Recaps

Raphael investigated a sealed fortress with Leonard, recovered Beyonder characteristics, and expanded his criminal business while advancing his Zombie acting. After meeting Klein and agreeing to help with several tasks, Raphael infiltrated Sophia’s ball and discovered she was drawing royal military secrets from her guests.

• Raphael joined Leonard in exploring the sealed fortress, where they encountered trapped spirits, Miss S, and a flesh-and-blood monster carrying the escaped Grade 1 Sealed Artifact.
• Raphael recovered Miss S’s Beyonder characteristic and Venn Lopez’s notebook, then chose Wagner, Moor, and Keiko to establish the Mechanic Company as cover for an assassin business.
• Raphael staged a gruesome subway performance with a Zombie, met Postman Amon, and felt his Zombie Potion begin to digest.
• Klein agreed to help Raphael obtain a Wraith characteristic from Fourth Epoch ruins in exchange for several tasks, and told him to attack Sophia but let her escape.
• Raphael sent Leonard a warning about Pallez Zoroast, while Pain’s Hand took Sack’s head and attached it to Wilbert’s body.
• Raphael received Leonard’s agreement to their transaction and prepared to infiltrate Sophia’s banquet after learning she would host an open ball.
• At Sophia’s villa, Raphael hid in a wardrobe with a masked woman and overheard Sophia extract military plans and royal family information from her guests.
• Raphael and the masked woman agreed to investigate separately, but Raphael left for the night, and the woman suspected he had exposed her when black flames appeared where he had been.

Raphael survived an attack by Demonesses, built the Assassin Company, and reported the Aurora Order’s operation to Klein. He entered the First Epoch ruins and reached a strange passage where two versions of his journey converged around the White Jade Orb.

• Raphael rescued Sophia from the masked woman and a Judge, nursed her back to health, and escaped with her after she confessed her feelings.
• Raphael killed Belin after she ambushed him, then reported to Klein and received permission to call on the Fool when in danger.
• Raphael exchanged Beyonder characteristics with Leonard, carried out the Assassin Company’s first killing, and reported the Aurora Order’s operation to the Fool.
• Raphael joined the Aurora Order’s expedition into the ruins, where deceptive strangers and temptations cost the group a member.
• Raphael explored Langya Mountain, gained the Faceless Jade Pendant, and evaded Penglai Immortal Sect disciples in a shifting cavern.
• Raphael recognized that the expedition’s Mr. C was an imaginary replacement and escaped with Xavier through the Black Rift.
• Adam’s Cross burned the imaginary Mr. C and Xavier as Raphael entered a Surreal Passage, then opened a route through the Gray Fog beneath Langya Mountain.
• Raphael reached an illusory pool and a Light Gate in two locations, where the White Jade Orb answered voices and he saw a black mirror reflecting himself.

Raphael confronted the Oldest One’s presence within himself, gained power through the Dark Hut, and began acting as its new master while disrupting events in both worlds. The arc left the Master of the Shadow Cottage facing Raphael after a ritual revealed his claim to the Dark Hut.

• Raphael forced the White Jade Orb to accept his terms, then used it to disrupt George III’s Black Emperor advancement and destroy him.
• The Oldest One revealed his history and Raphael’s inherited gifts, and Raphael agreed to cooperate while retaining control over his choices.
• Raphael entered the Dark Hut, learned about its former masters and the Source of Curses, and gained the ability to influence its connected worshippers.
• Raphael joined the Aurora Order’s Rose Redemption as Oracle A, took the Rose Handkerchief, and assumed responsibility for the Backlund gathering.
• Raphael faced Yan Ruobing beneath Langya Mountain and persuaded her that he could wield Saint-level power, then used a new honorific name to draw power from the Dark Hut.
• Raphael answered Zed’s prayers, learned that the Ancient Sun God’s curse had changed the Giant King’s youngest son, and helped remove the curse from Bradel’s corpse.
• Raphael hosted the Backlund gathering, killed a Sequence 7 Beyonder who attacked a participant, and later told Klein that George III had died and he had become Mr. A.
• The Master of the Shadow Cottage performed a ritual to inspect the changed Dark Hut, where Raphael appeared and announced that it had a new master.

Raphael received Creeping Hunger, pursued a creature tied to the Mother Tree of Desire, and joined forces with Xio, Fors, Maric, Lucia, and Sharron. The arc ended with Raphael and Sharron inside the illusion's castle after trapping a blood monster, where a ghost appeared.

• Raphael staged a frightening funeral prank with Amon's avatar, who gave him Creeping Hunger and then stole Saint Samuel Cathedral before Arianna and the Angel of Concealment recovered it.
• Raphael began conspicuous murders to digest his Serial Killer potion, met Maric and Lucia, and helped Xio investigate disappearances linked to the Stone Eye.
• Raphael and Xio attacked the Beyonders holding prisoners, but the Stone Eye's followers trapped them in a banquet illusion and poisoned Xio.
• Raphael and Xio broke the illusion and escaped with help from Trissy, then returned to Backlund and recruited Fors for their pursuit of the creature.
• Mr. Fool named Raphael the Tarot Club's representative in Backlund, and Raphael entered the Illusion Master's mind to learn that the creature came from the Astral World and served the Mother Tree of Desire.
• Raphael and Sharron agreed to lead the attack while their allies occupied the other Beyonders, but the Illusion Master's avatar pulled them into an illusion where a branch figure claimed the Mother Tree had planted a seed in Raphael.
• Sharron carried Raphael's severed head, built him a body from branches, and helped him enter the castle after trapping a blood-red monster beneath rubble.
• Raphael and Sharron entered the empty castle, where a ghost appeared.