides important information about Bansy Harbor and Rayleigh’s activities, though his silence suggests he may not yet have access to the Church of Storms’ highest circles.
• Cattleya/The Hermit: Recognizes the significance of Rayleigh’s achievements but deliberately avoids revealing her knowledge of him.
• Audrey/Justice: Reacts with surprise and curiosity to Rayleigh’s rapidly increasing bounty.

Significant Themes

• Reputation and unintended consequences: Rayleigh’s victories increase his bounty and danger, but they also strengthen the reputation of those associated with him.
• The cost of power: The destruction of Bansy Harbor shows how organizations such as the Church of Storms eliminate threats without regard for collateral damage.
• Secrecy and identity: Sifa benefits from operating under an alias, while the Tarot Club members carefully conceal what they know about one another.
• Dangerous investigation: Klein’s warning about Williams Street emphasizes that knowledge of supernatural events can itself be hazardous.
• Political and factional influence: The actions of churches, pirate admirals, and major captains shape the lives and reputations of individuals across the sea.

Character Interactions

• Sifa offers himself indirectly to Klein through the identity of Rayleigh, creating a humorous layer of hidden self-promotion.
• Klein entrusts Fors with surveillance of Williams Street, expanding cooperation between them.
• The Tarot Club reacts collectively to the destruction of Bansy Harbor and the revelation of Rayleigh’s bounty.
• Alger’s information prompts the group to reassess Rayleigh’s power and connections, while Cattleya silently withholds what she knows.
• The discussion links Rayleigh’s personal achievements to the rising prominence of Iron-Blooded Brigadier General and the Wavebreaker.

Chapter Summary: “Clues”

Key Plot Points and Events

• During the Tarot Club gathering, Moon asks whether Sanguine Barons must use the Acting Method to digest their Beyonder Characteristics. The Hermit explains that they do not, because Sanguine are naturally born as Vampires, while humans who acquire the characteristics must act.
• The Hermit reveals the sequence structure of the Moon Pathway: Apothecary (Sequence 9), Beast Tamer (8), Vampire (7), Potions Professor (6), Scarlet Scholar (5), and Shaman King (4).
• Moon insists on distinguishing Sanguine from potion-created “Vampires,” once again emphasizing his pride in his race.
• After the gathering ends, Sifa returns to the inn and discovers Kardashian watching over him while he participated in the meeting above the Gray Fog. She says she stayed because his unusual condition might interfere with his promise to her.
• Sifa, Kardashian, and their companions travel back to Sonia Island using the Traveler’s Gazetteer and spend the night in Glen Town, intending to return to the Explorer the following day.
• Oswald’s Headless Messenger delivers a letter without entering the room, apparently intimidated by Kardashian. The letter reports that Cyril’s people have found a black-haired young man resembling Li Rui/Lin Rui on Phuket Island, roughly one hundred nautical miles from Sonia Island.
• Sifa realizes this may be his long-awaited lead and plans to investigate Phuket Island, which they can reach by the following evening.

Character Developments

• Moon: His pride and sensitivity regarding his Sanguine identity become increasingly evident. He refuses to be categorized as a human-made Vampire, even though he is eager to learn more about advancement within the Moon Pathway.
• The Hermit/Cattleya: She begins integrating into the Tarot Club by providing useful and authoritative information, demonstrating her knowledge of Beyonder pathways and the Church of the Earth Mother.
• Sifa: He remains cautious about revealing his connection to the Tarot Club and is alert to the possibility that Kardashian might discover his secrets. He also receives a major breakthrough in his search for the mysterious youth connected to his past.
• Kardashian: Her behavior suggests growing concern and attachment to Sifa, despite her insistence that she is only protecting the agreement between them. Her increasing resemblance to a human is also noted.
• Oswald and Cyril: Though absent, they advance Sifa’s investigation by finally locating a possible clue about Lin Rui.

Significant Themes

• Identity and self-definition: Moon’s insistence that he is Sanguine rather than a Vampire highlights the importance of birth, culture, and personal identity versus labels imposed by others.
• Secrecy and trust: Sifa worries that Kardashian may notice his hidden activities, while Kardashian claims not to care about his secrets. Their relationship continues to balance suspicion, obligation, and growing familiarity.
• Knowledge and information exchange: The Tarot Club functions through the sharing and trading of occult knowledge, with the Hermit’s contribution strengthening her place among the members.
• Long-awaited discovery: The letter marks a turning point in Sifa’s search, transforming an old, uncertain objective into an immediate investigation.

Character Interactions

• Moon asks the Hermit about Sanguine advancement, while Audrey seeks further information about the Moon Pathway.
• Sifa silently pokes fun at Moon’s pride but deliberately allows Cattleya to answer, helping her establish herself within the group.
• Kardashian watches over Sifa while he is unconscious or appears asleep, leading to a guarded but revealing exchange about her motives.
• Sifa teasingly compliments Kardashian to distract her from the messenger’s arrival; she recognizes the flattery but refuses to let it alter their agreement.
• The arrival of Oswald’s letter connects Sifa’s present journey with his past search and gives him a concrete destination: Phuket Island.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

Near noon, Sifa returns to the Explorer and discovers the ship has been occupied by Dean Wengris, a representative of the Iron and Blood Cross Order. Wengris has held the crew aboard for two days but has not harmed them. He introduces himself and explains that he came because the Order believes Sifa may wish to join. In private, Wengris asks whether Sifa is willing to worship the Order’s Lord and accept its ideals. Sifa refuses to feign faith, stating that his real interest is obtaining advancement potion formulas or prepared potions. He offers cooperation and services in exchange. Wengris accepts Sifa’s honesty and says the Order is willing to deal with valuable individuals, though Sifa must accomplish something more impressive than driving back Vice Admiral Deep Sea. Sifa hints that he may soon challenge the Hell Admiral. Wengris then departs using a powerful Flame Spear, revealing himself to be an Iron-blooded Knight and a demigod. Once he is gone, Sifa orders the Explorer to set sail.

Character developments

• Sifa demonstrates caution, composure, and pragmatic independence. He immediately prepares for battle when he senses danger, prioritizes the safety of his crew, and refuses to compromise his lack of religious faith. His goal remains practical: acquiring advancement resources through mutually beneficial cooperation. His confidence is also evident in his willingness to suggest that he may defeat the Hell Admiral.
• Dean Wengris is revealed as powerful, well-informed, and ideologically passionate, but also controlled and flexible. Although he represents an organization viewed as fanatical, he is willing to negotiate with Sifa rather than force conversion.
• The crew, particularly Nelson, remain tense but unharmed, showing that Dean’s occupation was restrictive rather than openly violent.

Significant themes

• Pragmatism versus ideology: Sifa is interested in tangible benefits rather than the Order’s religious beliefs, while Dean seeks both ideological converts and useful allies.
• Secrecy and revelation: The Order opposes the churches’ policy of hiding Beyonders from ordinary people and wants to expose the supernatural nature of the world.
• Power and mutual respect: Dean’s status as a demigod establishes the Order’s strength, but the conversation suggests that cooperation can exist between powerful factions even without shared beliefs.
• Patience and long-term strategy: Both men accept that trust and future cooperation will depend on Sifa proving his value over time.

Character interactions

Sifa first checks with Nelson to ensure the crew and important members such as the Doctor and Harry are safe. During his private conversation with Dean, the two carefully test each other: Dean probes Sifa’s beliefs and history, while Sifa makes clear that he will only cooperate on practical terms. Their exchange remains polite but carries an undercurrent of threat and evaluation. Despite their differences, they reach a tentative understanding based on patience, potential value, and future accomplishments.

Chapter Summary: “Talisman”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Phuket Island is introduced as a poor, underdeveloped island used mainly as an occasional supply stop and private port for pirate or irregular vessels.
• Sifa, accompanied by Kardashian in her attached form, brings Caven and Chik ashore from the Explorer to search for a mysterious black-haired, yellow-skinned boy named either Li Rui or Lin Rui.
• After settling into a shabby inn, the group eats at the town’s only mediocre restaurant. Sifa explains that they lack a photograph or other identifying object, making divination impossible and forcing them to search manually.
• They go to the Old Eucalyptus Tree Bar to ask questions, but before entering, Sifa sees a cloaked person fleeing the bar.
• Several men pursue the cloaked figure, led by a heavily jeweled nouveau riche man whom Sifa recognizes as the masked client who previously commissioned the search for the missing boy at a pirate gathering.
• The fleeing person is shot at, falls, and is revealed to be a frightened fifteen- or sixteen-year-old boy with black hair and black eyes. Sifa immediately recognizes him as the target from the photograph.
• Sifa orders Chik and Caven to stop the pursuers and chases the boy into an alley, insisting that he means no harm.
• The nouveau riche orders his men to kill Sifa’s companions, but Chik and Caven use an imitation of gunfire to frighten the attackers and gain the advantage.
• The boy continues fleeing and begins chanting while drawing an elaborate symbol in the air. A spark of fire appears at his fingertip, and the symbol resembles a talisman, unlike the magical markings familiar to Sifa.

Character Developments

• Sifa demonstrates persistence and initiative by personally leading the search despite having little information to work with. Once he identifies the boy, he immediately protects and pursues him rather than allowing the client’s men to capture him.
• Caven remains practical and observant, pointing out that divination is impossible without something connected to the target.
• Chik provides experience and support during the confrontation, helping neutralize the pursuers alongside Caven.
• The target boy, Li Rui/Lin Rui, is established as frightened, mysterious, and capable of supernatural abilities. His use of talisman-like symbols suggests a magical tradition unfamiliar to Sifa.
• The nouveau riche client is revealed to be actively searching for the boy and willing to use violence, despite wanting him captured alive. His presence suggests that the original missing-person commission may conceal dangerous motives.
• Kardashian continues accompanying Sifa in her attached form but does not directly participate in the events of the chapter.

Significant Themes

• Isolation and economic decline: Phuket Island’s poverty, emptiness, and lack of development create an atmosphere of stagnation and neglect.
• The unknown and cultural difference: The boy’s appearance, name, and unfamiliar magical techniques suggest the existence of a people or civilization outside Sifa’s usual experience.
• Pursuit and hidden motives: Sifa’s search intersects with the client’s more aggressive pursuit, raising questions about who is trustworthy and why the boy is being hunted.
• Recognition and discovery: The target is found unexpectedly, but his appearance immediately opens a deeper mystery concerning his identity and powers.
• New forms of magic: The talisman-like symbol introduces a magical system distinct from the markings known in Sifa’s world.

Character Interactions

• Sifa explains the mission to Caven and Chik, revealing the limitations of their search and strengthening their cooperation.
• The three travelers share a poor meal and discuss how to proceed, establishing their working relationship.
• Sifa recognizes the client from a previous encounter, linking this island incident to the earlier missing-person commission.
• The client’s men attack Sifa’s group after Sifa intervenes, but Caven and Chik protect their captain through deception and intimidation.
• Sifa attempts to reassure the fleeing boy, calling him by both possible names and promising that he means no harm, but the boy remains terrified and responds by preparing an unfamiliar magical technique.

Chapter Summary: “The Mysterious Youth (Monthly Vote Request)”

Plot and events

Sifa encounters a mysterious black-haired youth who can draw simplified, pictographic “talismans” in the air. The youth creates fire arrows, uses an invisibility talisman by pressing a symbol against his chest, and later forms a flaming whip. Sifa realizes these techniques resemble supernatural abilities but do not appear to come from the Beyonder system, suggesting the youth belongs to an unfamiliar mystical tradition.

Conflict and escalation

When Sifa tries to communicate, the youth continues attacking. Sifa defends himself with fire and forces the invisible youth into view using exploding Fire Crows. A powerful, blue-skinned bearded man then enters the alley and attacks the youth. The youth escapes into a courtyard, but the pursuer follows, spreading frost and emitting a corpse-like stench. Although the youth’s fire whip barely harms him, the bearded man overwhelms and throws him into a nearby home.

Sifa’s intervention

A pillar of golden, sacred light suddenly strikes the bearded man, severely burning him. The man uses black mist to withstand the attack temporarily and escapes through the walls. Sifa reveals that he summoned or caused the holy attack, then persuades the youth to accompany him by arguing that remaining alone will attract more dangerous enemies. He compensates the frightened homeowner with gold for the damage.

Character developments and interactions

The youth remains suspicious and wary of Sifa but agrees to go with him after seeing Sifa protect civilians and drive off the bearded pursuer. However, he attempts to escape almost immediately. Sifa knocks him unconscious with his scabbard rather than killing him and carries him away. He also orders Kardashian to erase the homeowner’s memories, showing Sifa’s concern for secrecy and innocent bystanders. Sifa presents himself as a hunter and adventurer who fights pirates, contrasting himself with the violent threats pursuing the youth.

Themes

The chapter emphasizes the mystery of competing supernatural systems, contrasting traditional Talisman-based powers with Beyonder abilities. It also highlights Sifa’s growing role as a protector and practical negotiator: he uses force when necessary but avoids unnecessary killing, compensates victims, and protects civilians from the consequences of supernatural conflict. Trust remains fragile, as the youth accepts Sifa’s help only reluctantly and still tries to flee.

Ending

Sifa takes the unconscious youth to the docks to reunite with Caven and leave town, while Kardashian remains behind to conceal the incident.

Chapter Summary: “Destined One”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• A black-haired boy awakens in a small room aboard a ship. Alert and distrustful, he creates a fire spell and uses a dark talisman to make himself invisible.
• He sneaks through the ship and reaches the deck, discovering that he is surrounded by open sea.
• Sifa, posing as the adventurer and hunter Rayleigh, notices the boy through the Spirituality Threads revealed by his String Puppet artifact. He warns the boy not to jump overboard, but the boy attempts to escape anyway.
• The boy jumps over the railing and is later caught in a fishing net being hauled aboard. He escapes the net and climbs the mast, refusing to come down.
• When Sifa questions him, the boy angrily reveals that he believes Sifa wants to take something from him. He insults Sifa, especially because of his distrust of outsiders and perceived racial differences.
• Sifa introduces himself as Rayleigh. The boy recognizes the name and the hunter’s notorious reputation, including his bounty and past victories, but remains suspicious because Sifa cannot formally prove his identity.
• Several hostile ships approach the Explorer and demand that Sifa hand over the boy. Sifa responds by conjuring a flaming bow and destroying the bow of one ship, frightening the attackers into retreat.
• Sifa invites the boy to eat. Hungry despite his resistance, the boy accepts and later gives his name: Lin Rui.
• During their meal, Sifa asks where Lin Rui comes from and whether he is a Beyonder. Lin Rui refuses to reveal his origin, rejects Beyonders as practitioners of “evil ways,” and declares that he is a “Destined One.”

2. Character Developments

• Lin Rui is established as highly cautious, resourceful, and magically capable. He uses invisibility and fire-based abilities to escape, but his fear and suspicion make him impulsive and confrontational.
• His hunger and eventual willingness to share his name show that his hostility is partly defensive. Although he does not trust Sifa, he begins to accept limited assistance.
• Lin Rui’s declaration that he is a “Destined One” suggests a strong personal identity or special status, while his refusal to discuss his origins creates mystery around his background.
• Sifa/Rayleigh demonstrates patience, humor, confidence, and considerable power. Rather than forcing Lin Rui to cooperate, he tries to calm him through conversation and food.
• Sifa’s effortless defeat of the pursuing ships confirms his formidable reputation and gives Lin Rui evidence that his claim to be Rayleigh is genuine.
• Sifa also shows curiosity about Lin Rui, particularly his origins and unusual abilities, and appears interested in learning more rather than simply taking advantage of him.

3. Significant Themes

• Trust and suspicion: Lin Rui assumes Sifa is pursuing him and repeatedly attempts to escape, while Sifa tries to establish trust through reassurance and hospitality.
• Identity and reputation: Sifa’s name carries significant weight, but reputation alone is not enough for Lin Rui, who demands proof. Lin Rui likewise presents himself through the mysterious title of “Destined One.”
• Freedom versus pursuit: Lin Rui’s escape attempts contrast with the external forces hunting him, while the ship becomes both a temporary refuge and a place from which he cannot easily flee.
• Power and restraint: Sifa possesses overwhelming strength but uses it selectively, defeating the pursuers without harming Lin Rui or coercing him into revealing information.
• Prejudice and cultural division: Lin Rui’s insult toward Sifa reflects fear and hostility shaped by racial or cultural differences, while Sifa challenges him to speak more politely and judge him as an individual.

4. Character Interactions

• Lin Rui and Sifa begin with an adversarial encounter: Lin Rui tries to escape, while Sifa calmly tracks and addresses him.
• Their exchange on the deck establishes their contrasting personalities—Lin Rui is defensive and aggressive, whereas Sifa is relaxed, witty, and confident.
• The approaching ships force them into an indirect alliance, as Sifa protects Lin Rui rather than handing him over.
• At the meal, their relationship softens slightly. Sifa provides food and drink without demanding immediate information, and Lin Rui responds by revealing his name.
• Their conversation ends with a major mystery: Lin Rui refuses to identify his homeland, denies being a Beyonder, and claims the enigmatic title of “Destined One.”

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sifa asks Lin Rui about the unfamiliar term “Destined One.”
• Lin Rui explains that Destined Ones are born with a divine mission and possess Holy Seals, marks associated with particular gods. These seals identify their allegiance, abilities, enemies, and allies.
• Lin Rui refuses to reveal his own Holy Seal, emphasizing that doing so would expose his identity and secrets.
• He explains that Destined Ones borrow power from gods through Hand Seals and Divine Talismans. Directly channeling divine power would destroy them, so these techniques act as a controlled method of manifesting different abilities.
• Sifa learns that Lin Rui’s homeland has multiple gods and a major conflict between Destined Ones and Potion-system Beyonders. Destined Ones consider potion users heretics who seek to steal divine power.
• While eating ravenously after going three days without food, Lin Rui reveals that unknown people have been following him since he arrived on the Southern Continent.
• Lin Rui also shares that he fled his homeland after his fiancée and her family broke off their engagement. He hopes to become powerful enough to prove them wrong.
• He asks Sifa to escort him to Bayam, offering payment in the form of an unusual object resembling, but not exactly matching, a mystical item.
• When Sifa hesitates, Lin Rui attempts to pressure him by threatening to reveal that Sifa knows his secrets. Sifa agrees in principle but demands more information about the pursuers and insists on proper payment.

Character Developments

• Sifa remains observant, skeptical, and opportunistic. He carefully questions Lin Rui to understand the foreign power system while using food to manipulate Lin Rui into answering.
• Sifa begins comparing Destined Ones to the Blessed of the churches and recognizes Holy Seals as a possible means by which gods locate and empower their followers.
• Lin Rui is shown to be secretive and distrustful, refusing to disclose his Holy Seal or homeland. However, hunger, fear, and his need for protection force him to reveal significant information.
• Lin Rui’s boastful determination is revealed to be partly driven by wounded pride over his broken engagement. Despite his apparent confidence, he is vulnerable and dependent on Sifa’s help.
• Lin Rui’s desperate appetite emphasizes how long he has been fleeing and living under pressure.

Significant Themes

• Competing paths to power: The chapter contrasts divine empowerment through Destined Ones with the Potion System, showing that each side views the other as illegitimate.
• Factional conflict and secrecy: Holy Seals connect individuals to gods and determine political and personal alliances, making identity dangerous to reveal.
• Divine power and control: Gods provide immense power, but Hand Seals and Divine Talismans are necessary to regulate and shape it.
• Exile and ambition: Lin Rui’s journey is motivated by rejection and the desire to prove himself, blending personal resentment with a larger supernatural conflict.
• Trust and leverage: Sifa and Lin Rui exchange information reluctantly, each trying to gain an advantage while negotiating a potentially useful alliance.

Character Interactions

• Sifa questions Lin Rui about Destined Ones, gods, Holy Seals, and his abilities, while Lin Rui answers only when pressured.
• Sifa humorously controls Lin Rui’s access to food, using the promise of a turkey to make him explain the Destined Ones’ power system.
• Lin Rui accuses Sifa and his companions of being heretics, while Sifa privately analyzes the ideological conflict behind that accusation.
• Lin Rui tries to manipulate Sifa into providing protection by threatening to expose his secrets.
• Sifa does not accept the threat outright; instead, he calmly sets conditions for escorting Lin Rui to Bayam, establishing a cautious and transactional partnership.

Chapter Summary: “White Graveyard”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sifa returns to his room with Kardashian, who emerges from a pool of viscous black liquid that had disguised itself as his clothing. He comments approvingly on her increasingly adventurous appearance.
• Kardashian warns Sifa to distance himself from Lin Rui, whom she suspects may originate from the West Continent. She cautions that becoming involved in his affairs could make protecting Sifa more difficult.
• Sifa refuses Kardashian’s suggestion to use hypnosis or dream infiltration to investigate Lin Rui. He explains that Lin Rui is a “Destined One,” effectively someone connected to a god, making psychic intrusion extremely dangerous.
• Kardashian leaves to get some air, presumably relying on Psychological Invisibility to avoid detection.
• Sifa summons the Book of Mysteries and uses its Message Board to ask the Watchers about the West Continent, believing entities beyond the dimensions may possess reliable knowledge of it.
• Meanwhile, Ross Bob meets the captains of two ships he hired to capture someone. They report that the target was protected by the powerful Hunter Rayleigh, who drove them off.
• Ross angrily berates the captains until they explain that Rayleigh is a notorious pirate hunter with an £18,000 bounty and enough strength to repel Vice Admiral Deep Sea.
• Ross is then informed that the White Graveyard has arrived. He becomes visibly frightened and hurriedly prepares to meet its captain, Anders Mochetti.
• The White Graveyard approaches like a massive floating tombstone, accompanied by crows and an eerie silence. Its pale, corpse-like crew and infestation of maggots and sea cockroaches horrify Ross.
• Ross enters the ship’s freezing, mausoleum-like captain’s cabin to meet Anders, ending the chapter on a suspenseful note.

Character Developments

• Sifa demonstrates caution and strategic judgment by refusing to tamper with Lin Rui’s dreams or mind, recognizing the danger of interfering with someone favored by a god. His curiosity about the West Continent remains strong, but he seeks information through a safer supernatural channel.
• Kardashian continues acting as Sifa’s protector while showing growing concern over the risks surrounding Lin Rui. Her increasingly sophisticated clothing also suggests a developing sense of individuality and adaptation.
• Ross Bob is revealed as wealthy, arrogant, and dependent on hired muscle. Despite his bluster toward the captains, he is clearly intimidated by powerful figures such as Rayleigh and Anders Mochetti.
• Hunter Rayleigh gains further reputation as an exceptionally formidable figure, respected even by experienced captains.
• Anders Mochetti is introduced indirectly as a terrifying and influential presence associated with the grotesque White Graveyard.

Significant Themes

• The danger of divine connections: Lin Rui’s status as a Destined One places him beyond the reach of ordinary supernatural investigation.
• Caution versus curiosity: Sifa wants knowledge about the West Continent but balances that desire against the dangers of provoking gods or powerful beings.
• Power and reputation: Rayleigh’s bounty and achievements establish how reputation can deter conflict before it begins.
• Death and the macabre: The White Graveyard, corpse-like sailors, tombstone imagery, crows, and the freezing cabin create an atmosphere of supernatural death and dread.
• Hidden power systems and worlds: Sifa’s interest in the West Continent hints at broader mysteries and possibly an alternative supernatural system beyond what he currently understands.

Character Interactions

• Sifa and Kardashian discuss Lin Rui and the West Continent, with Kardashian urging restraint and Sifa explaining why psychic interference is unsafe.
• Sifa independently consults the Book of Mysteries and the Watchers for information.
• Ross confronts and insults the captains who failed to capture his target, while they defend themselves by emphasizing Rayleigh’s overwhelming strength.
• Ross’s fearful reception of the White Graveyard contrasts sharply with his earlier arrogance, underscoring the power Anders Mochetti holds over him.

Chapter Summary: “Connection Weakens”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ross reports to the elderly Mr. Anders after failing to capture Lin Rui. He blames Hunter Rayleigh for interfering.
• Anders removes Ross from the mission and assigns the pursuit to Captain Howl Constantine, known as the Vice Admiral Deep Sea.
• Constantine arrives in a disturbing, sea-like manner, emitting a fishy odor and leaving mucus behind. Anders gives him Lin Rui’s photograph and orders him to capture Lin Rui alive, while allowing the rest of Rayleigh’s crew to be killed.
• After Ross leaves, Anders discusses the mission with the injured bearded man from Phuket Island. The man warns that Hunter Rayleigh is extremely powerful and that Constantine has already been defeated by him once.
• Anders explains that Constantine is strongest at sea and reveals that even if he fails, he is expected to weaken Rayleigh’s crew before Anders’s forces attack.
• Meanwhile, aboard the Explorer, Sifa examines the mysterious fragment from the Sea of Ruins dreamscape.
• Lin Rui discovers that his connection to the Celestial God has weakened because of the great distance from his original location. As a result, most of his divine arts no longer function, leaving him with only basic abilities such as Stealth and Fire Arrow.

Character Developments

• Ross becomes more fearful and submissive after another failure. Anders gives him one final warning, making clear that future failure will have severe consequences.
• Mr. Anders is revealed as calculating and strategically ruthless. He does not rely entirely on Constantine’s success and has prepared a backup plan to exploit any damage Constantine causes.
• Howl Constantine / Vice Admiral Deep Sea is introduced as an eerie, physically abnormal pirate admiral with a powerful reputation and a strong connection to the sea. He accepts the contract without hesitation.
• The injured bearded man shows continued concern about Rayleigh’s strength and admits that Anders’s mysterious aid was necessary for him to survive.
• Lin Rui faces a major limitation: his supernatural abilities are weakened by distance from the Celestial God, forcing him to reassess his capabilities.
• Sifa remains observant and investigative, studying the mysterious fragment while monitoring events aboard the ship.

Significant Themes

• Power and preparation: Anders demonstrates that power comes not only from strength but also from contingency planning and manipulation.
• The sea as a source of power: Constantine’s identity and abilities are closely tied to the ocean, making the sea his natural battlefield.
• Vulnerability and limitation: Lin Rui’s weakened divine connection shows that supernatural power depends on conditions such as distance and access to a higher source.
• Fear and control: Anders maintains authority through threats, while Constantine’s grotesque appearance and reputation inspire terror even before he acts.
• Uncertainty surrounding supernatural objects: The fragment from the Sea of Ruins remains mysterious, suggesting future importance.

Character Interactions

• Anders questions Ross and reprimands him, then transfers responsibility for the mission to Constantine.
• Anders and Constantine negotiate the terms of the hunt, specifically emphasizing that Lin Rui must be captured alive.
• The injured bearded man challenges Anders’s confidence by warning him not to underestimate Rayleigh; Anders responds by explaining his broader strategy.
• On the Explorer, Sifa encounters Lin Rui struggling with his weakened connection, highlighting the practical consequences of Lin Rui’s reduced powers.