Chapter Summaries

Arthur examined Don Quixote's Conviction and learned that Malinda had no further information about it. He recruited Malinda to help with the coming conflict over a march, while revealing that the Gold Mine was real and offering to split its proceeds with her.

• Malinda recognized Don Quixote's Conviction as one of Herke's twenty-seven treasured artifacts and explained why it had remained unused in the South Los storeroom.
• Arthur contacted his General Puppet, Horton, and ordered him to intensify the pirates' search for hidden places on Coconut Island.
• Arthur invited Malinda to watch a confrontation involving the march from St. Joan's Girls' Academy, Barro Hamlet's men, and the Old Lion's two remaining sons.
• Malinda agreed to help Arthur, and he revealed that the Gold Mine was real and proposed splitting it with her.
• Malinda became tender toward Arthur, who opened the window and reminded her that a fight was coming.

Anna helped Lady Dingle collect donations and secured her cooperation in Cassandra’s plan by promising protection and a share of the funds. The students and parents marched out of St. Joan’s Girls’ Academy carrying a banner for fairness and justice, where police, guards, and secret detectives confronted them.

• Lady Dingle collected donations with the help of Ailier, Renee, Donna, Jo Lily, and Junis while Anna watched over her.
• Lady Dingle asked Anna whether she was being made a scapegoat, and Anna insisted the operation was a declaration of justice.
• Anna revealed that Lady Dingle’s son and grandson had been kidnapped, promised they would be kept safe, and offered her one tenth of the donations as a retirement fund.
• At nine fifty, Lady Dingle addressed the students, and Amy led them in shouting for fairness and justice.
• The students and parents marched out beneath the banner, where police, guards, and secret detectives surrounded them; then something rushed through the air.

Anna led an attack after Lady Dingle was killed, while Diodone watched with Pistrie and revealed his own forces. The battle left Pistrie surrounded as Diodone called him naive.

• A crossbow bolt killed Lady Dingle, and Anna cried out before charging the police, guards, and Secret Police.
• Death Warriors ambushed Barro Hamlet's forces, turning the march into a bloody battle.
• Sean and Bont defeated Barro's mystical side practitioners and fought off further attacks.
• Diodone ordered his hidden subordinates to move, and ten Death Warriors surrounded the building to stop Pistrie from escaping.
• Diodone told Pistrie that he was as naive as ever.

Arthur showed Malinda the confrontation between Pistrie and the Old Lion’s Second Son, who confessed that he had stolen Pistrie’s talent and planned to seal him again. Acker killed the Second Son and his ten death warriors, leaving Pistrie shaken as Acker reminded him to follow their lord’s instructions.

• Arthur told Malinda to watch the building where the Old Lion’s sons were, promising her a good show.
• The Old Lion’s Second Son confessed that he had used an Ancient Seal to steal Pistrie’s talent and planned to imprison him until he reached Ascension Rank.
• Pistrie said he already knew what his older brother intended to do.
• Acker silently pierced the Second Son’s brain with Spider Silk, then killed the ten death warriors and stripped them to their skins.
• Acker handed Pistrie his older brother’s head and reminded him not to forget their lord’s instructions.

Pistrie fled with his brother’s head and accused Barro of killing him as Barro led cavalry to crush the march at St. Joan’s Girls’ Academy. The confrontation began with the marchers, Arthur’s death warriors, and Barro’s troops facing one another.

• Pistrie found his elder brother beheaded, saw that the assassin and Acker were gone, and left carrying his brother’s head.
• Barro planned to punish the students and parents who had informed him by locking them in with the lions, while Dwelt grew wary of Barro’s increasingly erratic cruelty.
• After learning the marchers had broken through his forces, Barro killed a hidden pawn in a rage and ordered Dwelt to prepare his warhorse and guards.
• Barro rode with two hundred cavalrymen toward St. Joan’s Girls’ Academy, trampling people in their path and ordering his troops to kill the marchers.
• As Barro prepared another charge, Pistrie arrived carrying his brother’s head and shouted, “Uncle Barro, why did you kill my brother?!”

Pistrie Hamlet appeared carrying Diodone Hamlet’s severed head, and Barro Hamlet wrongly concluded that mystical factions had killed Diodone and framed Pistrie. Barro unleashed his overwhelming power as the gathered families came to believe he had murdered Diodone, and his ratlike lion apparition turned to attack Pistrie before a powerful wind descended.

• Pistrie Hamlet arrived at the battlefield carrying Diodone Hamlet’s head and accused Barro Hamlet of threatening him.
• Barro Hamlet recalled the mystical factions’ presence in the Harbor District and blamed them for Diodone’s death and Pistrie’s apparent confusion.
• Furious, Barro released his aura and summoned a golden, ratlike lion apparition that stepped onto the first stair of a ten-step heavenly stairway.
• Pistrie collapsed beneath Barro’s pressure while the Seven Great Families and the Golden Lion Family came to believe Barro had killed Diodone and might kill Pistrie too.
• The apparition turned toward Pistrie with murderous intent, but a powerful wind descended.

Auben, the Blood Scion, arrived in the Inner Bay on the Blood Bat and demanded that Barro Hamlet hand over Potteriman. When Barro attacked, Auben revealed his Ascendant power and found someone in the street.

• Auben arrived on the Blood Bat, and the people recognized him as the Blood Scion.
• Auben ordered Barro Hamlet to hand over Potteriman, but Barro denied knowing him.
• Barro lashed out with the golden-haired rat monster, making the crowd suspect he had ties to the Death Poetry Society.
• Auben countered the monster’s sound attack with the Blood Bat’s roar and revealed that he was an Ascendant.
• Auben turned toward a spot on the street and declared that he had found someone.

Potteriman fled through the Inner Bay while the Blood Scion’s freezing magic and Barro Hamlet’s allies pursued him. After Potteriman killed several Step-Entry practitioners and Barro Hamlet hesitated to stop him, the Blood Scion killed Potteriman and prepared to leave, but Barro Hamlet ordered him to come down.

• Potteriman darted through houses as the Blood Scion sent a wave of freezing ice crystals after him.
• Potteriman’s Death Chant entranced the Golden Lion Family’s two Step-Entry practitioners, and the Blood Scion’s frost froze them before they could recover.
• Potteriman crossed the street and used the Death Chant to trap the Seven Great Families’ two Step-Entry practitioners, who were then frozen by the pursuing ice.
• Potteriman continued hunting the families’ leaders, prominent members, and promising talents until Barro Hamlet shouted for him to stop.
• Potteriman called on Barro Hamlet for help, but the Blood Scion pierced his chest, crushed his heart, and took his corpse.
• The Blood Scion mounted his bat to leave, and Barro Hamlet growled at him to get down.

The Blood Scion defeated Barro Hamlet and left him trapped in ice, while the survivors mistook Barro’s attempt to leave for an admission of guilt. As the marchers reeled from the violence, Pistrie Hamlet asked whether they were willing to trust him.

• The Blood Scion hurled a frost spear at Barro, freezing the Golden-Haired Monster Rat and the starry steps before departing with the Blood Bat.
• The witnesses assumed the Blood Scion had spared Barro because of the Old Lion and blamed Barro for colluding with the Death Poetry Society and murdering Diodone.
• Barro broke free of the ice, realized everyone believed he was guilty, and hurried away to investigate what was wrong with him.
• Survivors contacted their families to activate defenses and sought the Old Lion, while the marchers stood shaken by the destruction.
• Pistrie Hamlet stepped forward and earnestly asked the marchers whether they were willing to trust him.

After the Ascendants’ clash, Pistrie Hamlet rallied the crowd and established a command post at St. Joan’s Girls’ Academy while Arthur and Malinda left the ruins. A hidden figure collected the Old Lion’s Second Son’s corpse and headed for the Lion Palace, accepting what he believed was Arthur’s challenge.

• Jimte and Carral led the crowd in backing Pistrie Hamlet, who promised to protect them and made St. Joan’s Girls’ Academy their command post.
• Arthur and Malinda applauded as Pistrie Hamlet spoke, and Malinda suspected Arthur had arranged the spectacle to bait someone.
• Arthur and Malinda left for the Storm Inn after agreeing that the Inner Bay felt dangerous and that someone might be setting events in motion.
• A shadowlike figure emerged from beneath the rubble after Arthur and Malinda departed and gathered scraps of human skin from the ruins.
• The figure found the Old Lion’s Second Son’s corpse, declared that he accepted the challenge, and headed for the Lion Palace.

Deep within the Lion Palace, Kidd revived Diodone as a corpse construct while Bloodshadow Thorn prepared to pursue the Lord of Bloodflow. Meanwhile, Arthur and Malinda arrived at the Storm Inn and crossed paths with the Smiths.

• Kidd used rats, ore, herbs, and secret art to restore Diodone's corpse as a weaponized construct.
• Bloodshadow Thorn told Kidd that the Lord of Bloodflow had appeared and accepted his challenge.
• Kidd agreed to stay behind as Bloodshadow Thorn went to find the Lord of Bloodflow.
• Kidd planned to search for the Pirate King's Treasure from the Silver Age while overseeing the gold mine.
• Arthur and Malinda arrived at the Storm Inn and exchanged polite greetings with the Smiths.

Malinda and Arthur disguised themselves as newlyweds at the Storm Inn, where the Smiths also checked in. When a riot broke out in Kilger Harbor, Rui Xiu Smith went to investigate, while Kili identified him as a target.

• Malinda, disguised as Lynn, checked into a room with Arthur, who introduced himself to Rui Xiu Smith as Don Quixote Frankenstein.
• Rachel and Rui Xiu Smith discussed their suspicions about the strangers who had watched them and the aftershocks of a battle between Ascendants.
• A bell announced trouble at the Storm Inn, and the innkeeper reported a riot in Kilger Harbor while ordering his armed staff to secure the building.
• Rui Xiu Smith recognized the Death Hound and left to investigate, telling Arthur to return upstairs and protect his wife.
• Kili spotted Rui Xiu Smith and wrote, “Kill the Construct Maker!”

Arthur arranged for Mr. Smith to help kill Kidd at dusk and asked Malinda to provide backup if needed. Mrs. Smith overheard their plans and, reassured that Arthur and Malinda were only acting as a couple for cover, wondered how to contact the Blood Scion before Mr. Smith returned with a grave expression.

• Mr. Smith admitted that he could not reliably find or kill Kidd, so Kili arranged for his people to draw Kidd out and set a meeting at the Lion Palace at dusk.
• Arthur returned to Malinda and told her that riots had broken out in Kilger Harbor, then explained that his plan was only half settled and that he would need her help at dusk.
• Arthur asked Malinda to use long-range Mystic Arts to distract the target if Mr. Smith held back or could not act, and told her to rest.
• Mrs. Smith overheard Arthur and Malinda's conversation and concluded that their closeness was merely a coincidence.
• Mrs. Smith wondered how she could contact the Blood Scion without arousing her husband's suspicion, just as Mr. Smith returned looking grave.

As chaos spread through Kilger Harbor, the Smiths and Arthur prepared for danger that night while Mrs. Smith secretly contacted the Blood Scion, Auben. She declared that the Seven-Year War had been a conspiracy.

• Mr. Smith warned Mrs. Smith that Kilger Harbor would be unsafe and left before nightfall to protect her from looters.
• Mrs. Smith set water alarms around their room and used her spirituality to contact Auben at the spring-water altar.
• Arthur and Malinda rested together while Arthur stayed awake to prepare for the night's operation.
• Mrs. Smith revealed to Auben that she was a fallen goddess who had once held dominion over spring water during the Silver Age.
• Mrs. Smith told Auben that the Seven-Year War was a conspiracy.

Mrs. Smith revealed that Hoxiugel had secretly orchestrated three devastating wars to gather deathly aura and pursue Deception, but the Blood Marquis thwarted him, leaving Hoxiugel as Death and the Marquis as Blood. Back at the Storm Inn, Arthur and Malinda dealt with people drugging and preying on guests before Arthur slipped into the night, where the Lord of Bloodflow sensed someone nearby.

• Mrs. Smith told the Blood Scion that Hoxiugel had betrayed several orders and caused three wars to gather deathly aura, but the Blood Marquis had stopped him from attaining Deception.
• The Blood Scion murmured that someone had deceived him, while Arthur used the remark as a trap for anyone watching through Time.
• Arthur refused the drugged bread Malinda offered and ordered Kuliqi and Kili to hunt the predatory people at the inn.
• Arthur and Malinda prepared to leave as screams spread through the inn, then Arthur climbed out the window and disappeared into the night.
• The Lord of Bloodflow stopped and demanded that someone come out.

Acker and Bloodshadow Thorn fought fiercely in the alley, testing their Spider Silk, daggers, and Bloodflow techniques. After Acker proved his skill and severed Bloodshadow Thorn’s arm, Bloodshadow Thorn summoned real assassins to join the fight.

• Acker and Bloodshadow Thorn clashed with Spider Silk and daggers, then resumed their duel under cover of the night wind and darkness.
• Their weapons shattered after repeated clashes, and Bloodshadow Thorn stabbed Acker in the lower abdomen.
• Acker used Spider Silk to seize Bloodshadow Thorn’s wrist and slice off his left arm.
• The two fought with blood shadows formed through the Bloodflow Ultimate Art, and Bloodshadow Thorn recognized Acker’s superior talent.
• Bloodshadow Thorn called actual assassins into the alley to attack Acker.

Bloodshadow Thorn attacked Acker with six loyal Blood Remnants, but Acker revealed their teacher had tested him and that he had once saved Bloodshadow Thorn. When Bloodshadow Thorn's assassins fell to Shadow Manipulation, Aivor appeared and exposed himself as the Lord of Shadowflow, leaving Bloodshadow Thorn struck by a shadow dagger.

• Bloodshadow Thorn revealed his six Blood Remnants and explained how they shared injuries and strength while obeying his will.
• Acker told Bloodshadow Thorn that their teacher had favored him with the title of Lord of Bloodflow and had required him to return it after three years if Bloodshadow Thorn left him alone.
• Acker revealed that he had lured pursuers away from Bloodshadow Thorn after the assassination of the West Coast Coalition commander and explained their teacher's belief that the assassin's path should be more complete than the killer's path.
• Bloodshadow Thorn ordered the six assassins to attack Acker, but Shadow Manipulation made their shadows pierce their chests and bring them down.
• Aivor stepped out of the shadows, mocked Bloodshadow Thorn, and threw grilled pineapples and orange juice at him; Bloodshadow Thorn dodged the harmless food but was struck by a real shadow dagger.

Aivor and Acker defeated the Bloodshadow Thorn, with Acker absorbing his power through Spider Silk. They hurried to the Lion Palace to finish their mission by confronting the Construct Maker.

• The Bloodshadow Thorn’s Shadow Stream Devour failed against Aivor’s reshaped shadow, and Aivor explained how he had anticipated the assassin’s defenses.
• Aivor used Shadow Grand Seal to cut the Bloodshadow Thorn off from his Ascension Manifestation while Spider Silk drained his body into Acker.
• The dying Bloodshadow Thorn asked whether Acker had truly been meant to inherit the Lord of Bloodflow title, and Acker confirmed that the offer had been real.
• The Bloodshadow Thorn laughed and died, leaving only his skin, which Acker put away.
• Aivor described how he had retaliated against Shadow Stream and admitted that he had leaked the location of its headquarters.
• Acker and Aivor praised each other and hurried toward the Lion Palace to pursue the Construct Maker.

Mr. Smith hurried to the Lion Palace while Cancer and the Death Warriors slaughtered gangs across the Inner Bay under Arthur’s orders. After Mr. Smith used a trick to draw out the Construct Maker Kidd, he shattered Kidd’s head with a punch.

• Mr. Smith saw Cancer’s Death Warrior squad and resolved to finish his mission and flee to North County with his wife.
• Cancer and the Death Warriors attacked gangs in the Inner Bay, killing members who preyed on the weak and freeing captive women.
• Mr. Smith grew more certain that South County would soon descend into chaos and hurried toward the Lion Palace.
• Mr. Smith used a trick to bring the Construct Maker Kidd to the surface beneath the Lion Palace.
• Kidd raised a metal shield and began assessing Mr. Smith, but Mr. Smith punched through the shield and shattered Kidd’s head.

Mr. Smith fought the Construct Maker and discovered that a hundred copies were closing in on him, forcing him to prepare to burn out his Path of the Traveler. Gray fog and a tide of undead arrived before he could act, while Malinda rode overhead and focused on Arthur.

• The Construct Maker survived Mr. Smith’s attacks, escaped through multiple bodies, and identified Mr. Smith’s power as a divine domain integrated into his talent.
• The Construct Maker ascended and sent a hundred versions of himself against Mr. Smith, seeking his flesh and blood.
• Mr. Smith prepared to burn his Path of the Traveler to its limit, knowing he might lose it, because he wanted to live with his wife and escape Death’s domain.
• Thick gray fog engulfed the neighborhood, and thousands of undead surged toward the Construct Makers.
• Malinda crossed the sky in a carriage pulled by six undead warhorses and watched Arthur without looking at the battle below.