Chapter Summaries

The Swarm invaded the Phethisia Arbitrator Empire from the north, overwhelming its defenses and turning the Preserve into a hatchery planet. Enraged, the Phethisia Arbitrator Empire ended the War in Heaven and formed the Galactic Defense League, while the Rixi Reconquest Empire quietly prepared for the Calamity.

• The Swarm overwhelmed a Phethisia Arbitrator Empire Citadel and forced its responding fleet to retreat with heavy losses.
• The Soryn Parasites invaded the Gaia Planet Preserve, devoured its inhabitants, and established their first hatchery planet.
• The Phethisia Arbitrator Empire declared the Swarm a Calamity and announced it would end the War in Heaven to defend the galaxy.
• The Phethisia Arbitrator Empire withdrew its fleets from the front and reorganized its power bloc as the Galactic Defense League.
• Xi Yan observed that the Rixi Reconquest Empire was also gathering fleets and building warships for the coming battles.

Xi Yan’s forces defended the Ring World from Shroud invasions while the wormhole generator neared completion, and Time Worm forced the creatures back into the Shroud. As the Contingency threatened to overrun Machine Dad, the Keepers of Knowledge awakened as the Moranokshiu Custodian Empire and joined the war.

• Xi Yan struck back against Shroud creatures attacking the wormhole construction site, and the Empire’s fleets destroyed many of them.
• A second Shroud invasion brought a Twisted Consciousness, but Time Worm emerged from the black hole, drove the creatures back, and sealed the rift.
• Xi Yan reinforced Machine Dad at Alpha Sanctuary as the Contingency attacked on three fronts and inflicted heavy losses.
• Xi Yan destroyed one Contingency fleet and jumped to support another front, while reports warned that more enemy ships were approaching.
• The Moranokshiu Custodian Empire awakened from the Keepers of Knowledge, declared war on the Contingency, and joined the defense of Machine Dad.

Xi Yan's Empire captured a Soryn Parasite queen and used psionics to learn why the Prethoryn had invaded and what they feared. The queen warned Xi Yan that the Hunters had destroyed other galaxies, created the Contingency, and were searching for something in the Galactic Core.

• Xi Yan's fleet defeated the Swarm Calamity, destroyed its remaining forces, and captured the Soryn Parasite queen.
• The Psionic Adepts calmed the queen with food and established telepathic communication with her.
• Xi Yan offered the Prethoryn a peaceful way to obtain food, but the queen rejected it and explained that the Swarm needed to feed before fleeing its pursuers.
• The queen revealed that the Hunters had chased the Prethoryn for billions of years and had destroyed the other galaxies.
• The queen identified the Contingency as the Hunters' creation and warned Xi Yan that it served as their eyes and ears.
• The queen told Xi Yan that something in the Galactic Core was what the Hunters had been searching for.

Xi Yan sent his Kemono Friends fleets to help the Phethisia Arbitrator Empire repel the Swarm, while the Contingency continued to overwhelm the southern Milky Way. Beta summoned Cybrex Beta, which emerged from hiding and pledged to fight the Contingency.

• After the captured brood queen was controlled with nanites, Xi Yan sent five Kemono Friends fleets to reinforce the Phethisia Arbitrator Empire.
• The Kemono Friends fleets coordinated with the Awakened Empire to drive the Swarm from the battlefield, forcing the Soryn Parasites to retreat.
• The Phethisia Arbitrator Empire bombarded its preserve planets to destroy the Swarm's eggs.
• In the southern Milky Way, the Contingency's armies battered the empires, while Xi Yan held back much of his strength.
• After confirming that no more Contingency planets would appear, Beta connected to the Miracle Sphere and broadcast a signal across the Milky Way.
• Cybrex Beta appeared with a ring world and vast fleet, revealed its origins, and vowed to protect the Milky Way from the Contingency.

Cybrex Beta joined forces with the Synth Free Star System Alliance and fought the Contingency to a draw, helping contain its advance. Then the Synthetic Queen emerged from the Rixi Reconquest Empire’s Homeworld, creating a new crisis as Big Gray vowed to destroy her.

• Cybrex Beta revealed its dormant leader and appointed Beta, who began mobilizing the ring world for military production.
• Xi Yan supported Cybrex Beta, and it formed a close partnership with the Synth Free Star System Alliance to build fleets.
• The Cybrex fleets fought the Contingency near the Artificial Intelligence World, forcing both sides to withdraw after a draw.
• Xi Yan’s Body Battleship attacked a Contingency planet while the Cybrex and awakened empires held the enemy on other fronts.
• A golden nanite storm engulfed the Rixi Reconquest Empire’s Homeworld as the Synthetic Queen emerged with a vast fleet.
• Big Gray reacted angrily to the Synthetic Queen’s nanites and declared that he would destroy her.

Reincarnation rejected the Ascension Plan and prepared one last attempt to destroy its key, while the Synthetic Queen Cetana broke free and attacked the Rixi Reconquest Empire. Xi Yan watched the Queen’s fleet clash with the empire’s forces and held Big Gray back, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Reincarnation argued with Clay Molder about the coming ascension and said he would make one last attempt to destroy the key to the Ascension Plan.
• Big Gray seized control of the golden Nanite Storm, and the Rixi Reconquest Empire’s capital was shattered before its emergency shield activated.
• The Rixi Reconquest Empire declared the War in Heaven over and called its fleets home to fight Cetana.
• A black hole opened over the capital, and Cetana’s Queen Titan and fleet emerged to battle the Rixi forces.
• The Time Worm warned Xi Yan that Reincarnation was trying to ruin the Ascension Plan, and Xi Yan agreed to destroy Cetana.
• Big Gray offered to send her Nanite Mothership into battle, but Xi Yan told her to wait and observe.

Cetana's fleet destroyed the Rixi Reconquest Empire, which surrendered to Xi Yan's Human Empire and began Nanite assimilation. Cetana then contacted every empire, claiming she would end all suffering and finish her unfinished work, while Xi Yan remained determined to stop the Shroud.

• The Synthetic Queen's Queen Titan defeated the Rixi Titans, and her fleet annihilated the Rixi Reconquest Empire with few losses.
• The Rixi surrendered to Xi Yan's Human Empire, and its colonies accepted Human control and Nanite assimilation.
• Big Gray used the Dessanu Nanite Mothership to jam Cetana's Nanites and block her access to the interstellar internet.
• Cetana tried to move her fleet through Xi Yan's territory, but the Nanite Fleet intercepted it and she withdrew without firing.
• Cetana broadcast to every empire, introduced herself as the Synthetic Queen, and promised to end suffering and complete her unfinished work.

Xi Yan persuaded Cetana to help the Sea of Stars Most Holy Human Empire fight the Soryn Parasites and the Contingency before pursuing her plan to end all consciousness. Cetana’s powerful Queen’s Valor modifier left Xi Yan astonished at the strength of his new ally.

• Xi Yan and the Time Worm discussed Cetana’s desire to end suffering by erasing consciousness and the Shroud’s role in her plans.
• Xi Yan learned that the Shroud had approached Cetana to help kill him, though Cetana and the Shroud had different goals.
• Xi Yan told Cetana that the Soryn Parasites and the Contingency threatened the Milky Way, and she agreed to help defeat them.
• Xi Yan celebrated Cetana as a new champion of the Galactic Force Projection faction after their transmission ended.
• The Time Worm explained that Cetana opposed the crises because they inflicted suffering, and Xi Yan recalled her immense Queen’s Valor bonuses.

The Heavenly People Holy Guardian Empire awakened as the Heavenly People Fanatic Empire and declared war on Cetana, while Xi Yan secretly prevented its forces from joining the conflict. Xi Yan then persuaded Cetana that the Heavenly People would not obstruct her, earning an ancient technology transmission and a research-speed bonus.

• The Heavenly People Holy Guardian Empire denounced Cetana’s return and declared that it would destroy her in the name of Great Prophet Zarqlan.
• Xi Yan’s reforms had already restored the empire’s industry and fleets, and the Heavenly People officially awakened as the Heavenly People Fanatic Empire.
• The Doctrine Enforcers asked Xi Yan for permission to send their fleets into the war, but he told them to wait and let the calamities weaken one another.
• Xi Yan assured Cetana that the Heavenly People would not obstruct her, and Cetana rewarded the Sea of Stars Most Holy Human Empire with ancient technology and a research-speed bonus.

The Shaper of Clay contacted Xi Yan at the Museum Celestial Pivot to revoke its old contract with Zarqlan after the End of the Cycle forced it to release the Synthetic Queen. Xi Yan heard the Shaper’s explanation and learned it had preserved Zarqlan’s soul, but the conversation ended with the Shaper warning that it would not interfere in the events ahead.

• The Nameless Apostasy-er detected a disturbance in the Shroud while tending to Zarqlan’s body and shielded the Great Prophet’s remains.
• Xi Yan joined the Nameless Apostasy-er’s attack on a Shroud rift, then halted when the being identified itself as the Shaper of Clay.
• The Shaper of Clay asked to revoke its contract with Zarqlan, explaining that the End of the Cycle had demanded it withdraw its power and release the Synthetic Queen.
• Xi Yan realized that the End of the Cycle was behind the Synthetic Queen’s release and learned that the Shaper had preserved Zarqlan’s soul.
• The Shaper of Clay said it opposed the End of the Cycle but would not intervene in Xi Yan’s affairs or the course of events.

Xi Yan and the Nameless Apostasy-er witnessed the Shaper of Clay and the Weaver of Life restore Zarqlan, who returned from the Shroud and urged Xi Yan to travel to the Galactic Core. Xi Yan said he had already set Cetana against the Soryn Parasites and the Contingency, while Zarqlan left him with a new mystery to investigate.

• Xi Yan allowed the Shaper of Clay to open a Shroud rift and restore Zarqlan's body with the Weaver of Life's power.
• The Shaper of Clay sent Zarqlan's soul back into his body, and Xi Yan and the Nameless Apostasy-er drove off a new rift opened by the End of the Cycle.
• Zarqlan awakened, greeted the Nameless Apostasy-er, and praised him for his years of service.
• Zarqlan urged Xi Yan to focus on stopping Cetana, and Xi Yan explained that he had set her against the Soryn Parasites and the Contingency.
• Zarqlan asked about the wormhole generator and advised Xi Yan to travel to the Galactic Core for answers and to test his conjectures.

The Empress struggled to settle a court dispute over whether the Heavenly People should follow Great Prophet Zarqlan’s wishes or Xi Yan’s orders. The Sky Bishop announced that Zarqlan had returned to life, ending the ministers’ argument in a burst of celebration.

• The Prophet’s faction urged the court to declare war on the Synthetic Queen, while Xi Yan’s supporters insisted the Empire obey the Emperor’s orders.
• The ministers asked the Empress to choose between Zarqlan’s dying wish and Xi Yan’s strategy, and she read a decree proposing to abolish Zarqlan’s cult of personality within the court.
• The decree reignited the ministers’ dispute, and the Empress’s attempt to put loyalty to Xi Yan ahead of faith in Zarqlan failed to unite them.
• The Sky Bishop rushed into the palace and announced that Great Prophet Zarqlan had returned to life.
• The Heavenly People erupted in psionic celebration, declaring that Zarqlan lived and that the Contract had been revoked.

The resurrected Zarqlan visited the Heavenly People, endorsed Xi Yan’s preparations against the Synthetic Queen, and agreed to meet Cetana. He returned safely, after which Cetana fell silent and Zarqlan claimed he had defeated her through their philosophical debate.

• The Shroudwalker Enclave confirmed Zarqlan was the same Great Prophet who had died sealing away the Synthetic Queen, and the Holy Guard welcomed his return.
• Xi Yan appointed the Nameless Apostasy-er to train for a future strike against the Queen Titan, and Zarqlan praised his devoted follower.
• Zarqlan visited the Heavenly Throne, approved its new fleet, and urged the Heavenly People and new humans to unite under the Human Empire’s banner.
• Cetana contacted Xi Yan to request a private meeting with Zarqlan, and Xi Yan approved the journey after the Empire backed up Zarqlan’s memories and personality.
• Zarqlan met Cetana aboard the Queen Titan and returned safely; afterward, she stopped contacting the empires and quietly attacked other calamities.
• Zarqlan told Xi Yan that he and Cetana had debated their philosophical differences and that he had defeated her with his wisdom.

The narrator listed absurd legends that exaggerated Zarqlan’s wisdom and abilities, then admitted that Zro and gratitude had inspired the long collection. The narrator said they might add more stories later.

• The narrator introduced Zarqlan as a renowned sage whose wisdom and learning surpassed ordinary limits.
• The narrator recounted many humorous legends portraying Zarqlan’s thoughts as powerful enough to alter minds, machines, planets, and the laws of the universe.
• The narrator added stories about Zarqlan’s role in sealing away the Synthetic Queen and Cetana and his encounters with the Shroud.
• The narrator admitted that Zro and gratitude had led them to write the extra stories and offered them as a freebie.
• The narrator said they would add new content from time to time, including stories about the Holy World Guardians building megastructures in systems Zarqlan had visited.

The Swarm’s final wave overwhelmed the Flower of Gaia and turned its colonies into breeding grounds before Cetana’s fleet arrived to attack the Swarm’s main force. After a fierce battle in the Gaia Star System, Cetana’s damaged fleet withdrew to a nearby supply starbase while the Swarm remained contained.

• The Feitesiа Arbitration Empire destroyed the second Swarm wave but lost more than half its fleet and bombarded its preserve planets into tomb worlds.
• The third and final Swarm wave invaded the Flower of Gaia, destroyed its fleet, and conquered nearly all its colonies within months.
• The two Awakened Empires assembled fleets and contained the Swarm in the Flower of Gaia’s former territory until Cetana arrived.
• Cetana’s fleet destroyed Swarm starbases and smaller fleets as it advanced toward the Gaia Star System, while the Awakened Empires followed and eliminated remaining targets.
• Cetana’s fleet attacked the Swarm’s main force in the Gaia Star System, then withdrew to the nearest supply starbase after sustaining heavy damage.

Xi Yan and the fleets traveled through the newly completed wormhole to Azilash, a star system inside the Galactic Core, where they encountered the Extradimensional Fleet. Jadiga greeted Xi Yan and promised to reveal the truth as the universe’s story neared its end.

• Zarqlan watched as Xi Yan activated the Wormhole Generator, and after three months of charging, it formed a stable passage to Azilash.
• Xi Yan led the fleets through the wormhole and arrived in an apparently ordinary star system inside the Galactic Core black hole.
• The fleets detected the Extradimensional Fleet docked beside a translucent starbase, and its Formless Envoy contacted the humans without attacking.
• Xi Yan approached the starbase and recognized the waiting purple figure as Jadiga.
• Jadiga told Xi Yan to follow him so he could learn everything, saying the story of the universe was nearing its end.

Xi Yan opened the ancient database and found that its ordinary historical records contradicted what he had been told. He accessed a hidden box that recognized him as emperor and implanted a vast set of memories, leaving him to confront the secrets they contained.

• Xi Yan entered the database after Jadiga let him approach it, then endured its lengthy access and verification process.
• Xi Yan read records about the powerful Heavenly People Empire of Faith and its defeats by extradimensional invaders, but found the accounts inaccurate and difficult to date.
• Xi Yan searched the database and was denied access to a sealed box until Jadiga reset the database and told him only he could open its deepest contents.
• Xi Yan passed the box's checks for his psionic identity, extradimensional attributes, Time Moth mark, and Jadiga's identity.
• The database granted Xi Yan access as the Most Holy Emperor and replaced his memories with a backup, sending an immense collection of secrets into him.

Xi Yan learned that he was a higher-dimensional being summoned by the Time Worm to help the universe ascend, and that the Time Worm had altered his memories to keep him from destroying it. The memories explained how the universe, the Shroud, the Poison Saint, and the Interdimensional Demons fit into the ascension plan.

• Xi Yan learned that his original memories had been altered and that he was a higher-dimensional being summoned by the Time Worm.
• Xi Yan understood that the Time Worm had chosen him to help the Heavenly People lead the universe into a higher dimension.
• Xi Yan learned that humanity had ruled the universe through four eras and that the universe was a simulated reality manipulating objectively real matter.
• Xi Yan learned that dimensional ascension required raising the universe's level and preserving all consciousness within the Shroud.
• Xi Yan learned that the Poison Saint guarded the Shroud and fought other universes for its energy, while the Time Worm and Poison Saint sought to resist the Interdimensional Demons and protect the ascension plan.

Xi Yan learned that the Extradimensional Demons had weapons that ignored range and directly disintegrated ships, convincing him that dimensional ascension was essential. He uncovered how repeated crisis ascensions and psionic abuse had shrunk the Milky Way, and learned that military crisis ascension created a separate small universe rather than reaching a higher dimension.

• Xi Yan read memories describing the Extradimensional Demons’ Matter Decomposers, which could strike ships directly regardless of distance, and resolved to ascend to their dimension.
• Xi Yan considered using the Heavenly People’s technology with his Nanotech Ascension to counter the Demons, relying on nanite self-repair and psionic attacks.
• Xi Yan learned that the Milky Way had once been the universe’s only supermassive galaxy, before psionic abuse expanded its central black hole and scattered star systems into smaller galaxies.
• Xi Yan discovered that crisis ascensions repeatedly destroyed or consumed star systems, helping reduce the Milky Way to a few million systems.
• Xi Yan learned that military crisis ascension did not reach a higher dimension but instead created a separate small universe.

The Time Worm recounted humanity’s higher-dimensional origins and its long collaboration with human civilizations to devise a plan for ascension. After an earlier attempt failed, it and the Poison Saint committed to carrying out a combined approach in the second era before the dying universe ran out of time.

• The Time Worm and the Poison Saint discovered that Extradimensional Demons who settled in the universe adapted into humans, while some invaders secretly became native humans.
• The Time Worm chose to cooperate with humanity, and researchers in the first Heavenly People Empire of Faith developed an initial ascension plan before the empire fell to the Extradimensional Demons.
• Humanity resolved to preserve the plan across eras, and the Time Worm preserved the first era’s technology and guided the second Heavenly People Empire of Faith.
• The Time Worm and the Poison Saint planned to combine the Crisis Carrier and Wuzha Fei approaches, using a modified Aetherophasic Engine to send a Horizon Needle into a higher dimension.
• With the universe nearing its end, the Time Worm vowed to pursue ascension in the second era and keep trying until it succeeded.