Chapter Summaries

Raphael tried to arrange a match between Dwayne Dantès and Viscountess Matilda, but Klein refused and instead asked Raphael to investigate a machinery factory investment. After Raphael left, Klein went to the Loen Charity Education Fund and noticed Audrey Hall seemed downcast.

• Raphael met with Dwayne Dantès and proposed that he meet a noble widow seeking a partner.
• Klein firmly declined Raphael's proposal, and the two discussed the international situation and social issues.
• Klein asked Raphael to investigate the Kent Machinery Factory's product and the risks of investing in it, and Raphael agreed.
• Klein saw Raphael off and told his servants that he found him interesting, encouraging them to accept their connection.
• Klein visited the Loen Charity Education Fund and noticed that Audrey Hall seemed downcast.

Klein and Audrey discussed Raphael’s criticism of the world’s rules and accountability, while Raphael prepared to advance Carter and staged a werewolf appearance before official Beyonders. He ended the performance with a bow that the Mandated Punishers recognized as a curtain call.

• Klein explained to Audrey that Raphael mocked a system where powerful decision-makers escaped accountability.
• Raphael sent Carter to buy the supplementary ingredients for the Hunter potion and planned to obtain a surrendered Hunter’s Beyonder Characteristic.
• Raphael transformed into a werewolf, startled two policemen, and sounded their whistles to summon official Beyonders.
• Raphael fled across the rooftops as the official Beyonders pursued him and reinforcements arrived.
• Raphael stopped and bowed to the Beyonders, and the Mandated Punishers captain identified it as a curtain call.

Raphael escaped Backlund’s official Beyonders by using hypnosis and prepared disguises, while the deacons investigated his victim’s connections. At the Tarot Club, Klein noticed that Audrey still seemed affected by Raphael’s actions.

• Raphael completed digesting his Werewolf potion, disguised himself, and hypnotized a Nighthawks squad into overlooking his presence.
• Raphael slipped between search parties, joined the police patrols, and escaped the encirclement to return home.
• Mendes, Zed, and Oliver discussed Raphael’s escape and focused their investigation on Kaven Thomas’s connections to the Aurora Order.
• Audrey appeared Above the Gray Fog for the Monday meeting, and Klein noticed that she seemed less cheerful than usual.

At the Tarot Club, Emlyn sold a Living Corpse Mystical Item to Cattleya, while Audrey completed her deal with the World for a Zombie Beyonder characteristic and the Spectator-only Heart-Congealing Great Method. She then reported a clue about the Church of Storms’ anger to Alger.

• Emlyn offered his Living Corpse Mystical Item for 4,200 pounds, and Cattleya bought it after Alger declined to bid.
• Audrey told the World she had agreed to pay for the Zombie Beyonder characteristic with gold pounds, and Alger offered to contribute if the deal involved Aurora Order information.
• Audrey manifested the Heart-Congealing Great Method, and the World examined it before agreeing to the transaction.
• Audrey told Alger that someone had called the Church of Storms’ higher-ups cultists, prompting their fury.

At the Tarot Club, Audrey shared information about Raphael, including that he had killed two Mandated Punishers, and refused Leonard’s request to help capture him. The members then discussed Raphael’s fight with the Rose School and learned he had made a fifth Werewolf transformation in Backlund.

• Audrey agreed to share Raphael-related information with Alger for a fee of under five hundred pounds, and Leonard joined the exchange.
• Audrey recounted what Raphael had told her, and Leonard revealed that two Mandated Punishers had been killed; Audrey refused to give Leonard details that could help him capture Raphael.
• Klein decided not to provide Raphael with any Beyonder characteristic beyond Living Corpse, while Audrey resolved to speak with Raphael and set boundaries.
• Emlyn reported that Raphael had helped defeat a Wraith, a Living Corpse, and a Devil from the Rose School, and Alger praised Emlyn’s role in the battle.
• Leonard said Raphael had transformed into a Werewolf for the fifth time in Backlund and had bowed to official Beyonders as if taking a final curtain call, prompting Klein to wonder how much of the potion Raphael had digested.

Audrey traded with Raphael and learned the Aurora Order planned a bloody ritual in Enmat Harbor, but failed to persuade him to help improve the world. Raphael returned home and drank the potion to advance to Sequence 6, leaving him choking in agony.

• Audrey exchanged the Living Corpse characteristic for Raphael’s translated Heart-Congealing Great Method and told him she had sold his Aurora Order information for 500 pounds.
• Raphael revealed that two Aurora Order Oracles had arrived in Enmat Harbor for a planned bloody ritual, and Audrey promised to put the information to use.
• Audrey urged Raphael to help improve the world’s rules, but he rejected the idea and left before she could ask about his killing of two Mandated Punishers.
• Audrey decided to consult Xio and possibly the Hanged Man about controlling Raphael, while Raphael hurried home to advance.
• Raphael mixed the supplementary ingredients with the Living Corpse characteristic and gulped down the potion, then clutched his throat as he struggled to breathe.

Raphael survived his advancement to Living Corpse, and the White Jade Orb expelled the excess Beyonder Characteristics accumulated in his body. It explained that Adam had caused Raphael’s recovered memories and said Adam came looking for him because of Raphael’s bond with the Orb and God Almighty’s attempt to resurrect himself through the Abyss.

• Raphael stopped breathing during the Living Corpse advancement and calmed down enough to complete it.
• The White Jade Orb expelled seven excess Beyonder Characteristics from Raphael and split the Devil characteristic into five pieces.
• The White Jade Orb offered Raphael a Little Jade Body, a Wraith potion formula, and protection from Adam reading his thoughts or erasing memories of their meetings.
• Raphael asked whether the White Jade Orb had sealed his memories, and it explained that the seal had been aimed at it and had protected him from suffering and cosmic attention.
• The White Jade Orb said Raphael recovered memories after meeting Adam, then explained Adam had come because of Raphael’s bond with the Orb and God Almighty’s attempt to resurrect himself through the Abyss.

Raphael learned more about God Almighty and the White Jade Orb’s reasons for investing in him, then examined the abilities he gained after advancing to Zombie. He ended the chapter ready to introduce himself to the two cloth dolls.

• Raphael learned that God Almighty had tried to resurrect himself through the Abyss and that the White Jade Orb would help Raphael deal with him after he became an Angel.
• The White Jade Orb said the True Creator had noticed Raphael and explained that Audrey’s organization was founded by the person renting Sefirah Castle, whom Raphael identified as Dwayne Dantès.
• Raphael stored the expelled characteristics, repaired his spirituality, and reviewed his stronger Zombie state and its new abilities.
• Raphael looked at the two cloth dolls on the floor and said they should introduce themselves.

After advancing to Living Corpse, Raphael found his emotions overly suppressed and decided to wait before taking the Serial Killer potion. He learned the Three Corpse Refining Arts and planned to begin Self Refining, but the costs left his Northern Continent self needing to borrow money.

• Raphael introduced himself to Brook and Nami, then put their dolls away after losing interest in playing with them.
• Raphael recognized that the Living Corpse potion had left him lethargic and chose to rein in his spirituality before taking the Serial Killer potion.
• In Northern Yu Province, Raphael used the Little Jade Body to reach Sequence 6 and received the fourth level of the Demon Source Scripture and the Three Corpse Refining Arts.
• Raphael studied the arts' methods for Self Refining and creating Copper Corpses and Iron Corpses, then decided to focus on Self Refining first.
• In the Northern Continent, Raphael learned substitutes for the required medicinal ingredients and realized he needed to borrow money to afford the refining process.

Raphael planned his further advancement, practiced the Three Corpse Refining Arts, and investigated the Kent Machinery Factory before setting out to visit Dwayne Dantès. A traffic accident brought him face to face with the Red Angel evil spirit, whose appearance convinced him that war was near.

• Raphael planned to refine bronze corpses, rented an abandoned factory for training, and borrowed over six hundred pounds in the West Borough to cover his expenses.
• Raphael practiced the Three Corpse Refining Arts and footwork for several days, then reviewed Carter's information about the Kent Machinery Factory.
• Raphael concluded that the Kent Machinery Factory was likely tied to Feynapotter's intelligence service and decided its investment was too risky with war approaching.
• Raphael took documents to visit Dwayne Dantès, but after a traffic accident he sensed an evil spirit possessing a man across the street.
• Raphael recognized the spirit as the Red Angel and concluded that war was about to begin.

Raphael discovered Melissa Moretti on the team behind Dwayne Dantès’s investment and later received a card from the Snake of Fate. As he traveled to practice, Feysac airships bombed Backlund, signaling that the war had begun.

• Raphael spotted the Red Angel evil spirit possessing Admiral of Hell Ludwell, escaped without being noticed, and went to report his findings to Dwayne Dantès.
• Klein saw Melissa Moretti’s name among the Backlund Technical University project team and accepted Raphael’s report without paying him.
• Carter gave Raphael a card depicting a snake swallowing its tail and reported that the carriage collision involved Doctor Aaron’s carriage and had caused little damage.
• Raphael recognized the card as connected to the Snake of Fate, who had used his Restart ability to become Doctor Aaron’s newborn son.
• As Raphael traveled across Backlund, he heard an explosion and realized Feysac airships had begun bombing the city.

Feysac airships bombed Backlund, and Raphael rescued Harrison from a collapsing building before returning to his apartment. After reflecting on the suffering around him, Raphael drank the Serial Killer potion and found that his advancement brought no pain.

• Feysac airships bombed Backlund, causing widespread destruction and casualties.
• Raphael dodged a bomb, then rescued Harrison from a building that collapsed moments later.
• Raphael ignored the grief and suffering in the streets as he walked back to his apartment.
• Raphael prepared the Serial Killer potion and drank it, realizing his indifference may have eased the pain of advancement.

Raphael drank the “Serial Killer” potion and explored how its abilities complemented his “Living Corpse” powers. After learning more about his sealed memories and George III’s plans, he decided to keep avoiding anything that might expose him as a transmigrator.

• Raphael drank the “Serial Killer” potion, briefly becoming so heavy that he broke a chair before the effect faded.
• The White Jade Orb explained that Raphael’s knowledge of the world came from a book and that his sealed memories would return when he became an angel.
• Raphael recovered memories of George III’s apotheosis plot, including the Great Smog of Backlund and the royal family’s cooperation with powerful factions.
• Raphael examined his new abilities, including “Falling,” which could increase a target’s weight and restrict their movement.
• Raphael recognized that his “Living Corpse” and “Serial Killer” emotions balanced each other, then warned the dolls that they must not reveal themselves as transmigrators.

Raphael prepared to attack the Three Brothers Society after learning that its members had killed Ball and were gathering their forces. He brought Xio Derecha to the raid, intending to uncover the organization behind the gang and implicate MI9, while Xio realized he had set her up.

• Raphael continued practicing and refining three corpses into Copper Corpses while considering plans for an assassination organization.
• Carter told Raphael that Ball and two subordinates had been killed, investigators had disappeared, and the Three Brothers Society was gathering its elite members.
• Raphael summoned his Zombies, sent a telegram for Xio Derecha, and gathered the Mafia leaders and their forces to attack 15 Alec Street.
• The Mafia bombed and fired into the building before the Zombies and gang members charged inside.
• Raphael told Xio he was gathering information on the Three Brothers Society, and she realized he had drawn her into the raid so MI9 might share the blame.

Raphael and the Mafia defeated the Three Brothers Society, and his Copper Corpses killed Wilbert, its Sequence 8 leader. Spirit Channeling revealed that Mr. Paul had ordered the gang’s attack to test whether the Kent Machinery Factory’s operation had been exposed, and Raphael realized the factory had targeted the Mafia for investigating it.

• Carter’s Mafia forces ambushed the Three Brothers Society at 15 Alec Street and quickly overwhelmed its members.
• Raphael’s three Copper Corpses killed Wilbert after he mistook them for living opponents, while Carter and other Beyonder leaders killed another Sequence 9.
• Raphael and Xio used Spirit Channeling on Wilbert, but a secrecy mechanism prevented him from revealing who he served.
• Wilbert’s memories showed that Mr. Paul had ordered the Three Brothers Society to attack the Mafia and withdraw if MI9 or the police intervened.
• Raphael and Xio questioned the scar-faced letter carrier’s spirit and saw him enter the Kent Machinery Factory.
• Raphael concluded that the factory had ordered the gang to kill Ball and the other Mafia informants, then attack the Mafia to check whether its operation had been exposed.

Raphael explained that the Three Brothers Society was a Feynapotter intelligence front, giving Xio a major opportunity for promotion. As Raphael and Xio tried to capture a masked attacker and his partner, they discovered the partner was the Sequence 5 Disciplinary Paladin Paul, who charged at them.

• Raphael told Xio that the Three Brothers Society was a Feynapotter intelligence front and explained how it had targeted the Mafia after noticing their investigation.
• Raphael and Xio agreed that Xio would claim the credit, then Raphael collected corpses and Beyonder characteristics while preparing to leave.
• A masked Cazzari threw a grenade at Wilbert's corpse, but Raphael sent a zombie to deflect it, sacrificing the corpse.
• Xio restrained Cazzari with Imprisonment, and Raphael punched him off the roof, caving in his chest.
• Paul used Exile to cushion Cazzari's fall, revealed himself as a Sequence 5 Disciplinary Paladin, and charged at Raphael and Xio.

Raphael and Xio attacked the Sequence 5 Disciplinary Paladin, Paul, after he tried to rescue the wounded Cazzari. Paul’s powers badly damaged Raphael, but Raphael’s undead body let him survive the exchange as the fight continued.

• Paul used Exile to push Raphael away, then carried the wounded Cazzari toward the street.
• Cazzari used Mental Pierce on a Mafia member, so Raphael ordered the Mafia to leave and joined the fight with Xio.
• Xio imprisoned Paul while Raphael and two Copper Corpses attacked him, but Paul prohibited the corpses from being awakened and sent them collapsing.
• Raphael wounded Paul with his corpse-like fighting techniques, while Xio struck him with her Chill Blade and briefly imprisoned him again.
• Paul used Punishment and Death to weaken Raphael and smash him through a wall, but Raphael survived and taunted Paul for trading blows with a Zombie.

Raphael and Xio fought the badly wounded Disciplinary Paladin, Paul, and Raphael used a hidden hypnosis to help bring him down. After Paul’s final attack failed, Raphael killed him and then executed Cazzari.

• Paul used his disciplinary powers to weaken Xio, but Raphael’s earlier wounds left him badly injured as well.
• Raphael hypnotized Paul and tore out his throat, while Xio countered Paul’s Exile and struck him with five lashes.
• Paul sprang up to unleash Death, but Raphael’s headless Copper Corpse intercepted the blow, allowing Raphael to kill Paul.
• Raphael borrowed Xio’s Chill Blade and stabbed Cazzari through the eye and skull.

Raphael and Xio uncovered the Feynapotter spies’ theft of ironclad blueprints, divided the recovered Beyonder characteristics, and Raphael handed leadership of the Mafia to Carter while planning to try a new pursuit. Xio secured MI9’s help with her future advancement before joining the Tarot Club meeting.

• Xio questioned the spirit of the Disciplinary Paladin and learned that Paul and Cazzari had been ordered to conceal Feynapotter’s theft of the Loen Ironclad’s Steam Engine blueprints and components.
• Raphael gave Xio the Disciplinary Paladin’s characteristic, took the Interrogator’s characteristic, and brought both corpses back to preserve them.
• Carter reported that the espionage case had brought credit to Director Isaacs, and Raphael told him not to expand the Mafia further in Backlund.
• Raphael appointed Carter head of the Mafia and said he would stay in contact while pursuing a more interesting game.
• Xio received MI9’s agreement to help with her Sequence 5 advancement ritual, then joined the Tarot Club meeting and greeted Mr. Fool.

At the Tarot Club, Xio and Audrey warned that Raphael was dangerous and difficult to control, prompting the members to discuss restricting his advancement rather than confronting him directly. The meeting ended with new reports of the Aurora Order’s activity in Enmat Harbor and recent losses in Backlund.

• Xio told the Tarot Club how she and Raphael exposed the spy case at the Kent Machinery Factory and described his battle with a Feynapotter Disciplinary Paladin.
• Xio asked Audrey to help intimidate Raphael, and Audrey explained that he might pretend to repent before disappearing until he could challenge her.
• Klein proposed stopping Raphael from obtaining Sequence 5 characteristics and waiting for him to ask The Fool for help.
• Audrey reported that the Aurora Order seemed to be acting in Enmat Harbor.
• Alger said the Mandated Punishers had killed two important Aurora Order members and several peripheral members in Backlund.