Chapter Summaries

Ye Shunguang experienced an unsettling ordinary school morning with Belle, Wise, and her brother Ye Shiyuan, while struggling with vague memories and guilt. The chapter left her attending class with the feeling that she had forgotten something and that her brother had sacrificed too much for her.

• Ye Shunguang ate breakfast, left for school, and felt an unexplained emptiness despite the peaceful surroundings.
• A sudden rainstorm forced Ye Shunguang to shelter at a bus stop, where she began to question her memories of the familiar road.
• Belle and Wise greeted Ye Shunguang, and she nearly called Wise her little junior brother before dismissing her confusion.
• Belle linked arms with Ye Shunguang, teased Wise into carrying their backpacks, and the three hurried to school together.
• Ye Shunguang entered class and felt guilty as she watched Ye Shiyuan studying at the back of the room.

During math class, Ye Shunguang struggled to focus and wondered why her seemingly perfect life felt unreal. Her friends joined her on the rooftop, and their company quieted her doubts for the moment.

• Yixuan began a lesson on functions while Ye Shiyuan studied, Pulchra slept behind a stack of books, Wise gazed out the window, and Belle read a comic.
• Ye Shunguang gave up on studying and secretly drew cat features on Yixuan in her textbook, then passed notes with Belle about Wise and his possible marriage alliance.
• After class, Ye Shunguang went to the rooftop alone and wondered whether her life was real and whether she was meant to be a peaceful girl or a hero protecting others.
• Belle, Pulchra, Wise, and Ye Shiyuan joined Ye Shunguang on the rooftop with snacks and soda, and she stopped questioning reality as they stood together looking at the sky.

Ye Shunguang found comfort in a warm everyday life with her friends, but the faint voice questioning her reality returned. When the world briefly transformed into monsters, she decided it was time to wake up.

• Belle, Wise, Yixuan, and Ye Shunguang shared food at a street stall, where Ye Shunguang decided that the moment and their presence were real.
• Over the changing seasons, Ye Shunguang settled into her school and family routine and stopped dwelling on the world’s strangeness.
• During choir rehearsal before winter break, Ye Shunguang heard the questioning voice again and saw her classmates turn into monstrous black flowers.
• After the vision ended and her friends gathered around her, Ye Shunguang pretended she was fine and concluded that it was time to wake up.

During the Dreamscape’s cultural festival, Ye Shunguang finally accepted that the perfect year with Belle and Wise was an illusion and used the Azure Nether Sword to return to her heroic self. Griseo appeared after the illusion broke, congratulated her on passing the first trial, and revealed there was a second trial.

• Ye Shunguang wrote a letter recalling the wishes and happy memories she had experienced during the dream, then released a sky lantern with Belle and Wise.
• As the lanterns drifted away, Wise and Belle faded into starlight, and white-haired Ye Shunguang appeared as Ye Shunguang recovered her memories.
• Ye Shunguang admitted she had delayed leaving the dream because she wanted to experience an ordinary, happy life a little longer.
• Ye Shunguang summoned the Azure Nether Sword and used Supreme Emotion Severing, Shaking Mortal Dust to cut through the illusion.
• Griseo appeared with the Signets of [The Stars] and [Daybreak], congratulated Ye Shunguang on passing the first trial, and announced a second trial.

Griseo brought Ye Shunguang into the Azure Nether Secret Realm, where he awakened more of the Azure Nether Sword’s power and reached an abandoned sword platform. In the courtyard beyond, they met a figure resembling Master Yixuan, who called herself a native of the secret realm.

• Griseo led Ye Shunguang through the secret realm, where he discovered its Ethereal Husk Dragons were dreamlike beings that could only be defeated by listening to the Azure Nether Sword.
• Ye Shunguang connected with the sword, used Mortal World to dissolve three Husk Dragons, and fought increasingly powerful Ethereals on the way deeper into the realm.
• The sword platform activated when Ye Shunguang approached, deepening his connection to the Azure Nether Sword as Griseo’s domain helped him attain enlightenment and perform A Single Sword Strike.
• Ye Shunguang sensed a powerful presence ahead and insisted that Griseo stay behind him, but Griseo’s domain quickly lit up the courtyard and explosions followed.
• Ye Shunguang and Griseo entered the courtyard and met a figure nearly identical to Master Yixuan, who recognized the Azure Nether Sword and invited them inside.

Griseo and Ye Shunguang entered the Azure Nether Secret Realm, where Ye Shunguang learned that the sword’s backlash had been harmonized rather than removed. Griseo questioned Yijiang about the swordmasters trapped in the realm and revealed she had destroyed the Azure Nether Sword, but Yijiang refused to explain further.

• 'Yixuan' explained that the secret realm was formed from the Azure Nether Sword’s power and told Ye Shunguang to find three special swords.
• Ye Shunguang merged her mind with the Azure Nether Sword, and 'Yixuan' realized its backlash had been harmonized.
• Wise and Belle used the Taiji duality formation to stabilize the sword’s power while Pelois considered devouring Griseo, Ye Shunguang, and [Primus].
• Griseo told Ye Shunguang that Wise and Belle were temporarily suppressing the backlash, then sent her to find the first special sword.
• Griseo identified 'Yixuan' as Yijiang and asked whether the secret realm held the consciousnesses of past swordmasters.
• Yijiang explained that Azure Nether Sword wielders were trapped in a cycle of fate, and Griseo claimed she had destroyed the sword before asking Yijiang to reveal how to resolve its conflicting forces; Yijiang refused.

Yijiang explained that the Azure Nether Sword was forged from a Strange Object whose Dam stored the senses and memories drained from generations of swordmasters, and that the Azure Nether Secret Realm was that Dam. Griseo recognized the statue’s deeper meaning, leaving Yijiang astonished and questioning who she was.

• Yijiang described how Yunkui Mountain’s founding patriarch forged the Strange Object into the Azure Nether Sword, creating a River to channel its power and a Dam to contain its violent excess.
• Yijiang explained that swordmasters endured the sword’s backlash and could open its floodgates, but the power drained their senses and memories before they died.
• Yijiang revealed that the Azure Nether Secret Realm was the Dam, where deceased swordmasters recovered the memories and senses stored there.
• Griseo admitted she had used [Primus]'s power to challenge the Azure Nether Sword’s fate and reclaim the two forces within it.
• Yijiang explained that accumulated Sword Intent could shield swordmasters from the sword’s backlash, though it only treated the symptoms.
• Griseo recited the statue’s Old Civilization maxims, and Yijiang asked who she was.

Ye Shunguang explored the Azure Nether Secret Realm and learned that its Sword Intent could help her grow stronger. After rescuing Da Pan and Old Zhang from Ethereals, she followed the mercenaries’ trail as Da Pan suddenly raced ahead.

• Yijiang explained to Griseo that the Azure Nether Sword recorded and passed down Sword Intent, and that Ye Shunguang needed to find her own answer in the secret realm.
• Ye Shunguang rescued Da Pan from Ethereals, and he asked her to save his mercenary companions, who had been ambushed by raiders.
• Da Pan led Ye Shunguang to Old Zhang, whom she rescued by defeating the Ethereals, including their leader.
• Old Zhang questioned Da Pan about the missing reinforcements, and Ye Shunguang learned that Da Pan had refused to fight without his sword.
• Da Pan suddenly sprinted away at extraordinary speed, and Old Zhang hurried after him to find the rest of the mercenary group.

Ye Shunguang found Da Pan hiding from a battle and helped him confront his fear of his sword. After she revealed that the raiders had become Ethereals, Da Pan rushed to help his companions, and Ye Shunguang realized the Azure Nether Sword had shaped these memories to show her the stories of three swordsmen.

• Ye Shunguang used the Azure Nether Sword to trace Da Pan southeast and found scattered swords whose memories showed her stories of other swordsmen.
• Ye Shunguang found Da Pan hiding by an artificial rockery and urged him to help his companions.
• Da Pan admitted he feared losing control of his sword and asked Ye Shunguang how to find courage.
• Ye Shunguang told Da Pan that his fear and his wish to protect his companions could coexist as parts of being a swordsman.
• Ye Shunguang told Da Pan the raiders had become Ethereals, prompting him to leave at once to help his companions.
• Ye Shunguang concluded that the Azure Nether Sword had used her memories to recreate the swordsmen whose stories Master Yixuan wanted her to witness.

Ye Shunguang and Da Pan defeated Avarus, helping Da Pan regain his courage and recover his will to fight for his companions. Back in the Azure Nether Secret Realm, Yijiang explained that the swords she sought were Sword Intent formed from swordsmen, and Ye Shunguang continued her trial.

• Da Pan summoned his sword and joined Ye Shunguang in attacking Avarus, then pierced the monster's core while she slowed it with Stagnant Tide.
• Ye Shunguang entered her white-haired form and killed Avarus with Three-Foot Frost Moonlight, after Da Pan trusted her and retreated.
• Da Pan thanked Ye Shunguang for helping him regain his courage, and a radiant white sword dissolved into her hand before he and his companions disappeared.
• Ye Shunguang returned to the Azure Nether Secret Realm and found Yijiang posing for Griseo's painting.
• Yijiang explained that the swords were Sword Intent transformed from swordsmen and that the Azure Nether Sword would open the next door when Ye Shunguang made another's Sword Intent her own.

Hoshimi Miyabi and Hollow Special Operations Section 6 fought to destroy the boulder in the Mine Ancient Array, but a gigantic Ethereal called Kumbhakarna emerged and put them to sleep. As Miyabi finally succumbed to its dream-inducing power, she saw a masked man approaching.

• Hoshimi Miyabi, Tsukishiro Yanagi, Soukaku, and Harumasa fought the high-level Ethereals gathering around the boulder as the Anomalous Corruptive Breath accumulated.
• Hoshimi Miyabi unleashed Myriad Manifestations, destroying the Ethereals and clearing the way to attack the boulder.
• The boulder erupted with Anomalous Corruptive Breath, and Kumbhakarna burst from beneath the ground.
• Kumbhakarna absorbed the torrent of Ether Energy and sent out ripples that filled the squad with sleepiness and visions.
• Soukaku, Tsukishiro Yanagi, and Harumasa lost consciousness, and Hoshimi Miyabi finally stopped resisting after seeing a masked man approach.

Wise found Hoshimi Miyabi training herself to return to a familiar place and hid her in Random Play when Yanagi came looking for her. Miyabi asked Wise to accompany her in future training, then left for the subway, while a strange melon-like scent lingered in his bedroom.

• Wise bought breakfast, returned to Random Play, and found Belle searching for a videotape while wearing only a towel.
• Miyabi arrived at the store in a training trance, and Wise led her into the HDD room to keep her from causing a commotion.
• Yanagi came looking for the missing Section Chief, so Wise hid Miyabi in his bedroom and told Yanagi he had not seen her.
• After Yanagi left, Miyabi told Wise her training had been to return from Lumina Square to a familiar place and that she had followed an intuition to Random Play.
• Miyabi asked Wise to accompany her in future training, and Wise escorted her to the subway after she agreed to reply to Yanagi.
• Wise returned to his bedroom and noticed a peculiar melon-like fragrance on his bed.

Hoshimi Miyabi went to Sixth Street in the middle of the night because she wanted to see Wise, then stayed at his workspace while he treated her injured feet. After leaving alone, she found herself lost at a crossroads, unsettled by feelings she could not explain.

• Hoshimi Miyabi left home late at night and climbed to Belle’s window, frightening Belle into fetching Wise.
• Wise invited Miyabi inside, discovered her feet were scraped from running barefoot, and treated her injuries while Belle teased them.
• Miyabi asked whether Wise wanted her to stay, but left before he could find her shoes or bedding.
• Miyabi walked away from Sixth Street with bandages on her feet and realized she was lost at a crossroads.

Qianjie arrived at the Mine Ancient Array and defeated Kumbhakarna with overwhelming force. After rescuing the unconscious members of Hollow Special Operations Section 6, he introduced himself to Hoshimi Miyabi and pointed her toward Sakura for guidance.

• Qianjie reached the Mine Ancient Array and dismissed the defeated Hollow Special Operations Section 6 members as weaklings.
• Kumbhakarna attacked Qianjie with a beam and Primus-powered ripples, but his flames vaporized both assaults.
• Qianjie tore off one of Kumbhakarna’s tentacles, then shattered its defenses and burned the Ethereal to death.
• Qianjie extinguished the flames, carried the four unconscious operatives to safety, and became their temporary guardian.
• Hoshimi Miyabi awoke and asked Qianjie’s name, and he told her that Sakura was better suited to teach her.

Yuzuha and the House of Oddities fought to protect the old church site as the storage device produced four Notorious Ethereals. Their battle turned desperate, and Lucia arrived just as Yuzuha admitted they could not win alone.

• Yuzuha, Alice, Yidhari, and Mato defended the old church site while they waited for Lucia to arrive.
• The storage device released Avarus, Notorious Dullahan, Corrupted Thracian, and Notorious Thanatos, forcing Yuzuha to assign one opponent to each fighter.
• The Thracian knocked Mato away, Thanatos outsped Alice, Dullahan blocked Yidhari's attacks, and Avarus overwhelmed Yuzuha with Ether beams and flames.
• Yuzuha's group struggled to evade the Ethereals' attacks, and a girl holding a staff appeared and offered to take over.

Lucia returned to the battlefield and helped Yuzuha, Alice, Mato, and Yidhari defeat the four Notorious Ethereals, but the Corruptive Breath device remained active. As more than ten new Notorious Ethereals appeared, the battle continued.

• Lucia arrived and used her dreamlike Ether powers to seal the four Notorious Ethereals, but Anomalous Corruptive Breath began breaking the seals.
• Yuzuha blocked Thanatos's attack while Lucia chained it, allowing Alice, Mato, and Yidhari to destroy it.
• Lucia buffed her companions, and Yuzuha assigned them roles against Avarus, Dullahan, and Thracian.
• Lucia summoned Hati, whose self-destruct attack pulverized the three remaining Notorious Ethereals.
• The spherical device survived, and more than ten Notorious Ethereals emerged as the group prepared to continue fighting.

Eden arrived to aid Yuzuha and the others, destroying the Notorious Ethereals and the device producing Anomalous Corruptive Breath. A year and a half later, New Eridu was safe, and Griseo departed aboard the Ark as her friends watched her leave.

• Eden introduced herself as one of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers and turned the Ethereals into part of a musical performance.
• Eden's golden tide destroyed the remaining Ethereals, forced the Anomalous Corruptive Breath back into its source, and shattered the spherical device.
• A year and a half later, Wise and Belle visited the Great Rift memorial and said goodbye to Griseo as she departed into the sky.
• At Whatever Temple, Yixuan, Yijiang, and Xiaoguang watched Griseo's shooting star while Yijiang said the power she left behind would last a century.
• Griseo looked back on her three years on the planet, boarded the Ark through a star gate, and set out on her journey again.

A year and a half after Griseo saved New Eridu, she departed aboard the Ark as people across the world watched her go. The author then announced that the book was ending and mentioned plans for future stories about Griseo.

• Hollow Zero's danger had fallen by 99% after Griseo defeated the threat in Lemnian Hollow and left lower-level Ethereals for the Void Hunters.
• Wise and Belle visited the Old Capital Fall Memorial and said goodbye to Griseo at Teacher Carole's name.
• Yixuan, Yijiang, and Xiaoguang watched Griseo's shooting star from the roof of Whatever Temple, and Yijiang said the power Griseo left behind would last a hundred years.
• People from Roskelifa, New Eridu, and Blazewood watched the Ark rise into the sky and pass through a star gate as Griseo said goodbye.
• The author announced that the book was ending and said a new Honkai Impact 3rd book was out, with a later story about Griseo going to Dual-Phase Paradise planned.