Chapter Summaries

Abner investigated the expedition members in Kabas Town, identified Stephen Hampres as a likely contingency arranged by the Dragon of Imagination, and used Misfortune to disrupt him. At nightfall, the Goddess’s Black Gemstone revealed a path into Yaluolan’s Secrecy, leaving Abner to suspect Yaluolan had an understanding with the Goddess.

• Abner trapped Wallace in Alvin’s Quiz Maze and used the Magic Mirror to examine the expedition members’ thoughts.
• Abner learned that Stephen Hampres’s mind was hidden from the Magic Mirror and suspected he was the Dragon of Imagination’s covert contingency.
• Abner used Prophecy to receive the revelation “Misfortune” and, in Giant Serpent form, cast Misfortune on Stephen.
• Stephen lost his temper after children splashed mud on him, driving Dast away and foiling his attempt to get close to him.
• At nightfall, Abner felt the Goddess’s Black Gemstone let him draw on the town’s Nightmare power and reach deeper into Secrecy.
• Abner realized the Goddess may have anticipated his meeting with Yaluolan and suspected Yaluolan had an understanding with her.

Abner and the group faced monsters born from their fears as the town’s nighttime dream deepened. After Abner protected Elizabeth and the others, he suspected Yaluolan was about to act while the goddess watched.

• Abner reassured Wallace’s bodyguard that the group had come to investigate the town’s strange nights.
• A monster appeared behind Professor Mosar’s student, and Professor Mosar destroyed it with golden flames before more monsters surrounded the group.
• Abner shattered the knight from Elizabeth’s nightmare and had Wallace’s bodyguard restrain the other monsters for Professor Mosar to purify.
• Elizabeth recognized a resemblance between Abner’s actions and Klein Moretti’s, then tried to steady herself.
• When a student tried to flee, monsters seized him, and Professor Mosar urged him to focus on thoughts of safety.
• Abner realized the nightmare had grown more dangerous and turned his attention to Stephen Hampres, expecting Yaluolan to make her move.

Stephen Hampres’s attempt to invoke the Hidden Sage was repeatedly interrupted by accidents, until he transformed into a powerful dragon-like monster. After Abner sent the others to safety, a figure from the Black Gemstone merged with him and turned him into an Annihilation Demonic Wolf, leaving the two ancient Mythical Creatures facing off.

• Stephen tried to recite the Hidden Sage’s Honorific Name but injured himself in a string of accidents and failed to finish it.
• Professor Morsaka saved his student from a dream monster’s acid with a Mystical Item, but some acid struck Stephen and stopped him from speaking.
• Stephen’s Frenzy caused two of Wallace’s men to kill each other, and scales spread across Stephen as he began transforming into a dragon-like monster.
• Abner protected the bar’s other occupants, sent them to the Evernight Church, and prepared to confront Stephen using the Black Gemstone.
• A veiled woman emerged from the Black Gemstone, merged with Abner, and transformed him into an eight-legged Annihilation Demonic Wolf to face the dragon.

Abner entered the deepest layer of Yaluolan’s Nightmare after the Dragon’s fear exposed the Hidden Sage and holy light dispelled the town’s Secrecy. He met Yaluolan’s avatar, followed her to the church, and discovered her true body there, leaving him face-to-face with the woman whose connection to Hosenam remained unclear.

• Abner watched the Dragon and the Magic Wolf fight through their minds as the Dragon’s fear took the form of the Ancient Sun God.
• The manifested Ancient Sun God spoke, “Let There Be Light,” destroying the Hidden Sage’s knowledge goblin and revealing the Nightmare’s hidden town.
• Abner found himself in the deepest layer of the Nightmare without the Goddess’s Black Gemstone, while the Dragon and Magic Wolf remained above.
• Yaluolan’s avatar appeared, said her main body had lost its balance, and led Abner toward the church.
• Abner recognized the Elven Trial Temple reflected in the lake beside the church.
• Yaluolan’s avatar dissolved into a strand of hair and returned to the identical woman seated inside the church, who identified the ability as Mystical Reenactment—Monkey King’s Hair.

Abner met Yaluolan in a church and learned more about his past lives, God's Casket, and the nature of his Transmigration. He realized that his Soul Stones were simplified versions of the Blasphemy Slate, and that his awakenings in other bodies were linked to Characteristics tainted by his contamination.

• Yaluolan served Abner tea and recalled that he had once been Oliver Constantine, the God of Luck, and called himself Goddess's Poem.
• Yaluolan offered to tell Abner everything she knew about his past in exchange for his help, and Abner agreed to hear her out.
• Yaluolan revealed a red-and-black gemstone as Soniathrym's Soul Stone and explained that Abner had used it and Ialdabaoth in experiments that shaped his Transmigration.
• Yaluolan explained how Abner's contamination, the Soren ancestor's Characteristics, and Soniathrym's Soul Stone made the Calamity Seal a vessel for Abner's Transmigration.
• Abner concluded that Soul Stones were simplified versions of the Blasphemy Slate and that his awakenings resembled God Almighty's, though those affected by his Characteristics might suffer misfortune.

Abner learned that Yaluolan was a personality of Hosenam, the Queen of Calamity, and heard how her soul was separated and revived through a Soul Stone. Yaluolan asked Abner to help with the problems that had erupted after she lost her connection to the Unknown, but he suspected their history concealed a deeper scheme.

• Abner considered how his past life as Reinhardt had involved Sauron, the Soren Family, and Soniathrym's Soul Stone.
• Yaluolan revealed that she was one of two opposing personalities of Hosenam, and Abner inferred her identity from their resemblance.
• Yaluolan explained that Sasrir's power had worsened Hosenam's split until the two personalities fought and fell after Abner opened God's Casket.
• Before their fall, Yaluolan entered her Golden Chalice while the other Hosenam hid in the Book of Calamity and retained control of God's Casket.
• Yaluolan said Abner used a Knowledge Moor Soul Stone imprint and the Unknown's help to begin her resurrection, which led to her revival in the Fourth Epoch.
• Yaluolan told Abner that losing access to the Unknown had caused her problems to erupt and driven her to seek his help while hiding from the Hidden Sage.

Yaluolan asked Abner to place her Angel-level duplicate in the Land of Unknown so she could restore her permissions, and he agreed after considering the risks. The chapter ended with Abner asking about Hosenam’s other personality, prompting Yaluolan to complain that Roselle had tricked her.

• Yaluolan explained that Abner could help her regain her permissions in the Unknown by placing her Angel-level duplicate inside his eye.
• Yaluolan said the duplicate could help Abner study mysticism and fight, and reassured him that she could withstand the Unknown’s pollution.
• Abner sent the duplicate into the Land of Unknown, where it stopped before Rhine Calendia’s imprint, while Yaluolan’s decay eased.
• Yaluolan explained that Hosenam had combined characteristics from the Tyrant and Demoness of Catastrophe pathways, leaving aspects of both in her personality.
• Abner asked whether Hosenam’s other personality was in the temple beside the cathedral, and Yaluolan replied that Roselle had tricked her.

Yaluolan explained how Roselle’s schemes involved God's Casket, Hosenam, and the ritual that drew the Hidden Sage and other hidden beings to seek Sefirah Imprints. Abner concluded that he needed to investigate the ritual’s five survivors, and Hosenam appeared and offered to answer his questions in exchange for a promise.

• Yaluolan told Abner that Roselle had promised her the Knowledge Emperor Beyonder Characteristic, a promotion ritual, and a clue to the Book of Calamity, but had helped Hosenam hide from her.
• Yaluolan explained that a century-long ritual using God's Casket’s lid revealed the Knowledge Moor’s Sefirah Imprint and brought the Hidden Sage and other beings after her.
• Abner reasoned that he would need to gather the ritual’s five survivors and learn what they knew, then decided to speak with Hosenam.
• Yaluolan called Hosenam out of a fountain, and Hosenam appeared and agreed to answer Abner’s questions if he promised her one thing.

Abner agreed to help Hosenam escape the Trial Temple and find a Gatekeeper or Undying host, while learning more about her past and Omebella’s death. He left with new questions about Lilith, Badheil, and the ritual Roselle may have intended to perform.

• Hosenam asked Abner to free her from the Trial Temple by finding her descendants and having the remaining Elves perform the Song of Calamity, then help her find a suitable host.
• Yaluolan clarified that her descendants did not count as Hosenam’s, and Hosenam recalled that her own descendants founded the Constantine family.
• Abner agreed to help Hosenam and considered seeking a Gatekeeper characteristic from Patrick Brain, while also planning to meet him about the Wild Hunt medal.
• Hosenam explained that Roselle had taken both God's Casket and Omebella’s Soul Stone, which had been stripped of its Mother Nest imprint.
• Hosenam revealed that Badheil had killed Omebella, possibly to obtain her Sequence 1 characteristic or to complete a ritual for accommodating the Unique.

Abner considered competing theories about Badheil killing Omebella and Lilith’s role in the God of Combat’s downfall, then asked Hosenam to show him the Sailor Pathway’s Mythical Creature Form. At House Hall’s estate, Audrey woke to find Susie confronting a dark figure.

• Abner reasoned that Badheil may have killed Omebella as part of a plan involving her resurrection, or may have killed her without any agreement between them.
• Abner considered whether Lilith and the Goddess had deceived Badheil, and whether a rule in Trunsoest’s Brass Book might have constrained Lilith.
• Abner decided the original story was no longer a reliable guide and asked Hosenam to show him the Sailor Pathway’s Mythical Creature Form.
• Audrey woke at House Hall’s estate and found Susie facing a dark figure in the room.

Audrey sought Mr. Fool’s protection after Escalante arrived with a dangerous suitcase that was about to go mad. Above the Gray Fog, Klein divined the origins and possible use of a Blood Crystal, then noticed Miss Justice’s signal.

• Escalante entered Audrey’s room and asked for help with a suitcase whose appetite and danger had increased after she unsealed it.
• Audrey judged the suitcase to be a powerful Sealed Artifact and chose not to alert her family’s bodyguards, fearing the danger and the scrutiny her secret affiliation would bring.
• Audrey left Escalante under Susie’s watch and used Abner’s Door Opening charm to reach a private room, where she prayed to Mr. Fool.
• Klein divined that the Blood Crystal came from the Death Announcer and was intensely corrupting, and he suspected the ship was linked to Abyssal experiments by Liu Bo.
• Klein’s second divination showed a Blood Crystal being used in a ritual to turn a soul into an egg, suggesting the crystal could enable resurrection.
• Klein set aside the incomplete Blood Crystal and noticed Miss Justice’s Crimson Star signaling him.

Abner rescued Jishengke Wallace from his Quiz Maze and overheard Elizabeth asking Dast about Faceless Beyonders. After seeing Justice pray for help, Abner traveled to Audrey's home and advised Escalante to starve the corrupted box for a few meals.

• Elizabeth and Professor Morsaka escaped Kabas Town with Dast and found the unconscious Jishengke Wallace outside; Wallace woke with no memory of what had happened.
• Elizabeth asked Dast whether Beyonders could change their appearance, and he told her about the Faceless Sequence.
• Abner revealed that he had released Wallace from the Quiz Maze and secretly listened to Elizabeth and Dast's conversation before leaving.
• Abner saw Justice praying and traveled to the Hall Family castle, where he met Audrey and found Escalante with a corrupted box.
• Escalante explained the box's behavior, and Abner advised her to let it go hungry for a few meals.

Abner subdued the dangerous Sealed Artifact and altered its eating habits after a controlled negotiation. He left the box contained and manageable, requiring only about ten pounds of Wolf Fish Canned Food each week.

• The box lunged at Audrey, but Abner hurled it away with Exile and trapped it with Imprisonment.
• The box tried black flames and Teleportation, but Abner's Hidden Space and concealed abilities stopped its attacks and escape attempts.
• Abner used the Book of the Dead and a combination of influence and intimidation to make the box lower its mental defenses.
• Abner altered the box's subconscious, then released the restraints and set the now-quiet suitcase on the table.
• Abner told Audrey that the box now liked only Wolf Fish Canned Food and needed about ten pounds each week.

Abner punished Escalante for endangering Audrey by making her Audrey’s assistant and assigning her care of the Fallen Box. He took Escalante and the box to Enmat Harbor, while Susie vowed not to lose her place as Audrey’s best assistant.

• Abner told Escalante she had to pay for putting Audrey and the Hall Family in danger, and Audrey let him decide her punishment.
• Abner required Escalante to transfer ownership of the Fallen Box to Audrey and serve as her private assistant for three years under a notarized contract.
• Abner made Escalante responsible for feeding the Fallen Box wolf fish and taking it into battle when Audrey needed it.
• Abner took Escalante and the box to a cemetery outside Enmat Harbor so she could learn about wolf fish.
• Audrey hugged Susie and warned her not to risk herself again, while Susie declared that she would not lose her position as Audrey’s assistant.

Klein arranged for Abner to perform a luck-enhancement ritual for Anderson in exchange for money and a lead on the Death Knell revolver. After Klein and Anderson left Toscarter Island without the King of Immortality attacking, Abner appeared and examined Anderson, discovering a powerful concealment around him.

• Klein received Will Auceptin's warning that his Paper Crane was nearly worn out and that Abner might know about the mural's curse of misfortune.
• Anderson asked Klein how to solve his problem, and Klein offered to arrange Abner's help in exchange for 1,500 pounds and a lead on the Death Knell revolver.
• A bar owner delivered Klein the 6,000-pound bounty and warned him that the King of Immortality might intercept his ship.
• Klein and Anderson boarded a passenger ship and left Toscarter Island, but the Death Announcer never appeared to attack them.
• Abner appeared beside Klein and Anderson, and Anderson reasoned that the Death Announcer's apparent absence had been a trap for Gehrman.
• Abner used the Pure White Eye to examine Anderson and noticed a high-level concealment ritual.

Abner removed Anderson’s misfortune and discussed recent events and plans with Klein, including a visit to Miracle City. Later, Audrey questioned Abner above the Gray Fog about what he had done to Escalante.

• Abner accelerated the ritual stealing Anderson’s misfortune, then told him it was lifted.
• Anderson left to test his luck at the passenger liner’s casino while Abner told Klein about his recent meetings and plans.
• Klein mentioned that Queen Mystic wanted to visit Miracle City, and Abner agreed to include her in the arrangements.
• Abner planned a ball in Backlund to expand his connections and settle pending matters.
• Audrey asked Abner why Escalante looked haggard and dry-heaved at the sound of Susie opening dog food.

Abner asked Audrey to help attract investors for his plan to turn Beldan into a film city, then offered to take her to a real Miracle City after finding Queen of Calamity Hosenam. Audrey agreed to go next Monday after the Tarot Club.

• Abner told Audrey that Escalante’s punishment came from the Fallen Box’s new preference for Wolf Fish Canned Food, and Audrey asked him not to change it because Escalante had suffered enough.
• Abner asked Audrey to guide her friends toward investing in Beldan, where he planned to recreate famous landmarks and film settings; Audrey liked the idea but said she lacked the money and authority to invest.
• Abner said he would fund the early stages himself and discussed the management of his Film Company branches.
• Abner told Audrey he had found Queen of Calamity Hosenam in Kabbas and asked when she was free to visit a real Miracle City.
• Audrey proposed going next Monday after the Tarot Club.

Abner learned what the Dragon of Imagination had offered as compensation, while Klein bought Death Knell and received a warning from Reinette Tinekerr about the people seeking him. The chapter left Klein suspecting that Vice Admiral Iceberg Maria was connected to demons and wraiths.

• Princess Vera told Abner that the Dragon of Imagination had promised him Pride's identity, given him intelligence about the long-lived Mr. Gluttony in Constant City, and withheld a suggestion concerning the Goddess.
• Abner considered Mr. Gluttony a possible clue to Silica's death, and Vera warned that the Dragon King would eventually seek revenge.
• Okfa Conakris sold Death Knell to Klein for 9,000 pounds, and Anderson teased Okfa about Klein's frequent restroom visits.
• Klein went to the restroom to receive Danitz's letter requesting a meeting with Vice Admiral Iceberg and heard Reinette Tinekerr warn that those seeking him were wraiths carrying demons.
• Reinette explained that Sharron had asked her to warn Klein, prompting him to suspect that Maria was involved.

Klein arranged a meeting with the Pale Admiral and Vice Admiral Iceberg while Reinette Tinekerr helped shield his hostility toward Senor. In Constant City, Abner and Fors used divination to guide a troubled girl, and Abner hoped the Beyonder manipulating her would act again.

• Reinette Tinekerr warned Klein on Sharron's behalf and offered to block his hostility while he considered the Rose School and Senor.
• Klein replied to Danitz, arranging to meet the two Pirate Admirals near the deserted island where they had dug up Tracy.
• Klein returned to Orfak and Anderson, rebuked Anderson's teasing, and left after Anderson went to carry out a Demigod's task.
• In Constant City, Fors posed as a fortune-teller and helped a sorrowful girl choose a different Fate Tributary.
• Beneath the Maris Bridge, Fors worried that a Beyonder might influence the girl again, while Abner welcomed the possibility of another move.

Valentinus's attempt to drive a factory owner and merchant apart failed when the young woman resisted his Suggestion, and Abner exposed him to learn about Gluttony and the Psychology Alchemists. The chapter left Abner and Fors planning to approach Gluttony at the next gathering, while Klein heard that Senor planned to ambush Helmosuin.

• Valentinus used Suggestion and a staged affair to try to make the factory owner's daughter kill herself and turn her father against the merchant, but his reporter said she had left the river unharmed.
• Valentinus set out for the Lante Club, saw Red Gloves nearby, and used a charm to teleport to the masked lord's building.
• Abner revealed that Valentinus's meeting with the lord had been a dream, then used Amon's Monocle to learn that Gluttony intended to devour Valentinus at Sequence 5 for his ancestral traits.
• Abner told Fors that they would use Valentinus's identity to approach Gluttony at the Psychology Alchemists' next gathering.
• Klein heard his Messenger report that Senor had boarded Blue Mountain Island to track Helmosuin and planned to ambush him next Zhou Tuesday.