Chapter Summaries

Eiffel spent a quiet day buying ingredients and baking cookies and cupcakes for Jonas, then brought him the treats with her revenue report. She revealed the cookies contained medicinal powder and asked Jonas what he would do for her in return.

• Eiffel went to an upscale supermarket for baking supplies and saw security robots swiftly restrain a disturbed corporate dog.
• Eiffel baked cookies and miniature cupcakes, deciding that the treats were all for Jonas.
• Eiffel reported the Alt Conglomerate's revenue growth and discussed market strategy with Jonas.
• Eiffel gave Jonas the cookies and insisted that he eat them himself.
• Eiffel told Jonas the cookies contained medicinal powder that replenished physical energy, then asked for an equivalent exchange.

Jonas spent a quiet morning in his office before Celine arrived with Esnie’s lightweight Combat Uniform and hinted that she planned to wear it herself. She left Jonas wondering what Celine intended to do next.

• Jonas finished playing Horizon: Violent Racer, then quickly completed his work and discovered he had run out of his favorite coffee grounds.
• Celine visited Jonas with a plastic bag and teased him about its contents while they talked over coffee.
• Celine asked Jonas to arrange a shopping trip with Esnie, and Jonas agreed.
• Celine revealed that she had found Esnie’s Combat Uniform and brought it to Jonas because it seemed too light for real combat.
• Celine told Jonas that she planned to wear the outfit herself and play the role of her older sister.

After returning from District 25, Yue Chen studied Dragon City’s history and society, concluding that nobles as a class oppressed commoners. She resolved to organize commoners against them and worried that her small group would not be ready for Ye Hua’s retaliation.

• Yue Chen moved out of the home she had shared with Ye Hua and spent her leave reading to understand Dragon City.
• Yue Chen decided that the nobles were all alike and that commoners needed to unite to resist their oppression.
• Yue Chen rejected the idea of becoming Ye Hua’s assistant, believing she would have become a noble’s tool rather than pursued real change.
• Yue Chen recognized that she had some influence among commoners and had formed a small organization with trusted members.
• Yue Chen anticipated Ye Hua’s return and possible retaliation, then urged her organization to gather strength before a confrontation.

Ye Hua investigated Yue Chen’s new organization and concluded that its recruitment of talented commoners hid a threat to Dragon City. She decided to tolerate their suffering for the city’s sake, even without proof of her suspicions.

• After returning to Dragon City, Ye Hua learned that Yue Chen had founded an organization and began investigating its purpose.
• Ye Hua recruited an insider in Yue Chen’s faction and received information about the organization’s members and expansion.
• Ye Hua discovered that the organization gave important roles to talented people overlooked because of their bloodlines.
• Ye Hua suspected Yue Chen was using commoners as pawns in a plan to undermine Dragon City’s social order.
• Ye Hua resolved to let the commoners suffer for Dragon City rather than wait for proof that they were innocent.

Ye Hua assembled plans to use expendable operatives and noble resources against Yue Chen’s organization while ordering a careful investigation of its bases. Yue Chen learned that nobles might be watching her association and concluded that Ye Hua was behind it.

• Ye Hua selected Zhao Tiexin, Li Jingya, and other expendable operatives to confront Yue Chen’s organization, assigning them frontline, assassination, and covert roles.
• Ye Hua ordered her butler to assemble the operatives, warn the nobles against rash action, and investigate the association’s outposts without engaging them.
• Ye Hua arranged a separate high-priority intelligence investigation, wary that the known bases might be decoys or traps.
• Yue Chen questioned her trusted companions about the surveillance of the Dragon Clan Commoners' Mutual Aid Association, but they reported no recent conflicts.
• One subordinate suggested that Dragon City's nobles were behind the surveillance, and Yue Chen told her companions to stay careful and investigate their intentions.
• Alone, Yue Chen recognized Ye Hua as the likely culprit and angrily struck the table.

Ji Yeling tried to mediate the growing conflict between Ye Hua and Yue Chen, but after Ye Hua promised to stop accusing Yue Chen without evidence, she learned the two had gone to war. The chapter left Ji Yeling furious and ready to blame them both.

• Ji Yeling smashed her bamboo desk in frustration over Ye Hua and Yue Chen's escalating conflict.
• Ji Yeling supported Yue Chen's organization for commoners but worried that clashes between the two powerful women could destabilize Dragon City.
• Ji Yeling called Ye Hua and demanded evidence for her claim that Yue Chen was a traitor, urging her to act more responsibly.
• Ye Hua promised not to repeat her actions, and Ji Yeling briefly believed the conflict had been resolved.
• A subordinate informed Ji Yeling that Ye Hua and Yue Chen had gone to war.

Dorothy, now fully controlling her body, drove the Federation to excavate the Predecessor Civilization’s buried infrastructure for an ascension ritual. After learning that Jonas was influencing Dragon City, she suspended the excavations and turned her attention to disrupting his plans.

• Dorothy transformed the objects in her office into Nanorobots and sent them out to clear away unstable elements.
• Dorothy used threats against engineers and their families to redirect the Federation’s resources toward excavating the buried infrastructure.
• Dorothy reassessed her plan after discovering Jonas and took direct control of Dorothy’s body to speed up her efforts against him and District 25.
• Dorothy learned that Dragon City was in turmoil and that people suspected of belonging to District 25 had appeared there.
• Dorothy concluded that Jonas was exploiting Dragon City, halted the excavation work, and decided to interfere in the city’s struggle to weaken District 25.

A drug-fueled terrorist attack turned Dragon City's streets into a grotesque revel, while an Alt Conglomerate squad used the chaos to prepare bombs and hack the city's systems. The Hacker breached a connected section of Dragon City's network as explosions erupted elsewhere, leaving the city's authorities overwhelmed.

• Terrorists from the Federation set off an explosion and spread a drug that drove Dragon City's residents into a violent, bizarre revel.
• Bob and the other terrorists fired into the crowd and taunted the absent Swordbearers, while another attack drew people away from their street.
• A squad infiltrated from District 25 followed the Alt Conglomerate boss's plan to exploit the disorder and worsen the chaos.
• The squad's bomb maker finished preparing explosives, while the Hacker struggled to penetrate Dragon City's systems.
• The Hacker found a weakly protected network section connected to Dragon City and began targeting nobles' sports cars as explosions sounded elsewhere.

As the Federation’s attacks and unrest pushed Dragon City toward chaos, Ji Yeling struggled to manage the crisis and rein in the Swordbearers’ infighting. With the city unable to stay out of the conflict, she decided to seek an alliance with Jonas and contacted him.

• Ji Yeling learned that the Federation had instigated terrorist attacks, spoiled medication, and caused the central network outage.
• She ordered officials to recall Swordbearers, investigate Federation agents, and stop Ye Hua and Yue Chen from fighting amid the crisis.
• Ji Yeling suspected District 25, the Federation, the Alt Conglomerate, and Jonas were tied to the escalating conflict.
• She concluded that Dragon City needed Jonas’s resources to withstand the Federation, despite the political risks of an alliance.
• Ji Yeling planned to negotiate cooperation with Jonas and tapped his name in her Communicator’s contact list.

Jonas escalated Dragon City’s crisis by fueling the conflict between Ye Hua and Yue Chen, enabling Federation attacks, and sabotaging the city’s infrastructure. Ji Yeling contacted him for help, and he agreed to cooperate in exchange for a lasting partnership.

• Jonas reviewed a broadcast reporting Dragon City’s chaos and the Federation’s attacks.
• The conflict between Ye Hua and Yue Chen intensified, while Federation terrorists attacked the city and Jonas’s people used Iris’s gadgets to sabotage critical systems.
• Jonas expected the mounting pressure to force Ji Yeling to contact him, and she soon called to discuss the crisis.
• Jonas denied responsibility for Ye Hua and Yue Chen’s conflict while acknowledging that Dragon City’s situation made negotiations necessary.
• Ji Yeling accepted Jonas’s condition of maintaining a close cooperative relationship, and they agreed to work together.

Ji Yeling reluctantly paid Jonas a deposit in Dragon City’s exclusive technologies and publicized vague news of cooperation with District 25. Jonas explained that the announcement was bait to draw out Federation agents, and proposed using technology from the Predecessor Civilization to attract them.

• Ji Yeling complained about Jonas’s hard bargaining but agreed to send him a deposit despite the cost to Dragon City.
• Ji Yeling transferred Dragon City’s exclusive technologies to Jonas, who celebrated receiving them while planning to act against the Federation.
• Jonas asked Ji Yeling to spread vague news that District 25 and Dragon City had agreed to cooperate, and she sent the announcement to the Intelligence Department.
• Ji Yeling asked Jonas why he wanted the news released, and he explained that uncertainty would confuse the Federation and reveal who reacted.
• Jonas told Ji Yeling to use something the Federation valued as bait and suggested technology from the Predecessor Civilization.

Jack Morgan, a Federation undercover agent in Dragon City, prepared with Murphy and other agents to ambush a secret technology transfer between Dragon City and District 25. As Jack and Murphy launched their operation near the warehouse, both were killed, and an unseen force began closing a net around the gathered Federation agents.

• Jack recalled how he had left District 25 and risen in Dragon City before reflecting on his secret role as a Federation agent.
• Jack learned that District 25 and Dragon City planned to transfer core weapons technology at an abandoned warehouse in eastern Dragon City.
• Jack met Murphy, who explained that Federation agents would strike during the negotiations, sever communications, and seize the technology.
• That night, Jack and Murphy reached the warehouse district and prepared to begin the ambush with the other agents.
• Jack and Murphy's heads exploded as an unseen voice identified the Federation agents as rats and ordered the net closed.

Ji Yeling’s operation dismantled much of the Federation’s covert network in Dragon City, leaving it unable to pursue its plans there. With the network destroyed, the entity possessing Dorothy decided to abandon its wait for the Predecessor Civilization’s technology and risk a plan that could sacrifice the civilization so it could ascend to a higher dimension.

• Ji Yeling reviewed the intelligence from her captured targets and ordered her forces to interrogate the exposed Federation-connected people while prioritizing the Federation’s leaders in Dragon City.
• Over the following weeks, Ji Yeling’s operation exposed Federation agents and contact points, strengthening Dragon City’s control and crippling the Federation’s influence.
• Dorothy learned that the Federation’s lost assets had made its previous plan unworkable and dismissed her subordinate after hearing the report.
• The entity inside Dorothy concluded that it could no longer wait for the Predecessor Civilization’s technology to be restored and decided to risk sacrificing the civilization to ascend to a higher dimension.

Beigong Ling hurried to Alt Tower while sensing an unseen pursuer, only to be trapped by a predecessor civilization consciousness trying to possess her. A sudden power outage gave her a chance to resist, and she left to warn Jonas.

• Beigong Ling sensed mortal danger in District 25 and rushed toward Alt Tower after messaging Jonas.
• After entering Alt Tower, Beigong Ling lost control of her body and was forced into a locked guest lounge as chaotic voices filled her mind.
• Beigong Ling heard the word “Pioneer” and realized the voices belonged to consciousness entities from the predecessor civilization seeking to take over her body.
• Alt Tower suddenly lost power, weakening the assault, and Beigong Ling shot herself in the thigh to break the entities’ hold.
• Beigong Ling staggered out of the lounge, determined to tell Jonas what had happened.

After a Predecessor Civilization consciousness entity attacked Beigong Ling and Celine, Jonas learned in the Void Realm that it sought ascension by sacrificing them. Annis Erdoka proposed transferring their life links to the entity instead, and Jonas left determined to stop the sacrifice.

• Beigong Ling told Jonas that a Predecessor Civilization entity had attacked her, so he activated Alt Tower's defenses and asked Yucas to put District 25's Security Force on standby.
• An explosion struck Celine's room; Jonas and Beigong Ling found Celine alive, and Jonas took her for a medical examination.
• Jonas entered the Void Realm and asked Annis Erdoka why the entity had attacked Beigong Ling and Celine again.
• Annis Erdoka explained that the entity wanted to ascend by sacrificing a powerful Psionic, and that Celine and Beigong Ling could trigger the process.
• Annis Erdoka suggested transferring Celine and Beigong Ling's life links to the entity so it would become the sacrifice, and Jonas agreed to try.

Jonas, Celine, and Beigong Ling lured Dorothy to the Predecessor Civilization's underground sacrificial facility to use the consciousness entity controlling her as the sacrifice for humanity's Ascension. Dorothy's awakened will trapped the entity as the ritual consumed them both, leaving their fate—and what the Ascension would bring—unshown.

• Jonas told Esnie to delay Dorothy if possible and retreat if the situation became dangerous, then went underground with Celine and Beigong Ling.
• Celine offered to be the sacrifice, but Jonas reassured her that he would not sacrifice someone who trusted him, and Beigong Ling encouraged her too.
• Dorothy appeared in the underground chamber, and Jonas revealed that luring her there had been part of his plan.
• Jonas activated the ritual, which restrained Dorothy and drew out the Predecessor Civilization's consciousness entity's power.
• The entity tried to escape, but Dorothy's will awakened and pinned it in place as she and the entity dissolved into ash.

After the Predecessor Civilization's consciousness entity was sacrificed, Jonas reflected on how Dorothy's resistance made the plan succeed and visited Little An in a dream. Two months later, District 25 had settled into peace and rapid development, and Jonas joined his friends for a game as their lives moved forward together.

• Jonas recalled that Dorothy had trapped the Predecessor Civilization's consciousness entity long enough for the sacrifice to succeed, preventing another war.
• Jonas met Little An in a dream, where she confirmed that the Predecessor Civilization would not awaken again and thanked him for his work.
• Two months later, District 25 focused on technological development and internal stability while the weakened Federation struggled with its own troubles.
• Jonas spoke with Ji Yeling, who reported that Ye Hua and Yue Chen had returned to the Swordbearers and accepted that Jonas had used them in his plan.
• Esnie, Celine, Iris, and Shigure Ryoko gathered at Jonas's office to play a new game, while messages from Eiffel, Afanisi, Chelsea, and Yucas added to his crowded plans.
• Jonas put aside his work and joined the group for the game, surrounded by friends who would stay by his side.

Jonas summoned Esnie to his office under the pretext of discussing personal security and used her collar to heighten her sensitivity during an intimate encounter. After Esnie admitted defeat and they continued, she recovered enough to cling to Jonas and ask for more.

• Jonas called Esnie to his office, where she arrived dressed in a combat uniform and assured him she could protect him.
• Jonas teased Esnie and used her black collar to multiply her sensitivity fivefold, leaving her overwhelmed and unable to resist.
• Esnie surrendered to Jonas, and they continued their encounter in his office.
• Jonas lowered the collar's sensitivity after Esnie climaxed, then resumed as she recovered and asked him to continue.
• After they climaxed together, Esnie wrapped herself around Jonas and asked for more, and their encounter continued.

Jonas and Eiffel spent the weekend in an intimate relationship, but their closeness turned tense when Eiffel noticed a ring on Jonas's hand and feared he loved someone else. Jonas explained that the ring came from his mother and turned its gem upward to show he had decided to confess his feelings, leaving Eiffel stunned.

• Jonas let Eiffel sleep in on Saturday, and she woke to find him trying to hide his arousal from her.
• Eiffel teased Jonas, and the two spent the morning and evening making love.
• After their evening together, Eiffel felt a ring on Jonas's finger and feared he had already chosen someone else.
• Jonas told Eiffel that his mother had left him the ring as a token to wear when he found someone worth entrusting himself to.
• Jonas guided Eiffel's hand to turn the ring's black gem upward, and Eiffel stared at him in shock.

Jonas and Eiffel spent their honeymoon morning entwined in bed, then continued their intimate teasing after Meria left a note saying heavy rain meant they could work from home. They began making breakfast together in the kitchen, where Jonas resumed their lovemaking, and the chapter ended as he adjusted his movements to please Eiffel.

• Jonas and Eiffel woke together and made love in bed before cuddling and talking about breakfast.
• Jonas and Eiffel woke again, brushed their teeth together, and teased each other until Meria’s note revealed they could work from home because of the heavy rain.
• Jonas and Eiffel read Meria’s note inviting them to make a loving breakfast, then went downstairs while kissing and touching.
• Jonas helped Eiffel tie on an apron and prepared ingredients while she cooked porridge.
• Eiffel pressed against Jonas as he fondled her, and they began making love in the kitchen while breakfast cooked.
• Jonas adjusted his movements as Eiffel cooperated, and their lovemaking continued at the chapter’s end.