Chapter Summaries

Ash and his companions explored an Illusory Bubble full of materials that could be brought back to reality, while low Soul Energy limited their plans. As the team searched for useful finds, Ash secretly gave Diya and Sonia gifts, leaving Sonia teasing him about whether he wanted to see her wear her swimsuit.

• Ash chose a Dream Come True Portal and discovered an Illusory Bubble containing materials that could be taken back to reality.
• Sonia explained that claiming an Illusory Material would cost about 10% of their Soul Energy, so the group split up to search before the bubble collapsed.
• Diya found unusual materials, then Ash gave her a custom outfit called Empress in the Rain, which delighted her.
• Ash met Sonia in a coffee shop, suggested she could give her Illusory Material to Vesir, and gave her a bag containing Transparent Outerwear and a Two-Piece Pure White Sexy Swimsuit.
• Sonia asked Ash whether he wanted to see her wear the swimsuit, and he nodded; she then asked whether there was a swimming pool nearby.

Ash, Sonia, and Diya continued exploring the Void Realm after Ash gave them custom outfits, while Vesir watched and decided to meddle in their relationships to make Ash feel less secure in his refuge. Vesir approached Sonia and coaxed her into sharing memories of the Sea of Knowledge, leaving Sonia beginning to tell her story.

• Diya arrived at the Coffee Shop in her new combat outfit, and Ash explained that the gifted clothes only worked for their intended owners.
• Sonia threw a milk candy at Ash, caught his return toss with Water Moon, and silently reminded him that he owed her.
• Vesir watched Ash and Sonia, concluded that changing the team's relationships could unsettle Ash, and planned to help Sonia confess and create an opportunity for Diya.
• Vesir approached Sonia and suggested that she and Ash seemed closer than ordinary companions; Sonia denied being in love but admitted they had known each other since the Sea of Knowledge.
• Vesir asked Sonia to describe their time in the Sea of Knowledge, and Sonia began, saying they had a boat.

Ash reviewed the Operators’ growth reports while he and his companions waited in Black Robe Town for Silver Lamp’s Prophecy. Meanwhile, Vesir planned to push Ash and the others into romance, and Quiet Girl revealed that the Ash from her world had been married in reality.

• Harvey discussed what should happen to his friends’ bodies if they died, and Ash promised to fight his best against Silver Lamp.
• Ash read the accumulated reports: Sword Maiden and Witch had gained new abilities, while Youlan Weiser’s Bond with him had risen to 2.
• Ash stopped assigning the Operators specific training plans and decided to let them manage their own growth.
• Igula said they had to remain in Black Robe Town another night while they waited for Silver Lamp’s Prophecy.
• Vesir drank the three medicines Ash had sent and considered how to bring Ash, Witch, and Sword Maiden together.
• Quiet Girl visited Vesir and revealed that the Ash from her world had been married in reality.

Ash and his companions learned that Reconstruction Elixir from Nightfall could remove their Blood Seeds, but discovered that Nightfall was under attack. As they watched the battle, they discussed Senluo’s wars and the role of faith, while Igula questioned how the wasteland sustained its population.

• Igula’s inquiries revealed that Reconstruction Elixir from Nightfall could restore the body and remove curses, though Silver Lamp had also headed there.
• Ash and his companions recalled their recent clash with Silver Lamp, who had possessed the Myriad Tribulations Fire and proved too difficult to capture.
• Ash, Igula, Harvey, and Tama Hill reached a cliff and saw a massive battle underway at Nightfall, the Twins Sect’s stronghold.
• Tama Hill and the others explained that Senluo’s wars were driven by faith, with God Possessors conserving their strength until the fighting’s balance became clear.
• Igula wondered why Senluo’s large Spellcaster armies existed despite the wasteland’s high death rate, noting that he had seen few pregnant women.

Ash and his companions disguised themselves as Traveling Merchants to enter the Nature Sect’s camp while hiding their connection to the Transcendent Sect. Nori Supernatural began to explain a deal involving the fall of Nightfall, but an explosion interrupted him.

• Tama Hill explained that Infant Incubators were widespread in Senro Land and that he had been born in one.
• After the battle paused for the night, Black Crow identified the attackers as the Nature Sect, and Igula decided to conceal their Transcendent Sect connection.
• Ash and his companions disguised themselves in Raven Slaughter clothes and presented themselves to Nori Supernatural as merchants from the destroyed Calamity Fire Sanctuary.
• Nori admitted he wanted to catch a merchant party to save Dragon Gate Array Shopping Cards and began to mention the fall of Nightfall.
• An earth-shattering explosion erupted from the distant city, cutting off Nori’s explanation.

Ash and his companions witnessed the Nature Sect’s assault expose Nightfall’s true underground city, turning the battle into a destructive clash between the two sects. With the Reconstruction Elixir still their goal, they spotted Silver Lamp fleeing from two Twins Sect God Possessors and prepared to pursue her.

• Igula warned Ash that Silver Lamp’s death could make him completely Tactile, while Tama Hill said he would hunt Ash if he became an evil Tactile; Ash accepted that they might have to stop him.
• Nori and the Nature Sect mobilized after a fissure appeared in Night Descent City’s wall, but the ground broke apart and revealed Nightfall, a functioning underground city from the Age of Gods.
• Silver Lamp’s Myriad Tribulations Fire shattered the membranes protecting Nightfall, and the falling city wreckage and more than a hundred thousand Nature Sect troops crashed into the underground city.
• The Nature Sect and Twins Sect began a battle with neither side able to retreat, while Ash, Igula, and Harvey decided to search Nightfall for the Reconstruction Elixir.
• Tama Hill spotted Silver Lamp fleeing with white flames around her as two Twins Sect God Possessors pursued her, giving Ash and his companions a lead toward the elixir.

Ash and his companions pursued Silver Lamp through a battle between the Nature Sect and the Twins Sect, but she escaped into the Circular Pit beneath the Twins Sect’s palace. Ash followed her into the Spell Power-suppressing depths and encountered someone who looked familiar.

• Ash and his companions fought off the Twins Sect’s Destiny Twins and joined the twin God Possessors in attacking Silver Lamp.
• Silver Lamp lured Ash and the twin God Possessors to the palace, where she jumped into a Circular Pit after killing its guardians and gravely injuring one of the twins.
• Ash broke the barrier over the pit and fell in with Tama Hill, losing his possession state and his ability to use Spell Power.
• Ash landed safely in an Underground Hall, searched for Silver Lamp, and attacked a stranger who matched his moves.
• Ash stopped when he saw the stranger’s face and asked who they were.

Ash met Watcher, his identical counterpart who shared his memories, in the underground Abyss, and the two entered a trial passage. As the trial began, the Twins discovered that the sealed Circular Pit was connected to a Divine Fire System.

• Ash questioned Watcher about their connection, learned that Watcher shared his memories and skills, and chose to call him Watcher.
• Watcher led Ash into a passage after explaining that Silver Lamp and the others had gone deeper; the entrance sealed behind them.
• Ash and Watcher selected equipment, received wristwatches with a countdown, and continued down the passage as the trial timer reset.
• A figure emerged from the light ahead, and a Mind Shriek marked the start of the Trial.
• The Twins reached the sealed Circular Pit, where Harvey pointed out writing about the Divine Fire Trial and the Twins realized a Divine Fire System lay beneath Nightfall.

Ash and Vesir fought their Silver Lamp counterparts in a sealed hall, where the battle turned into a test of loyalty between each pair of twins. Vesir tried to persuade Watcher to let Ash die, but Watcher intervened to protect him, and Vesir concluded that neither twin was the person she sought.

• Twisting Green creatures avoided Ash and his companions on the road, though they attacked a group of traveling merchants nearby.
• Vesir overwhelmed Ash with her mastery of combat techniques until he grabbed her and bit her neck, after which Watcher and You Lan pulled them apart.
• Ash and Vesir switched opponents, and Ash struggled against You Lan while Watcher kept Vesir at bay with his twin swords.
• Vesir offered Watcher a chance to become the only Ash Hiss by helping kill Ash, then left the decision to him as she moved to attack.
• You Lan pinned Ash and prepared to strike, but Watcher rescued him and took a Sword Mark wound while Vesir shielded You Lan.
• Vesir said that Watcher and You Lan were neither the person she was looking for.

Ash and Watcher entered the next Trial passage after the Silver Lamp Twins, then rested in separate rooms while Vesir plotted to manipulate Ash. Before entering the Void Realm, Ash told Watcher that he trusted him because Watcher was the only one who truly understood him.

• Eight passageways opened, and Ash and the Silver Lamp Twins chose separate routes into the next Trial.
• You Lan claimed the codename Mirror Master, while she and Vesir discussed how Vesir planned to cultivate Ash into a companion by pushing him toward collapse.
• Ash and Watcher treated their injuries and rested; Watcher explained that he could not enter the Void Realm because Ash had never summoned a Spell Spirit himself.
• Ash said he trusted Watcher because Watcher had not betrayed him and was the only one who understood him.
• Ash connected to the Void Realm and entered a Dream Bubble, leaving Watcher alone as an Apathy evaluation called him too weak.

Ash and his companions identified the Hopscotch affix, then entered a prison-themed bubble to investigate its clues. As Sonia worried about Ash's upcoming Trial, Vesir urged her to support him, prompting Sonia to run off to find him while Vesir continued exploring with Diya.

• Vesir identified Hopscotch: stepping on white tiles prevented damage, while black tiles stacked a curse that increased damage received.
• Ash led the group into a three-affix bubble depicting a prison and asked them to search for clues separately.
• Sonia told Vesir she feared Ash would face the Trial without his powers, allies, or protection from laws and rules.
• Vesir suggested Ash might need Sonia's support and asked how she would want him to comfort her if their positions were reversed.
• Sonia decided to leave Vesir and find Ash, while Vesir returned to the Central Hall and encountered Diya.

Ash explored the Dream Bubble of Broken Lake Prison and reunited with Sonia, but a Love-Hate Reversal affix made everyone attack outsiders and reversed their emotions. As Ash and Sonia fought, Diya trapped Ash with Empress Vision, leaving him exposed to Sonia’s sword strike.

• Ash recognized that the Dream Bubble depicted Broken Lake Prison after his escape and searched for the Veela.
• Ash and Sonia collided in a corridor, and Sonia prepared to confess her feelings to him.
• A Love-Hate Reversal affix transformed the prison and turned Ash and Sonia’s feelings into killing intent.
• Ash and Sonia fought while prisoners and guards attacked them, and Ash retreated to the Central Hall.
• Diya used Empress Vision to pin Ash in place as Sonia unleashed Blood Moon Shattered Lake at him.

Ash, Sonia, and Diya survived the Void Realm’s Love-Hate Reversal by setting aside their feelings and fighting together, while Vesir watched in resentment. Back in reality, Ash told Watcher about the ordeal and Sonia began asking her friends whether her own confession counted.

• The Void Realm sent increasingly powerful enemies against Ash, Sonia, and Diya, while Vesir watched and hoped Love-Hate Reversal would turn them against one another.
• Ash urged Sonia and Diya to treat each other as companions despite their hatred, and the three coordinated their defense against the Void Creatures.
• Vesir lost focus and crushed a Death Row Prisoner before watching the trio survive together, which stirred intense resentment in her.
• Ash recounted the Void Realm battle to Watcher, who suggested the Void Realm had noticed Ash because of accumulated changes in his abilities and desires.
• Ash asked Watcher for advice about a friend who seemed close to receiving a confession, while Sonia separately asked Adele, Ingrid, and Lois whether her own confession counted.
• Liss asked the Witch Sisters what happened when Xiu chased them, and Diya told her that Sword Maiden had nearly cut off his head.

Ash and the Watcher fought through the second trial, defeating the Phantom Purple Moth and receiving rewards that sharpened their physical abilities. As they continued through the passage, Ash called the Watcher his little brother and learned that the trial’s healing worked by turning back time.

• The Phantom Purple Moth unleashed a barrage of Miracle firearms, while the Watcher distracted her and Ash slipped close enough to attack.
• Ash let bullets strike him and used his blood to obscure the Phantom Purple Moth’s vision, creating an opening for the Watcher to disarm and kill her.
• The trial’s reward healed Ash’s wounds and restored his strength, and he noticed that the rewards had begun sharpening his senses.
• Ash asked the Watcher to affirm his theory that the trials were strengthening them, then called him his little brother and promised to value his life and trust the Watcher more.
• The Watcher explained that the trial healed injuries by reversing time through Reverse Time Series Spell Spirits.

Igula learned that Nightfall preserved a laboratory tied to the brutal Fire Cat God Era, while Ash and the Watcher reached the next Divine Fire Trial hall and were separated. Ash faced Silver Lamp, and the Mirror Master warned the Watcher that Vesir might genuinely try to kill him.

• Igula persuaded the Dark Serpent Twins to show him Nightfall’s secrets and learned their legacy included a laboratory maintained with human remains.
• The Dark Serpent Twins revealed that the elves were nearly exterminated for experiments pursuing immortality and other Great Laws, and that Nightfall was also a remnant of Fire Cat.
• Ash and the Watcher reached the second hall after surviving increasingly powerful Trial enemies, then agreed to face its challenges together.
• The Destiny Twins separated Ash and the Watcher into different halls for ten minutes, leaving Ash to fight Silver Lamp.
• The Mirror Master surrendered to the Watcher and warned that Vesir’s Silver Dragon Blood and anger could make her a serious threat to Ash.

Ash and Silver Lamp fought to a standstill as they predicted each other’s moves and discussed their ambitions. Silver Lamp argued that Ash’s companions stayed with him because his lack of grand desires let him contain their burning ambitions, then claimed their companionship was an illusion.

• Ash and Silver Lamp exchanged attacks, each anticipating the other’s moves, until they chose dangerous close combat.
• Ash combined swordsmanship and fist-claw techniques, briefly gaining the advantage before Silver Lamp adapted and cut his cheek.
• As their predictions made the fight nearly scripted, Ash and Silver Lamp discussed their visions of the future and their differing attitudes toward death and happiness.
• Silver Lamp asked whether Ash’s companions wanted ordinary lives, then argued that Ash’s charm came from being empty enough to give ambitious people peace.
• Ash considered how his companions’ relationships depended on him, but Silver Lamp cut his shoulder and declared that they saw themselves in his eyes rather than sharing true companionship.

Ash and Vesir fought over whether Ash’s companions truly shared a bond, and Ash explained that he admired each of their Dreams and determination. Their battle ended with both entering Light Gates, but Ash emerged beside a Fox-masked figure while Vesir found the Ruthless Swordsman waiting for her.

• Ash argued that his companions were bound by their mutual respect for one another’s Dreams, then told Vesir that he admired her determination despite opposing her ideas.
• Vesir kicked Ash away and took Honeyed Words Hidden Sword as his worsening shoulder injury and the Blood Seed’s influence left him near collapse.
• Ash suggested Vesir was jealous of what he had given his companions, distracting her long enough to seize her wrist and take her Longsword.
• The passages around the hall opened into Light Gates, and Ash and Vesir each entered one to escape.
• Ash emerged beside a Fox-masked person and asked for support, while Vesir found the Ruthless Swordsman waiting at the other passage.

Vesir and the Watcher entered a rest room as uneasy partners, while Ash and You Lan tended their wounds and debated the purpose of Cicada Pupa. Ash proposed that its protection gave them six hours to understand each other before the next Trial began.

• The Watcher swiftly pinned Vesir to a wall without injuring her, and she learned that Cicada Pupa protected participants until the Trial began.
• Vesir recognized that she and the Watcher would have to cooperate while expecting possible betrayal once their protection vanished.
• Vesir and the Watcher reached a rest room with separate bedrooms, and Vesir treated her injuries alone.
• You Lan bandaged Ash's wounds, and they discussed how much they distrusted each other as swapped companions.
• Ash suggested that Cicada Pupa was an opportunity for him and You Lan to understand each other before the Trial began, and addressed her as Mirror Master.

Ash questioned You Lan about the Divine Fire Trial and learned why Silver Lamp wanted to pierce the Dream Realm. After reuniting with his teammates in the Dream Bubble, Ash led them to resume exploring for Affixes.

• You Lan refused to remove her Mask and explained that the Trial was tied to the Divine Fire System and could influence the next Age of Gods.
• You Lan said Silver Lamp and her allies wanted to pierce the Divine Lord’s dream so everyone could escape its shackles and find freedom in Eternity.
• Ash concluded that Silver Lamp’s hatred of the Wasteland Era drove her to destroy reality, while You Lan teased him about whom he loved.
• Ash logged into the Dream Bubble and apologized to Diya, Vesir, and Sonia for the Curse Affixes his Half Touch identity had drawn them into.
• Diya and Vesir promised to help Ash face the Curse Affixes, while Sonia cut off talk about the previous night and Ash ordered the team to find ten Bubbles.

Sonia's roommates suspected the Strategy Group had spread rumors about her romantic interest to investigate her rapid rise, while Sonia struggled with her unfinished confession to Ash. In Nabistin's Underground City, Ash sought her out to show her around, but Sonia fled when he turned away.

• Sonia confronted Adele over leaking her romantic secret, and Ingrid identified Aisha and the Strategy Group as the likely source of the rumor.
• Ingrid explained her childhood friendship with Aisha, while Lois suggested the Strategy Group had spread the rumor to provoke Sonia into revealing more about her secret.
• Sonia admitted her confession had been interrupted, and her roommates urged her to try again using a line from Inverted World.
• Ash warned Sonia that her distraction in battle was dangerous, and Sonia realized he considered her confession a failure.
• Ash found Sonia in Nabistin's Underground City and offered to show her around, but Sonia distracted him and ran away.