Chapter Summaries

Arthur raised Swiftbird Swordsmanship and learned Illusory True Shadow Art, testing its shadow abilities at home. As he prepared for bed, Fuginn spotted the Death Poetry Society's Left Cantor, Potteriman, on a rooftop.

• Arthur spent 200 XP to raise Swiftbird Swordsmanship to Lv2, increasing its speed bonuses and gaining physique and spirituality.
• Arthur reconsidered his plan involving Malinda and Gale Sword De'erqiao, deciding to delay notifying Malinda while he explored a chance to take over De'erqiao's team.
• Arthur learned Illusory True Shadow Art and used Shadow Flash to vanish and reappear before Pendragon and Kuliqi.
• Arthur reviewed the Mystic Art's powers, including Shadow Spike, and worried about the XP needed to advance it.
• Fuginn spotted Potteriman, the Death Poetry Society's Left Cantor, from a rooftop, prompting Arthur to sit up.

Arthur received a message from Potteriman proposing a late-night visit and arranged to meet him just before dawn. After Malinda arrived with lunch, she confronted Arthur about when he had discovered a certain place.

• Potteriman sent Arthur a visiting card through the child Gawain, offering to visit late that night.
• Arthur told Gawain he would wait for Potteriman at 2 Kirk Street just before dawn and suggested Merlin hire the boy for future errands.
• Arthur slept with Pendragon in his arms while Kuliqi and Muninn watched, then woke when Malinda arrived with lunch.
• Malinda called Arthur the current Black Cat and asked when he had discovered that place.

Arthur led Malinda to believe he knew about the Harbor District ruins and had greater power in Creados than she had realized. After lunch and a nap, he took Pendragon to the Swordsmanship Tournament, where he was startled by the quarterfinalists.

• Arthur hinted to Malinda that others knew about the Harbor District ruins, and she concluded that De'erqiao, the Gale Sword, was behind the beach tracks.
• Malinda revealed her suspicions about the ruins, and Arthur told her Kang Si'ang was one of his men and Whale Island belonged to him.
• Malinda guessed that Arthur might also control De'erqiao, then wrote to ask when he planned to move against Baron Coroll and Baron Hausmann; Arthur burned the note and changed the subject.
• Arthur ate the meal Malinda brought, fed Pendragon, and took the cat with him to the afternoon Swordsmanship Tournament.
• Arthur froze when he saw the day's eight quarterfinalists.

Arthur met the quarterfinalists at Earta Square, where the draw paired him against Kang Si'ang. The quarterfinals began with Kang challenging Arthur in the arena.

• Byrne introduced the Jorjok Swordsmanship Club's new apprentice, Bedivere, to Arthur.
• Arthur greeted the other quarterfinalists, while spectators discussed Kang Si'ang's reputation and Malinda wondered whether Arthur was putting on a show.
• Arthur drew A, and Kang Si'ang also drew A, setting them against each other; Byrne and Bedivere drew B, while De'erqiao and Lord Ernest's nephew drew C.
• The Countess's Chief Swordsman announced the start of the quarterfinals, and Kang entered the arena and challenged Arthur.

Kang Si'ang staged an aggressive quarterfinal challenge against Arthur as part of their plan with Malinda, while Arthur welcomed the spectacle for XP. Kang Si'ang unleashed a wave-and-whale attack, and Arthur answered with a mysterious technique as the chapter ended.

• Kang Si'ang leaped into the arena and challenged Arthur, drawing insults from the crowd as he acted out the confrontation they had arranged.
• Kang Si'ang worried about the crowd's hostility, while Arthur reassured him and prepared to use the match to gain XP.
• Arthur entered the arena to cheers, and Kang Si'ang swung his greatsword, summoning an enormous wave and a blue whale that charged at Arthur.
• Kang Si'ang split the wave and whale with a powerful strike aimed at Arthur, who calmly called out, "Dark Echo: Formlessness!"

Arthur defeated Kang Si'ang in Earta Square and won a place in the semifinals, earning the crowd’s admiration with his gracious treatment of his opponent. After reflecting on the heroes he had once dreamed of, Arthur went to rest, but approaching heavy footsteps interrupted him.

• Arthur used his power to stop Kang Si'ang's greatsword and studied the Whale-Slaying Sword's strength.
• Arthur used Dark Echo: Return to the Formless to defeat Kang Si'ang and advance to the semifinals.
• Arthur offered Kang Si'ang a hand and offered to teach him the Mystic Art, and Kang Si'ang admitted defeat.
• The crowd applauded Arthur, who helped Kang Si'ang to the temporary rest area beneath the Clock Tower.
• Malinda called Arthur childish, and Arthur reflected on childhood heroes before lying down for a nap.
• Heavy footsteps approached as Arthur closed his eyes.

Young Lissop offered Arthur control of South Town after inheriting its mine and securing a hereditary title. Arthur accepted the chance to manage the town, but asked Malinda to take charge.

• Julie brought Young Lissop and two companions into Arthur’s tent, where Young Lissop knelt before him.
• Young Lissop explained that he had traded twenty percent of the Coal and Iron Mine’s proceeds for a hereditary title and lands, then asked Arthur to manage South Town.
• Kang Si'ang and Malinda reacted with astonishment as Young Lissop pledged his lands to Arthur.
• Arthur thanked Young Lissop but said he lacked the skills to manage a territory and would need a professional steward.
• Arthur agreed to try, then interrupted Young Lissop and asked Malinda to manage South Town for him.

Arthur gave Malinda all of South Town, prompting those around them to mistake their exchanged looks for love before they left the tent. Once alone, Arthur and Malinda discussed what he wanted in return, and she suspected he had planned the arrangement from the start.

• Malinda wondered whether Arthur expected intimacy in return for giving her South Town, while Arthur silently rejected the idea.
• Kang Si'ang, the Countess's Chief Swordsman, Gold, Leshid, and Young Lissop left the tent after witnessing Arthur and Malinda gazing at each other.
• Alone, Arthur and Malinda traded insults and spit at each other, then both felt nauseated.
• Arthur told Malinda she could run South Town and asked what he would get in return.
• Arthur requested ships and knowledge of the mystical side, including mystic arts and rituals.
• Malinda narrowed her eyes and asked Arthur whether he had planned everything from the start.

Arthur negotiated with Malinda for ships and mystical knowledge, but she offered him a complete Initiation Chart instead. He traded for the chart and eight ships, then discovered the notebook contained something that made him realize he had struck a major bargain.

• Arthur weighed South Town’s taxes and upkeep against its value to Malinda and decided to negotiate for ships and mystical knowledge.
• Malinda gave Arthur a notebook containing her research on undead Mystic Arts and the complete Gift of the Soul Initiation Chart from Black Robe of the Tower of Mist.
• Malinda accused Arthur of plotting to obtain the chart, while Arthur denied it and argued that she had been seeking his Cat Faction knowledge.
• Arthur and Malinda bargained over the number of Cork Sailing Ships and settled on eight in exchange for the notebook.
• When Arthur touched the notebook, rows of text appeared, and he realized he had hit the jackpot.

Arthur learned that Gift of the Soul had mutated into abilities that let him bind souls, whip spirits, and divine with bones, and he considered using bound souls to uncover secrets. After Malinda vanished in fear, Scott called from outside Arthur’s tent and announced he was coming in.

• Arthur read the details of his mutated Gift of the Soul and considered questioning the souls of enemies he killed.
• Arthur reasoned that bound souls might lie, but he could use Bluff and corroborating evidence to test what they told him.
• Arthur concluded that Malinda’s Ghost Carriage Mystic Art was related to Smoke rather than the Undead.
• Malinda accused Arthur of plotting against her, then turned into a smoke ring and vanished.
• Arthur picked up Pendragon as Scott called from outside the tent, telling them to get dressed before he came in.

Arthur gave Scott an exaggerated account of his supposed romance with Malinda for an interview, while Byrne defeated Bedivere and advanced to the semifinals. After a performance, De'erqiao and Lord Ernest's nephew entered the arena as someone approached Arthur.

• Scott explained that Julie had arranged for the public to receive an acceptable explanation of Arthur's match against Kang Si'ang, then interviewed Arthur for a special supplement.
• Arthur invented a dramatic love story about Malinda, and Scott began writing it as though it were true.
• Arthur left Scott to work and watched Byrne defeat Bedivere, advancing to the semifinals.
• A paid song and dance performance took place before De'erqiao and Lord Ernest's nephew stepped into the arena.
• An unidentified figure quietly approached Arthur as the crowd watched the arena.

Adi approached Arthur to recruit him for the expedition, but Kuliqi’s threat and Arthur’s revelation that the ruins belonged to him made Adi realize his team had returned to a site Arthur had already let them leave. The chapter ended with Arthur asking how the team intended to compensate him.

• Adi approached Arthur and tried to show he meant no harm, but Kuliqi appeared and warned him off.
• Adi recognized Kuliqi as a Death Hound and told his companions to stay back.
• Kuliqi slipped into Arthur’s shadow, leaving Adi convinced that Arthur was far more dangerous than he had assumed.
• Adi began explaining that he had come to discuss the expedition’s plans near the Harbor District beach.
• Arthur said he had already let the team go before dawn, and Adi realized they had returned to ruins under Arthur’s control.
• Arthur asked Adi how the expedition intended to compensate him.

Arthur pressured De'erqiao's expedition team into considering service as compensation, while secretly planning to use them to search ruins for XP. After De'erqiao's easy victory in the semifinals, his team debated fleeing or facing Arthur, and De'erqiao wondered whether Arthur wanted them to accept or refuse.

• Arthur told Adi that De'erqiao had to demonstrate his full strength the next day; if he passed, Arthur would accept the expedition team's services, and if he failed, Arthur would offer a suggestion.
• Arthur sent Muninn to watch Adi in case the expedition team tried to flee, then turned his attention to their match.
• De'erqiao defeated Lord Ernest's nephew with a casual strike and secured his place in the semifinals.
• Adi told De'erqiao and the others that Arthur had demanded a test of the captain and offered service as compensation.
• Little Wenna urged the team to abandon the ruins and leave South Los, but Edwina warned that Arthur's [Death Hound] could track them.
• De'erqiao asked whether Arthur wanted the team to agree to his terms or refuse.

De'erqiao and his team mistook Arthur's request for a plan to hunt them, while Arthur privately protested that he only meant to pay them for their work. After Scott left with a report for The Horn Newspaper, Arthur went to watch the arena and offered to help two mortally wounded fighters.

• De'erqiao warned his teammates that Arthur wanted them to break his rules so he could hunt them, and vowed to pass the next day's test to protect them.
• Arthur silently complained that he was not a psycho and only wanted the team to find valuable items for him in exchange for wages he would pay later.
• Scott finished his report for The Horn Newspaper's extra edition and left the tent.
• Arthur gave up trying to sleep through the noise and went to watch the arena fight between Lord Dubois's nephew and Lord Bath's nephew.
• The two fighters stabbed each other with longswords and collapsed with fatal wounds, and Arthur offered to try to save them.

Arthur used a healing potion to save Lord Bath's nephew and Lord Dubois's nephew after their injuries in the tournament, gaining a chance to enter South Los's noble circles. After the rescues, the arena doctor quietly asked Arthur whether the dead could be brought back to life.

• Arthur arrived at Earta Square, left Pendragon nearby, and offered to treat the two gravely wounded nobles.
• Arthur instructed the arena doctor to withdraw the sword from Lord Bath's nephew while he applied Amuel's healing potion.
• Arthur poured the remaining potion into the young man's mouth and confirmed that his wound had healed and his breathing was steady.
• Arthur treated Lord Dubois's nephew, and the crowd applauded when both young men were out of danger.
• Arthur watched the nobles leave on stretchers, then picked up Pendragon as the arena doctor asked whether the dead could be brought back to life.

Arthur told the grieving Dr. Linst that resurrection could bring back someone other than the person he intended, then returned home and ate dinner before going to sleep. Just before dawn, Arthur woke as an unknown figure appeared.

• Arthur realized Dr. Linst was acting on his own, then warned him that resurrection might not bring back the person he wanted.
• Dr. Linst introduced himself and explained that he had once run Linst Clinic after Arthur offered his condolences for Mrs. Linst's death.
• Arthur left the tournament and told Edwin that he wanted egg tarts for breakfast, with Mary choosing the rest.
• Arthur thanked Gawain, received Merlin's dinner report, and returned to 2 Kirk Street.
• Arthur jokingly placed Pendragon on Kuliqi's head, ate most of dinner, and fell asleep holding Pendragon.
• Just before dawn, Arthur opened one eye when a figure appeared.

Potteriman visited Arthur at 2 Kirk Street and recognized him as the Death Saint the Death Poetry Society had sought. He offered Arthur one of the Society’s seven mystic arts, the scroll of death sound.

• Potteriman arrived at 2 Kirk Street and admired the Death Snake Banyan, which reminded him of the Death Poetry Society’s destroyed sacred ground.
• Potteriman entered the house and recognized Kuliqi as a Death Hound, strengthening his belief that Arthur was the prophesied Death Saint.
• Potteriman told Arthur that he and his grandfather had guided the Society toward Horton while concealing Arthur’s identity.
• Arthur brewed tea and calmly received Potteriman, who reflected on his friend’s advice not to interfere in Arthur’s love life.
• Potteriman presented Arthur with the death sound mystic art scroll and opened it for him to read.

Arthur accidentally learned Death Sound with a single glance, convincing Potteriman that he was the Death Saint. Potteriman knelt before him, while Arthur hid his amusement and asked if he could still refuse the Death Poetry Society.

• Potteriman recalled why the society had tried to approach Arthur before his family and powerful figures could intervene.
• Potteriman apologized for forcing the opportunity to learn Death Sound, and Arthur said he wanted nothing to do with the society.
• Arthur's words triggered Death Sound, revealing that he had learned the Mystic Art without realizing it.
• Potteriman knelt and addressed Arthur as His Highness, convinced that he was the Death Saint.
• Arthur read Death Sound's abilities and asked Potteriman whether he could still refuse.

Potteriman explained the Death Poetry Society’s membership, history, and recent losses to Arthur, who realized the Society was relying heavily on him as its prophesied savior. The chapter ended with Arthur asking why Horton had once cooperated with the Society’s rival faction.

• Potteriman knelt before Arthur, praised him, and welcomed him back as the Death Saint.
• Arthur asked about the Society’s condition, and Potteriman described its split with Doikawa’s faction, the destruction of Atobul, and its scattered branches across South County.
• Potteriman said the Society had ninety-eight full members, including powerful leaders in Inner Bay, and Arthur saw their support as useful for his upcoming trip there.
• Potteriman explained that the Society’s original Four Tones, all Major Arcana Rank, had died in battle and been replaced by Arcana Level members.
• Arthur asked why Horton had previously cooperated with the New Death Poetry Society.

Arthur dismissed the Left Cantor of the Death Poetry Society, then spent his growing XP on Swiftbird Swordsmanship. Its Blood Flourishing effect awakened his bloodline and triggered an overwhelming hunger, ending with his blood beginning to glow.

• The Left Cantor of the Death Poetry Society left to investigate a traitor connected to the incident at Atobul and promised to keep Arthur's identity secret.
• Arthur reviewed messages reporting that his reputation had risen and noted he had accumulated 1,200 XP.
• Arthur invested all 1,200 XP in Swiftbird Swordsmanship, raising it to level four and awakening its Blood Flourishing effect.
• Arthur felt his heart and body strengthen, then rushed to Old Charlie's emergency rations and devoured several boxes of large biscuits.
• Arthur's Death Serpent bloodline, Breath of Death talent, Cat's Orange ritual, and Swiftbird Swordsmanship worked together, and his blood began to glow.