Chapter Summaries

Charlie Credos faced the God of Death after apparently outwitting him again, while seeking help to find his missing family. The God of Death cursed Mediums outside Creados and left, convinced he had found a way to make Charlie submit.

• The God of Death drove back the encroaching shadows, and Charlie praised his power, further angering him.
• Charlie explained that their three days together had lasted 301 years for him and claimed he had only learned to wield some of the God of Death’s power.
• The God of Death deduced that Charlie had used up power rescuing his grandson from reincarnation and was still searching for his son and daughter-in-law.
• The God of Death warned that Charlie’s grandson carried death’s aura, then demanded to know how Charlie escaped the restrictions; Charlie pretended not to understand.
• The God of Death cursed every Medium outside Creados and departed in his carriage, while Charlie sighed that they had made only one wager.

Old Charlie left the realm of death after warning Arthur to remember his words, while Arthur and his companions camped on the road to Ymir Manor. As Arthur recalled his dream and looked ahead to tomorrow’s full moon, an intense sense of dread suddenly seized him.

• Old Charlie left in a white carriage as countless departed souls followed it, and he told Arthur to remember what Grandpa had said.
• Arthur woke after eight hours of travel and ordered Simon to find a campsite for the night.
• Hunter and Newt prepared dinner while Simon checked his weapons and set up the camp’s watches.
• Arthur volunteered to keep watch, fed Pendragon, and tried to recall the warning from his dream.
• Arthur realized the full moon was tomorrow and was suddenly seized by an unprecedented sense of dread.

Arthur discovered two groups watching his camp and waited in the wilderness, where he used the snakes to drive one group away. He stayed behind as the lone envoy from the Grand Duke of Inner Bay approached, and Arthur’s pointed remark left the envoy staring up in alarm.

• Arthur sent Fuginn and the Blood Scion to investigate the watchers and found two groups near his camp.
• Arthur told Hunter and Newt to travel ahead to the Jia’er Mountains and investigate Ymir Manor, promising to ask Maltz for their travel allowances.
• Arthur stayed in the wilderness with Simon and used the snakes around the camp to drive one group of watchers into retreat.
• Sinkeje introduced himself as the Grand Duke of Inner Bay’s consultant and invited Arthur to Inner Bay with open malice.
• Arthur asked Sinkeje whether he was the Construct Maker, War Elephant, or Bloodshadow Thorn, then pointed at the sky and made Sinkeje look up in alarm.

Arthur and the Blood Scion captured Sinkeje, the Grand Duke of Inner Bay’s Consultant, but the Blood Scion destroyed him before he could be interrogated. The Blood Scion declared their contract fulfilled and departed, while Arthur turned his attention to finding whoever had exposed him.

• Sinkeje recognized the unnatural snowfall as the work of an Arcana-level expert and tried to flee, suspecting his informant had been compromised.
• An ice arrow from the woods pinned Sinkeje down, and the Blood Scion appeared before him; Sinkeje realized the Blood Scion was an Arcana-level member of the Blood Clan.
• Sinkeje pretended to comply while planning to rely on a powerful figure behind him, but the Blood Scion stamped on him and shattered his frozen body.
• The Blood Scion told Arthur that their contract was fulfilled, while Arthur joked that they could have captured a more formidable Consultant.
• The Blood Scion refused to continue because he was still weakened from fighting Shadow Snake Xiudik, and said he needed to find the person who had exposed him before vanishing.
• Arthur remarked that the Blood Scion was more cautious than he was and silently addressed unseen witnesses.

Arthur buried Sinkeje, a Consultant from Inner Bay, and waited for night to perform the [Cat's Orange] ritual while keeping Simon and Pendragon company. The ritual began with a kitten’s meow, but its effects had not yet appeared.

• Arthur used the Blood Scion’s power to search Sinkeje’s body, buried him, and confirmed that the watcher had disappeared.
• Arthur cooked rations and roasted rabbit with Simon, then rested while Simon gathered firewood.
• After night fell, Arthur played with Pendragon and waited until Simon was asleep before starting the [Cat's Orange] ritual.
• Arthur combined Pendragon’s whiskers, catnip, silver vine, salt, dried fish, and a golden acorn in a cast-iron pot.
• A kitten meowed from the pot, delighting Arthur.

Arthur ate the transformed golden acorn, completing Cat's Orange and experiencing visions of Pendragon's past, including Beggar's role in the cat's life. As orange light entered Arthur's body and the ritual finished, a soothing sensation spread through him, but he sensed something was wrong.

• Arthur ate the golden acorn and judged its transformed, savory taste delicious.
• Arthur saw visions of Pendragon eating, claiming territory, and being fed by Beggar, who spoke about mystical arts and the Countess of South Los.
• Arthur watched the doll attack Pendragon and nearly sever one of the cat's hind legs, while Beggar abandoned the injured cat in an alley.
• Arthur's heart pounded near the point of bursting until Pendragon's meow calmed it, and orange light gathered around Arthur and flowed into his body.
• The Cat's Orange assessment completed, and Arthur felt a soothing sensation before realizing something was wrong.

Arthur completed Cat's Orange, but the deathly aura circling him rushed into him and granted him the Breath of Death talent. As Arthur examined his new powers, Morrilke of the Death Poetry Society's Thirtieth Choir appeared and demanded his surrender.

• Arthur read that Cat's Orange granted him adaptability, recovery, endurance, and the ability to harmonize additional spirituality, and he resolved to seek the Herke Golden Potion.
• Arthur wondered whether the deathly aura surrounding him came from the Death Poetry Society, but his death intuition gave no warning.
• The deathly aura rushed into Arthur, advancing his death intuition and granting him the Breath of Death talent, which extended his lifespan and made him a source of calamity.
• Arthur struggled to understand how he had acquired the talent as Morrilke of the Death Poetry Society's Thirtieth Choir appeared and demanded that he surrender without a fight.

Morrilke of the Death Poetry Society attacked Arthur, expecting to capture or kill an insignificant Medium, but Arthur absorbed his Death Aura and revealed power beyond Arcana Rank. Morrilke realized he faced a Tiered One.

• Morrilke arrived in South Los to capture Arthur and exchange him for Grover, while considering the Blood Clan member's legacy a potential prize.
• Morrilke declared his greeting and attacked Arthur with Death Aura after Arthur warned him he was celebrating too soon.
• Arthur absorbed Morrilke's Death Aura, leaving the Death Python unable to harm him.
• Morrilke unleashed his full Arcana Rank power, but Arthur continued drawing Death Aura from both the python and Morrilke's body.
• Morrilke recognized that Arthur was no Major Arcana Rank powerhouse and cried out, "A Tiered One!"

Arthur discovered that [Breath of Death] could drain Morrilke’s deathly aura and kill him, while a string of accidents wiped out the witnesses who fled. Worried that his presence was causing deadly chain reactions, Arthur sent Muninn to seek help as the newly advanced raven flew toward 6 Whitebird Street.

• Arthur absorbed Morrilke’s deathly aura, causing Morrilke to crumble into sand.
• Arthur let the seven witnesses flee, but a series of accidents killed them and destroyed the Arcane Item called the “eye.”
• Arthur feared his unintended chain reactions could endanger Maltz, Scott, and Pendragon, so he mentally contacted Muninn.
• Arthur learned that Fuginn and Muninn had advanced into magical creatures and could now understand speech, act remotely, and use aura of death.
• Muninn flew toward 6 Whitebird Street as rumors began spreading faster than it could travel.

Langbain’s deputy stole footage of the Medium fighting the Death Poetry Society’s Thirtieth Choir and sold it to Garcia, who spread it throughout South Los. Meanwhile, Malinda recognized Muninn’s new death aura and realized the raven had advanced into a magical creature.

• Langbain left 94 Clara Street, and his deputy found footage of the Medium and the Thirtieth Choir on the Communication Stone.
• The deputy decided to sell the footage and flee, then offered it to Garcia as Garcia headed home from The Horn Newspaper.
• Garcia bought the Communication Stone for ten sol and began spreading the footage among South Los’s mystical factions.
• Muninn flew into 6 Whitebird Street, where Malinda recognized the raven she had given Arthur and realized it had advanced into a magical creature.

Arthur borrowed Muninn’s body to ask Malinda for help after Simon collapsed, but Malinda mistook Arthur’s recent actions for a calculated revenge plot. She agreed to lend him an artifact that could block his power of death, while Arthur accepted a future favor involving an undead being; Edwin then returned with more news.

• Arthur borrowed Muninn’s body and sought Malinda’s help because Simon had struck his head and was losing consciousness.
• Edwin told Malinda that Arthur had killed one of the Four Notes of Death and reached step-entry.
• Malinda inferred that Arthur had used a hidden power of death to avenge the Black Cat Faction, and Arthur went along with her explanation.
• Arthur asked for an artifact to block his power of death and offered payment or a favor in return.
• Malinda agreed to lend him the artifact in exchange for Arthur communicating with an undead being after the backlash faded.
• Edwin entered again with an odd expression, and Malinda told him to speak.

Arthur and Malinda agreed to turn the Swordsmanship Tournament into a trap for their enemies, with Arthur securing a Knight title and a share of the proceeds. As they prepared to leave, Edwin arrived with another shocking report.

• Edwin told Malinda that a rumor portrayed her as Arthur Credos's plaything, and Malinda laughed instead of becoming angry.
• Arthur and Malinda discussed using the rumor to lure their enemies into a scheme at the Swordsmanship Tournament.
• Arthur proposed raising the tournament's prize to a Knight title and drawing elite fighters into the competition, where he would defeat them.
• Arthur and Malinda bargained over the rewards, ultimately agreeing that Arthur would receive the Knight title, thirty percent of the proceeds, priority access to Mystic Arts and items, and the borrowed item protecting him from the death aura.
• Edwin returned looking shocked, and Malinda asked him what had happened.

Amuel complained about her exhausting work in Mouse Tail Alley, then explained the power ranks after learning that Arthur Credos was a Step-Entry. The Countess sent a new message that made Amuel ask Freeman whether he needed a mother.

• Amuel considered running away from Mouse Tail Alley but decided the Countess's protection was safer than facing the Medium alone.
• Amuel read a message announcing that Arthur Credos was a Step-Entry and excitedly told Freeman.
• Amuel explained Arcana rank, Major Arcana Rank, and the Path to Godhood to Freeman.
• Freeman declared that his father might also be a Step-Entry, while Amuel doubted it.
• Amuel received another message from the Countess and asked Freeman if he needed a mother.

Amuel considered trying to win Freeman’s favor after realizing his father might be at Step-Entry. Meanwhile, Malinda brought Arthur to his camp and scattered blessed coarse salt to contain the death aura clinging to him, but a scythe-bearing phantom appeared and attacked her.

• Freeman read the Communication Stone and concluded that his father was at Step-Entry, then returned to his desk to recalculate his plans.
• Amuel reflected on the Blood Clan’s suspicious extermination and considered seeking support from Freeman’s powerful backer.
• In the Netherdark Passage, Malinda regretted missing her chance to act on the Cloak Society’s mistake, while Arthur demanded to know how news of his Step-Entry status had spread.
• Malinda scattered blessed coarse salt around Arthur’s camp to keep death aura from clinging to herself and to help Simon recover.
• The salt ignited around Arthur, and a phantom in a tattered black cloak appeared behind him and brought its scythe down toward Malinda.

Arthur examined the paired heroic gloves Daniel’s Hope, which helped contain the Death Aura but did not stop it completely. Malinda departed for home while Arthur continued toward Ymir Manor in the Jia'er Mountains, determined to deal with the lingering curse himself.

• Malinda used smoke to disguise herself and slipped the gloves onto the young Medium, interrupting the phantom’s attack and dispersing the presence behind him.
• Arthur examined Daniel’s Hope and learned that the left glove offered protection, screening, purification, and healing, while the right glove provided illumination and could recharge the left.
• Malinda asked whether Arthur would still go to Ymir Manor, and Arthur confirmed that he would finish what he had started.
• Arthur sent Muninn to ride with Malinda, then noticed she might have been hurt by the phantom’s attack.
• Arthur saw Breath of Death rise from 1.0 to 1.1 and realized Daniel’s Hope weakened the Death Aura’s effects without fully preventing him from absorbing it.

After the Mystical Side spread Arthur Credos’s name, he gained XP and used it to upgrade Hand of the Void to its current limit, creating six invisible hands. He considered the new ability’s benefits and drawbacks and suspected the skill’s description hinted at something more.

• Arthur received XP as members of the Mystical Side in South Los learned and spread his name, bringing his total to 392 XP.
• Arthur reflected that his growing fame would attract challengers, but he still needed trouble and XP to become stronger.
• Arthur spent 100 XP to raise Hand of the Void from Lv4 to Lv5, gaining six hands with greater strength, speed, and range.
• Arthur experienced a gentle increase in Spirituality and examined the six hands’ limits, stamina costs, and other properties.
• Arthur considered retiring the Balanced Blood Ring and learning Cat's Grace · Orange, but paused over the references to fate and the Mystic Art’s current limit.

Arthur discovered that combining all six [Hands of the Void] revealed a map marked Rainbow Island, though he did not know where it was. He then learned two Cat Faction Mystic Arts to strengthen his identity and prepare for future growth.

• Arthur activated the diary page with all six [Hands of the Void] and uncovered a map showing Rainbow Island.
• Arthur wondered whether the other diary pages might reveal hidden secrets, but set aside the search because he lacked a location for the island.
• Arthur chose to learn "Silent Continuous Steps" and "Cat's Grace · Orange" before [Fragmentary Illusory True Shadow Art].
• Arthur considered how the Cat Faction's Mystic Arts interacted with [Cat's Orange] and decided to spend his remaining XP raising his abilities to their limits.

Arthur improved his Mystic Arts and attributes, then offered Pendragon a lasting partnership. Pendragon accepted by placing his paw in Arthur’s hand and meowing.

• Arthur spent XP to raise Cat's Grace · Orange, improve his attributes, and learn Ringing Art and Wand Combat Art.
• Arthur regretted that his Spirituality was too low to learn Smoke Mirror's Usurpation and envied Malinda's versatile smoke abilities.
• Arthur woke Simon and told him his headache and weakness were normal after sleeping outdoors.
• Arthur asked Pendragon to stay with him for life and offered him the chance to gain power and control his destiny.
• Pendragon placed his paw in Arthur's hand and softly meowed.

After a venomous snake killed their horse, Arthur and Simon delayed their departure and continued toward Jia'er Mountain Town, where they arrived two days later. While Simon went ahead to find Hunter and Newt, Arthur waited beside the carriage with Pendragon.

• A venomous snake killed the carriage horse, so Simon walked to town for a replacement and the group rested another day before traveling on.
• Arthur saw venomous snakes gather at their campsite, bow toward his carriage, and leave after he waved them away.
• Arthur decided to strengthen Pendragon with a diluted griffin potion and considered buying potion-brewing equipment and using a formula from the Raven Sect Alchemy · Remnant.
• Arthur and Simon traveled by day and rested by night, reaching Jia'er Mountain two days later.
• The carriage stopped about five kilometers from Jia'er Mountain Town, and Simon went to find Hunter and Newt while Arthur waited with Pendragon.
• A passerby exclaimed, "Oh, what a fat cat!"

Arthur heard that three Mediums invited to Ymir Manor had died in bizarre accidents and went to the Jia'er Mountain Town Police Station to inspect their bodies and belongings. As the town chief prepared to lead him to them, heavy knocks came from the morgue, terrifying the local officers.

• Arthur teased Pendragon about his weight and shared air-dried meat with him.
• Simon, Hunter, and Newt returned and reported that three Mediums had died at Ymir Manor within two days.
• Newt told Arthur about disappearances near Jia'er Mountains and a merchant caravan whose goods the town chief had sold.
• Arthur went to the Jia'er Mountain Town Police Station to investigate the Mediums' belongings, and chief Siblon welcomed him with a bribe.
• Heavy knocking came from the morgue, and the local officers recognized the source and turned deathly pale.